The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper – Book Review

Published Date: August 9, 2019

Publishing Co.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 336

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: unrated

DNF at page 95.

For the first time ever, I’m not rating a book that I didn’t finish. Usually, if I don’t finish a book it’s because I hated it or it bored me to death. Those two things mean they deserve some type of rating either for the feedback of the author (if they bother reading reviews) and for other people who are considering picking up the book or both.

In this case, the book did keep my attention, however, in the end, I just can’t bring myself to care much about the lives of people who died 130 years ago. I respect the concept that these women don’t deserve to be remembered as prostitutes because there is not enough evidence that they were. But in the end, they are dead and they don’t care. (Does that sound super insensitive? Probably, but I’m too tired to care.)

This is thoroughly researched when it comes to Victorian London and that I really enjoyed. I learned things I didn’t know and that always earns my respect.

So this is a toss up kids! It’s research is fantastic. If you want to learn lots of information on that time period, this is great. If you don’t really care if someone who was murdered that long ago was a prostitute or not, this might not be for you either.

Stalking Jack the Ripper – Book Review

Published Date: September 20, 2016

Publishing Co.: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 343

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I wandered across this book while browsing the shelves at the store. Honestly, all my other choices were out of stock but, I decided I would pick it up on a whim and see how it went. There are a million things you can do with a Jack the Ripper story and we’d just see where this went.

Good lord did this girl try to beat me over the head with how intelligent her boy toy was. Show me, don’t tell me. I’ll decide for myself if he comes off as even remotely smart. (He eventually does when allowed to talk for himself.) While we’re at it, stop telling me how good you are at resisting his charms when you’re clearly smitten from the very beginning. Let’s just make a promise not to lie to each other, okay?

Other than that, I did enjoy the main character, Audrey Rose. I always like a rebellious woman who decides to say, “Fuck your social norms.” I liked Thomas Cresswell even more as a strong male character encouraging said girl’s fiery personality and curiosity. Of course sparks will ignite between the two while they are elbow deep in cadavers. Nothing is more attractive than someone who can handle a bone saw like an expert.

Unfortunately, I figured out the identity of the Ripper early in the book. I had hoped they were just a red herring and I’d have a complete surprise towards the end, but I didn’t. No matter though, I still enjoyed the story. I don’t know that I would go out of my way to pick up the second book but if I wandered across it, much like the first, I may decide to read it.

Book Haul/Bookstagram

A two-for-one deal on this fine Memorial Day. A very special thanks to the ladies and gentleman of the military of whom without their sacrifices, I may be running for my life instead of drooling over the books I picked up this weekend. No amount of national holidays will be enough to thank you.

Every time I get a Barnes and Noble gift card I hold onto it for awhile. I know they tend to get wiped out of good stock after the holidays so I wait. Well this time I received a gift card for my birthday (mid-April), and here it is a month and a half later and I finally decided to spend that bad boy. Of course, not really thinking it through I went on a holiday weekend when they were having pretty good sales and once again, anything I really wanted was gone. #firstworldproblems

I’m pretty excited about the fat book on the bottom. The one of top was kind of a, they-dont-have-anything-else-I-really-want buy. I’ve heard good things and it sounds like it might be fun but my expectations are not very high.

Onto Bookstagram posts from the last couple of weeks:

More dollar store book finds.

Sick again. Brain fogged. Time to stare at some fiesty ladies.

My husband had a comfy reading spot set up for me when I got home. Samus is helping keep my feet warm.

Making mac n’ cheese, reading a zombie book.