Ripper [Dramatized Adaptation]

Written by Stefan Petrucha

Narrated by A Full Cast, Carolyn Kashner, Nick DePinto and 26 more

You thought you knew him. You were dead wrong.

Carver Young dreams of becoming a detective, despite growing up in an orphanage with only crime novels to encourage him. But when he is adopted by Detective Hawking of the world famous Pinkerton Agency, Carver is given not only the chance to find his biological father, he finds himself smack in the middle of a real life investigation: tracking down a vicious serial killer who has thrown New York City into utter panic. When the case begins to unfold, however, it's worse than he could have ever imagined, and his loyalty to Mr. Hawking and the Pinkertons comes into question. As the body count rises and the investigation becomes dire, Carver must decide where his true loyalty lies. Full of whip-smart dialogue, kid-friendly gadgets, and featuring a then New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt, Ripper challenges everything you thought you knew about the world's most famous serial killer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GraphicAudio
• Release date: Jun 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781648809613

Reviews for Ripper [Dramatized Adaptation]

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Carver Young has lived at an orphanage all his life, and now he’s a teenager too old to be adopted. The orphanage’s headmistress has an event to set up older orphans with apprenticeships; newspaper reporters find a new writer, and a strange old man seems interested in Carver. Snooping around leads Carver to realize the old man is a retired detective, who wants to take Carver on as his replacement! This has always been Carver’s dream, so he does all he can to impress the old man. His first mission: to find his real father. But when the evidence seems to point to Carver’s father being Jack the Ripper, he’s not sure he wants to continue as a detective. This book is a quick and interesting read, but the ending got a little jumbled for me. I feel like the author knew this would happen, because a few pages after the “a-ha!” moment, he breaks everything down so the reader understands exactly what went down. If not for that, I would have liked this book much more. That being said, the ending is somewhat open for a sequel, and I would still read that.

[vernefan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Carver Young is told that the orphanage he was raised in was being sold, and that he and two other older teen orphans were unable to stay, their destinies soon change dramatically. At times for the better, other times for the worst. Delia and Finn are adopted by two of New York's finest families, parents of wealth and high social standing. Carver however is taken under wing by a mysterious gentleman named Albert Hawking whose claim to fame is that he is one of the finest Pinkerton Detectives. Growing up enthralled with the dime-store novels of Sherlock Holmes, Carver has always dreamed of being a sleuth himself. Being adopted by an elderly and prestigious Pinkerton agent seemed all that he could hope for until he arrives at an insane asylum instead of what he expected would be the office of a Private Eye! The world of criminology is thrust upon 14 year old Carver instantly as his new mentor forces the young man to use his wits and detective skills to assist with New York's worst nightmare. Women of the elite social circles are being brutally murdered leaving Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt baffled and stumped as to who this mass murderer could be and just how to catch him. Alternating between the office in the madhouse and in a secret New Pinkerton agency hidden underground, Carver's world gets turned upside down as clue after clue lead him to believe that the slasher is none other than Jack the Ripper, and that he is Saucy Jack's son! Ripper is an extremely executed teen mystery novel that is fun, exciting, mysterious, and scary. This reader could not put this ingenious tale down and cannot wait for the sequel being penned by the author now. With the Victorian atmosphere of turn-of-the-century New York, funky steampunk-like mechanical gadgets, intriguing good guys and bad guys, true-to-life history, and characters with charisma and charm, readers will digest this novel in one or two sittings. You will cheer Carver and company on as they prowl the streets of New York diving into danger and intrigue every step of the way throwing lots of chills and thrills upon the pages you will find turn rapidly. The added feature of Teddy Roosevelt was an awesome ingredient, returning to the legend of Jack the Ripper was cool, and having the author create a brand new young detective character one can look forward to reading more about, makes this story a five star winner!

[macjest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! Carver Young, a 14 year old orphan, investigates his past. He is taken under the wing of Albert Hawking of the Pinkertons. Carver and his young friend Delia, who is adopted by a couple who work at the NY Times, work together to figure out Carver's past. Meanwhile, Saucy Jack is in New York. How all this works together and the twist ending were outstanding.

