Cover Image: The Immortal Prudence Blackwood

The Immortal Prudence Blackwood

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A quirky mystery, The Immortal Prudence Blackwood keeps you entertained until the very end. I quite enjoyed reading this novel and hope to read more by this author in the future.

Synopsis:
t’s 1947 in Washington, D.C. and a dangerous murderer has boldly discarded two headless bodies nearby the White House and the Jefferson Memorial. With no leads, Detective Clive O’Reilly is feeling desperate. When a stranger convinces O’Reilly to join him at a local pub, he is treated to a wild tale about Prudence Blackwood, an immortal who seeks vengeance for those murdered by history’s most notorious serial killers.

Initially, in disbelief over her existence, O’Reilly is surprised to discover that she’s very real and she’ll be assisting in the investigation.

But Prudence has unorthodox methods. With the body count rising, O'Reilly will have to find a way to work with her to stop the most brutal killer in D.C.’s history before more victims are added to the list.

Was this review helpful?

This story was different than my usual read. I liked the concept and how the story brought historical events but overall wasn’t taken with the book. I would rate it a 2.8.

Was this review helpful?

I liked this strange story of a woman who becomes immortal and makes it her mission to catch serial killers. I found it ended rather abruptly though, and would have liked more detail about the mysterious 'cavern' which Prudence visited, and which resulted in her immortality.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Was this review helpful?

I found the premise of The Immortal Prudence Blackwood interesting, and the story did keep my attention. However, I only rated this book 3/5 stars because I found the writing sadly lacking in detail. The character of Prudence was not fully brought to life for me. I found myself wanting more detail about her, and why she is actually immortal. The book was fairly short, at only 208 pages, so there was definitely space to add in these details that would have fully fleshed out the story for me and added the depth that I felt was lacking.

Was this review helpful?

Prudence Blackwood is the perfect read for those who like a little murder, some supernatural occurrences and a fairly engaging story

The part I loved the most about this novel (novella?) was that Prue had all the immortality and bloodlust of a vampire but there was no blood sucking or neck biting (for the most part) in order to get her there. I also quite enjoyed that despite her being the title character, Prudence was not the only star of this show; I genuinely felt for Clive throughout and loved the encouragement for his son to be included in all aspects of his life.

I found myself a little disappointed that all the murders involved take the form of Jack the Ripper copycat killings for the most part; yes i understand early 20th century murders were similar but at least throw in something different. I also found Andy to be just a tad grating as a character after a few interactions.

Overall I enjoyed this novel despite the couple of shortfalls throughout. Definitely worth a read for those who enjoy period dramas and narratives about murder investigations.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Prudence, she was such an enjoyable character!

This had a great combination of fantasy and mystery/thriller, Immortals and a murder story, nothing could have made me happier lol.

Also, there was more than one time period, so you got to glimpse into a few, though the story was set mostly in D.C., 1947.

I liked Clive well enough, especially as a detective and father, the scenes with his son were precious. I was also glad to see a healthy relationship between him and his ex-wife, it's something we just don't see enough in the fictional world.

Prudence's purpose in life is noble, she helps to solve the problems of serial killers the law can't get their hands on. She does feel like something is shifting inside of her with each 'case' solved though and her ending was thoroughly satisfying. I really enjoyed the fantasy elements.

My only issues were the writing of dialogue seemed stilted or too staged at times. This was a plot-driven story, character development was there but not too evident until the very end and not the focus, which I enjoyed but some may not.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this read in exchange for my honest review

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to love this book. Like, I've had it on my kindle for MONTHS, just waiting until the weather turned a little cooler, so that I could enjoy it to the fullest.

Sadly, this didn't live up to my hopes. Prudence Blackwood.....is immortal. In 17...something, she touched a wall in a weird stone cave and then bled to death. She was buried....and then three days later (like Jesus) came back to her family. Her brother in law shoots her - and nothing happens. She then disappears into the forest.

Cut to 1947 and a serial killer is on the loose in Washington D.C. A detective is on the case, but making zero progress. Enter - Prudence.

It.....it was just ..... cheesy and written very juvenile. I think this would be a good book for a young teen, who is interested in mysteries and horror, but as a 41 year old woman who has been reading horror novels for most of her life, this did nothing for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting premise, but not particularly well executed. The characterizations were weak and none of the period scenes were at all evocative of time and place. But the biggest problem was that there was no world building at all. Disappointing.

Was this review helpful?

Do you know that feeling? You see a title and you just know that you are going to love it? That was me at the start of The Immortal Prudence Blackwood. And it did not disappoint! Everything i love was in this amazing read, part fantasy, part thriller, historical, crime and even a little part horror.
An immortal woman becoming a killer to kill serial killers, what is not to like? The way the writer takes you back and forth between the present and the past Prudence has lived in is so vivid. It absolutely worked for me, I was there with Prudence. There is just one thing i did not like, it was too short. I could have a read a thousand pages more!
Dont hesitate in picking up this book when it is released on september 12th. I hope there will be more of Prudence soon.

Was this review helpful?

The Immortal Prudence Blackwood is a historical police procedural with a paranormal/fantasy twist.

Prudence Blackwood is a barren and abandoned twenty-six-year-old when she stumbles into a mysterious and ancient hall in 1785. After cutting her finger on the wall, Prudence dies. Two days later, she arises out of her grave and returns to her family home. Except for her ten-year-old niece, her family rejects her, calling her a demon. After learning she is an immortal, and not the only one, she vows to help her family and their descendants. When Jack the Ripper kills her last remaining descendant in 1888, Prudence decides her new mission is to kill serial killers beginning with Jack.

