Review of 'Capturing the Devil'

Maniscalco delivers an explosive finale with Capturing the Devil, taking readers to Chicago, looking for the infamous Jack the Ripper copycat.

Storytelling

As much as I loved Capturing the Devil, starting was a bit slow. The story begins right after Escaping from Houdini, following Audrey Rose through the city streets, still thinking of the copycat murder she discovered in a trunk. But with her impending nuptials to the wonderfully dashing and intelligent Thomas, she slightly puts it out of her mind.

Thankfully, Thomas is her other half, matching her thoughts wonderfully, exploring her brother’s notes, and discovering the worst: he did not work alone.

It is easy to see how the minds of the character work, but often it felt like a stretch of the story to take the characters from point a to point b. Thankfully, Maniscalco also makes a point of highlighting that with the use of Audrey’s uncle, who also begins to question why they are in Chicago if there are no bodies.

There is also the sudden betrothal of Thomas to another woman that pops up out of nowhere. It had probably been a while since I read the rest of the series, but this plot twist seemed to come out of nowhere and seemed more like a desperate plot device to keep the characters from marrying so early in the book.

It almost feels as though Maniscalco forgot she had a whole book to write and decided, “let me just throw in this plot twist to liven things up.” It felt unnecessary to the story and did not even add that much tension to the character dynamics because these are two characters, so in love, it was apparent they would sort out any mess.

Nevertheless, once the characters move on to Chicago, the puzzle pieces start to fall into place. As much as this is historical fiction, it is also a mystery/thriller. Alongside Audrey, you are studying the facts, looking at the missing pieces to solve the mystery of the missing girls. This is where the pacing begins to quicken, and the tension starts to rise. Any true crime aficionado knows about H. H. Holmes, the Devil in the White City, and his murder hotel, so to see this alternate yet realistic take on events play out was masterful.

Characterization

Of course, the driving force behind Capturing the Devil is Audrey Rose. She is an intelligent woman who works with her uncle as a mortician and crime scene investigator. As a woman, you have seen her intelligence challenged throughout the series. But Audrey never backs down and fights using her wits.

That trend continues here. However, there is more. After the last book, she holds her brother’s notebook, which she is studying religiously. Given her fondness for her scalpel and job, she often questions her sanity. Thomas must remind her; she is not her brother. But that fear lingers within her. It gives rise to some excellent internal turmoil, leading to great tension, especially when she comes face to face with H. H. Holmes.

Audrey grows, and it is vital that she does, even after three books. She has to deal with new insecurities, such as her limp from her latest injury, as well as old ones, making her incredibly relatable. And the fact that she is as sharp as a whip makes endears her to the reader.

Final Thoughts

Capturing the Devil comes full circle, and connecting to Stalking Jack the Ripper, Maniscalco delivers an excellent close to a fantastic series.

• Writing Quality : 9/10
• Character Development : 10/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 9/10
• Intellectual Depth: 9/10
• Originality: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats.