Jack the Ripper

May 15, 2012

Over 100 years ago, Jack the Ripper prowled the streets of Whitechapel killing prostitutes and eluding the police. His identity remains a mystery today, but people still actively examine evidence and speculate as to who the murderer might have been. This collection of essays from members of the Whitechapel Society, a group that promotes the study of the murders, looks at the ten most famous suspects. Each essay considers the plausibility of the suspect, either ruling him out entirely or creating a strong case for another. Founding member and journal editor Adrian Morris, Whitechapel novelist Ian Porter, and society chair William Beadle are just a handful of the members who share their expertise in Ripperology. VERDICT A well-written and appealing read for researchers or the simply curious. Not a book for light reading, it assumes readers have a thorough knowledge of the case. As the book presents new information and each writer objectively analyzes the evidence, it's easy to believe that the real murderer's name is listed within its pages.--Kathleen Quinlan, Library Journal

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.