Escaping from Houdini - the third Audrey Rose Wadsworth novel

 After they stalked Jack the Ripper and hunted down Prince Dracula, I was excited to re-enter the fictional world of Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her constant companion, Thomas Cresswell.  Author Kerri Maniscalco has done such a wonderful job of weaving together true historical accounts of murderers with her fictional characters and their adventures, one has to wonder what is real and what is fiction.  She also writes characters that are so alive, you find yourself drawn into not only their investigations of the brutal murders, but also into their personal interactions, their hopes and fears, and they confusion over where their romantic entanglements are leading.

Escaping from Houdini takes Wadsworth, Cresswell, Wadsworth's Uncle Jonathan, and their chaparone Mrs. Harvey on a wondrous journey from England to America aboard the luxury cruiseliner, RMS Etruria.  They have first-rate accommodations, and the cruise boasts the most unusual entertainment - a circus-style show (the "Moonlight Carnival") each night in the dining room, hosted by the always-masked, always-mysterious Mephistopheles.  Wadsworth, of course, is intrigued by the sleight-of-hand, wanting to now exactly how each of the tricks work. Cresswell, on the other hand, is more concerned about convincing his beloved to marry him and not wait until she can get her father's permission when they return to England. All of their attention, however, is quickly turned to a new investigation when a young lady at their table is murdered on the first night of the cruise!

It's a race against time for Wadsworth and Cresswell, as they know they must solve the murder before they reach America, otherwise the killer will get off the boat, and they will never catch him or her! But their investigation seems stymied at every turn - but the girl's father, the captain of the ship, and even Mephistopheles and his performing troupe! Everyone has secrets, and everyone seems to have a motive. On the second night, there is another murder. And then another. And each body has a card - either Tarot or playing card. Wadsworth then discovers that her cousin, who was thought to be missing, has stowed away and joined the traveling circus, following her heart after a young new escape artist by the name of Harry Houdini!  When Wadsworth discovers that even Houdini has some secrets he's hiding from, she makes a deal with the one person who could very well be the killer in order to save her cousin from ultimate heartbreak - but will her deal end up being the cause of her own heartbreak?

Maniscalco gives readers a very convoluted murder mystery, with bodies constantly mounting in the most gruesome ways and plenty of suspects. And just to make things more interesting, the ever-blooming romantic feelings between Wadsworth and Cresswell create obstacles along the way, leading them in the wrong direction and creating a rift between the two.  I do enjoy some of the supporting cast (Mrs. Harvey's knowing remarks and innuendos, as well as Liza's keen observation skills and bluntness in pointing out the obvious to her cousin), and the various circus performers definitely keep you guessing as to the killer and his/her motive.  As with her previous two books, Maniscalco uses real characters and settings and fictionalizes an amazing murder mystery that makes for an absolutely magnificent read.

It's a real shame that the next book is the last in this series. Wadsworth and Cresswell make a wonderful sleuthing team, with the perfect amount of sarcasm and banter to make you smile, even as you read the horrific murders that they are having to deal with.  

RATING:  10 secret mask-wearing societies of sword wielders out of 10 for giving readers some very dark mysteries that manage to have a lighter side due to the quirky characters!