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The Dreadfuls
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26The darkly atmospheric and gruesome tale of Jack the Ripper unfolds against the backdrop of a Victorian London reform school, as a young inmate sets out to find the identity of the elusive serial killer in a riveting new book perfect for fans of The Square of Sevens and Enola Holmes.
London, 1888. Committed to the Whitechapel Hall Reform School for “incurable delinquency” Adelaide “Dell” Morton is a precocious, defiant misfit. She’s also a voracious reader of true crime and detective fiction, including the sordid, sensationally popular Penny dreadful stories. In an unlikely stroke of luck, she’s found a kindred spirit in her poised, perfectionist roommate, Pippa. Their obsession is only further fueled by the Jack the Ripper murders blazing a trail of terror throughout London’s seediest streets . . . right outside Whitechapel Hall’s front door.
Desperate for adventure, they embark on their own investigation—and discover an ally in Noah, son of the local butcher. But Noah’s motives are not mere His father is the prime suspect. Noah is desperate to clear his name, and Dell and Pippa are only too eager to help.
Their budding spywork soon yields shocking they witness straightlaced Whitechapel teacher Miss Kaye escaping the school the night of the latest crime. Could Jack the Ripper be a she? Delving into Miss Kaye’s background, Dell is both horrified and thrilled to find that within Miss Kaye’s past lies a chapter dark enough to rival any Penny dreadful . . .
Dell’s fixation with Miss Kaye reaches dangerous heights while a series of suspicious events leave Miss Kaye in sole command of Whitechapel Hall. Trapped in their teacher’s ever-tightening web of control, the three devious detectives devise a risky plan to track her. But what ensues may only propel them ever deeper into secrets, lies, ruthless acts, and betrayals that go back decades—and a confrontation that will irrevocably change the fates of all involved . . . if they survive.
London, 1888. Committed to the Whitechapel Hall Reform School for “incurable delinquency” Adelaide “Dell” Morton is a precocious, defiant misfit. She’s also a voracious reader of true crime and detective fiction, including the sordid, sensationally popular Penny dreadful stories. In an unlikely stroke of luck, she’s found a kindred spirit in her poised, perfectionist roommate, Pippa. Their obsession is only further fueled by the Jack the Ripper murders blazing a trail of terror throughout London’s seediest streets . . . right outside Whitechapel Hall’s front door.
Desperate for adventure, they embark on their own investigation—and discover an ally in Noah, son of the local butcher. But Noah’s motives are not mere His father is the prime suspect. Noah is desperate to clear his name, and Dell and Pippa are only too eager to help.
Their budding spywork soon yields shocking they witness straightlaced Whitechapel teacher Miss Kaye escaping the school the night of the latest crime. Could Jack the Ripper be a she? Delving into Miss Kaye’s background, Dell is both horrified and thrilled to find that within Miss Kaye’s past lies a chapter dark enough to rival any Penny dreadful . . .
Dell’s fixation with Miss Kaye reaches dangerous heights while a series of suspicious events leave Miss Kaye in sole command of Whitechapel Hall. Trapped in their teacher’s ever-tightening web of control, the three devious detectives devise a risky plan to track her. But what ensues may only propel them ever deeper into secrets, lies, ruthless acts, and betrayals that go back decades—and a confrontation that will irrevocably change the fates of all involved . . . if they survive.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
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443 people want to read
About the author
A. Rae Dunlap
2 books338 followersA. Rae Dunlap studied film and Victorian literature at Northwestern University and spends her days as a trailer editor at Disney, bringing to life the magic of the world’s most influential storytellers for audiences everywhere. She lives with her husband in a small mountain town in California and can be found online at ARaeDunlap.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Want to read
July 6, 2025*eyes this*
Wat is this? Is this a sequel to my favorite m/m grave robbing duo? Or an entirely new book? Please, let it be a sequel.
Wat is this? Is this a sequel to my favorite m/m grave robbing duo? Or an entirely new book? Please, let it be a sequel.
Want to read
October 18, 2025Can i have it right now thank you, also still desperately hoping for a sequel to her other book but i absolutely will be reading this one too
November 25, 2025
A. Rae Dunlap’s previous book was one of my favorite reads of last year, and the premise of her newest release, The Dreadfuls, immediately convinced me she might be writing books just for me. Victorian London, Jack the Ripper, Penny Dreadfuls – these are some of my most beloved topics.
While I didn’t enjoy The Dreadfuls quite as much as The Resurrectionist, I think historical fiction enthusiasts will find a lot to appreciate here. A. Rae Dunlap makes bold and interesting choices that help this book stand out among the many retellings of the Jack the Ripper story.
First and foremost, this is a love letter to true crime, specifically in its nineteenth-century form. The main character, Dell, is a fan of pulp fiction and Penny Dreadfuls, and dreams of becoming a detective one day. She finds kindred spirits in Pippa, a fellow student at a reformatory school for girls in Whitechapel, and Noah, a Jewish butcher’s son. Naturally, when a mysterious killer begins terrorizing Whitechapel, the trio wants nothing more than to uncover the murderer’s identity.
