Drink Your Way Through SJTR: Tea Edition (Hunting Prince Dracula Blog Tour)

There are few books I adore more than Stalking Jack The Ripper and I am so excited to be a part of tour for the latest book in the series Hunting Prince Dracula.

You know what goes well with a great book? Tea!

Today I've paired up Stalking Jack The Ripper characters with tea choices that I felt were destined to be their better half. I've also included a few Stalking Jack The Ripper (SJTR) Moments To Drink To for each character - moments that not only link well with the chosen tea, but that are just too awesome not to raise a teacup to!

A massive thank you to author Kerri Maniscalco and one of the amazing Knights of the Whitechapel Library Luv from Beyond the Book Reviews for organising this awesome event.

Also don't forget to enter the tour's giveaway for a chance to win an ARC of Hunting Prince Dracula (INTL)!

Character: Audrey Rose Wadsworth

Drink: English Breakfast (Bag Ladies Novel Teas)

English Breakfast seemed to me to be Audrey's perfect match, with its hidden depths and its underlying strength. Not only is this tea a nod to her being a member of the aristocracy, but Bag Ladies Novel Teas are all about pairing the classic tea flavour with some of the most memorable book quotes. Every tea comes with a surprise quote that highlights another reason to love books (and tea!).

I also thought it would be a little ironic. English breakfast is quite a common tea...and Audrey is anything but common! However, just like the Bag Ladies have done with their teas, Audrey has taken the idea of a 'proper' lady and given it a twist. This combination of class and smarts immediately brings Audrey to mind.

SJTR Moments To Drink To

 '"Where in a medical dictionary does it say a woman cannot handle such things? What is a man’s soul made of that a woman’s is not?” I teased. “I had no idea my innards were composed of cotton and kittens, while yours were filled with steel and steam-driven parts.”'

'My daily worries were so far removed, I feared I’d always be shunned amongst my peers. While I enjoyed finery, I tried imagining myself chattering on about a napkin design, but my thoughts kept turning to deceased bodies, and I laughed at my failure to even picture being a so-called normal young lady. I was determined to be both pretty and fierce, as Mother had said I could be.'

Character: Thomas Cresswell

Drink: Forest Fruits with a Twist of Apple (Tetley)

The Forest Fruits with a Twist of Apple tea pairs well with the handsome (and charming) Thomas. The darker, slightly bitter notes of forest fruits are complemented nicely by the unexpected sweetness of the apple.

This contrast reminded me strongly of the battling sides of Thomas we experience in SJTR - the darker side with its arrogance and suppressed emotion, and the playful, kinder side that appreciates Audrey and her intelligence. Just like how when steeping tea it goes from weak to strong, Thomas' SJTR evolution strengthens him as a character, shaping him into the Thomas we all know and adore.

SJTR Moments To Drink To

 'Golden-brown eyes were perfectly set into an angular face, as if Leonardo da Vinci had painted him himself (...) His chin was squared, giving him a look of steadfast determination. Even his nose was thin and regal, giving an air of alertness to his every expression. If he weren’t so infuriatingly aware of his own intelligence, he’d be quite attractive, I supposed.'

'His eyes danced as if he’d discovered a vastly entertaining secret, and I knew I was a mouse that had been caught by an all too clever cat.'

'He twisted on his heel and crossed the room in a few short strides. Clutching my elbows, he kissed my cheek, rendering me both speechless and scarlet. (...) “You’re brilliant, Audrey Rose,” Thomas said, eyes glittering with admiration.'

Character: Jonathan Wadsworth

Drink: Apple Cider (DavidsTea)

This Apple Cider tea is honestly one of the most amazing tea mixes I've tried - not only does its taste like a freshly baked apple pie, but the aroma is simply irresistible. It's one of my go-to teas when I want something mind-clarifying. Just like Jonathan Wadsworth, whose mind is a maze of connections and experiments, this tea has a startling level of complexity.

(NB: Funnily enough this tea was actually a gift from Library Luv! When I was mapping out this post, I just knew I had to include it.)

SJTR Moments To Drink To

 'Uncle Jonathan sighed. “You’re to come dressed as a boy. And if you so much as utter one word, it will be your first and last time in my classroom. Understand?”

