REVIEW: Who Was Jack the Ripper? by H Division Crime Club (ARC)

Who Was Jack the Ripper/ by H Division Crime Club

Genre: True Crime

Read: 24th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Pen & Sword (Hardback)

(release date: 31st August 2019)

★★★ 2-3 stars

For true crime lovers, particularly those with some knowledge and an interest in the infamous Victorian murderer, WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER? is a detailed account of what was then known as the Whitechapel murders in 1888. 

Written by the members of H Division Crime Club, a group of experts who have researched and studied every aspect on the subject for decades, provide us with as many facts as possible to support what is essentially circumstantial evidence at best on each of the potential suspects.

Focusing on the victims and 11 possible suspects, we are taken on an intricate journey for a closer look at the each of the persons of interest and how they (possibly) relate to the murders. Each chapter is written by a different member on each occasion, presenting us with a history of each suspect, possible connections to one or more of the victims or to the area itself along with reference to written accounts, statements or files from the time. Each person gives us a fresh perspective, some even debunking others arguments included in the book, in an effort to shine a different yet distinct light to the evidence already presented. I thought this was cleverly done, as each gave us their thoughts and the facts as they see them, to support their theories.

And let's face it. This book is full of what is essentially theories and hypotheses based on tireless and extensive research over many many years. After 130 years there is no way anyone can prove without a shadow of a doubt just who Jack the Ripper really was. It will certainly go down in history as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time.

The arguments - albeit, theories - put forward by each person were incredibly informative and interesting. But on the whole, I found the book to be long, probably because I read it practically in one sitting, and this is a book that really cannot be read in such time. The reader needs to take their time with each theory and absorb each chapter rather than try and take it all in because to do so would be a struggle. There is a lot of information to absorb that it will just all become enmeshed together if you try to read it all at once.

Although I admit to being confused by a couple of the chapters - regarding Kaminski/Kosminski/Cohen - my head was swimming as I tried to get a grip on what the author was stating. Even now, I can't understand the link to these "persons of interest" and the Ripper.

So WHO was Jack the Ripper? That is the million dollar - or million pound - question!

WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER? is incredibly well-researched, and while it is not for everyone, it is a must read for ripperology fans.

I would like to thank #HDivsionCrimeClub, #NetGalley and #PenAndSword for an ARC of #WhoWasJackTheRipper in exchange for an honest review.