The dynamic between the characters is one of the book’s strongest aspects. Their youth gives the story a slight young-adult feel, although it is far removed from clearly YA novels like Enola Holmes. Dunlap does not shy away from showing the full scale of what it means to confront the actions of a serial killer.
Beyond the crime mystery, the book touches on important issues, including the experiences of minority groups, specifically Jews, in late nineteenth-century London and mental health in the Victorian era. The portrayal of Whitechapel itself, with all its complexity and atmosphere, is one of the book’s most compelling elements.
My biggest reservation about this book, and the reason I cannot give it five stars, is the way it handles the legend of Jack the Ripper. While I appreciate A. Rae Dunlap’s creativity and her exploration of the impact the murders had on the district, the author presents her own version of events, including the identity of the Ripper. At times, this felt like too heavy an intervention in history, particularly because it also involves, to some extent, rewriting the fates of the women who were tragically killed by him. To be clear, these women are not portrayed disrespectfully, but I believe that after so many years of overlooking their perspective, their stories deserve to be presented as accurately as possible.
That being said, I still really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for its inventive approach, meticulous research, and engaging plot. I will read everything A. Rae Dunlap writes – her ability to bring history to life through compelling characters and vivid settings is truly impressive.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
While I didn’t enjoy The Dreadfuls quite as much as The Resurrectionist, I think historical fiction enthusiasts will find a lot to appreciate here. A. Rae Dunlap makes bold and interesting choices that help this book stand out among the many retellings of the Jack the Ripper story.
First and foremost, this is a love letter to true crime, specifically in its nineteenth-century form. The main character, Dell, is a fan of pulp fiction and Penny Dreadfuls, and dreams of becoming a detective one day. She finds kindred spirits in Pippa, a fellow student at a reformatory school for girls in Whitechapel, and Noah, a Jewish butcher’s son. Naturally, when a mysterious killer begins terrorizing Whitechapel, the trio wants nothing more than to uncover the murderer’s identity.
The dynamic between the characters is one of the book’s strongest aspects. Their youth gives the story a slight young-adult feel, although it is far removed from clearly YA novels like Enola Holmes. Dunlap does not shy away from showing the full scale of what it means to confront the actions of a serial killer.
Beyond the crime mystery, the book touches on important issues, including the experiences of minority groups, specifically Jews, in late nineteenth-century London and mental health in the Victorian era. The portrayal of Whitechapel itself, with all its complexity and atmosphere, is one of the book’s most compelling elements.
My biggest reservation about this book, and the reason I cannot give it five stars, is the way it handles the legend of Jack the Ripper. While I appreciate A. Rae Dunlap’s creativity and her exploration of the impact the murders had on the district, the author presents her own version of events, including the identity of the Ripper. At times, this felt like too heavy an intervention in history, particularly because it also involves, to some extent, rewriting the fates of the women who were tragically killed by him. To be clear, these women are not portrayed disrespectfully, but I believe that after so many years of overlooking their perspective, their stories deserve to be presented as accurately as possible.
That being said, I still really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for its inventive approach, meticulous research, and engaging plot. I will read everything A. Rae Dunlap writes – her ability to bring history to life through compelling characters and vivid settings is truly impressive.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
I knew I wanted to read this the minute I read I read the premise. A fierce and imaginative teen whose obsession with penny dreadfuls as landed her in a reform school and she dreams of escape to become an investigator just as Ripper is on the move. Yes, please. Well that and Dunlap’s 2024 release, “The Resurrectionist” was a five star read for me. So I was excited to get the arc approval for this and “The Dreadfuls” did not disappoint. Its a darkly atmospheric historical thriller set in Whitechapel, London during the Ripper murders. Its a wonderful mix of true crime and historical horror that leans into investigative thriller tropes such as secret identities, suspicious behavior, an environment of unsettling fear and a past that starts to unravel. Dunlap paints the reform school and the surrounding London slums so vividly and the mood never slips, not even once. I do wish some of the secondary characters like Noah and Pipa had a little more to their backstories and the ending felt a bit too fairytale compared to the rest of the story. I loved the gritty feel of the story and the ending seems to loose that but its still a satisfying ending.
Overall The Dreadfuls was a fun read from bringing to end. Filled with a growing sense of fear and dread and dripping with shadow and grit.
Overall The Dreadfuls was a fun read from bringing to end. Filled with a growing sense of fear and dread and dripping with shadow and grit.
November 21, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book!! As someone who has a love and appreciation for the Victorian era, one of my favorite aspects of the time was the literature! Penny Dreadfuls are a large part of creating that thrill and terror that many Victorians loved to read about, especially with these collection of stories costing them a penny. Anyone could read and afford these stories and that is another reason why I love them!
