Review: Ripper

Ripper
by Amy Carol Reeves
ebook
360 pages
Published April 8th 2012
by Flux
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

A paranormal mystery involving London’s most notorious killer 

In 1888, following her mother’s sudden death, seventeen-year-old Arabella Sharp goes to live with her grandmother in a posh London neighborhood. At her grandmother’s request, Abbie volunteers at Whitechapel Hospital, where she discovers a passion for helping the unfortunate women and children there. 

But within days, female patients begin turning up brutally murdered at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Even more horrifying, Abbie starts having strange visions that lead her straight to the Ripper’s next massacres. As her apparent psychic connection with the twisted killer grows stronger, Abbie is drawn into a deadly mystery involving the murders, her mother’s shadowed past, and a secret brotherhood of immortals—who’ll stop at nothing to lure Abbie into its “humanitarian” aims.

Thoughts:
Another book based on the Jack the Ripper murders! Apparently 2012 is indeed a good year for historical fantasy since so many are published this year. Ripper started off well and we are introduced (rather quickly) to Abbie who just lost her mother and now are sent off to live with her wealthy grandmother. At the request of a close family friend (and apparently since it's considered vogue to do so by her dear grandma), Abbie was ordered to volunteer at Whitechapel Hospital.

Likes
Now things get a lot more interesting when Abbie gets there as she meets Simon and Williams; two handsome young doctors working in the hospital. Thankfully there's not much of a love triangle since Abbie is very much pre-occupied by the mysterious gruesome killings. I also love how Abbie decided that it's her calling to be a doctor rather than just be relegated to the sidelines as a nurse or something.

Dislikes
The ending is kind of abrupt for me. One minute Abbie and her young men are running for their lives and the next everything was revealed and ended. It's like in the movie when the villain finally confess to his wrongdoings and his ulterior motives. The same thing happened here. I wished there were more clues or maybe a flashback to the past or something to give us a glimpse of the whole murder connection.

I'm kind of on the fence regarding this book. Although it does not bore me but it just doesn't leave an impact. Overall, it is a quick enjoyable read without taxing the mind too much.

Recommended for: fans historical fantasy
Verdict: 3 stars.

In my Debut Author& Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon