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What Alice Knew

3.25 of 5 stars 3.25 · rating details · 391 ratings · 93 reviews

"A marvelously rich and intelligent read, atmospheric, witty, irreverent, and not least a sharply perceptive portrait of those three extraordinary Jameses."
-John Banville, author of "The Infinities"

"Under Certain Circumstances, No One Is More Suited to Solving a Crime than a Woman Confined to Her Bed"

An invalid for most her life, Alice James is quite used to people undere...more

Paperback, 341 pages

Published September 7th 2010 by Sourcebooks Landmark

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Jul 14, 2011 Djinnjer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Djinnjer by: Becky

Shelves: 2011, borrowed, fiction, historical, mystery, reviewed

Despite both the title and the cover copy (the blurb on this site is much better), Alice is not the main character. She shares that honor equally with her two brothers, William and Henry James. What William, Alice, and Henry combined knew eventually adds up to a solution to Jack the Ripper's identity. (I don't know enough about current scholarship to know if this solution holds actual water, but it hangs together well enough for the purposes of the narrative.)

Unfortunately, there are hurdles for...more Despite both the title and the cover copy (the blurb on this site is much better), Alice is not the main character. She shares that honor equally with her two brothers, William and Henry James. What William, Alice, and Henry combined knew eventually adds up to a solution to Jack the Ripper's identity. (I don't know enough about current scholarship to know if this solution holds actual water, but it hangs together well enough for the purposes of the narrative.)

Unfortunately, there are hurdles for the reader in reaching that solution, not just for the characters, starting with Henry's introduction. When readers first meet him, he has overindulged in a couple ways at a dinner party and is unable to comprehend much of what is going on around him. So he decides to walk home, naturally gets lost, and then loses control of multiple bodily functions. Ew and ugh. This is decidedly not my favorite way to introduce a character ever, and it made it very difficult to relate to him in later chapters, because I just kept thinking about -- well, I'll leave it at 'ew.'

But I had borrowed this book from a friend to whom I'd mentioned that it looked interesting, so I kept going. Then I met Alice, the convalescent woman who would solve the mystery! Only.... her convalescence is portrayed as more the result of personality quirk than physical affliction and possibly even a weakness of character. Even Alice herself acknowledged that keeping to her bed was in part affectation - though the headaches seemed real enough. So while the cover hinted at a capable yet disabled character, I'm not sure that's what the text provided (there may be an argument to be made that she had a real albeit undiagnosed psychological disorder -- however, one might expect her brother William, an early psychologist, to suggest the possibility). Also, I just plain didn't like Alice very much for the first half of the book. My opinion started to change when she started having people other than her brothers and Katherine to interact with, particularly Jane. I liked Jane.

Which brings me to William, the brother who was still living in America. (Both Alice and Henry had moved to London well before the novel begins.) William was invited to assist in the Jack the Ripper investigation -- and the other Jameses invited themselves along for the ride. William has an odd interlude of exoticising/eroticising a young Jewish woman whom he met during his investigation which I found uncomfortable to read but understandable, I suppose, for a man of his time even if he is being written in the modern day. Speaking of uncomfortable, that brings me to the weird push-pull between Anglophilia and American Exceptionalism that ran throughout the book. I think that tension was most pronounced in William's chapters -- I am hoping so, because as a character trait it's slightly interesting, because then that makes it intentional.

I did enjoy the revelation, climax, and epilogue. But I found too much of the book wordy* and uninteresting** to recommend.

* William's visit to one of the Ripper's crime scenes includes paragraphs of reverie on the mind's inability/unwillingness to accept the horror of what the eyes see. (The squeamish will probably appreciate the relative paucity of descriptions for the other senses in the scene.)

** Dinner parties, interesting. Dinner party planning (with discussion of characters the readers don't know and won't really get to know), uninteresting.(less)

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May 15, 2011 Bev Hankins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, victorian, mystery

What a fantastic book! I haven't had a book snatch my attention and hold it like this for a long time. I started reading What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen last night. I snuggled down in bed with plenty of pillows and prepared to read just until I got sleepy. The next thing I knew it was 12:30 am. Not counting sleeping and chore-time, I read it straight through at a most amazing clip The historical details are right on target, the chara...more What a fantastic book! I haven't had a book snatch my attention and hold it like this for a long time. I started reading What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen last night. I snuggled down in bed with plenty of pillows and prepared to read just until I got sleepy. The next thing I knew it was 12:30 am. Not counting sleeping and chore-time, I read it straight through at a most amazing clip The historical details are right on target, the characters are interesting and engaging. And Cohen's solution is very convincing.

