Kirby, Matthew J. A Taste For Monsters. Scholastic Press 2016
343p $18.99 ISBN 978-0-545-81784-4 Hardback hs Historical fiction VG-BN
It is 1888 and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing
London. Joseph Merrick, the Elephant
Man, resides in a hospital close to the neighborhood where the murders are
taking place. Evelyn is Merrick’s maid. At night, the two are haunted by the
spirits of the murdered women.
Evelyn wants to become a nurse, but due to her age and a terrible disfigurement from an industrial accident in a match factory, she is instead relegated to the role of maid. She befriends John Merrick, who also suffers debilitating disfigurement as The Elephant Man. The demands of each “Leather Apron” (the ghosts of the Ripper’s victims) are draining the life from Merrick, as each soul wants or needs something from him before she can move on. Evelyn will do whatever it takes to save John, even if it means coming face-to-face with Jack the Ripper.
Those readers looking for a historical romance will not find it here. Those who love a chilling, atmospheric walk through the dark side of macabre fiction will be delighted with this tale. Kirby, who has won the prestigious Edgar Award for mystery, is in top form here. The prose is elegant and era-appropriate, the mystery captivating, and the characters engaging. This is a fascinating read.
Evelyn wants to become a nurse, but due to her age and a terrible disfigurement from an industrial accident in a match factory, she is instead relegated to the role of maid. She befriends John Merrick, who also suffers debilitating disfigurement as The Elephant Man. The demands of each “Leather Apron” (the ghosts of the Ripper’s victims) are draining the life from Merrick, as each soul wants or needs something from him before she can move on. Evelyn will do whatever it takes to save John, even if it means coming face-to-face with Jack the Ripper.
Those readers looking for a historical romance will not find it here. Those who love a chilling, atmospheric walk through the dark side of macabre fiction will be delighted with this tale. Kirby, who has won the prestigious Edgar Award for mystery, is in top form here. The prose is elegant and era-appropriate, the mystery captivating, and the characters engaging. This is a fascinating read.
Summary: Evelyn teams up with John Merrick to solve the
murders perpetuated by Jack the Ripper.
Jack the Ripper-Fiction —Hilary
Welliver
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