As for this collection of stories, I really quite enjoyed them. They captured the factors I would look for in a Dreadful: suspense, intrigue, mystery, fantasy, and sometimes even murder. Some stories had endings, some cliffhangers. They bring back an art of storytelling that has lost its popularity and I love seeing the resurgence! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers, mysteries, an appreciation for historical literature and revisit a time lost to antiquity.
I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
As for this collection of stories, I really quite enjoyed them. They captured the factors I would look for in a Dreadful: suspense, intrigue, mystery, fantasy, and sometimes even murder. Some stories had endings, some cliffhangers. They bring back an art of storytelling that has lost its popularity and I love seeing the resurgence! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers, mysteries, an appreciation for historical literature and revisit a time lost to antiquity.
I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
Read as an ARC from NetGalley, to be published in March 2026
4.5 Star rounded up
Initially going into this book I didn’t know what to expect as I haven’t read any of the authors previous work and I fully judged a book by its cover, but wow am I grateful to have had the opportunity to read this.
Such an interesting take on an olden day murder mystery. Gives me Enola Holmes vibes but with more realness. It touches on many different aspects of life and its perils in the 19th Century (mental health, sexuality, religion), while also maintaining a lightness through the character development.
I think every character in this book was so well thought out and the contrasts between Pippa and Dell worked beautifully and made for a much more believable story.
What I think was done well was the reveal of the murderer, I was searching and searching for details and came up short until it was revealed and due to that I am impressed. Had me gripping the edge of my seat.
Would love to read more from this author in the future.
4.5 Star rounded up
Initially going into this book I didn’t know what to expect as I haven’t read any of the authors previous work and I fully judged a book by its cover, but wow am I grateful to have had the opportunity to read this.
Such an interesting take on an olden day murder mystery. Gives me Enola Holmes vibes but with more realness. It touches on many different aspects of life and its perils in the 19th Century (mental health, sexuality, religion), while also maintaining a lightness through the character development.
I think every character in this book was so well thought out and the contrasts between Pippa and Dell worked beautifully and made for a much more believable story.
What I think was done well was the reveal of the murderer, I was searching and searching for details and came up short until it was revealed and due to that I am impressed. Had me gripping the edge of my seat.
Would love to read more from this author in the future.
dnf
December 22, 2025A DNF at 12% of “this one isn’t for me.” I really liked Dunlap’s The Resurrectionist, so I looked forward to this one. It’s a similar idea, taking real life crime and fictionalizing it.
Two teen girls end up (I assume) investigating Jack the Ripper. The “teen girl” part was what didn’t work for me. It brings a goofiness to the tone, especially given the voice of the narrator. Honestly, she’s fascinating - naive but worldly via her reading. She has fantastical ideas about herself, dreams of adventure.
But I don’t like reading from perspectives this young typically. Teens can work for me, but in this case she felt younger than her years due to some innocence despite her reading material.
I don’t think the book is YA, but you do have to enjoy a younger narrator to enjoy this, and that’s where it’s not for me. I’ll definitely try more from Dunlap in the future all the same.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Two teen girls end up (I assume) investigating Jack the Ripper. The “teen girl” part was what didn’t work for me. It brings a goofiness to the tone, especially given the voice of the narrator. Honestly, she’s fascinating - naive but worldly via her reading. She has fantastical ideas about herself, dreams of adventure.
But I don’t like reading from perspectives this young typically. Teens can work for me, but in this case she felt younger than her years due to some innocence despite her reading material.
I don’t think the book is YA, but you do have to enjoy a younger narrator to enjoy this, and that’s where it’s not for me. I’ll definitely try more from Dunlap in the future all the same.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and A. Rae Dunlap for an arc of this book!
In this book we follow Delly, Pipa, and Noah on their quest to find the Whitechapel murderer. Throughout the book they strengthen their friendship and find their identities as characters. The Victorian era is a huge theme of this book and there is mysterious vibe to the writing style and book in general. The author did a great job with keeping the readers on their toes with who the killer was and their quest throughout the book. I really appreciate the study of friendship and the theme of finding one's identity and gender throughout the book. Great for fans of the Victorian era and a good suspenseful murder mystery.
In this book we follow Delly, Pipa, and Noah on their quest to find the Whitechapel murderer. Throughout the book they strengthen their friendship and find their identities as characters. The Victorian era is a huge theme of this book and there is mysterious vibe to the writing style and book in general. The author did a great job with keeping the readers on their toes with who the killer was and their quest throughout the book. I really appreciate the study of friendship and the theme of finding one's identity and gender throughout the book. Great for fans of the Victorian era and a good suspenseful murder mystery.
November 20, 2025
4⭐️Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC. I was very charmed by our ragtag Scooby gang of penny dreadful enthusiasts at the heart of the story. Wonderfully atmospheric gothic setting with the reform school that served as a great backdrop for broader themes of class, religion, and sexism of Victorian England. This is labeled as Adult but reads much more like YA to me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews