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Ripped, a Jack the Ripper Time-Travel Thriller
RIPPED is a winner in 3 IBPA Ben Franklin Awards:
GOLD: Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book, Fiction
SILVER: Best Mystery/Suspense Book
SILVER: Best New Voice (Children/Young Adult)
Can an American teen leave her i-Phone and Starbucks behind, travel back to 1888 London, and unmask the man who got away with murder again and again?
Jack the Ripper eviscerated his victims and sent body parts to Scotland Yard to taunt the inspectors. Katie has read about the Ripper. Visiting a Jack the Ripper exhibit, she learns the names of his victims and where they were killed. She's watched her fair share of CSI; surely she knows enough to stop this maniac.
And, luckily, handsome nineteenth-century Toby agrees to help her. Can gutsy Katie and Toby do what Scotland Yard's finest could not? If she intervenes and changes history, how will that affect her life and those around her? And when it's time to go back to her own century, can Katie really leave Toby—the one who believed in her, helped her, and really understood her?
With 60 illustrations by Chris Gall. (In color on color devices)
GOLD: Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book, Fiction
SILVER: Best Mystery/Suspense Book
SILVER: Best New Voice (Children/Young Adult)
Can an American teen leave her i-Phone and Starbucks behind, travel back to 1888 London, and unmask the man who got away with murder again and again?
Jack the Ripper eviscerated his victims and sent body parts to Scotland Yard to taunt the inspectors. Katie has read about the Ripper. Visiting a Jack the Ripper exhibit, she learns the names of his victims and where they were killed. She's watched her fair share of CSI; surely she knows enough to stop this maniac.
And, luckily, handsome nineteenth-century Toby agrees to help her. Can gutsy Katie and Toby do what Scotland Yard's finest could not? If she intervenes and changes history, how will that affect her life and those around her? And when it's time to go back to her own century, can Katie really leave Toby—the one who believed in her, helped her, and really understood her?
With 60 illustrations by Chris Gall. (In color on color devices)
520 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2012
30 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Dickson Carr
5 books16 followersI was ten years old when I read He Wouldn't Kill Patience, the classic mystery by my grandfather, John Dickson Carr. I guess it all started there, because ever since that book, I've been hooked on the genre and thinking about the mystery I'd one day write. Well, RIPPED is it--my first novel.
The idea for RIPPED came while on a scouting trip. As a board member for the Huntington Theater in Boston, I'm lucky enough to travel to London each year with theater members in search of interesting new plays. While in London, I began researching the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper, one of the greatest unsolved murder cases in history.
My fascination with the nineteenth century started as a young girl, in a rambling Victorian house in Mamaroneck, New York. My British mother, an author and bibliophile, filled every room in the house with floor-to-ceiling book shelves. Leather-bound classics abounded. My friends called it the library house. In third grade I read all the Just So Stories by Kipling --because I could reach them on the lower shelves.
A founding member of The Masterpiece Trust that enabled Downton Abbey to be aired on PBS, and a supporter of Masterpiece Mystery's Sherlock, you might say I'm wacky about all things British.
I have three daughters who helped so much in shaping my book. Plus my husband is my biggest supporter. We live on Beacon Hill in Boston, with our bulldog Becket.
I have an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College, and an undergraduate degree in education.
The idea for RIPPED came while on a scouting trip. As a board member for the Huntington Theater in Boston, I'm lucky enough to travel to London each year with theater members in search of interesting new plays. While in London, I began researching the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper, one of the greatest unsolved murder cases in history.
My fascination with the nineteenth century started as a young girl, in a rambling Victorian house in Mamaroneck, New York. My British mother, an author and bibliophile, filled every room in the house with floor-to-ceiling book shelves. Leather-bound classics abounded. My friends called it the library house. In third grade I read all the Just So Stories by Kipling --because I could reach them on the lower shelves.
A founding member of The Masterpiece Trust that enabled Downton Abbey to be aired on PBS, and a supporter of Masterpiece Mystery's Sherlock, you might say I'm wacky about all things British.
I have three daughters who helped so much in shaping my book. Plus my husband is my biggest supporter. We live on Beacon Hill in Boston, with our bulldog Becket.
I have an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College, and an undergraduate degree in education.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 15, 2015
DNF at 22%, the start of Chapter 14.
The first thing that I have to say is that I really, honestly, thought I'd love this book. I wanted to. I love historical fictions and I know A LOT about Jack the Ripper.
But I know far too much about British history and the Ripper case to fully appreciate this book. I was left a little confused, and the massacre of the Ripper story just didn't sit well for me - I'm all for being inspired by historical events but it felt a little disrespectful to the victims that their story was messed around with so much. I felt it would have been better with Ripper-inspired murders rather than the author inventing whole new victims.
It was a good idea, but my goodness, it wasn't executed well. For me anyway. Some people might love it. If you don't know much about British history and the Ripper cases, and you don't mind countless (and often with patronising explanations thrown in) Cockney rhyming slang in the text, then you'll probably enjoy it.
The thing that annoyed me the most was the horrific characterisations of the British characters. It honestly felt as though the author had stumbled upon a wiki-page of Cockney rhyming slang and thought "I know, I'll write a book and cram as many of these sayings into it as possible!" It made for dated speech with the English characters. There was a "glossary" of sorts at the front of the book with the meanings of a lot of the phrases, but despite this the reader was treated like an idiot and every time a phrase was used within the story, the character would define it in what felt like a rather patronising way. Especially when it happened again and AGAIN with the same phrase. And it's over used.
Georgie flushed scarlet thinking about Cecilia's long, shapely bacon and eggs, and her beautiful dark mince pies.
Katie is quite the little Mary Sue. She lived in Boston for practically her WHOLE life, but can easily affect an English accent. And her parents are dead, but hey, her sister's a famous rock star!
One of the first quotes I picked out was: She'd read so many Victorian novels that she was starting to feel she'd have been better off in that time period. It was safer and much more romantic.
And I just stared at the page. Safer? SAFER? Even the most basic of history lessons would teach you that this was not the case, and most certainly not in London where this book is set. If you didn't die of cholera or some other disease, then you'd probably starve to death or be murdered or mutilated in some horrific accident. And then the stench. The stench of the industrial age, smoggy skies, millions of unwashed bodies and poor sanitation. There's no way that's romantic.
And that wasn't the end of the inaccuracies - historical or cultural. Heck, the author claims that Hogwarts is an English boarding school. ENGLISH! And then there's Oscar Wilde (oh yes, just one of the famous writers our Mary Sue meets) who was laughable. And so unbelievable. And poor Mary Kelly (actual Ripper victim) is described as a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. And the English apparently like to say things like "ass over teakettle". Ass? I've never heard anyone say ass. It's a very American term.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
The first thing that I have to say is that I really, honestly, thought I'd love this book. I wanted to. I love historical fictions and I know A LOT about Jack the Ripper.
But I know far too much about British history and the Ripper case to fully appreciate this book. I was left a little confused, and the massacre of the Ripper story just didn't sit well for me - I'm all for being inspired by historical events but it felt a little disrespectful to the victims that their story was messed around with so much. I felt it would have been better with Ripper-inspired murders rather than the author inventing whole new victims.
It was a good idea, but my goodness, it wasn't executed well. For me anyway. Some people might love it. If you don't know much about British history and the Ripper cases, and you don't mind countless (and often with patronising explanations thrown in) Cockney rhyming slang in the text, then you'll probably enjoy it.
The thing that annoyed me the most was the horrific characterisations of the British characters. It honestly felt as though the author had stumbled upon a wiki-page of Cockney rhyming slang and thought "I know, I'll write a book and cram as many of these sayings into it as possible!" It made for dated speech with the English characters. There was a "glossary" of sorts at the front of the book with the meanings of a lot of the phrases, but despite this the reader was treated like an idiot and every time a phrase was used within the story, the character would define it in what felt like a rather patronising way. Especially when it happened again and AGAIN with the same phrase. And it's over used.
