3.5 but want to continue the series. ( )

4.5 stars.

The Ripper's Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland pits an intrepid woman and her diverse group of friends against Jack the Ripper.

Upon learning another one of her racy photographs models has been murdered, photographer Sarah Bain is certain the killer is using her photos to select his victims. Quickly realizing she cannot risk telling the police about her suspicions, Sarah tries to warn the other women they are in danger. None of the "working girls" take her warnings seriously and yet another one of Sarah's models soon falls victim to the Ripper. With the help of street smart orphan Mick O'Reilly, Jewish couple Abraham and Rachel Lipsky, actress Catherine Price and aristocrat Hugh Staunton, Sarah is determined to keep her models safe. At the same time, Sarah is working hard to unmask the killer whilst evading the very attractive Police Constable Thomas Barrett and the rest of the police.

Having never recovered from the death of her beloved father, Sarah is a gifted photographer who supplements her regular photography business with a select number of salacious photos of prostitutes. With a litany of advice learned from her bitter and unhappy mother constantly running through her mind, Sarah never lets down her guard or lets any of her neighbors or customers get close to her. The first person to sneak past her defenses is Catherine Price, an upcoming and coming actress whom Sarah helped until her frosty demeanor put an end to their budding friendship. After an inauspicious first meeting with young Mick, she cannot help but take care of the plucky lad who tugs on her heartstrings every time he stops by her studio. Following her somewhat uncomfortable first encounter with Lord Hugh Staunton, Sarah forms an unlikely friendship with the sympathetic nobleman after they confide in one another. Rounding out her list of recently met acquaintances are married couple Rachel and Abraham, whose loyalty and affection are unexpected but surprisingly welcome as Sarah and the rest of her newly formed "family" try to keep the naughty models safe from harm.

Once the police set their sights on Sarah, she has no choice but uncover the identity of the Ripper on her own. She and Mick quickly track down the customers who purchased her racy photographs but which one of them is killer? At the same time, Sarah and the rest of her crew continue guarding the prostitutes as they go about their nightly business. With PC Barrett and his boss turning up at somewhat inopportune moments, will Sarah be able to convince them she innocent of any wrongdoing? And can she protect herself from further heartache at the hands of the occasionally unscrupulous Barrett?

With a cast of colorful yet endearing characters, an atmospheric setting and a clever storyline, The Ripper's Shadow is an absolutely captivating historical mystery. The characters are richly developed with relatable flaws and the descriptive prose brings the setting vibrantly to life. There is no shortage of stunning plot twists, unexpected revelations and surprising suspects as Sarah and her friends investigate the horrifying murders. Laura Joh Rowland puts an incredibly unique spin on the unsolved Jack the Ripper murders that is guaranteed to capture the imagination of anyone who reads historical mysteries. An outstanding mystery that is hopefully just the first novel starring amateur sleuth Sarah Cain (and the rest of her friends). ( )

Just how hard can I roll my eyes. Uggggggh! I really really really expected to like this book. I adore reading Jane Austen, Victorian England, Jack the Ripper, and Sherlock Holmes books. But this, tHiS book did it's best to ruined my love. The writing was, acceptable although it came across far too modern for me. I kept forgetting we were in the 1880s which is irritating. I am truly beginning to loathe 1st person narrators especially ones as annoying as this one. When we weren't hearing about how responsible she feels that "she was the sole reason HER models were being murdered" we are hearing about how she is "completely helpless" or "frozen in place" or "how alone she feels while surrounded by her brand new friends" OR best of all, her "red hot flashes of RaGe". I swear I have never before rolled my eyes as much as I did at this book. I can't even pin point WHY. Which only adds to my irritants.
I'm giving it 2 stars because I didn't out right hate it. I was annoyed by it. ( )

Sarah Bain lives in Whitechapel at the time of the Ripper. She knows who he is, but is powerless to stop him. Possible series, but this group is so untrained they should not have survived. ( )

Compelling, sensitive and provocative.

First up I need to declare that I am a huge fan of Laura Joh Rowland. I have read all of her
Sano Ichiro Novel's and loved them. But this work is a far departure from those detective novels set in feudal Japan. Yet it contains the distinctive Rowland stamp of complex mystery and chilling intrigue.
The thing about Rowland is that she approaches a topic slightly out of left field. I was wondering how she was going to write another 'yawn' Jack the Ripper novel about prostitutes being gutted in the Whitechapel area of the East End in 1888.
Well there's no yawn about Rowland's Ripper's Shadow; rather we are treated to an intelligent, thoughtful and completely unique look at events through the eyes of a lonely spinster photographer. Not only that, but it seems it is the spinster's risqué boudoir photographs of the victims might be the key that links the murders.
Rowland draws together a group of unlikely conspirators bent on finding the Ripper. Sarah Bain because she feels guilty that her photographs appear to have led the Ripper to his victims.
Sara does all she can to protect the women. Along the way she gathers up other characters who come to assist her--Lord Hugh Staunton, whose partner preferences are of the male variety--a dangerous thing in Victorian England, Mick a rather wonderful street urchin, the Lepskys, a Russian Jewish couple who understand death and persecution, and Catherine, a young and beautiful actress, one of the women Sara photographed.
The brilliant depiction of the wider community endeavouring to band together to find the killer in the face of what they see as police ineptness, the palpable fear that spurs on mobs to rioting, and the dankness and stench of the alleyways and sewers such as where Mick lives are real.
As the story progresses we delve more deeply into the psyche of the main characters. Sarah has her own demons--a father who was killed in riots for which she blames herself, a lack of confidence, a fear of the police and serious bouts of anger. Catherine too has damaging secrets.
As things progress the group realize that there is not one but two Rippers. Sarah becomes a target for the police and her friends are dragged into the limelight. The tensions that develop are exquisitely wrought. Sarah's reactions constantly surprise herself and us. This in turn ensures that you are never quite sure what will happen, but that something shocking will follow as Sara and her friends race towards a climax seemingly set in motion by a few titillating photographs.

A NetGalley ARC ( )