The Dreadfuls : Deluxe Limited Edition
Overview
The darkly atmospheric and gruesome tale of Jack the Ripper unfolds against the backdrop of a Victorian London reform school, as a young inmate sets out to find the identity of the elusive serial killer in a riveting new book perfect for fans of The Woman in the Window and Enola Holmes.**DELUXE STENCILED EDGES** London, 1888. Committed to the Whitechapel Hall Reform School for "incurable delinquency," Adelaide "Dell" Morton is a precocious, defiant misfit. She's also a voracious reader of the sordid, sensationally popular Penny dreadful stories. In a stroke of luck, she's found a kindred spirit in her poised roommate, Pippa. Their obsession is only further fueled by the Jack the Ripper murders blazing a trail of terror throughout London's seediest streets . . . right outside Whitechapel Hall's front door. Desperate for adventure, they embark on their own investigation--and discover an ally in Noah, son of the local butcher. The trio's budding spywork soon yields shocking results: Why was straightlaced Whitechapel teacher Miss Kaye escaping the school the night of the latest crime? Could Jack the Ripper be a she? Delving into Miss Kaye's background, Dell is both horrified and thrilled to find that within Miss Kaye's past lies a chapter dark enough to rival any Penny dreadful . . . Dell's fixation with Miss Kaye reaches dangerous heights while a series of suspicious events leaves Miss Kaye in sole command of Whitechapel Hall. Trapped in their teacher's ever-tightening web of control, the young detectives devise a risky plan to track her. But what ensues may only propel them into secrets, lies, ruthless acts, and betrayals that go back decades--and a confrontation that will irrevocably change the fates of all involved . . . if they survive.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9781496750372
- ISBN-10: 1496750373
- Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
- Publish Date: March 2026
- Dimensions: 8.65 x 6.38 x 1.08 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.03 pounds
- Page Count: 320
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Is there such a thing as a charming thriller centered on Jack the Ripper? Indeed, there is: A. Rae Dunlap’s The Dreadfuls features a young protagonist who finds herself all but imprisoned in the Whitechapel Hall Reform School just as the infamous serial killer begins his slaughter. Fans of Dunlap’s well-received debut, The Resurrectionist—a gothic thriller about a medical student in 19th-century Scotland who is lured into a body-snatching scheme—will be charmed by another rollicking blend of ominous but upbeat adventure, a smattering of gore and a creative blend of fact and fiction.
An orphan cast aside by her aunt and uncle, irrepressible Dell arrives at Whitechapel Hall with a secret stash of beloved but forbidden penny dreadfuls—sensationalized tales of crime that gave rise to folkloric characters like Sweeney Todd. Dell soon finds a crime-loving partner in her roommate, Pippa, and the pair pore over Dell’s broadsides instead of their assigned Bible verses. Luckily, their isolated annex room gives them secret access to the roof, where they enjoy nightly smokes while gazing down at the busy London streets. With this eagle-eyed perch, they can easily keep tabs on the neighborhood. One night, Dell sneaks out in the middle of the night via a dumbwaiter in an attempt to run away from the school. On her way out, she is shocked to encounter her religion teacher, Miss Kaye, whom she begins to suspect may be none other than Jack the Ripper.
Dunlap is not only a breezy narrator but also a skilled plotter who unveils the story with a multitude of twisty surprises. There are plenty of close calls and spine-tingling moments, but none of the dour, moody narration often featured in novels set during this period. Think of it as gothic serial killer lite, if you will.
That said, Dunlap manages to weave in a fair bit of history, such as showing how the killings fueled antisemitism in Victorian London. Dell begins to understand the inadequacies of penny dreadfuls in addressing real-life issues like mental illness. She and Miss Kaye also have some interesting exchanges on religion, with Miss Kaye noting, “We prefer the black-and-white narrative of your penny bloods, instead of the far more complex realities that surround us.”
As Dell notes, “for the first time in my life, I was privy to the spoils of detective work well done. It was a reward greater than gold.” The Dreadfuls will heartily reward readers who want only a spoonful of chills and carnage.
Is there such a thing as a charming thriller centered on Jack the Ripper? Indeed, there is: A. Rae Dunlap’s The Dreadfuls features a young protagonist who finds herself all but imprisoned in the Whitechapel Hall Reform School just as the infamous serial killer begins his slaughter. Fans of Dunlap’s well-received debut, The Resurrectionist—a gothic thriller about a medical student in 19th-century Scotland who is lured into a body-snatching scheme—will be charmed by another rollicking blend of ominous but upbeat adventure, a smattering of gore and a creative blend of fact and fiction.
An orphan cast aside by her aunt and uncle, irrepressible Dell arrives at Whitechapel Hall with a secret stash of beloved but forbidden penny dreadfuls—sensationalized tales of crime that gave rise to folkloric characters like Sweeney Todd. Dell soon finds a crime-loving partner in her roommate, Pippa, and the pair pore over Dell’s broadsides instead of their assigned Bible verses. Luckily, their isolated annex room gives them secret access to the roof, where they enjoy nightly smokes while gazing down at the busy London streets. With this eagle-eyed perch, they can easily keep tabs on the neighborhood. One night, Dell sneaks out in the middle of the night via a dumbwaiter in an attempt to run away from the school. On her way out, she is shocked to encounter her religion teacher, Miss Kaye, whom she begins to suspect may be none other than Jack the Ripper.
Dunlap is not only a breezy narrator but also a skilled plotter who unveils the story with a multitude of twisty surprises. There are plenty of close calls and spine-tingling moments, but none of the dour, moody narration often featured in novels set during this period. Think of it as gothic serial killer lite, if you will.
That said, Dunlap manages to weave in a fair bit of history, such as showing how the killings fueled antisemitism in Victorian London. Dell begins to understand the inadequacies of penny dreadfuls in addressing real-life issues like mental illness. She and Miss Kaye also have some interesting exchanges on religion, with Miss Kaye noting, “We prefer the black-and-white narrative of your penny bloods, instead of the far more complex realities that surround us.”
As Dell notes, “for the first time in my life, I was privy to the spoils of detective work well done. It was a reward greater than gold.” The Dreadfuls will heartily reward readers who want only a spoonful of chills and carnage.