Georgie flushed scarlet thinking about Cecilia's long, shapely bacon and eggs, and her beautiful dark mince pies.
Katie is quite the little Mary Sue. She lived in Boston for practically her WHOLE life, but can easily affect an English accent. And her parents are dead, but hey, her sister's a famous rock star!
One of the first quotes I picked out was: She'd read so many Victorian novels that she was starting to feel she'd have been better off in that time period. It was safer and much more romantic.
And I just stared at the page. Safer? SAFER? Even the most basic of history lessons would teach you that this was not the case, and most certainly not in London where this book is set. If you didn't die of cholera or some other disease, then you'd probably starve to death or be murdered or mutilated in some horrific accident. And then the stench. The stench of the industrial age, smoggy skies, millions of unwashed bodies and poor sanitation. There's no way that's romantic.
And that wasn't the end of the inaccuracies - historical or cultural. Heck, the author claims that Hogwarts is an English boarding school. ENGLISH! And then there's Oscar Wilde (oh yes, just one of the famous writers our Mary Sue meets) who was laughable. And so unbelievable. And poor Mary Kelly (actual Ripper victim) is described as a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. And the English apparently like to say things like "ass over teakettle". Ass? I've never heard anyone say ass. It's a very American term.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
September 23, 2019
The first thing I saw for this book were several 1-star reviews which almost put me off, but I'm glad they didn't. Yes, the rhyming slang is straight from the Dick Van Dyke School of Cockney Accents, but if you can ignore that (and it does get easier), this is quite a good little story.
It does take some liberties with the facts of the real Jack the Ripper case but this is a work of fiction based on the case, not a true crime book. The story itself was well-thought out (although I did guess who it was fairly early on) and I didn't feel it was too long or dragged out. Well worth a read.
It does take some liberties with the facts of the real Jack the Ripper case but this is a work of fiction based on the case, not a true crime book. The story itself was well-thought out (although I did guess who it was fairly early on) and I didn't feel it was too long or dragged out. Well worth a read.
May 30, 2016
The author's grandfather was the great John Dickson Carr, one of my favorite mystery novelists. Talent must run in the family, because Shelly Dickson Carr's RIPPED was impossible to put down.
The twists and turns were unexpected, yet perfect, and even though the book was a long one, when I reached the last page I found myself wishing I could spend more time with Katie and the rest of the cast.
The twists and turns were unexpected, yet perfect, and even though the book was a long one, when I reached the last page I found myself wishing I could spend more time with Katie and the rest of the cast.
September 14, 2025
What a fun romp through time and the Jack the Ripper saga. I could not put this book down - I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the writing. I agree with other reviewers that the Cockney rhyming slang was a bit over done and did not require as much explanation as the author used. But otherwise I feel the author hit it out of the park!
February 18, 2013
From my blog, The Writer Diaries.
Ripped – received a free digital copy by requesting on Netgalley.
Let me just say, I love Jack the Ripper stories. The mystery surrounding his reign of terror fascinates me. How he was never captured, and no one ever found out who he was.
Unfortunately, this didn’t live up to my love of the subject. I adored The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, and was hoping this would be a grisly, fun YA horror. However, there was very little horror.
Katie travels back in time to the summer of 1888 when Jack the Ripper terrorized White Chapel London when she touches the London Stone and thinks to herself how she wishes she could solve the mystery of Jack The Ripper and keep him from killing all those poor girls, mainly, her ancestor, Lady Beatrix Twyford.
While the premise is interesting, the story dragged on in places and some things were never explained. Much of the action of Jack the Ripper is all pushed up at the end of the book. It didn’t seen thrilling to me, not as it should. I feel as if most of Kate’s time was spent hanging around with Toby and Colin’s great-great grandfathers (who just happened to be exact replicas, as well as Katie’s sister Courtney looking like Beatrix). I found myself skipping ahead and skimming pages waiting for something interesting to happen.
There were some things in the book that irked me, such as Toby knowing all this info to a T on how the Stone worked. I get it, he traveled in time, but really, half of what he recited to Katie was not something you could monitor in one time traveling adventure, and it only works once for any particular person.
Another was that if Katie was THAT freaked about Madame Toussard’s ripper show, why did she want to go back and experience it for real? And changing the past, doesn’t anyone understand how in every tv-show and movie involving time traveling, it is dangerous? The girls in Britain, hasn’t she ever watched a single episode of Doctor Who? Some things are set in stone.
It really bugged me that she wanted to save Lady Beatrix so badly, but the two basically exchanged a word or two and never came together again really for the rest of the book.
It just wasn’t my cup of tea. Especially when it was revealed who Jack the Ripper was… really? I suppose it was the shock factor, but the shock factor was moreover why HE was this dastardly ripper. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone who hasn’t read it, so I shall not name him.
Ripped – received a free digital copy by requesting on Netgalley.
Let me just say, I love Jack the Ripper stories. The mystery surrounding his reign of terror fascinates me. How he was never captured, and no one ever found out who he was.
Unfortunately, this didn’t live up to my love of the subject. I adored The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, and was hoping this would be a grisly, fun YA horror. However, there was very little horror.
Katie travels back in time to the summer of 1888 when Jack the Ripper terrorized White Chapel London when she touches the London Stone and thinks to herself how she wishes she could solve the mystery of Jack The Ripper and keep him from killing all those poor girls, mainly, her ancestor, Lady Beatrix Twyford.
While the premise is interesting, the story dragged on in places and some things were never explained. Much of the action of Jack the Ripper is all pushed up at the end of the book. It didn’t seen thrilling to me, not as it should. I feel as if most of Kate’s time was spent hanging around with Toby and Colin’s great-great grandfathers (who just happened to be exact replicas, as well as Katie’s sister Courtney looking like Beatrix). I found myself skipping ahead and skimming pages waiting for something interesting to happen.
There were some things in the book that irked me, such as Toby knowing all this info to a T on how the Stone worked. I get it, he traveled in time, but really, half of what he recited to Katie was not something you could monitor in one time traveling adventure, and it only works once for any particular person.
Another was that if Katie was THAT freaked about Madame Toussard’s ripper show, why did she want to go back and experience it for real? And changing the past, doesn’t anyone understand how in every tv-show and movie involving time traveling, it is dangerous? The girls in Britain, hasn’t she ever watched a single episode of Doctor Who? Some things are set in stone.
It really bugged me that she wanted to save Lady Beatrix so badly, but the two basically exchanged a word or two and never came together again really for the rest of the book.
It just wasn’t my cup of tea. Especially when it was revealed who Jack the Ripper was… really? I suppose it was the shock factor, but the shock factor was moreover why HE was this dastardly ripper. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone who hasn’t read it, so I shall not name him.
August 20, 2013
After a couple of weeks of trying to plod my way through this one, I finally forced myself to finish it today. YAY!!!! I'm finally done with this uninteresting piece of rubbish.
I don't know really what to say except that this is an excessively long book that should have been shortened and been done with 350 pages ago. The beginning chapters were overly descriptive,redundant paragraphs about the characters. None of which I truly care about. The premise was interesting enough but the delivery was a failure. As the story moved on, the boredom went from bad to worse. I felt like many things were left unexplained. I didn't care for the Cockney slang that was thrown into the writing.
Overall, I had many issues with this book based on the knowledge I have about Jack the Ripper.I was not impressed with this novel nor would I recommend it.
I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.
