The Dreadfuls: Deluxe Stenciled Edges - by A Rae Dunlap (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Resurrectionist

"With wit as sharp as a scalpel, and a plot as dark and twisted as the Edinburgh alleys in which it is set, The Resurrectionist is a thrilling debut that will have readers turning pages deep into the night." --Hester Fox, author of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

"While the subject matter of The Resurrectionist is certainly macabre (and Dunlap doesn't skimp on the gory details), the novel remains upbeat and fun, never sinking into a dour gothic spirit. Even if they find their work distasteful, readers will come to love James and Nye's irreverent crew of miscreants." --BookPage

"Dunlap's clever debut explores medical history, queer love, and the cost of progress in 1828 Scotland. Dunlap melds comic, tender, and macabre moments in her well-plotted tale, and makes hay with embellished historical facts. Readers will be entertained." --Publishers Weekly

"Vivid, twisty, rollicking, sometimes macabre, always entertaining. The Resurrectionist is a memorable exploration of the twin poles of science and desire - and the lengths to which we will go for both." --BookTrib

"This perfectly ghoulish thriller expertly blends dark academia with historical true crime and unexpected romance. Readers will be delightfully haunted by the lush prose and atmospheric gloom." --B.R. Myers, author of A Dreadful Splendor

"Playing with a captivating point in history, A. Rae Dunlap weaves a story of queer love, coming of age, and macabre science against the richly-drawn atmosphere of a historic and beloved city. The result is a book hauntingly gothic, intimately told, and wickedly, wonderfully grotesque." --Marielle Thompson, author of The Last Witch in Edinburgh

"Brilliantly researched and beautifully written. Dunlap expertly captures the history and cadence of the era, and the thrill and elation of discovery during the Enlightenment, as well as the dark and twisted depths that are the byproducts of progress. A clever tale filled with macabre intrigue and personal revelation." --Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author

"Mixing a macabre gothic mystery with a sensitive coming-of-age tale and a touching queer romance, Dunlap has written an exciting, well-researched debut historical adventure." --firstCLUE

About the Author

A. Rae Dunlap is the USA Today bestselling author of acclaimed historical novels The Resurrectionist and The Dreadfuls. She studied film and Victorian literature at Northwestern University and spends her days as a trailer editor at Disney, bringing to life the magic of the world's most influential storytellers for audiences everywhere. She lives with her husband in a small mountain town in California and can be found online at ARaeDunlap.com.