Book 3 and still going strong! While I liked book 2 better, this one was still amazing! 

AR and Thomas are both still very you g and this is their first “courting” so its natural there might be jealously, mistakes, and curiosity about other suitors. It was just very frustrating that AR did not confide in Thomas after she made the bargain with Mephistopheles. After everything they went through together in book 1 and 2 I felt like she should have been about to trust him and be able to play a part in her scheme. 

While I am not typically into love triangles and I find them very annoying, I do think the one between AR, Thomas and Mephistopheles was played out well in this book. It gave a bit if excitement to the relationship, although it would have been better in book 2 before they “committed” to each other. Some of the time it felt like AR just wanted to see if she could trick Thomas to practice her skills, knowing full well that it would hurt him. I really didn’t like that dynamic at all. Had AR told Thomas her plan, I felt like the story could have still fallen in the same, but AR would have stayed true to her character. She always confided in Thomas in the first 2 books, and now after they made their intentions clear she decides not to? That felt wrong for her character development. Okay I feel at this point Im just ranting about the same things now.

This book was magical, and hurtful. The murders were original and beautifully done, and I can’t wait to see what AR and Thomas get themselves into in the final book!

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco put Audrey Rose and Thomas on a ship traveling from the U.K. to New York City alongside a carnival troupe determined to make the voyage memorable. But what really sears the trip into everyone's mind are the no less than seven bodies that turn up on the ship. 

While I enjoyed this book immensely, I rated it lower than the first two in the series for a few reasons. 

First, while I loved Mephistopheles as a character, I found the love triangle between him, Audrey Rose, and Thomas to be wholly unnecessary.  

I think he would have made a wonderful platonic companion for Audrey Rose without complicating her other relationships and I just don't think it really added anything to the story.

Next, the comparison between sleight-of-hand and science was a good one, but I think that it was stretched just a little too far. 

Audrey Rose making questionable decisions in the name of science isn't a new phenomenon. However, actively hurting those around her in an effort to further her scientific understanding of the carnival "magic"? It just didn't feel authentic especially when most of what she was learning wasn't sleight-of-hand or magic in any way, it was just the ins and outs of the different carnival acts.

Finally, I found the connections between the playing and tarot cards found at the murder scenes to be interesting, but ultimately too confusing. By the end of the book, when we were finally learning what each card meant, I had forgotten which card had been found where and whose body had been staged in what enactment.

I ended up needing to go back through and write out the victims with the cards that were found near them and the ones they were posed to recreate. 

Honestly, I'm not sure how this could have been done better, and it may have just been me, but I needed a way to better keep all of these straight, especially with the mixing of the playing cards and tarot cards.

In the end, I'm glad I read Escaping from Houdini, and I'm excited to dive into Capturing the Devil.

I’m so annoyed that I didn’t like this book more than I thought I would. I thought it’d be my favourite since it involved a carnival and tarot (I love tarot). 

The plot of this book was obviously amazing. There were just some aspects that annoyed me SO MUCH.

I don’t get why the introduction of a love triangle with Mepha, whatever his stupid name was, was needed . Like, I get he’s some master manipulator and stuff, but don’t come between my loves, Audrey Rose and Thomas. Never ever. You really thought she’d pick you??? Think again, bitch.

Also, can we talk about how dirty Maniscalco did Thomas in this book.

Audrey Rose went sneaking around with the ringmaster guy behind his back and she never gave him an explanation (I know she couldn’t, but still) and he almost got killed?????? Audrey Rose fr annoyed me whenever she snuck out to speak to that stupid ringmaster. GIRL IF YOU DON’T GET BACK TO YOUR ROOM RIGHT NOW.

Thomas actually deserved so much better in this book.

The ending of this book. Oh. My. Fucking. God. Maniscalco had no reason to put me and the characters of this book through that. I WAS LITERALLY CRYING BECAUSE I THOUGHT AUDREY ROSE OR THOMAS WAS GOING TO DIE. Literally had me so scared. 

I’m glad Audrey Rose came to her senses at the end and rejected the other guy.

If she didn’t, I literally would’ve slapped her silly. I’m so mad just thinking about those scenes with him (I can’t spelled his name).

Screaming into my fucking pillow.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE WAS SO UNEXPECTED, I STILL CANNOT GET OVER IT.