I don't know really what to say except that this is an excessively long book that should have been shortened and been done with 350 pages ago. The beginning chapters were overly descriptive,redundant paragraphs about the characters. None of which I truly care about. The premise was interesting enough but the delivery was a failure. As the story moved on, the boredom went from bad to worse. I felt like many things were left unexplained. I didn't care for the Cockney slang that was thrown into the writing.
Overall, I had many issues with this book based on the knowledge I have about Jack the Ripper.I was not impressed with this novel nor would I recommend it.
I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.
June 21, 2013
This book was... interesting. I've never really read a time travel novel before and I felt that this book could be a bit confusing. But I'm a murder mystery lover so I wanted to give this book a try. I don't know much about the case of Jack the Ripper so if there were any blatant mistakes in the writing of this book I truly didn't notice them but I have seen reviews that are angry about the mistakes in the case. Now, in the author's defense, at the very end of the book she clearly states that she purposely changed details, victims, etc to suit the book.
I really liked the main character Katie. She was skunky and spirited and it was quite comical to read about her experiences living in Victorian London where girls were demure and quiet. She messed up quite often by acting in ways that were totally inappropriate back then. It was fun to read as she tried to explain her way out of her quirkiness without casting too much suspicion on her.
Also, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never made obvious throughout the novel. I was clueless even as he was being revealed and had to reread the page a few times to make sure that I had read correctly.
The book is intriguing and all around a fun read. If you want a book that's going to stick to the case of Jack the Ripper to a T, don't read this novel. If you want a book that going to take a case that is known throughout the world and put their own spin on it and "solve" the mystery, then this book should interest you. I know I found it to be an entertaining, if at sometimes confusing, read.
I really liked the main character Katie. She was skunky and spirited and it was quite comical to read about her experiences living in Victorian London where girls were demure and quiet. She messed up quite often by acting in ways that were totally inappropriate back then. It was fun to read as she tried to explain her way out of her quirkiness without casting too much suspicion on her.
Also, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never made obvious throughout the novel. I was clueless even as he was being revealed and had to reread the page a few times to make sure that I had read correctly.
The book is intriguing and all around a fun read. If you want a book that's going to stick to the case of Jack the Ripper to a T, don't read this novel. If you want a book that going to take a case that is known throughout the world and put their own spin on it and "solve" the mystery, then this book should interest you. I know I found it to be an entertaining, if at sometimes confusing, read.
June 13, 2013
I recieved this novel from NetGalley.
This novel was a great read, the characters were engaging and the time travel via the London stone was believable and realistic. I loved how the action started early in the novel and how the names of the characters were the same throughout the different eras.
The downfall to this novel was that because the action started so early, there was a lull towards the middle of the novel that made it feel slow and blunderous, the information given aided in pulling the reader along but if it weren't for the amazing characters than this novel would have floundered in the middle.
I enjoyed how there was a slight love interest for the main character, and how this didn't obscure her judgement, as so many other Young Adult protagonists seem to encounter.
This novel was fun to read and would be a fantastic addition to any YA readers book shelf
This novel was a great read, the characters were engaging and the time travel via the London stone was believable and realistic. I loved how the action started early in the novel and how the names of the characters were the same throughout the different eras.
The downfall to this novel was that because the action started so early, there was a lull towards the middle of the novel that made it feel slow and blunderous, the information given aided in pulling the reader along but if it weren't for the amazing characters than this novel would have floundered in the middle.
I enjoyed how there was a slight love interest for the main character, and how this didn't obscure her judgement, as so many other Young Adult protagonists seem to encounter.
This novel was fun to read and would be a fantastic addition to any YA readers book shelf
April 12, 2013
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/ZRh6w7
My opinion: I enjoyed this quick, light read targeted towards the younger audience. The book, for the most part, was clean enough from romance and violence that even for your younger, more advanced readers to delve into. The author focused on developing an engrossing storyline demanding use of one's imagination than utilizing sex and violence to grab interests. It was very refreshing. I have seen a number of reviews criticizing this lack of horror and my response would be that this is a YA book; do we really need to subject our youth TO MORE VIOLENCE?!?!
How well thought out was this book? The author includes a glossary of terms not only for present day London slang, but late 1800's slang, as well.
My opinion: I enjoyed this quick, light read targeted towards the younger audience. The book, for the most part, was clean enough from romance and violence that even for your younger, more advanced readers to delve into. The author focused on developing an engrossing storyline demanding use of one's imagination than utilizing sex and violence to grab interests. It was very refreshing. I have seen a number of reviews criticizing this lack of horror and my response would be that this is a YA book; do we really need to subject our youth TO MORE VIOLENCE?!?!
How well thought out was this book? The author includes a glossary of terms not only for present day London slang, but late 1800's slang, as well.
not-for-me
January 16, 2015I'm all for taking a fantasy and twisting it into something else, But not when it's a real story. The idea was good but It would have worked better if it was set back in London in 1888 rather then going back to the past. If you're that scared of Madame Tussauds house of horrors how is it not scary to actually be back in time with the real Jack the Ripper. For me it just didn't work. Even the character placement didn't work. I really wanted to like it......I just didn't :(
January 25, 2020
I received this book free for an honest review from Netgalley.
I haven’t read any Jack the Ripper books prior to this and I don’t know anything about what he did so going into this I didn’t know that the facts might not have all been accurate. I liked this book overall. I felt like the characters keep me interested and I liked trying to guess who was Jack the Ripper. Sometimes I didn’t care for the language and sometimes I felt like things repeated themselves back to back which was annoying and seemed like a space filler. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book.
I haven’t read any Jack the Ripper books prior to this and I don’t know anything about what he did so going into this I didn’t know that the facts might not have all been accurate. I liked this book overall. I felt like the characters keep me interested and I liked trying to guess who was Jack the Ripper. Sometimes I didn’t care for the language and sometimes I felt like things repeated themselves back to back which was annoying and seemed like a space filler. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book.
April 18, 2020
I have had this book on my to-read list since 2013. I have been hoping that 1 day I could find it at my local library in the e-audio section. Alas it has not.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I think it is her only book. I really enjoyed the story and I thought it was quite entertaining.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I think it is her only book. I really enjoyed the story and I thought it was quite entertaining.
October 30, 2020
Young adult. 500pages. Too much Cockney slang. I got tired of Katie's saying something about something that hasn't happened yet. Just too much language.
I would not recommend, but maybe young adults will like it.
I would not recommend, but maybe young adults will like it.
February 7, 2013
Ripped - received a free digital copy by requesting on Netgalley.
The thoughts that Katie has about living in the 19th century are thoughts that I have. What would it really be like? In many novels we only see the romantic side of the century but I know for a fact that I couldn't be content with just being a trophy wife who went to tea parties (unless it would be with the mad hatter!), going for walks, attend social balls, sewing and what not. I couldn't, however, be of the working class either. Consider the living conditions of the poor! I would not be a street-walker like so many young less fortunate girls in London's street at that time.. Especially not with Jack around, oh no..
One thing though... If the Jack The Ripper exhibition freaked her out that much... How can se be content with travelling back in time trying to rewrite history be catching the mysterious mass murderer? How can she not be scared when it is real? She is in Britain, hasn't she watched some Doctor Who - changing history is dangerous... Almost as dangerous to write about who Jack the Ripper actually was.. But the author is bold enough, so I guess her protagonist is as well...
It bugs me she doesn't have a relationship with the person she is so desperately trying to save?! Do they even exchange one word to each other?!
At 40% through the book the author gives us a hint but I do not believe it!
Clever author, clever!
Thoughts with spoilers!!:
Now, I absolutely hate it when authors write about real life people especially the good old classics. This is basically a fan fiction then, isn't it? About Jack the Ripper? I hope not.. Being a fan of Jack the Ripper is not normal. You can speculate about all the mystery and how he managed not to get caught but never be a fan... But there are plenty of other famous people in there.. A very bold and dangerous thing to do..
