In this work of historical fiction set in the seedy streets of London and New York City in 1888, earnest, pious Pearl and independent do-gooder Tabitha serve as “Hallelujah Lasses” in the lower ranks of the Salvation Army, a relatively new organization bringing religion and social services to the poor. Tabitha, a homely, humble middle-class teen, chafes against the pretty, pure, zealous farm girl with whom she has been paired. When the white teens encounter Cora, who’s been trafficked by a cruel, exploitative brothel owner, they attempt an undercover rescue with the help of burgeoning journalist Frayda (Jewish). The bustling city, the history of the Salvation Army, and the oil-and-vinegar banter of Tabitha and Pearl are richly drawn and immersive. Across the pond, Jack the Ripper is on his murderous spree in London’s East End. The author depicts Jack as a physically ill, deluded, misogynistic gentleman doctor who butchers his female victims to procure organs for life-giving tonics. During one of Jack’s attempted murders, his victim temporarily paralyzes him with her Medusa stare and writhing crown of snakes. Jack attempts to flee Medusa’s wrath (and London police) by sailing to New York. The stories of Tabitha, Pearl, Jack, Medusa, Cora, Frayda, and others collide in an intricate time bomb of violent events that singes with scorching feminism, fierce friendship, gentle romance, and cat-and-mouse mayhem. Extensive end matter adds rich context to this sharply imagined novel about the mythology of murderers.

Two starred reviews!
An instant New York Times bestseller!

From Printz Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author Julie Berry, a true-crime-nail-biter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. “A powerful exploration of human connection during nightmarish times” (Kirkus Reviews).

It’s autumn 1888, and Jack the Ripper is on the run. As London police close in, he flees England for New York City seeking new victims. But a primal force of female vengeance has had enough. With serpents for hair and a fearsome gaze, an awakened Medusa is hunting for one thing: Jack.

And other dangers lurk in Manhattan’s Bowery. Salvation Army volunteers Tabitha and Pearl discover that a girl they once helped has been forced to work in a local brothel. Tabitha’s an upstate city girl with a wry humor and a thirst for adventure, while farmgirl Pearl takes everything with stone-cold seriousness. Their brittle partnership is tested as they team up with an aspiring girl reporter and a handsome Irish bartender to mount a rescue effort, only to find their fates entwine with Medusa’s and Jack’s.