I nodded vigorously. “I promise. I’ll be as silent as the dead.”

“Ah,” Uncle said, putting a hat on and tugging it low, “the dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.”'

'He was a strong-minded man. (...) He probably found a way of studying different mold specimens growing in patches along the dank walls and floor. The thought made me smile in the face of fear. That’s precisely what Uncle would do in this situation. He’d turn it into a giant experiment to pass the time, never realizing he was actually set inside against his will.'

'“Ha!” Uncle clapped his hands with echoing force.

I jumped at his outburst, relieved most of the class jolted in their wooden seats along with me. There was no denying Uncle was passionate about murder.'

Character: Liza

Drink: Passionfruit with a Twist of Hibiscus (Tetley)

The Passionfruit with a Twist of Hibiscus tea is just as summery and bright as the lovely Liza - Audrey's cousin and friend. Liza has been raised to be the perfect lady but has a hidden, romantic side with strong opinions and a stubborn streak.

The tea embodies this perfectly. Whilst the passionfruit notes present Liza's passionate nature, the hibiscus is traditionally a flower that is considered to be quite feminine. In Victorian times, giving a lady a hibiscus meant that the giver was acknowledging the her beauty. Liza, like her tea, is a pleasing mix of both passion and beauty.

SJTR Moments To Drink To

 'I sincerely doubted my cousin, Liza, would think of blood splatter. She’d probably bid an attendant to come and address the stain before it had time to set. Aunt Amelia had raised her well and was undoubtedly hoping I’d turn out the same with a little polishing.'

'If Aunt Amelia was the embodiment of what all proper young ladies should aspire to, Liza was her shining protégé. Except Liza had a fascinating way of flouting tradition when it suited her romantic notions.'

'She (Liza) tapped my nose. “Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It’s a queen who sits on that throne. Never forget that. There’s no reason you can’t wear a simple frock to work, then don the finest gown and dance the night away. But only if it pleases you.”'

Character: Jack the Ripper

Drink: Baxter's Choc Buns (T2)

When it comes to murderers, mystery and mayhem, what goes better than chocolate?! Baxter's Choc Buns tea is a rich blend of spices and chocolate. With a packaging that is as almost as showy as Jack's personality, it's an almost sinful treat to enjoy. You can almost picture Jack the Ripper coming home, after another night of crime, and sitting down with a cup (although such a domestic scene certainly doesn't fit with his character!).

As a lover of all things history, the figure of Jack the Ripper has always intrigued me and when I read Stalking Jack the Ripper I was blown away by Kerri's creative storytelling and the way she's re-imagined and woven together Jack. In a way, she made him more terrifying. So whilst Jack's tea may be the perfect thing to soothe and calm your nerves, Jack - on the other hand - is most definitely not!

(NB: Those who've read the book will know that when Audrey stumbled across Jack's lair she offered 'Jack' tea to calm him down! I'm not certain whether that particular tea had chocolate, but I thought it was a wonderful coincidence.)

SJTR Moments To Drink To

 'The days of holding back his ghastly deeds were apparently over. Jack wanted everyone to know he was responsible for these horrendous crimes. He was like an actor or king soaking up the attention of adoring fans and countrymen.'

'"Jack the Ripper, whoever he truly is, doesn’t appear to be thinking logically, Wadsworth. The man just ingested a human organ. Perhaps he feels invincible, and rightly so; thus far he’s gotten away with his crimes.”'

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Release Date: September 19th 2017


Description: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories.

Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the
school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life
once again.

Praise for Hunting Prince Dracula

“There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as well as tense escalations….A scenic, twisty mystery.” ― Kirkus Reviews

 “Readers of the previous mystery will be thrilled to have more of this likable duo. [A] delightful romp into an 1888 Gothic mystery with a hint of romance.” ― School Library Connection

Add to your Goodreads bookshelf today!

Or order yourself a copy via:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Book Depository | Book People | Hudson Booksellers | Kepler’s Books | Target

Interested in reading the first chapter? Catch the Entertainment Weekly exclusive here!

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Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began.

In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

Connect with Kerri via:

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