In the end Katie gets one of her wishes to come true :)
The thoughts that Katie has about living in the 19th century are thoughts that I have. What would it really be like? In many novels we only see the romantic side of the century but I know for a fact that I couldn't be content with just being a trophy wife who went to tea parties (unless it would be with the mad hatter!), going for walks, attend social balls, sewing and what not. I couldn't, however, be of the working class either. Consider the living conditions of the poor! I would not be a street-walker like so many young less fortunate girls in London's street at that time.. Especially not with Jack around, oh no..
One thing though... If the Jack The Ripper exhibition freaked her out that much... How can se be content with travelling back in time trying to rewrite history be catching the mysterious mass murderer? How can she not be scared when it is real? She is in Britain, hasn't she watched some Doctor Who - changing history is dangerous... Almost as dangerous to write about who Jack the Ripper actually was.. But the author is bold enough, so I guess her protagonist is as well...
It bugs me she doesn't have a relationship with the person she is so desperately trying to save?! Do they even exchange one word to each other?!
At 40% through the book the author gives us a hint but I do not believe it!
Clever author, clever!
Thoughts with spoilers!!:
Now, I absolutely hate it when authors write about real life people especially the good old classics. This is basically a fan fiction then, isn't it? About Jack the Ripper? I hope not.. Being a fan of Jack the Ripper is not normal. You can speculate about all the mystery and how he managed not to get caught but never be a fan... But there are plenty of other famous people in there.. A very bold and dangerous thing to do..
In the end Katie gets one of her wishes to come true :)
May 5, 2023
Reread.
I read this back when I was 13 and I remember this being one of the first few books I ever downloaded on my kindle. It's one of the those totally obscure indie books u will never hear about ( I'm not entirely sure how I found this either before) - which makes me want to wail because it's SUCH a shame.
Rereading this book make me live it even more the second time-the atmosphere, the characters, the research is so well done I wish every time travel book was like this. There are very few books that do justice to the feel of 19 century Victorian London and this book did it beautifully. I loved the feeling it gave me.
The main protagonist is 15 years old and done in a likewise narrative but it never gets boring for one second. I still remembered the main plot twist from before and honestly I still have some questions on how that came about but I love this book too much to ever discredit it.
The emotional attachment is real. OK, no but It really does deserve the hype I am giving it and I personally cannot fathom anyone not enjoying this book.
I read this back when I was 13 and I remember this being one of the first few books I ever downloaded on my kindle. It's one of the those totally obscure indie books u will never hear about ( I'm not entirely sure how I found this either before) - which makes me want to wail because it's SUCH a shame.
Rereading this book make me live it even more the second time-the atmosphere, the characters, the research is so well done I wish every time travel book was like this. There are very few books that do justice to the feel of 19 century Victorian London and this book did it beautifully. I loved the feeling it gave me.
The main protagonist is 15 years old and done in a likewise narrative but it never gets boring for one second. I still remembered the main plot twist from before and honestly I still have some questions on how that came about but I love this book too much to ever discredit it.
The emotional attachment is real. OK, no but It really does deserve the hype I am giving it and I personally cannot fathom anyone not enjoying this book.
June 9, 2013
Review to come on the blog June 22.
**************
Kate, the protagonist in this story, gets her wish and travels back in time to London 1888, the time when the notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper, roamed the London streets in the Whitechapel area, and frightened its citizens so famously. She swears to herself that she'll discover who Jack the Ripper is and stop him from killing innocent women, but mostly to stop him from killing one of her ancestors.
In the process, Katie discovers and learns a lot about Victorian England, experiencing what the like was like for both the common people as well as the noble. What Katie finds out is that it isn't as she has always imagined it. Although she's read many books pertaining to its time, she had romanticized the period, so when she actually had to experience a few of the actual life styles, all those fanciful thoughts were promptly dashed. For instance, the beautiful gowns and accessories she had so admired and fantasized wearing were not as she had imagined! The binding corsets, the sheer number of undergarments that ladies had to wear to support the yards and yards of heavy but "gorgeously embellished" fabrics were not to her liking. She disliked the inability to breathe properly in a stifling environment because of those tightly bound corsets, which isn't something a woman can even get into alone, but rather must be aided by a lady's maid servant. Then there's her discovery of the males and learning not all is as she thought. A dashing, charming Romeo they were not, but rather she finds them highly chauvinistic and often unable to be withstood due to their opinions of women.
Although the story was fun, imagining time-traveling and the possibility of changing history, at times I found myself lost, not quite understanding what the point of this story was. I felt it sidetracked often and far away from the original idea, where Katie would ease her suffering of losing her parents and the distancing from her sister by somehow affecting something in the past so that the pains of her heart are eased.
Yes, in the end, those things did come together, but I lost the point of what Jack the Ripper had to do with Katie.
I came off the story feeling satisfied because of the wrap up, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was just off about the novel/story as a whole, something I may have missed, etc. It's hard to describe this vague feeling of unfinished business or muddled sense of satisfaction, but the tangents disrupted the flow and threw me off. All in all, an enjoyable book.
**************
Kate, the protagonist in this story, gets her wish and travels back in time to London 1888, the time when the notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper, roamed the London streets in the Whitechapel area, and frightened its citizens so famously. She swears to herself that she'll discover who Jack the Ripper is and stop him from killing innocent women, but mostly to stop him from killing one of her ancestors.
In the process, Katie discovers and learns a lot about Victorian England, experiencing what the like was like for both the common people as well as the noble. What Katie finds out is that it isn't as she has always imagined it. Although she's read many books pertaining to its time, she had romanticized the period, so when she actually had to experience a few of the actual life styles, all those fanciful thoughts were promptly dashed. For instance, the beautiful gowns and accessories she had so admired and fantasized wearing were not as she had imagined! The binding corsets, the sheer number of undergarments that ladies had to wear to support the yards and yards of heavy but "gorgeously embellished" fabrics were not to her liking. She disliked the inability to breathe properly in a stifling environment because of those tightly bound corsets, which isn't something a woman can even get into alone, but rather must be aided by a lady's maid servant. Then there's her discovery of the males and learning not all is as she thought. A dashing, charming Romeo they were not, but rather she finds them highly chauvinistic and often unable to be withstood due to their opinions of women.
Although the story was fun, imagining time-traveling and the possibility of changing history, at times I found myself lost, not quite understanding what the point of this story was. I felt it sidetracked often and far away from the original idea, where Katie would ease her suffering of losing her parents and the distancing from her sister by somehow affecting something in the past so that the pains of her heart are eased.
Yes, in the end, those things did come together, but I lost the point of what Jack the Ripper had to do with Katie.
I came off the story feeling satisfied because of the wrap up, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was just off about the novel/story as a whole, something I may have missed, etc. It's hard to describe this vague feeling of unfinished business or muddled sense of satisfaction, but the tangents disrupted the flow and threw me off. All in all, an enjoyable book.
February 18, 2015
Finally, I'm going to share with you my first book review of the year! Yay! Hopefully, it's not the last. Shelly Dickson Carr's Ripped is based on the reign of terror by a mysterious serial killer dubbed as Jack the Ripper. He was known for committing brutal murders of young women through slitting their throats, mutilating their faces and genital-area, and evisceration of the internal organs. Clearly, it was a horrifying event during the nineteenth century. Despite this, it made Jack the Ripper the most famous serial killer to date. Until now, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery to everyone that many writers are pushed by their curiosity to write and wield the facts to create their own versions of the story. Hence, this book.