I had seen this book featured in reviews on several blogs and once I'd read the synopsis, I made sure that I didn't read any more because I was sure that I would want to read this one. Jack the Ripper is one true crime story that I can read about...if too much of the gruesome details are given, I just skim over them. I am fascinated at the number of solutions that have been offered over the years--some ingenious and some obviously not well-researched at all. I also am intrigued at the way the Ripper avoided capture and yet the crimes stopped. Various reasons have been offered for this--some more compelling than others. It is one of those historical moments that can be reinterpreted over and over again withoug losing any of its fascination.

Cohen has given us a well-researched look at the investigation from the viewpoint of the James family. Willaim, who is making a name for himself in the new field of psychology, is called in by Scotland Yard to examine the evidence and give his opinion of the psychological motives behind the horrible murders. His siblings, Henry and Alice James, soon offer their talents in the investigation. Henry mixes in society and, as an author, has a gift of understanding character. Alice has a sharp mind and, as an invalid, lots of time to apply it to the task. The three are soon led to believe that Jack will be found among the artistic classes.

The trio make a very credible "detective team" and Cohen makes them very real, three dimensional characters. There is sibling rivalry and real affection among them. In fact, all of her characters come to life under her pen and I was left wanting to know more about what happened to Archie, a street urchin picked up and given a job by William James in the course of the investigation. I became interested in all of the characters. Absolute first-rate story and a masterly handling of well-known events.(less)

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Sep 07, 2010 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was very descriptive. VERY descriptive. Yet it added a lot of ‘flavor’ and really set the setting for the book. It made picturing the scenes and settings much more clearer and it almost felt like watching a movie. I especially like the dinner scenes (particularly when Henry was hosting a party) they were very well written and it also gave you a look on how parties were handled during that particular time period in England.

The three main characters, Henry, William and Alice James were...more This book was very descriptive. VERY descriptive. Yet it added a lot of ‘flavor’ and really set the setting for the book. It made picturing the scenes and settings much more clearer and it almost felt like watching a movie. I especially like the dinner scenes (particularly when Henry was hosting a party) they were very well written and it also gave you a look on how parties were handled during that particular time period in England.

The three main characters, Henry, William and Alice James were also well done. I liked how each of them although siblings, they had issues and problems of their own and never talked about it amongst themselves. Yet it was also fun to see the sibling rivalry especially between Henry and William. (With Alice usually being the one to stop the bickering) It made the characters more real and three dimensional - not to mention more enjoyable to read. What I thought was really interesting was the addition of other famous literary and artistic characters into the plot. They have small roles (I particularly liked Oscar Wilde and Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain in the book) but it suits the setting as Henry belonged to these particular social circles and it’s only logical that they would be featured in the novel. There were some characters that I had to look up online to see if they existed or not - particularly the artists as I have no knowledge of who’s who. It did turn out to be quite a learning experience for me.

The plot was well done and well written. I found it a bit dry in some areas and wished it went just a little bit faster - I admit it was a little slow towards the end of the novel. The beginning however was certainly interesting and caught my attention. I thought the ending was interesting and although vague, it got me wondering if the mystery was really solved (or not). There is plenty of mystery in the book and the suspects add more to the intrigue. I myself had guesses as to who Jack the Ripper was, but with the ending, now I’m not so sure. I liked how the epilogue rounded out the book. I found it creepy and chilling at the same time. It still left me with a lot of questions, but the feeling of uneasiness was left behind. (Which I liked, it certainly added more intrigue to the story).

Overall, an interesting mystery featuring Jack the Ripper. Yet the book still leaves you wondering; “Did he/she do it?” Although I recommend this to history lovers and those who are interested in the Jack the Ripper murders, I’d have to wonder if perhaps those who know their artists as well as writers of this particular time period would definitely enjoy this book more than I did?(less)

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May 23, 2010 Bill Preston rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Bill by: Publisher

Starting this novel brought back painful memories of having to read Henry Jame's The Ambassadors during my college years, but Professor Cohen is happily a far more entertaining (and easy) read than old Henry. Her scholarship and historical command of the period is on display throughout the book as she makes Henry, brother Wiliam and sister Alice come alive in London of 1888. And she puts them on the trail of Jack the Ripper. The novel is populated by other historical figures as well and I got th...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, british-ir-project

American philosopher William James is requested by Scotland Yard to come lend his expertise in the case of Jack the Ripper. Already in London are his brother and sister, novelist Henry James and Alice, a bedridden but intelligent woman. William has access to various pieces of information through his help in the official investigation, and each one of the James siblings has a unique perspective and expertise. Could this famed family have solved the case of Jack the Ripper?
• Mild language
• Sexual...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, for-review, read-oct-2010

Why I read this: I was given a chance to read this by the publisher, it sounded fascinating and the author is new to me so I wanted to give it a try.

