The Ripper Awakens: A Hera Hunter Mystery, Book 4 is a private investigator murder mystery novel written by Ellie DeFarr. Hera was seeking the solitude and tranquil beauty of the small village of Rosewood in an attempt to come to terms with her grief and guilt over the death of her friend, Gwen Oates, less than two weeks before. She was enjoying a peaceful early evening outside her foster parents' lakeside cabin when a heavy fog rolled in, obscuring all but a few feet in front of her. Suddenly she heard the sound of something heavy being dragged and heavy breathing passing by her. As she stood transfixed, through the fog she was barely able to discern an apparition out of Victorian times -- a man wearing a cape coat and top hat, and tapping his walking stick on the ground as he walked. She had no way of knowing if he noticed her in the gloom and remained still until he was past. Hearing a car door open and the engine start, she hurried back to the cabin where her dog, Lucky, was anxiously waiting. The next morning, she would learn that the Collingwood Killer had likely struck again. This time his victim, a local young woman named Annie, was found floating in Lake Bella, not far from Hera's cabin. Trouble seemed to have followed Hera, and she found herself embroiled in a desperate search for a serial killer.

Ellie DeFarr's private investigator murder mystery novel, The Ripper Awakens, follows Hera as she finds a recuperative vacation turning into a suspenseful and deadly investigation where even her current friends in the village might be suspects, and her childhood friends are falling prey to the Collingwood Killer. I've read several of the preceding Hera Hunter Mysteries, and they keep on getting better and better. Hera is a marvelous sleuth -- strong, resourceful and relatively fearless. The lethal edge from her tragic history and time served in the Marines is barely held in check at times, and this psychological aspect of her character makes her an intriguing and original sleuth. DeFarr's plot is first-rate; her story teems with red herrings, and the action and suspense is non-stop and relentless. The Ripper Awakens: A Hera Hunter Mystery, Book 4 is most highly recommended.

Hera Hunter is a private investigator. She’s very good at her job, but the recent death of a close friend finds her taking a break, so to speak, in a lakeside cabin, the one her foster parents own. It seems that mystery, murder and mayhem won’t let her take this much needed break. The very first night she stands outside her cabin, watching the mist roll in. She hears footsteps, a loud thump, and then believes she sees a tall, dark figure in a dark cape walk closely past her. The mist is so thick by this point that she can’t be sure that she sees anything. But when the morning’s sunlight reveals a dead woman’s body wrapped in plastic, and tragically more women are similarly killed and dumped, Hera realizes that she has a job to do, even during her time off. And to catch this mysteriously costumed, Ripper-style murderer, she must put herself out there as the bait.

Ellie DeFarr’s mystery, The Ripper Awakens, is a chilling, thrilling, page turner mystery that keeps the reader riveted to the story to the very last page. There are so many possible murderers in the small mountain village of Rosewood. The author leads the reader through the many possibilities to the point that it’s impossible to believe who really is the guilty perpetrator. Is it the quiet recluse next door who makes period costumes from the era of Jack the Ripper? Is it the angry, short tempered pub owner who has a history of abusing and frightening women? Or is it the very slick, much too nice town mayor? And there are more possibilities. The characters are clearly sketched, the scenery is well described, indeed breathtaking, and the action is well paced and thrilling. A great mystery read.

After the death of a friend for which Private Investigator Hera Hunter blames herself, she moves to the town of Rosewood to help her forget. In the town of Collingwood, young women in their twenties are being murdered. By the looks of things, it appears to be at the hands of a serial killer. In The Ripper Awakens (A Hera Hunter Mystery Book 4) by Ellie DeFarr, the serial killer has a set pattern for his victims. The killer not only murdered young women in their twenties, but they were of a specific body type; petite. The killer had a pattern for his or her victims. The murdered victims would be found dressed in '20s apparel, then they were wrapped in clear plastic sheeting, and normally laid by the roadside as a way of being displayed as a masterpiece.

Private Investigator Hera Hunter and Sheriff's Deputy Mitch Haygarth had a few concerns about the killer. Was the killer a man or a woman? Did the killer work alone or with an accomplice, and did the killer live in their town, Rosewood, or in Collingwood where the murders were taking place? Then Hera began to wonder about that foggy night near her cabin when she saw a figure wearing odd apparel - could that have been the serial killer? Did they see her? Since she fits the body type that the killer seems to target, will she be next?

I couldn't put The Ripper Awakens (A Hera Hunter Mystery Book 4) by Ellie DeFarr down because it is a great book of murder, intrigue and suspense. The story has so many layers that you begin to wonder how everything ties together. Ellie does a great job at bringing this suspense to life and, as you turn each page, you are placed in the setting of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. If you enjoy mysteries and suspense, pick up a copy of The Ripper Awakens (A Hera Hunter Mystery Book 4) by Ellie DeFarr.

Hera thought that she was getting away from her work as a private investigator by getting out of Centreville, but it seems her job has followed her to the small town of Rosewood. When a young woman she knew from childhood turns up murdered in a way similar to the victim of a serial killer, she’s determined to do something about it, but can she possibly find the killer before he strikes again? Or before he comes after her the next time? There’s no telling what’s really going on in this small town until she can find the link between the victims, who might not all be trying to tell her the same thing in The Ripper Awakens by Ellie DeFarr.

This book was able to capture a lot of the feeling and emotion behind having a serial killer in your midst. The characters seemed really authentic and it was easy to get drawn into the plot. Hera was an interesting character that you really wanted to know more about, and you felt that you were getting that kind of introduction to her as you continued to read. She’s just the type of person that most of us want to be - strong and brave and willing to risk anything to help others - but she seemed realistic with her flaws. This is definitely a book to read if you’re interested in action and a little bit of adventure. The Ripper Awakens by Ellie DeFarr is one you’ll enjoy for all of those things and a lot more.