I have to say that it was pretty interesting. I love novels that explore the past because it helps me picture out what it's like to live in the past centuries. Putting my self in the shoes of the protagonist, Katie Lennox, I would've also had a hard time adjusting to a society with norms and customs that are quite different to mine. I would've been clueless and panicking the moment I realize I'm in a different time.
Ripped intrigued me. I was so excited to read how it will turn out, who is Jack the Ripper, and if Katie can stop him. The murders were written spot on that I was able to imagine every single one and found myself having goosebumps at some point. It made me mentally nervous and scared for my life if I really did live in that time. I also find the Cockney slang very entertaining and challenging at the same time. It thrilled me to figure out the words by myself and hey, I learned something new! The plot was well-written and well-researched. But I just wish that it wasn't that long. I think there were more or less sixty chapters and 509 pages. It got a bit draggy when I reached the middle and I felt like it was endless.
I really appreciate the explanation towards the end on how the story was created, why some famous authors were present and how they were involved, etc. I also love the Harry Potter references! Cheers to you, Shelly! I think she is a Potterhead! Yay!
Overall, it was a very good read especially to those YA readers who love mysteries and historical fiction. Add this to your reading list of Jack the Ripper-related novels!
I have to say that it was pretty interesting. I love novels that explore the past because it helps me picture out what it's like to live in the past centuries. Putting my self in the shoes of the protagonist, Katie Lennox, I would've also had a hard time adjusting to a society with norms and customs that are quite different to mine. I would've been clueless and panicking the moment I realize I'm in a different time.
Ripped intrigued me. I was so excited to read how it will turn out, who is Jack the Ripper, and if Katie can stop him. The murders were written spot on that I was able to imagine every single one and found myself having goosebumps at some point. It made me mentally nervous and scared for my life if I really did live in that time. I also find the Cockney slang very entertaining and challenging at the same time. It thrilled me to figure out the words by myself and hey, I learned something new! The plot was well-written and well-researched. But I just wish that it wasn't that long. I think there were more or less sixty chapters and 509 pages. It got a bit draggy when I reached the middle and I felt like it was endless.
I really appreciate the explanation towards the end on how the story was created, why some famous authors were present and how they were involved, etc. I also love the Harry Potter references! Cheers to you, Shelly! I think she is a Potterhead! Yay!
Overall, it was a very good read especially to those YA readers who love mysteries and historical fiction. Add this to your reading list of Jack the Ripper-related novels!
August 17, 2013
This murder mystery had it merits and for a first novel, it was pretty decent. Hopefully the author will improve and excel in her second novel. The story centers around a girl in London who travels back in time to solve the Jack the Ripper murders. There was lots of whodunit story lines as well as a light teen romance. There were certainly some far-fetched moments, but overall the story grabbed you enough to pull you in to find out who was Jack the Ripper and what happens when she goes back in time in the impact of it. What I really couldn't get past however was the Cockney slang. I actually liked that piece of it, but I didn't like how the author insults the reader by having to explain every single instance of it and translate which is like every other sentence. It was very annoying and is condescending to the reader. Even a 10-year-old can figure out the rhymes. "Stop staring at me with those minced pies." - let's see what stares - eyes stare. Does eyes rhyme with pies? ding ding ding! Wow, I think I got it. I don't think anyone over a child needs that explained to them, let alone the age of the targeted readership here. And then, to make it worse, it was just translated once - it was translated every single time the slang was used. We had 29 times to learn that "twist n swirl" meant "girl." It was as if they assumed all readers had significant memory loss. I can't believe that an editor would have allowed that in the dialogue, to restate in a full sentence dialogue to translate every single instance of the Cockney slang. It isn't true to the character - teenagers don't repeat back to you full sentence responses. If someone says, "stop staring at me with those minced pies," teenagers don't say, "I will stop staring at you with my eyes." They would just say or grunt, "whatever" or "no", "fine" etc. The whole point of learning new vocabulary words anyway is context. We learn new words from context which could've easily been done here and made it an interesting aspect to the story. Instead it was a burden and encumbered it. I think "jellied eel" was used at least 500 times. For that poor writing aspect it brought down an otherwise interesting time travel, YA, murder mystery.
I received this review copy from NetGalley.
I received this review copy from NetGalley.
January 29, 2016
This was an ARC that I received from NetGalley in return for my honest review. I enjoyed this YA book very much--I have always been intrigued by unsolved crimes and Jack the Ripper is pretty much the ultimate for that. Katie Lennox has recently lost her parents and since her older sister is the lead singer of a famous rock band and always gone on tour, she must go to London and live with her grandmother. She's adapting to the situation and making friends. One day she attends a Jack the Ripper exhibit at the London Museum. The wax figures are extremely realistic and the atmosphere very eerie. At the end of the exhibit, Katie realizes that a distant relation of hers was one of the Ripper's victims--his last one. When she exits the exhibit to get a breath of air she sees The London Stone which has long been thought to have magical powers. As she touches the stone, wishing there was something she could do to help all those poor women who died at the hands of the Ripper, she is suddenly transported back to London in 1888. It was interesting to me as I read about Katie's exploits during this time frame because there was so much description of the clothing everyone wore and the various settings where the action occurred. In this historic time frame she was the American cousin who was visiting for a time. The intended last victim of the Ripper was one of the family members where she was spending her vacation. I thought that the characters were well developed and I really got to the point where I felt like I knew them and wanted them to solve the mystery and stop the murders. I was not expecting what eventually happened while she was still in 1888 but assumed that what she did would have unexpected consequences in her future. There were certainly some surprises when she returned to her own time as well. According to the author's note at the end of the book, although this was a work of fiction, it was based on historical fact and the basic information of the murders was accurate. Additionally, the narratives of the murders, although disturbing, are not overly descriptive and so easier to read. I'm very glad that I read this book.
May 19, 2013
Review : Ripped
Publisher: New Book Partners
Release Date: December 1, 2012
Format: Kindle edition, 520 pages
Genre: YA, Indie, Thriller, Time-Travel
Rating: ★★★
Synopsis
Katie Lennox wishes her parents were still alive. Having to leave Boston to live with Grandma Cleaves in London was hard, but she's making new friends, working on her British accent and even learning some Cockney rhyming slang. London's cool and actually feels like home in some ways, like she's been here before, belongs here. When a museum visit with her cousin and his cute friend turns funky, Katie finds herself in a long, uncomfortable dress, wearing a ridiculous hat, wondering what happened to her jeans and high-top sneakers? And where's her iPhone?... It's London, 1888. Smart and gutsy, Katie knows she's here to stop Jack the Ripper. The serial killer didn't just slash his victims' throats; he butchered the women. Katie has read about the Ripper, knows the names of his victims and where and when they were killed. She's watched her fair share of CSI. Can Katie save their lives?
My thought
I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but for some reason I wasn't expecting it to be so good that I devoured this book in very little time.
I practically read it all at once, and it's 500 pages. It's a story about a teenager who goes back in time and tries to capture Jack The Ripper, a serial killer who murdered women in 1888 in London.
"Time travel" worked really well in this book and I got to learn about Victorian England and how the poor and rich "toffs" lived.
I loved this book! And I loved the illustrations, all 60 of them!
This story is very detailed and historically accurate when it comes to the facts about Jack The Ripper - someone definitely did their research and stayed true to history where it mattered. Seeing a book that is 500+ pages long about history and time travel may seem daunting but the intrigue in the mystery of this book definitely sets the pace and you'll be through it before you know it.
