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leightonridge's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
strayreads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this novel but found the plot lacking half way. Still a great book.
tufriel's review against another edition
4.0
The army sent him to Singapore! I wonder where that came from. Was our tiny island the farthest reaches of the empire they could chuck him to?
A nice twist on the Ripper story that did not shy away from the brutality of the crimes although it indulged a little too much into how Sarah felt and what else those feelings were like.
A nice twist on the Ripper story that did not shy away from the brutality of the crimes although it indulged a little too much into how Sarah felt and what else those feelings were like.
mariewikle's review against another edition
5.0
enjoyable tale
I enjoyed this retelling of Jack the Ripper. Different.. unique… lovable characters - truly people advancing ahead of their time
I enjoyed this retelling of Jack the Ripper. Different.. unique… lovable characters - truly people advancing ahead of their time
abbey_ford's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2017; Crooked Lane Books
The title of The Ripper's Shadow both intrigued me and turned me off. There are so many things out there with the Ripper's myth I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on another. I am so glad I decided to go for it as I loved this book. Sarah Bain, the protagonist, is a savvy fierce lead. She is a photographer, that runs her own studio, but to make actual money she photographs local women "of the night". When two of the women she photographed turn up brutally murdered, Sarah suspects there is more to the story. Along the way, the private quiet Sarah joins up with a "street urchin", wealthy titled outsider due to his sexual preferences, a beautiful actress and a Jewish Butcher to look into the killings in White Chapel. The police catch on to Sarah and her crew looking into the crimes and wonder what her involvement in the crime is. Soon Sarah is not sure if the police are looking into the crimes or covering them up.
I liked Rowland's take on the Ripper case (and the conclusion) but it was the characters that I fell in love with. I not only enjoyed the characters but really liked the chemistry between them. What really draws me into a series, especially mysteries, is the chemistry of the characters in the group. I don't like when they are forced together or use bickering instead of bantering. Book one set up the series well, and left it open for book two. I am looking forward to the next book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2017; Crooked Lane Books
The title of The Ripper's Shadow both intrigued me and turned me off. There are so many things out there with the Ripper's myth I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on another. I am so glad I decided to go for it as I loved this book. Sarah Bain, the protagonist, is a savvy fierce lead. She is a photographer, that runs her own studio, but to make actual money she photographs local women "of the night". When two of the women she photographed turn up brutally murdered, Sarah suspects there is more to the story. Along the way, the private quiet Sarah joins up with a "street urchin", wealthy titled outsider due to his sexual preferences, a beautiful actress and a Jewish Butcher to look into the killings in White Chapel. The police catch on to Sarah and her crew looking into the crimes and wonder what her involvement in the crime is. Soon Sarah is not sure if the police are looking into the crimes or covering them up.
I liked Rowland's take on the Ripper case (and the conclusion) but it was the characters that I fell in love with. I not only enjoyed the characters but really liked the chemistry between them. What really draws me into a series, especially mysteries, is the chemistry of the characters in the group. I don't like when they are forced together or use bickering instead of bantering. Book one set up the series well, and left it open for book two. I am looking forward to the next book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This historical mystery caught my eye because it’s about a boudoir photographer hunting Jack the Ripper. What an amazing premise! When her clients start to turn up dead, Sarah decides to investigate, a delicate proposition considering her not entirely legal career. She puts together a ragtag group of friends to help her out, and the strength of the ensemble cast really carries the story (the first in a series!).
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I was so happy that I liked this book as much as I did... there are *so many* Jack-the-Ripper historical mysteries out there that I approached this with a great deal of skepticism. Rowland delivered nicely; the world-building was very good and I enjoyed the characters a lot. This is told in first person by Sarah Bain, a single young woman in Victorian London who earns her living as a photographer. When the Ripper's crimes begin to appear, Sarah recognizes a pattern in the killer's victims. As she begins to follow the crime spree, she gathers around her friends who also have an interest in solving the mystery of the Ripper's identity. The story is well-paced and the historical details ring true. It's a refreshingly original take on the Victorian historical mystery. I am planning to read the next in the series for sure.