How is the novel driven: Primarily plot/action-driven though the character development is well-done also.

My thoughts: After the read-a-thon was done, this one was next on my list and I had a whole Sunday to myself (I have been sick, the kids were still at their grandparents and the hubby out of the house again), so I sat down to enjoy this novel. An...more

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Sep 07, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

From my book review blog, Rundpinne.

"What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen takes a look at Henry, William, and Alice James and how they each use their talents to help Scotland Yard find Jack the Ripper. While William James is the person Scotland Yard has summoned from Harvard to help assist them, it is his brother Henry James who circulates among the elite in London as well as the with the great artists of the time. Meanwhile, bedridden A...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

There are a few things I am very curious about, and Jack The Ripper is one of them. Who was he? I'd love the answer to that, and here I at least her one suggestion. But we can't really know.

In this book Jack The Ripper is terrorizing London, and Henry James is attending boring dinner parties. In London he also has his sister Alice who never gets out of bed. Because she feels there is something wrong with her. Their brother William is called to London to do a profile on Jack and help them catch h...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Virginia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012books, kindle, bookclub

I got about 4 pages into this before I had to go look up profiles of all 3 of the James siblings on Wikipedia (William, Henry, Alice), because I realized I knew nothing about any of them. After I read the profiles, and got a little farther into the book, I started questioning why this story was written as, essentially, Real Person Fanfiction instead of an original work with fictional characters. It seemed like the circumstances and narrative were stretched to hang over the framework of the James...more I got about 4 pages into this before I had to go look up profiles of all 3 of the James siblings on Wikipedia (William, Henry, Alice), because I realized I knew nothing about any of them. After I read the profiles, and got a little farther into the book, I started questioning why this story was written as, essentially, Real Person Fanfiction instead of an original work with fictional characters. It seemed like the circumstances and narrative were stretched to hang over the framework of the James family dynamic, where a set of characters not based on historical figures could have offered a lot more flexibility. Unless – and this was not made clear on Wikipedia – the James siblings did actually investigate Jack the Ripper?

The character of Alice and her personal circumstances (an invalid solving crimes) are interesting, and she was my favorite character of the book. I wish she got more screen time, especially given the title, I was not prepared for her brothers to be featured so prominently. However – I think the concept – a shut in solving mysteries – has been done MUCH better previously, by Rex Stout, with Nero Wolfe.

One of the things that drove me crazy in this book was the rampant unnecessary namedropping. (To be fair, this also drove me crazy in March, another instance of (I felt) Real Person Fanfiction, but one that won the Pulitzer, so clearly I was alone in that opinion.) But in this book, it was like the names of other famous people were being used to authenticate the characters and the setting. Drove. Me. Nuts. Nevermind the number of literary figures of the time that were included - at least there was a flimsy excuse for having them all involved, due to Henry James. But William Minor? (The Madman of The Professor & the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity & the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary) Why was this necessary?

The writing style was also lacking - especially in dialogue between characters. For someone trying to give the impression of an author (Henry James) with a tendency towards verbose and lengthy speech (examples here), having the (fictional) Henry James speak in short simplistic sentences was just poor judgement on the part of this author.

For a book that is ostensibly a mystery/thriller, the plot is not mysterious or thrilling.

I will end with this statement, from the Wikipedia page on Henry James, which describes everything this book is not.
"James claimed that a text must first and foremost be realistic and contain a representation of life that is recognisable to its readers. Good novels, to James, show life in action and are, most importantly, interesting. The concept of a good or bad novel is judged solely upon whether the author is good or bad."(less)

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Feb 24, 2011 Ida rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 25, 2010 Kathleen Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Henry James, an American born author, brother William, philosopher and psychologist is a professor at Harvard and is asked to come to London to assist Scotland Yard in apprehending the person known as Jack the Ripper. Henry and his invalid sister, diarist Alice James, get themselves involved in trying to solve the case in the Whitechapel slums, an art school and an asylum for the criminally insane. With Henry and William traveling about London investigating clues and Alice at home figuring out t...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Rebecca Briley rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was particularly drawn to this book because of its focus on Walter Sickert as the possible/probable Jack the Ripper, since I have been convinced the two are one and the same after reading Patricia Cornwell's well-supported examination of the evidence from which she draws the same conclusion. The intrusion of a Peter Newsome seems a red herring, but perfectly acceptable in fiction of this sort, and somewhat redeeming in keeping the novel from predictability. I enjoy historical novels that are p...more

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May 25, 2011 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. I read Henry James' work in high school English classes and William James' in college, so it was interesting to read the fictionalized account of their relationship with each other and their sister. They work together to try to solve the Jack the Ripper case.

