Escaping From Houdini

Forensic scientist Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner Thomas Cresswell investigate a series of murders aboard the RMS Etruria during its voyage from London to New York in 1888. The killings coincide with performances by a mysterious traveling circus troupe that entertains the ship's first-class passengers each night. As bodies marked with strange symbols begin appearing across the ship, Audrey Rose must navigate both the investigation and her growing connection to the enigmatic ringmaster of the circus. The cramped quarters of the ocean liner create tension as passengers realize a killer walks among them, while the nightly circus performances add an unsettling backdrop to the mounting death toll. The story blends Victorian forensics, circus spectacle, and shipboard intrigue into a gothic murder mystery. The exploration of illusion versus reality and the cost of uncovering truth resonates throughout both the carnival acts and the criminal investigation.

Readers rate this third book in the series lower than the previous two, with a 3.9/5 on Goodreads (50,000+ ratings) and 4.3/5 on Amazon (900+ ratings). Readers appreciated: - The circus atmosphere and detailed descriptions - Thomas and Audrey Rose's relationship development - The magic show elements and illusions - Multiple plot twists throughout Common criticisms: - The love triangle felt forced and unnecessary - Audrey Rose makes questionable decisions that seem out of character - The resolution feels rushed - Less focus on forensics compared to previous books Several readers noted the protagonist becomes "frustrating" and "inconsistent" compared to earlier books. One frequent comment was that the romantic subplot overshadowed the murder mystery. As one Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The strong, intelligent heroine from book one has been replaced by someone who can't make up her mind about anything." BookishFirst readers gave it 3.7/5 based on 89 reviews.

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🎩 *Escaping From Houdini* is the third installment in Kerri Maniscalco's #1 New York Times bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series. 🚢 The story takes place aboard the RMS Etruria, a real luxury ocean liner that operated between 1884 and 1908. 🔮 While the book features Harry Houdini as a character, it blends historical facts about the famous magician with fictional elements during his early career, before he became world-famous. 💀 Author Kerri Maniscalco extensively researched Victorian-era carnival acts, magic shows, and forensic science to create an authentic atmosphere for the novel. 🎪 The Moonlight Carnival featured in the book was inspired by real traveling carnival shows of the late 1800s, which often included seemingly supernatural acts and dangerous performances to captivate audiences.