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 true crime and detective fiction, including the sordid, sensationally popular Penny dreadful stories. In an unlikely stroke of luck, she’s found a kindred spirit in her poised, perfectionist 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. But Noah’s motives are not mere fascination: His father is the prime suspect. Noah is desperate to clear his name, and Dell and Pippa are only too eager to help.
Their budding spywork soon yields shocking results: they witness 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 leave Miss Kaye in sole command of Whitechapel Hall. Trapped in their teacher’s ever-tightening web of control, the three devious detectives devise a risky plan to track her. But what ensues may only propel them ever deeper 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.
If you enjoy atmospheric Victorian mysteries with gothic vibes and unpredictable female leads, look no further. This book is set during the Jack the Ripper murders in 1880s Whitechapel, London, and I loved how real history was woven in. The protagonists are teens living in a girls’ reformatory school, and the book sometimes gives off YA vibes, but the mystery is intricate and layered and a fresh take on Jack the Ripper. And we’ve got some fantastic tropes, including found family, amateur sleuthing, suspicious authority figures, dark academia vibes, kindred spirits, and more, along with themes of misogyny, class division, antisemitism, institutional control, and society’s treatment of women—lots of social commentary and a great option for a book club or buddy read!
Told through Dell’s 1st-person POV, she’s such a fun, feisty protagonist to follow as she’s constantly planning her escape from Whitechapel Hall. She’s both a misfit and an outcast, and her unexpected friendship with Pippa Fitzroy is one of the best parts of the book. They quickly become a genuinely entertaining amateur sleuthing duo as more murders occur, and watching them secretly investigate while surrounded by suspicious adults is so fun. Miss Kaye is another fascinating character, especially as Dell becomes increasingly suspicious of her after spotting her in the halls late at night when the murders occur. Their relationship development is a major highlight, especially as secrets about Miss Kaye’s past begin to surface.
The worldbuilding is immersive and vivid, especially during Dell and Pippa’s daily outings on the Victorian streets of Whitechapel to collect supplies for the school. Add in their newfound friend Noah, who works at the butcher shop, and suddenly there’s an amateur sleuthing trio that has some major found family vibes. The antisemitism faced by Noah and his family is also woven into the murder mystery in a very compelling way.
The chapters are not short, but the dialogue is so entertaining and immersive that you’ll easily fly through this. And don’t even try to predict the reveals and small twists, as the author intentionally withholds key information until just before the reveals or twists arrive—so just enjoy the characters and the intricate mystery. The climax has some upsetting moments and a high-stakes showdown, and the ending/epilogue gives more satisfying resolution. The author’s note afterward is definitely worth a read as it gives insight into the real history of Whitechapel in the 1880s, the misconceptions surrounding Jack the Ripper, and which characters were inspired by real historical figures uncovered during the author’s research. If all of this sounds appealing or you haven’t read this author before, definitely add this to your list!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Dreadfuls is read by actress and narrator Anna Burnett. She portrays protagonist Dell Morton with the perfect mix of rebellious energy, sarcasm, impulsiveness, and curiosity, making her so entertaining to follow. Dell’s dramatic inner monologues and snarky remarks to others are delivered with so much expression and great comedic timing, and you’ll quickly become invested in her determination to solve the murders.
In contrast, Burnett portrays Pippa Fitzroy with a softer, composed voice, making the girls’ amateur sleuthing partnership and banter so entertaining to listen to. Their excursions in Whitechapel, whether during the daily outreach visits to gather supplies for the school or their secret investigative outings at night, feel incredibly vivid as Burnett makes you feel like you’re right there beside them walking the busy Victorian streets.
For Miss Kaye, Burnett uses a calm, authoritative voice layered with just enough suspicion to keep you guessing whether she should be trusted. The dialogue between Dell and Miss Kaye is a major highlight of the audiobook as Burnett gives their one-on-one conversations emotional tension and mutual understanding, and you can feel their kindred-spirit connection developing over the course of the story.
Burnett also gives distinct voices and personalities to the secondary cast, including the young Jewish man Noah and his father at the butcher shop, the other authority figures at Whitechapel Hall, and especially the villain later on, whose voice sounds genuinely sinister and ruthless. If you’re considering this one, the audiobook is definitely the way to go as Burnett elevates the story into a highly immersive, cinematic experience that’s difficult to put down!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Dreadfuls is read by actress and narrator Anna Burnett. She portrays protagonist Dell Morton with the perfect mix of rebellious energy, sarcasm, impulsiveness, and curiosity, making her so entertaining to follow. Dell’s dramatic inner monologues and snarky remarks to others are delivered with so much expression and great comedic timing, and you’ll quickly become invested in her determination to solve the murders.
In contrast, Burnett portrays Pippa Fitzroy with a softer, composed voice, making the girls’ amateur sleuthing partnership and banter so entertaining to listen to. Their excursions in Whitechapel, whether during the daily outreach visits to gather supplies for the school or their secret investigative outings at night, feel incredibly vivid as Burnett makes you feel like you’re right there beside them walking the busy Victorian streets.
For Miss Kaye, Burnett uses a calm, authoritative voice layered with just enough suspicion to keep you guessing whether she should be trusted. The dialogue between Dell and Miss Kaye is a major highlight of the audiobook as Burnett gives their one-on-one conversations emotional tension and mutual understanding, and you can feel their kindred-spirit connection developing over the course of the story.
Burnett also gives distinct voices and personalities to the secondary cast, including the young Jewish man Noah and his father at the butcher shop, the other authority figures at Whitechapel Hall, and especially the villain later on, whose voice sounds genuinely sinister and ruthless. If you’re considering this one, the audiobook is definitely the way to go as Burnett elevates the story into a highly immersive, cinematic experience that’s difficult to put down!
The audiobook of The Dreadfuls is read by actress and narrator Anna Burnett. She portrays protagonist Dell Morton with the perfect mix of rebellious energy, sarcasm, impulsiveness, and curiosity, making her so entertaining to follow. Dell’s dramatic inner monologues and snarky remarks to others are delivered with so much expression and great comedic timing, and you’ll quickly become invested in her determination to solve the murders.
In contrast, Burnett portrays Pippa Fitzroy with a softer, composed voice, making the girls’ amateur sleuthing partnership and banter so entertaining to listen to. Their excursions in Whitechapel, whether during the daily outreach visits to gather supplies for the school or their secret investigative outings at night, feel incredibly vivid as Burnett makes you feel like you’re right there beside them walking the busy Victorian streets.
For Miss Kaye, Burnett uses a calm, authoritative voice layered with just enough suspicion to keep you guessing whether she should be trusted. The dialogue between Dell and Miss Kaye is a major highlight of the audiobook as Burnett gives their one-on-one conversations emotional tension and mutual understanding, and you can feel their kindred-spirit connection developing over the course of the story.
Burnett also gives distinct voices and personalities to the secondary cast, including the young Jewish man Noah and his father at the butcher shop, the other authority figures at Whitechapel Hall, and especially the villain later on, whose voice sounds genuinely sinister and ruthless. If you’re considering this one, the audiobook is definitely the way to go as Burnett elevates the story into a highly immersive, cinematic experience that’s difficult to put down!