Publisher: New Book Partners
Release Date: December 1, 2012
Format: Kindle edition, 520 pages
Genre: YA, Indie, Thriller, Time-Travel
Rating: ★★★
Synopsis
Katie Lennox wishes her parents were still alive. Having to leave Boston to live with Grandma Cleaves in London was hard, but she's making new friends, working on her British accent and even learning some Cockney rhyming slang. London's cool and actually feels like home in some ways, like she's been here before, belongs here. When a museum visit with her cousin and his cute friend turns funky, Katie finds herself in a long, uncomfortable dress, wearing a ridiculous hat, wondering what happened to her jeans and high-top sneakers? And where's her iPhone?... It's London, 1888. Smart and gutsy, Katie knows she's here to stop Jack the Ripper. The serial killer didn't just slash his victims' throats; he butchered the women. Katie has read about the Ripper, knows the names of his victims and where and when they were killed. She's watched her fair share of CSI. Can Katie save their lives?
My thought
I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but for some reason I wasn't expecting it to be so good that I devoured this book in very little time.
I practically read it all at once, and it's 500 pages. It's a story about a teenager who goes back in time and tries to capture Jack The Ripper, a serial killer who murdered women in 1888 in London.
"Time travel" worked really well in this book and I got to learn about Victorian England and how the poor and rich "toffs" lived.
I loved this book! And I loved the illustrations, all 60 of them!
This story is very detailed and historically accurate when it comes to the facts about Jack The Ripper - someone definitely did their research and stayed true to history where it mattered. Seeing a book that is 500+ pages long about history and time travel may seem daunting but the intrigue in the mystery of this book definitely sets the pace and you'll be through it before you know it.
May 9, 2013
If you could save your parents at the expense of others, would you do so? Would you take the hard right or the easy wrong? This is really the cruz of the matter with Ripped, not the fact that it's a Jack the Ripper murder mystery.
Ripped stars Katie, an American girl living in London. Her parents have died, and her older sister is a famous rock star. So one day, when on a visit to Madame Tussands with her cousin Collin and his friend Toby, she goes to the London Stone and makes a wish.
And suddenly, she's back in the time of Jack-the-Ripper. And this isn't a stuck in the past thing - Katie can go back and forth in time, but only three times. So this is also about using your chances (and your wishes wisely). In Ripper-Era London, Katie is helped/hindered by her cousin Collin (her great great great ancestor), and his half-cousin Tobias (Toby).
Of course, being a modern American girl in London, Katie has trouble fitting in. And in a really interesting move, the author chose to use Cockney slang - like how twist and swirls mean "girls". It really emphasized how out of place she was; even though Cockney slang existed in modern London, not-knowing it then didn't seem like much of a deal.
There is a pretty good twist in this book, and I must say, I didn't manage to guess who Jack the Ripper was in this story. A strong plot, coupled with Katie's desperate wish to change history made for a real page-turner read.
I don't have much to complain about this story. I mean, there is a romance (she's 14! How young are they getting nowadays?), but it was sweet and wasn't in-your-face. All in all, it's a really good book and worth the read.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Ripped stars Katie, an American girl living in London. Her parents have died, and her older sister is a famous rock star. So one day, when on a visit to Madame Tussands with her cousin Collin and his friend Toby, she goes to the London Stone and makes a wish.
And suddenly, she's back in the time of Jack-the-Ripper. And this isn't a stuck in the past thing - Katie can go back and forth in time, but only three times. So this is also about using your chances (and your wishes wisely). In Ripper-Era London, Katie is helped/hindered by her cousin Collin (her great great great ancestor), and his half-cousin Tobias (Toby).
Of course, being a modern American girl in London, Katie has trouble fitting in. And in a really interesting move, the author chose to use Cockney slang - like how twist and swirls mean "girls". It really emphasized how out of place she was; even though Cockney slang existed in modern London, not-knowing it then didn't seem like much of a deal.
There is a pretty good twist in this book, and I must say, I didn't manage to guess who Jack the Ripper was in this story. A strong plot, coupled with Katie's desperate wish to change history made for a real page-turner read.
I don't have much to complain about this story. I mean, there is a romance (she's 14! How young are they getting nowadays?), but it was sweet and wasn't in-your-face. All in all, it's a really good book and worth the read.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
August 2, 2013
I admit it took me longer to get into this book than others I’ve read recently. I found the frankly gruesome exhibit described at Madame Tussaud’s a bit much (though, to be honest, I am more squeamish than the average reader!) and the transition between the twenty-first century and the Ripper’s London was a tad clunky for my liking. But. I, for one, will happily hold my hands up and say that, when the story picked up and the main plot got underway, it was absolutely worth the wait.
Nineteenth century London through Katie’s eyes is portrayed with just the right amount of detail to make you feel at home but not overwhelmed, while the mix of Katie’s own experiences in society (one of my favourite scenes – Katie and Oscar Wilde at the theatre!) and her search for the truth about Jack the Ripper flows well with Toby and Collin along for the ride. And though I initially thought I would get annoyed at all the cockney rhyming slang being thrown about, I have to say that, in the end, it certainly added a charming element to both the setting and the characters.
Overall, Ripped is a book builds into a gripping thriller. While I have no idea how many others books have taken their inspiration from Jack’s crimes, I highly doubt there’s another that takes this angle. If you’re sitting on the fence thinking about whether or not to give it a go I wholeheartedly suggest you jump in with both feet, because Shelly Dickson Carr really does save the best ‘til last with this one. The more people read, the harder it is to surprise them but with me at least she managed it! That satisfying moment when everything clicks into place just so makes for a surprising, gut-wrenching ending that has stayed with me longer than I thought it would. Very happy the gore didn’t put me off!
November 3, 2013
Call me uninspired, but I really couldn’t come up with a better title for this post than the actual title of the book. It’s a pretty great title.
Thanks to NetGalley for this one! I used to live in London’s east end, very near Liverpool Street Station and a stone’s throw (literally) from where Jack the Ripper killed his last victim. The Jack the Ripper walking tour is one of London’s best and most fascinating, so I think I did it every time I had a visitor. I mean, who isn’t intrigued by the world’s first known serial killer? Especially when his identity has never been discovered?
The story revolves around Katie, an American teenager living in London with her grandmother. During a visit to a museum exhibit about Jack the Ripper, Katie finds herself transported back in time to 1888, when the Ripper himself walks alone free. Numerous are the theories as to how he gets away with the murders: he’s a priest; he’s a cop; he’s actually a woman himself…
Katie has realized that one of her own ancestors is Jack’s final victim and is determined to use her modern knowledge of forensics and criminal behaviour (learned from the abundance of crime shows on TV) to stop him.
I admit, with my knowledge of this case, I was a bit ticked off at first that the author didn’t seem to have done her research; the names and dates of the murders were all wrong. As the book progressed, I realized that as Katie gets closer to solving the murders, the true facts fall into place. Her movements are affecting the outcome.
All in all, it’s a fun take on this classic case. I’ve always thought that Victorian London would be where I’d want to go if I could time travel. Of course, there’s always a risk for an author, when taking on such a famous story and putting a new spin on it.
So I pose two questions:
Should authors take the risk of attempting to rewrite history, even in such a fanciful way?
If you could go back in time, where and when would you go?
Thanks to NetGalley for this one! I used to live in London’s east end, very near Liverpool Street Station and a stone’s throw (literally) from where Jack the Ripper killed his last victim. The Jack the Ripper walking tour is one of London’s best and most fascinating, so I think I did it every time I had a visitor. I mean, who isn’t intrigued by the world’s first known serial killer? Especially when his identity has never been discovered?
The story revolves around Katie, an American teenager living in London with her grandmother. During a visit to a museum exhibit about Jack the Ripper, Katie finds herself transported back in time to 1888, when the Ripper himself walks alone free. Numerous are the theories as to how he gets away with the murders: he’s a priest; he’s a cop; he’s actually a woman himself…
Katie has realized that one of her own ancestors is Jack’s final victim and is determined to use her modern knowledge of forensics and criminal behaviour (learned from the abundance of crime shows on TV) to stop him.
