Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #2
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Mystery
Page Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books (Little, Brown & Company)
Publication Date: September 19, 2017
About Hunting Prince Dracula:
In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?
Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.
But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.
About the Author
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.
Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.
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The Review
Hunting Prince Dracula is a deliciously dark read. The sequel to one of my favorite books, it had a lot to live up to, but it did not fall short of my expectations.
The return of my favorite crime-solving, forensic duo was a bit bittersweet due to the traumatic events of the first book, but their character arcs throughout the book were fascinating, and I loved watching them grow. I found myself once again cheering them on when they made progress with leads and freaking out with them when they ran into trouble (some of the terrifying beastly kind).
Unlike in Stalking Jack the Ripper, however, I didn't have any gut feelings or crazy guesses about the culprit of all the strange occurrences and deaths, which made me eagerly anticipate the reveal even more. This case was way more complicated and somewhat convoluted, so watching Audrey Rose and Thomas unravel it was a proud and exciting experience for me. I don't want to go into any further detail because I don't want to spoil, but the mystery in this one will not disappoint.
Although I found the pacing of Hunting Prince Dracula to be a bit slower than its predecessor, I immensely enjoyed the Romanian setting and learning about the folklore, history, and Dracula's bloodline. I found myself shivering on quite a few occasions from the descriptive language Maniscalco uses throughout the novel to capture the brooding atmosphere of the book. Other than Wadsworth and Cresswell (and Maniscalco's amazing character creation and development in general), her writing style is one of my favorite aspects of her books because she truly and consistently transports readers into the world of late 19th-century Europe, whether it's London in Stalking Jack the Ripper or Romania in Hunting Prince Dracula.
All in all, Hunting Prince Dracula was a fabulous sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper, bringing back beloved characters and showcasing Maniscalco's brilliant way with words.
My rating: 4 stars
The Giveaway
Check out the rest of the tour!
Week One
August 21st ~ Paper Cuts: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist
August 22nd ~ Literary Legionnaire: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
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