100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

Life seems perfect for American socialite Florence, at eighteen years old Florence has traveled the world and is now on her way to Liverpool onboard the SS Baltic. While traveling, she literally falls for the cotton magnate, James Maybrick. By the time the cruise has ended, Florence and James are engaged. Florence is in love, but struggles as an American within English high society and quickly learns that while she may look the part of lady of the house, she is essentially a prisoner. As she learns more and more about her husband's true disposition, habits and cruelty, Florence herself falls into madness.

A suspenseful and thrilling view into the murders of Jack the Ripper. I was happy to find out that this version of the story was loosely based on an actual diary that was found concerning the lives of Florence and James Maybrick, as I love writing based on actual history. Starting out as a perfect romance, with a meet-cute akin to Titanic, even taking place upon a White Star Line Ship, I felt swept up in the gorgeous descriptions of the elegant clothing and setting of the time period. Sometimes, though the descriptions seemed a bit exaggerated at times. I even felt myself rooting for the relationship between Florence and James to move forward, even though I knew how it would end. The honeymoon phase of their relationship does not last long, right away Florence begins to find clues that James is not who he says he is. As the suspense builds, the madness begins to fill in and both James and Florence begin to act erratically. I liked that the point of view was shown from both Florence and James' points of view, as both had separate reasons for their actions based on what they believed the other was doing. When the Jack the Ripper killings begin and the view shifts to James' diary, the story picks up in gore and violence, but that makes for the perfect Jack the Ripper story in my eyes. What I found even more interesting was what happened to Florence after the death of her husband and what she chose to do with the knowledge in the diary.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.