I admit, with my knowledge of this case, I was a bit ticked off at first that the author didn’t seem to have done her research; the names and dates of the murders were all wrong. As the book progressed, I realized that as Katie gets closer to solving the murders, the true facts fall into place. Her movements are affecting the outcome.
All in all, it’s a fun take on this classic case. I’ve always thought that Victorian London would be where I’d want to go if I could time travel. Of course, there’s always a risk for an author, when taking on such a famous story and putting a new spin on it.
So I pose two questions:
Should authors take the risk of attempting to rewrite history, even in such a fanciful way?
If you could go back in time, where and when would you go?
March 21, 2013
Ripped was a difficult story to enjoy at its outset, as I felt uncomfortable with Katie's character, who was portrayed as sullen and spoilt, rather than grieving, and I was unconvinced by her sudden 'horror' (attention-seeking behaviour??) whilst at the Jack the Ripper exhibit.
I much preferred the 1888 version of Katie, who appeared more confident, in control and independent. I found that Katie's transition back in time was seamless in the narrative, and Shelley Dickson Carr's descriptions of Victorian London were full of detail and energy. I admit, though, that Toby's overuse of cockney rhyming slang grew tedious and rather than helping me to relate to the story, I found myself eye-rolling or skipping short pieces of conversations.
In keeping Toby and Collin as Katie's 'guardians' in 1888, Shelley Dickson Carr successfully retains the link to the present story and establishes a romantic thread in the plot. As Katie is only 15, and they are in Victorian England, the author is careful to keep this relationship within 'proper' boundaries.
Unlike Toby, who is portrayed as masculine and roguish, Collin has the character of the fool. He appears as slightly stupid, thoughtless and is generally saying something dumb.
Katie is the essential balance between the two for Shelley Dickson Carr's careful plot to work so well. Although Katie thinks she is travelling back to stop Jack the Ripper from killing, she also will ultimately uncover the murderer, and the way in which the author chooses for Katie and the reader to discover this, means taking a frightening and heart-pounding journey.
Ripped is a seriously good novel, with a young heroine, but yet I am not sure I would class this book as YA. One to pick up!
I much preferred the 1888 version of Katie, who appeared more confident, in control and independent. I found that Katie's transition back in time was seamless in the narrative, and Shelley Dickson Carr's descriptions of Victorian London were full of detail and energy. I admit, though, that Toby's overuse of cockney rhyming slang grew tedious and rather than helping me to relate to the story, I found myself eye-rolling or skipping short pieces of conversations.
In keeping Toby and Collin as Katie's 'guardians' in 1888, Shelley Dickson Carr successfully retains the link to the present story and establishes a romantic thread in the plot. As Katie is only 15, and they are in Victorian England, the author is careful to keep this relationship within 'proper' boundaries.
Unlike Toby, who is portrayed as masculine and roguish, Collin has the character of the fool. He appears as slightly stupid, thoughtless and is generally saying something dumb.
Katie is the essential balance between the two for Shelley Dickson Carr's careful plot to work so well. Although Katie thinks she is travelling back to stop Jack the Ripper from killing, she also will ultimately uncover the murderer, and the way in which the author chooses for Katie and the reader to discover this, means taking a frightening and heart-pounding journey.
Ripped is a seriously good novel, with a young heroine, but yet I am not sure I would class this book as YA. One to pick up!
May 8, 2013
Ripped by Shelly Dickson Carr is an entertaining YA adventure through the London of 1888, where Jack the Ripper has launched his reign of terror in the fog shrouded streets. Katie Lenox is a thoroughly modern American girl who has lost her parents in an automobile accident and now lives with her grandmother in London. Not only is she mourning their loss, she feels that she has lost her older sister, Courtney, who does not get along with her grandmother.
Katie is settling in as well as might be expected with the help of her cousin Collin. Collin and she are visiting a Jack the Ripper Exhibit at Madame Tussaud's along with Collin's friend, Toby. After a chilling tour at the waxworks they visit the Stone of London, where Katie sticks her finger in a fissure in the stone and finds herself in 1888 London. Katie decides to try to find out who Jack the Ripper is, and perhaps alter his bloody history. She finds the 1888 counterparts of Collin and Toby on hand to help her.
Ripped is very fast moving and convoluted; perhaps a little too convoluted to resolve satisfactorily. The historical detail is well-researched- when the list of Ripper victims at the Exhibit included names that are not in the historical record, the reader knows that something interesting is going on. When Katie discovers that a female relative is on the the list, the quest to stop Jack becomes even more urgent.
I initially liked the inclusion of "Cockney Rhyming Slang" in the book, but found it a bit distracting by the end. The slang is certainly creative, but used a little too often for my taste. Ripped kept me turning the pages however and I would recommend it for a 12 and up audience who is interested in history with some mystery and thrills.
Thanks to netgalley for a digital advance copy.
Katie is settling in as well as might be expected with the help of her cousin Collin. Collin and she are visiting a Jack the Ripper Exhibit at Madame Tussaud's along with Collin's friend, Toby. After a chilling tour at the waxworks they visit the Stone of London, where Katie sticks her finger in a fissure in the stone and finds herself in 1888 London. Katie decides to try to find out who Jack the Ripper is, and perhaps alter his bloody history. She finds the 1888 counterparts of Collin and Toby on hand to help her.
Ripped is very fast moving and convoluted; perhaps a little too convoluted to resolve satisfactorily. The historical detail is well-researched- when the list of Ripper victims at the Exhibit included names that are not in the historical record, the reader knows that something interesting is going on. When Katie discovers that a female relative is on the the list, the quest to stop Jack becomes even more urgent.
I initially liked the inclusion of "Cockney Rhyming Slang" in the book, but found it a bit distracting by the end. The slang is certainly creative, but used a little too often for my taste. Ripped kept me turning the pages however and I would recommend it for a 12 and up audience who is interested in history with some mystery and thrills.
Thanks to netgalley for a digital advance copy.
February 5, 2015
Ripped: A Jack the Ripper Time-Travel Thriller
Carr, Shelly Dickson *
The first part leads you through the history, and spectacular collection of Madame Trousseau wax work museum. It is and interesting in-depth descriptions of the different rooms and historical figures presented by the museum. It is an overwhelming experience for young Katie, as she is forced by the display to run into the next area without paying attention. But she has reached the things she endured all of this to see, the London Stone. A mythical stone that gives the wisher three wished. The first part leads you through the history, and spectacular collection of Madame Trousseau wax work museum. It is and interesting in-depth descriptions of the different rooms and historical figures presented by the museum. It is an overwhelming experience for young Katie, as she is forced by the display to run into the next area without paying attention. But she has reached the things she endured all of this to see, the London Stone. A mythical stone that gives the wisher three wishes, from the legend of the story of the Raven Claw. The Raven claw is a myth that the wisher gets three wishes but his final wish he undoes all he has done. Katie's wish to find the murderer Jack the Ripper, and save her long lost ancestor, the last of the Rippers victims, and find a way for her sister to come home and be a family. This books is a very elaborate, and considering piece that does well to avoid pitfalls, and leaves the reader in suspense. It does a great job of describing 18th century London, in its time era and place. The characters are dynamic and playful, and you will learn a lot about speech patterns and edict.
