Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (Review & #Giveaway)


I was blown away by how good the first book in this series was and so this second book
has been high on my list. Read my what I thought and enter the tour giveaway below...

Hunting Prince Dracula
(Stalking Jack the Ripper #2)
by Kerri Maniscalco
YA Historical, Suspense, Thriller
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 448 Pages
September 19th 2017 by Little, Brown & Company

Summary

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.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

My Review

HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA is shrouded in mystery and intrigue with a very Gothic feel. Again, Audrey and Thomas get to test their skills as well as their relationship as danger stalks ever closer. Those who enjoyed the first book and stories a little more on the macabre side with witty banter and romance mixed in, will enjoy this one.

I fell in love with Audrey and Thomas in Stalking Jack the Ripper and was happy to dive back into their storybook world. The setting is much more Gothic this time around with them staying at an old castle in Romania with hidden tunnels and plenty of secrets. I loved seeing how Thomas' brain works and his continual struggle to woo Audrey. He really is such an incredibly sweet guy. Audrey is a little unhinged in this story after the conclusion of the last book. While I didn't blame her, I also wanted her to reason through things better. She was really hot and cold, one minute breaking apart and the next talking sweetly to Thomas. I felt a little like I was getting whiplash with her, especially as some of the mood swings were so quick with no transition. I wanted more consistency from her. I did adore the back and forth and all the banter between her and Thomas. I loved them together in the first book and I still love them together here.

Then there is the whole murder/mystery plot... I love it when a mystery keeps the villain hidden from me until almost the end and this story definitely did that. There were little clues here and there, but mostly I had to piece things together as the characters did. I also thought the twist off of vampires and Vlad the Impaler was also quite interesting and creative. It lent a definite Gothic and macabre feel to the story. Some of it was gruesome, but non-descriptive as the characters don't usually see any violence, just the consequences or aftermath of it. The innuendo was quite a bit more mature than in the first book as was some other content, so would recommend to older readers.

In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was a decent follow-up to the first book with another mystery to be solved and plenty of romantic sparks. I'm hoping that things with Audrey and between her and Thomas will be more resolved in the next book and am quite curious what twisted case they will tackle next.

Content: Lots of innuendo, some gruesome scenes (they study murders, so generally the bodies have been murdered), some lesbian references.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through The Fantastic Flying Book Club, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.

Other Books in the Series

Stalking Jack the Ripper
(Stalking Jack the Ripper #1)
by Kerri Maniscalco
YA Historical, Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 336 Pages
September 20th 2016 by Jimmy Patterson

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

Read my review HERE.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

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.


Tour Schedule


Tour-Wide Giveaway

    2 copies of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula
    US & Canada Only
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Have you read the first book in this series or will be reading this one?

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