Challenge Corner discussion

In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?

Ch. 14 (view spoiler)[ These murders are getting horrible!! i have a bad feeling about the deal Audrey Rose made with Mephistopheles. Houdini could be writing to a sister or cousin or someone other than a lover! I feel like Liza isn't going to appreciate Audrey's meddling here. I do like the other performers so far and the sleight of hand tricks. (hide spoiler)] I have no idea who the murderer is, I don't even have suspects send help lmao

Ch. 22 (view spoiler)[ Ugh I hate this deception Audrey Rose is playing at with Mephistopheles. STOP HURTING MY BABY THOMAS!! I love thomas so much omg. I really hope Liza doesn't end up being a victim (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 29 (view spoiler)[ Whatever Audrey's plan is it better be good!! I love how Thomas is always showing up when Mephistopheles tries to get Audrey alone, I think Thomas does realize she's playing an act, but I don't think he knows the full scope. I don't know whether to suspect Harry or Mephistopheles or the sword dude! THERES TOO MANY POSSIBILITIES (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Oh my god I thought Audrey and Thomas were going to break up for a hot second and I was about to explode!! My heart aches for thomas!! Audrey loves him. I was so worried one of them was gonna die at the end too!!! I loved the tarot inspired murders I love learning about tarot. I was super surprised to learn who the murderer was but I'm glad it wasn't Aiden or Harry! (hide spoiler)]

20% (Chapter 8)
Based on clues so far... some thoughts:

(view spoiler)[
- Targeting daughters of noble families... makes me think this is someone who has been wronged by society, and based on the disappearance of the Crenshaw's daughter, a charming young man perhaps?
- Stealing jewelry... to use as gifts for charming other young women perhaps? For profit? Not sure...
- Distraction by using magic props and tarot cards in the murder... does he have it out for Houdini? Wonder if it is someone who used to perform with the magicians, but is now working menial tasks on the ship? With access to a lot of the rooms?
- Since the team won't finish a single autopsy, I can only speculate injection is being used to quietly murder victims and then giving ample time to put together the crime scene... someone who has access to medical supply rooms perhaps.

(hide spoiler)]

Andrea wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
I got really worried about the same thing. I knew there was a book four up and coming and was like, look... if Thomas isn't in it. I don't know what to tell you because I LOVE HIM (hide spoiler)]

Wasn't by my computer while reading this book start to finish yesterday... so here are my updates with guesses at % points haha.

40%
(view spoiler)[
Really have no idea who the murderer is. None of these suspects makes any sense. Jien with the swords seems skilled enough and so he raises suspicious, especially with the history of his family being slaughtered. I had theories that the nobility were being targeted because of that. Like hatred at nobility for causing his family harm. *shrug*
(hide spoiler)]

60%
(view spoiler)[
Okay! Feeding body parts to lions is incredibly gross. But it's a man's hand this time. We're getting away from just women being murdered. (#equality)
And what is Mephis thinking... getting in that lions cage after he's been licking on tasty human limbs! R U CRAZY?
"The Fool"/Andreas sparked interest here. For one. If your nickname among the carnival was the fool and everyone else has things like Empress, I think I'd be a little salty.
The victims family's seem to have a connection; a doctor, a judge, and a lord.
The tarot cards are interesting. But felt like a distraction.
Like stop being all edgy-emo and just tell us why you are angry, murderer!

(hide spoiler)]

90%
(view spoiler)[
Got legit freaked out about Mrs. Harvey okay... I LOVE HER. She's always sleeping and I can relate to her on that.
UGH! I was so worried. And she's just like hanging out with the fortune teller and a dead body. Like leave the room, and go find all your traveling buddies that solve murder mysteries!

(hide spoiler)]


Finished
(view spoiler)[
Really enjoyed this ending.
Avery Rose got very swept up in her undercover business. She got pretty infatuated with Mephis... I was worried about her relationship with Thomas. He's a damn good character. So I didn't want to see them end things. But honestly, Mephis was great too. It wouldn't really make sense for continuing the series in all. But they had good chemistry and their minds were similar. And he even showed his face to her, he was honest with her. I liked that.

But glad Thomas and AR are going to be back at it and in NYC!
I wonder who this next book will revolve around... Might have to do some sleuthing of my own to find out.


(hide spoiler)]

Patty wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"


[spoilers removed]..."

SAME

33%: (view spoiler)[weelllll shit, liza being a part of the magic show has made it a bit more interesting. here's to hoping she doesn't die or something. (hide spoiler)]
60%: (view spoiler)[well now I know how the fire eater people do their tricks in the circus which is pretty cool. HOWEVER, the whole lion thing was gross and I cringed so hard. I also have no idea who this murderer is and I need a suspect NOW! (hide spoiler)]
85%: (view spoiler)[NOOO NOT LIZA! She can't be in trouble - please tell me she's alive! (hide spoiler)]
100%: (view spoiler)[OMG I WOULD'VE LOST MY SHIT IF AUDREY AND THOMAS DIDN'T GET BACK TOGETHER. I loved the ending and now I'm freaking out about a possible second killer. I need the next book - please tell me it's a thing and who it's about! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-7

(view spoiler)[I forgot how much I love Audrey Rose and Thomas, and their flirtation (well, full blossomed lust/love at this point). I just want them to live happily ever after with no fears about who can see them together, solving murders and being general badasses.

I think the setting of this book is unique. Because they're on a boat in the middle of the ocean, there's less places to hide and you've got a real secluded feel to the story.

Also, cousin Liza ran away with Harry Houdini?!?! Will he show up in the book? Will he be the murderer? I doubt it but it'll be fun to see Audrey Rose and Thomas go up against him.

(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-11

(view spoiler)[I really hope we're not gonna get a love triangle. I have no energy for anyone to try and come between my Audrey Rose and Thomas. So please don't do this.

I don't like Mephistopheles. Also, he's named after a demon from German folklore. Is there some foreshadowing there?? My money's on him being the killer!

(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 12-20

(view spoiler)[Well. Mephistopheles really is the worst, isn't he? I hate seeing him come between Audrey Rose and Thomas. I feel like there's a lot of foreshadowing and it will be reveleaed that he's the devil. There's lots of references to the devil and Satan, and I think it's guaranteed that's where this is going.

(hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 8-11"
I had no idea about the German folklore/demon thing!! haha that's very interesting.

Patty wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 8-11"
I had no idea about the German folklore/demon thing!! haha that's very interesting."

I didn't know either actually. I was typing his name and it didn't have a red line underneath it like it does normally with some names, so I copied and pasted it into Google and found that out. (view spoiler)[I was convinced it had some foreshadowing linked to it, but it was just a red herring.

(hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Okay, so I have some feelings about this book.

First of all, eff you for trying to mess with my Audrey Rose and Thomas. They are my precious little babies and I love them and they deserve nothing to be happy together solving murders. THEY DO NOT NEED SOME GUY TO TRY AND COME BETWEEN THEM. That made me sooooooooooooooo mad.

Second of all, Audrey Rose, you are a smart girl. A very smart girl. Where the hell was your brain? Why would you give that man the time of day, and how could you let someone turn your head from Thomas????

Thirdly, the murderer reveal was... kinda weak. I found, by the end of the book, I didn't really care because my heart was tied up in the love triangle situation and I was so set on Mephistopheles being the killer, that the real killer was kinda underwhelming.

Overall, this book was the weakest in the series for me so far but I'm still gonna love every single book in the series. I'm just hoping we get no more love triangle bullshit. Thank you. :)

(hide spoiler)]