Carr, Shelly Dickson *
The first part leads you through the history, and spectacular collection of Madame Trousseau wax work museum. It is and interesting in-depth descriptions of the different rooms and historical figures presented by the museum. It is an overwhelming experience for young Katie, as she is forced by the display to run into the next area without paying attention. But she has reached the things she endured all of this to see, the London Stone. A mythical stone that gives the wisher three wished. The first part leads you through the history, and spectacular collection of Madame Trousseau wax work museum. It is and interesting in-depth descriptions of the different rooms and historical figures presented by the museum. It is an overwhelming experience for young Katie, as she is forced by the display to run into the next area without paying attention. But she has reached the things she endured all of this to see, the London Stone. A mythical stone that gives the wisher three wishes, from the legend of the story of the Raven Claw. The Raven claw is a myth that the wisher gets three wishes but his final wish he undoes all he has done. Katie's wish to find the murderer Jack the Ripper, and save her long lost ancestor, the last of the Rippers victims, and find a way for her sister to come home and be a family. This books is a very elaborate, and considering piece that does well to avoid pitfalls, and leaves the reader in suspense. It does a great job of describing 18th century London, in its time era and place. The characters are dynamic and playful, and you will learn a lot about speech patterns and edict.
May 3, 2013
It’s difficult to take a legendary villain, whose story has been told, retold, dissected, scrutinized and ficitionalized and breathe new life into it. But that is exactly what Shelly Dickson Carr did with Ripped, her creative version of the tale of hideous killer, Jack the Ripper. In the present day, young Katie, a descendent of Lady Beatrix Twyford, one of the Ripper’s victims, travels back in time to the summer of 1888 when Jack the Ripper terrorized White Chapel London. She wanted to save Lady Beatrix, catch the villain and unmask his identity!
We all know Jack the Ripper is a brutal and violent topic, Ms. Carr has concentrated on allowing us to feel the history involved, smell the scents of the London of that era, see the sights and sounds of life in the nineteenth century. As the book is directed toward young adults, she has spared the reader the graphics of the crimes and what the victims endured at the hands of this sickening and demented person, instead focusing on what young Katie experiences through her travel into the past.
If you are looking for gore, foregoing a well-written piece of historical fiction, pass this by. If you’re looking to be taken back in time through the eyes of youth, FOR the eyes of youth, you will love this read! I did!
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and New Book Partners in exchange for my honest review.
We all know Jack the Ripper is a brutal and violent topic, Ms. Carr has concentrated on allowing us to feel the history involved, smell the scents of the London of that era, see the sights and sounds of life in the nineteenth century. As the book is directed toward young adults, she has spared the reader the graphics of the crimes and what the victims endured at the hands of this sickening and demented person, instead focusing on what young Katie experiences through her travel into the past.
If you are looking for gore, foregoing a well-written piece of historical fiction, pass this by. If you’re looking to be taken back in time through the eyes of youth, FOR the eyes of youth, you will love this read! I did!
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and New Book Partners in exchange for my honest review.
June 17, 2013
I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In Ripped, Katie Lennox is living with her grandmother in England, after her parents are killed in car accident, while her older sister Courtney is making a life for herself as a rock singer in America.
Katie and her cousin Collin, along with his friend Toby, go to view the Jack the Ripper exhibit at Madame Tussaud's. After she takes her tour, she goes and touches the London Stone which is said to have mystical powers and then finds herself taken back to Victorian London to the time when the Ripper was stalking the streets and she feels she must find a way to stop the madman. But can she do it? Should she do it? If she does, what will the consequences be?
Ripped is a nice young-adult novel that speculates on the idea of what would happen if a young girl travels back in time and helps to stop one of the most infamous serial killers in history.
The author did a nice job of dealing with the problems that a modern day young woman would have trying to fit into Victorian society and the differences in language and social expectations were clearly drawn, though I was never clear why people seemed to refer to the Duke as Sir Gideon, everything else struck me as accurate. I quite liked the portrayal of Oscar Wilde and the painter Whistler; they were brought to life nicely.
Over all, I considered this an enjoyable and informative read. Some license was taken with historical details and, of course, the identity of the Ripper has never been determined. But as in any speculative fiction, there is no harm in supposing.
In Ripped, Katie Lennox is living with her grandmother in England, after her parents are killed in car accident, while her older sister Courtney is making a life for herself as a rock singer in America.
Katie and her cousin Collin, along with his friend Toby, go to view the Jack the Ripper exhibit at Madame Tussaud's. After she takes her tour, she goes and touches the London Stone which is said to have mystical powers and then finds herself taken back to Victorian London to the time when the Ripper was stalking the streets and she feels she must find a way to stop the madman. But can she do it? Should she do it? If she does, what will the consequences be?
Ripped is a nice young-adult novel that speculates on the idea of what would happen if a young girl travels back in time and helps to stop one of the most infamous serial killers in history.
The author did a nice job of dealing with the problems that a modern day young woman would have trying to fit into Victorian society and the differences in language and social expectations were clearly drawn, though I was never clear why people seemed to refer to the Duke as Sir Gideon, everything else struck me as accurate. I quite liked the portrayal of Oscar Wilde and the painter Whistler; they were brought to life nicely.
Over all, I considered this an enjoyable and informative read. Some license was taken with historical details and, of course, the identity of the Ripper has never been determined. But as in any speculative fiction, there is no harm in supposing.
September 2, 2013
I have to admit to being more than a little surprised by RIPPED: A JACK THE RIPPER TIME-TRAVEL THRILLER. Having won a paperback copy on GoodReads I departed from the usual genres which I surround myself with into the realm of YA. I'm not a YA fan, I've never been a YA fan...not even when I was a YA but there's something about RIPPED that is very different. Perhaps it's the wonderful artwork laced through the novel, perhaps it's the heavy use of rhyming slang or maybe even the effort the author goes to in order to create narrative device restrictions that mesh two genres with very particular, very different codes and conventions together. Whatever it is, it works.
There's a lot made in other reviews about the historical inaccuracies of the novel which don't interest me. If you're going to go to the bother to highlight these in a "time travel" novel then chances are you were never going to be pleased.
So many YA novels are populated with young girls who are insecure, thinly characterised and find self worth through the eyes of others but what Shelly Dickson Carr has crafted is not just an intelligent and interesting piece of fiction but one with some educational value. Many readers with ripper knowledge will probably roll their eyes at that last statement but if it introduces a new generation to a fascinating time in history then it's done more for education than anything either in the YA genre.
Thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking and addictive reading.
There's a lot made in other reviews about the historical inaccuracies of the novel which don't interest me. If you're going to go to the bother to highlight these in a "time travel" novel then chances are you were never going to be pleased.
So many YA novels are populated with young girls who are insecure, thinly characterised and find self worth through the eyes of others but what Shelly Dickson Carr has crafted is not just an intelligent and interesting piece of fiction but one with some educational value. Many readers with ripper knowledge will probably roll their eyes at that last statement but if it introduces a new generation to a fascinating time in history then it's done more for education than anything either in the YA genre.
Thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking and addictive reading.
August 7, 2013
This was a good book, as a new young adult fiction it hit the marks pretty well (female lead/time travelling/serial killer etc) and I can see how it would be eagerly set upon by teens. However, it is difficult as an adult who has an interest in the Ripper cases to view this totally subjectively but I'm going to try! Firstly, it should be noted that there are liberties taken with the actual facts of the case (names changed etc) to fit the story. The author explains that she did this at the end of the book which is great as I hate skipping to the end and accidentally flashing a detail or a spoiler but would have preffered this at the start. Secondly, the book suffers from what I'd term 'The English epsiode of Friends' syndrome wherein an American writer writes English characters as snobby or cor blimey Cokernees so this doesn't help the characters stand out as original. This is distracting but the time travel angle (a Celtic stone that grants wishes in Madam Tussauds) and the American girl who travels back to try and save her parents/save the Ripper victims/reconnect with her successful rock star sister is a neat twist in a market over loaded with vampires,spirits and werewolves. The story is a good one, the pacing is decent and the main character is relatable not insufferable. Overall this was a good book I could imagine passing on to my 16 year old and her enjoying it.
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