By 1947, Prudence has learned survival skills and killed at least two other killers. But a new serial killer is stalking Washington DC. When the junior detective on the case hears about Prudence, they work together to find the perpetrator.

I loved the strong female character of Prudence. However, she wasn’t in the book very much. Much more time was spent describing the real serial killers’ cases. I also want to know more about the other immortals and where their power comes from. Luckily, the book’s conclusion hints strongly at a future series. I will definitely read it when it is released. My rating for the Immortal Prudence Blackwood, mainly because of the loss of focus on Prudence, is 3 stars.

Thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Prudence Blackwood is an immortal...she can't be hurt or killed. She believes that her purpose is to destroy the evil in the world. The primary story is set in Washington DC in 1947...there is a serial killer murdering men and dismembering the corpses, leaving them near monuments. Through journal entries we learn how Prudence became immortal and about the killers she took down. This is a very interesting premise, at times it seemed a bit disjointed but I enjoyed the story very much. At the end Prudence is planning on looking for other immortals. This is an idea that could be a lot of fun... I'm hoping the author plans on continuing Prudence's story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

An amazing book that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the plot, engrossing and entertaining, the well written cast of characters, the atmosphere of the book.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

DNF @ 44%

The premise is fascinating, but I just can't seem to get on with the writing: the dialogue, the pacing, the monologues and moralizing. Lots of cliches in the characterization mean that my focus has to be almost exclusively on the plot, and that just doesn't work for me.

Was this review helpful?

From the very beginning, The Immortal Prudence Blackwood draws you in, and you won't want to put it down. I finished reading it so quickly because I just couldn't stop. The storytelling is intriguing, and gripping, and everything I wanted it to be. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of real historical events that didn't stray too far from the true story. For example, the Jack the Ripper murders were included with a lot of historical accuracy. I highly recommend to any lover of historical fiction

Was this review helpful?

Prucence is a badass woman for sure and proves that not all heroes wear capes. It's a captivating read, although I would love a bit more backstory for both Prudence and a few of the other characters in the book.

Was this review helpful?

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE IMMORTAL PRUDENCE BLACKWOOD by Stephanie Grey in exchange for my honest review.***

The Immortal Prudence Blackwood follows a woman whom you learn to be immortal lacks a purpose when her bloodline dies and she is left alone in the world. She ends up taking on the task of taking down serial killers.

Stephanie Grey wrote the book in a unique fashion, with a back and forth between the present and the past Blackwood has lived in. I was instantly captivated with the serial killer stories and needed to know what was going to happen with her present crime. I was immediately entranced by the character of Blackwood and I wanted to know so much more about her. Although I wanted to know more backstory of some of the characters, I did not find the book to be lacking information. I honestly think it leaves the author room to expand of these little story lines at a later date.

I was hesitant with picking up the book at first but I actually really enjoyed it and found it extremely captivating and I found it very difficult to put the book down, I would recommend this to anyone who has ever been curious by the famous serial killers. Grey leaves the book with a hint of a possible future work and I will be right there ready to pick it up. This was thoroughly an enjoyable book and I will definitely be looking into Grey's other works because of this read.

Thank you BHC Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a nice quick story which was easy to read. I like creepy books and this hit the spot. I would recommend this to other people who enjoy thrillers and horrors.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. It was very different from anything I’ve ever read before which made me unable to put it down. Miss Grey has an easy writing style that I totally connected with. I loved the characters, I really actually liked some and really disliked some which is always good to me it shows that their personalities have been conveyed realistically.
I enjoyed the theme of an immortal woman becoming a killer to kill serial killers. It leads you to believe that she has no morals or principles when in actuality she does.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Definitely recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is a really unique title that is hard for me to describe. Prudence Blackwood stumbles upon a cave and prinking her finger, she becomes very sick and appears to die. After clawing her way out of her grave, her frightened family chases her away. After returning to the cave and finding another like her, she finds out she is immortal and is destined to outlive everyone she knows. Finding purpose in looking out for her family and their decedent's from afar, she finds herself drawn into Jack the Ripper's murders. Uniquely positioned to seek vengeance from monsters like Jack and other serial killers, Pru finds a sense of purpose just when she needs one most. Fast forward to 1940's Washington, DC, where Detective Clive O'Reilly is facing a serial killer like the city has never seen. Despite his best attempts to stop the madman, the killer continues to escalate. An old man tells Clive the tale of Pru, but Clive refuses to believe she can be real until she shows up. Will the two of them be able to stop the killer before more deaths happen?

The story changes between 1940's DC and Pru's life after her death and key moments in her life leading up to the present day. The focus of the book is really split, and there aren't really clues to allow the reader to determine who the killer is, but this book isn't really about solving the mystery like many other stories of this type making it hard for me to describe. I think this is a story that people will either like or hate. Over all, I found it interesting and hope that there are additional titles featuring Pru.

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 2%. I like to give a book at least until 5% or so, but I can already tell that the writing style of this book won't work for me. Phrases and sentennces like "Prudence glimpsed back toward their path home," " her eyes darting around from symbol to symbol, uncomprehending of their meaning," and "Prudence shook her head slihtly and nodded" are all proving too distracting and pulling me out of the story. The premise sounds interesting, and I'm sure the story will speak to some readers, just not me.

Was this review helpful?