Real Murders By Charlaine Harris

“Real Murders” is the first in an Aurora Teagarden Mystery series.  This cozy mystery is about a group of people who get together once a month to discuss past murders.  There is a murderer in town that is copying infamous murders.  Aurora and the club are racing to find the killer.  Meanwhile, the killer is killing the members of the club, one by one.

This cozy mystery is a fast read.  I have seen the movie, so I thought I knew what to expect, but the book surprised me with several twists.  I enjoyed this book and, while it is not a classic, it is well written.  I liked the characters, who seemed to jump of the page.  I give Ms. Harris three and a half stars for “Real Murders”.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Manscalco

“Stalking Jack the Ripper” by Kerri Manscalco is a fictional story about a young girl who has an unusual love of science. Her uncle, Dr. Jonathon Wadsworth, teaches science to young men in Harrow School for Boys. Part of the course is based on the Jonathon’s experiments involving the autopsies that he conducts in his lab. 

Instead of taking tea and working on embroidery, as ladies of the day spent their days, Audrey Rose is only interested in her uncle’s work, even though she knows it isn’t proper. Finally, after much pleading she is allowed to dress like a boy, and sit in on his class. That is where she meets Thomas.

 At that time, the headlines were full of Jack the Ripper, or the Leather Apron. Audrey Rose is something of a snoop, a want to be detective, and is putting herself in danger to find this monster who is killing women. Thomas starts to go with her, at first to protect her, but then he becomes intrigued with the Leather Apron, too. Three young women crossed their autopsy table before Audrey Rose finds The Ripper.

This book was well written, but just didn’t hold my attention. The first couple of chapters were intriguing, but then it became very boring. The focus switched from finding Jack, to the relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas and back to Jack at the end. I found myself counting the pages I had read before I could start another book. This book was not at all what I expected it to be. It didn’t capture the mystery of Jack and, worse than all, “Stalking Jack the Ripper” was too predictable. I give it one star.