[second read, December 2022]
With the way I dragged my feet through this book, you’d never guess it was one of my absolute favorites. Meph might actually be the most unbearable character I’ve ever encountered, and is definitely the source of everything wrong in the world. Every time he opens his mouth, I want to punch him in the face. And kick him between the legs. And feed him to the sharks. In that order.

I don’t think I really have anything to add to this except yet more creative ways of saying how much I despise Meph, so… yeah. Cressworth supremacy. That’s that.

[first read, February 2022]
I’m going to need 7-10 business days to recover from this book, maybe more. It absolutely WRECKED me.

I kept having to pause while reading to regain at least some composure because my heart was breaking, particularly in the second half. There were also times I had to pause because I was angry, which I don’t think has ever happened to me before?? I’ve definitely never hated a character (villains aside) as much as I hate Mephistopheles. The rage I felt nearly every time he opened is mouth is truly unparalleled.

Fun fact: I compiled an assortment of nicknames for him to use when I was cursing him out in my Kindle annotations. Some of my favorites include Mephistopplease, Mephistofleas, Mephistofeces, and Mephistofilet. XD

On a (somewhat) happier note, I still adore Audrey Rose and Thomas—maybe even more than I already did, if that’s possible. I say “somewhat” because, for every cute or amusing scene between them, there were three more that made me feel like my heart was being ripped from my chest. The angst in this book nearly killed me, I swear to the gods. Also, every time Thomas cried, a small part of my soul shriveled up and died. I’m joking but also not. 🥲🥲🥲

Emotions, my ship and newest nemesis aside, Maniscalco once again crafted a brilliant, unpredictable, high-stakes mystery. Unlike the first book—which I’d seen spoilers for—and the second—in which I accidentally figured out their identity—I had no clue who the killer was. Of course, I suspected Houdini because of the title, and I suspected Mephistofleas because he’s basically the reason for everything wrong in the world, but as for whether or not they were actually involved… read the book and find out. ;))

Regarding the common criticism that “Audrey Rose’s character was destroyed,” I want to say this. In the author’s note, Kerri explained that she was inspired by a family friend to explore the dangers of becoming too immersed in an undercover operation. In my opinion, not only is this an interesting plot point, but it also allows for *more* character growth. Audrey Rose realized the error of her ways, how she almost lost Thomas and how badly she hurt him, and was thus determined to fix her mistakes, to stay truthful to herself and those she loves. Also, she’s seventeen; while plenty of teenagers are mature and excellent and communication, not all are, and even those that are likely aren’t so all the time. Everyone makes mistakes, including teens, yet it seems we judge them more harshly. Give Audrey Rose a break.

Continuing the above thought, there’s no reason to insult Thomas, either. I’ve seen some people saying that he was spineless, he followed Audrey Rose around like a mindless puppy, they resolved their issues too quickly and without a proper conversation. Did we read the same books? Thomas is bold and full of personality, for starters, as well as completely capable of thinking and acting as an individual. That’s evident from the very beginning, and still true in this book.

Not to mention, he broke up with her after the lion incident, and they were not a couple AT ALL for the second half of the book.

He’s torn between protecting himself and trusting Audrey Rose, who he loves despite everything, and even though he’s not one to outwardly display emotions, there are plenty of times where it’s easy to see how heartbroken he is. For most of the remaining story, they’re both forced to put their personal issues aside in order to focus on the increasingly stressful case, and in the epilogue, they’re both coping with how horrible the last few days have been. It’s very possible, and in my opinion likely, that they sought each other out for comfort and familiarity, and will talk more thoroughly later, when they’re both ready to. It’s not like the series ended with this book; there’s a novella and one more book yet.

So, in conclusion: Kerri did what she did for a reason, and I believe both Audrey Rose and Thomas are completely in-character. They’re doing the best they can with the hand they were dealt (haha) and, while y’all are entitled to your own opinions, don’t deserve so much hate.

Lastly, I wanted to mention the ending. Specifically, it’s been two hours since I finished the book and I’m STILL reeling. The theme with this series has been each book is more intense than the last, and after this… I’m excited but completely terrified for the finale.

Thomas Cresswell has some of the most romantic lines, and that’s not an exaggeration. 🥺🥺💙💙

Their banter >>> 😂😂😂

I absolutely love that Kerri put their ship name in the book. Pure gold. 😂👏🏻

(Okay I’ll stop now.)

Representation

This book undid almost all the character growth from the first book. Also I'm not unconvinced that both Audrey Rose and Thomas aren't sociopaths.