[sarah220-732610 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun adventure/mystery. An orphan boy learns his father may be a killer, is befriended by a detective, and races to solve the killer's puzzle before more women are killed. Entertaining read with interesting historical atmosphere with a few reasonable upgrades developed to fight crime.

[lillibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It’s been over one hundred years since Jack the Ripper terrorized the streets of London, yet he remains a fascinating and gruesome mystery. Who was he? What were his motives? And why did he suddenly stop? Questions like these have produced volumes of investigative books--some even claiming to have solved the mystery--and several movies. In his latest young adult novel, Ripper, author Stefan Petrucha mixes fact with fiction to offer up a new look at Jack the Ripper in a suspenseful blend of history and horror.
In 1895 New York, Carver Young is a fourteen year old orphan recently taken in by Detective Hawking of the renown Pinkerton Agency. Carver should be thrilled—he has a home and a means to learn detective skills alongside the very best, skills he needs if he is to find his father. Yet, home is a room inside a mental institution and the discoveries Carver is making are leading him to an unbelievable conclusion. Could Jack the Ripper be in New York? With the city reeling from the murders of high society women and Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt up in arms, Carver must decide how far he’s willing to go to learn the truth and how much he’ll risk to get it. Ripper is a fast-paced mystery filled with historical detail, new-fangled gadgetry, and the Pinkerton’s cool underground base. The clues and red herrings are numerous enough that even the best mystery reader may not guess the outcome. With a sequel hinted to at the end, here’s hoping that we won’t see the last of Carver Young and his fellow Pinkerton agents.

[lilibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carver, a 14-year-old orphan, wants to be a detective. When he is placed as the ward of a retired detective, his first "assignment" is to track down his father. But it looks like his father may be Jack the Ripper, and his investigation puts him and his friends in danger.

[sesquipedaliansays · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my wow! One of the most amazing reads in a long time! I would not, however, recommend that you start reading it at night. I did, and I was up until 3 am because I could not put it down. Brilliantly written and with a surprise twist at the end, Ripper will hold you in its death grasp until the very end. Very few books can surprise me the way this one did. I never saw the ending coming. One or two bad words though, and somewhat graphic descriptions of particular murder scenes but not too bad. Rating - 5 stars due to the excellent writing

[tcgep · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For a YA novel it was very well written. A fun read, a surprise twist at the end.

[patiencefortitude · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was terrific

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel is more of a "what if" Jack the Ripper had a son who was interested in becoming a detective, and I enjoyed that rather inventive storyline. The novel is very heavy with detective work and interspersed with magical elements, but the ending, I felt, was unsatisfactory.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am not at all in mysteries thrillers. But this book took me to a whole other reading level that I really enjoyed!!What got me hooked on this book? Well the unique plot. I love stories about Jack the Ripper. To read a book based on a kid searching for clues to the killer is super cool! It's makes me feel all Nancy Drew again. With this book I just wanted to get underneath the covers of by bed with a flashlight, dash into the past and follow the clues of Carver Young. The plot, hand downs AWESOME!The mystery of the book is super cool. I love it when an author can take me on an adventure of searching, questioning, accusing, etc. It's give me great joy to be in the loop with the characters going along with them. It's so much fun!There was a bit of a crush interest. No love, no hardcore flirting just pure admiration. And that folks was enough to make me smile. I loved the loyalty they had to each other and the friendship they have is strong.The ENDING! I mean wow! Really just WOW! I did not see that! Well done Mr. Petrucha. You certainly knock me off my feet with such a fantastic ending! I have no idea. The ending is a shocker. I can tell you that much.Ripper is an engrossing thriller that leaves you chilled to the bone. The conspiracy driven-drama dives the reader deeper into a world of adventure that you never want to leave. Exhilarating and exciting, Ripper is a great read!