Since it is Jack the Ripper, there are some gory scenes. Unfortunately, I do much of my reading over lunch. Oops. I recommend not reading this over a meal, unless you are a medical examiner ;)

Beyond the Ripper mystery, t

...more

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Dec 05, 2010 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay then. Very interesting story that had me hitting google search to see paintings, read articles and biographical tidbits. Full of historical characters of literature and art, this one tells an interesting story around Jack the Ripper. I am not a scholar of those murders, but I am familiar and they do hold a bit of morbid fascination for me, I don't know why... but... I learned a bit, was entertained a bit, and saw some interesting art work. I'm giving this one 4 out of five even though I am...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Ann Sloan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This historical mystery is a readable, enjoyable read full of period detail and insight. At times I felt like I was in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris; London was so full of famous people that every where you turned who bumped into a genius: Oscar Wilde, John Singer Sargent, Philip Henry Gosse, the English naturalist, George du Maurier, known for his cartoons in Punch and grandfather Dame Daphne du Maurier as well as the boys who inspired Peter Pan, Edward Burne-Jones, William Chester Minor, the...more This historical mystery is a readable, enjoyable read full of period detail and insight. At times I felt like I was in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris; London was so full of famous people that every where you turned who bumped into a genius: Oscar Wilde, John Singer Sargent, Philip Henry Gosse, the English naturalist, George du Maurier, known for his cartoons in Punch and grandfather Dame Daphne du Maurier as well as the boys who inspired Peter Pan, Edward Burne-Jones, William Chester Minor, the “lunatic” who was a major compiler of the Oxford English Dictionary, Henry Sidgwick, an English utilitarian philosopher and economist. Vernon Lee, also known as Violet Paget, Walter Sickert, and, of course, the James family, William, Henry, and Alice. I was kept busy going between the novel and Wikipedia; I soon learned that if a character was mentioned that character was historical, not fictional, and had played a major role in life in the late 19th century.
Some of the criticism I have read about this book has a problem with the title. These reviewers seem not to believe that Alice’s name belongs in the title. Alice James was an invalid, bedridden, and died when she was 43 years old. As undoubtedly brilliant as her brothers, she had the misfortune of being born a woman. Therefore, in the book, she helps discover the identity of Jack the Ripper from her bed, much like C. Auguste Dupin or Nero Wolfe. In this book, William and Henry may be the action figures and contribute to the logical conclusion, but Alice deserves her due. Henry’s name is in the subtitle; where’s William? I guess you can’t please everyone.
Paula Marantz Cohen wrote, in a blog for the Huffington Post (09/01/10), that she had been inspired by Jane Austen and the Austen mania that reigned in the 1990s to write this book. (Interesting because James was not particularly enthusiastic about Jane Austen, although a number of literary people have decided that Jane Austen is the artistic mother of Henry James.)
At any rate, she goes on to say that she “decided to make Henry James central to my next novel, it was not by imitating his plots but by co-opting his character as I had come to understood it … Not only, as the title makes clear, does Henry James figure in this tale as a character, but so does his brother William, the eminent philosopher and father of modern American psychology, as well as their brilliant invalid sister, Alice.”
Cohen recreates the late Victorian world with her knowledge of its culture and of the dynamics of the James family while writing a sometimes-funny, sometimes-macabre story of murder and mayhem. I, too, suffered through a graduate course on Henry James; this book made him seem more human and tempted me to reread some of his books that had seemed incomprehensible to me back then. All in all, an entertaining novel. As an added bonus, Cohen even manages to refute Patricia Cornwell’s theory about Walter Sickert, rather handily, I thought.
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Sep 20, 2010 Carol Hoenig rated it 4 of 5 stars

The following review may be also found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-h...

Henry James Meets Jack the Ripper--Maybe

Last night, after I finished reading Paula Marantz Cohen’s What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James & Jack the Ripper, I turned on the television to see that Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder” was on. The movie was at the scene where Margot Mary Wendice asked Mark Halliday if he really believed in the perfect murder. Halliday replied, “Yes, absolutely. O...more The following review may be also found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-h...

Henry James Meets Jack the Ripper--Maybe

Last night, after I finished reading Paula Marantz Cohen’s What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James & Jack the Ripper, I turned on the television to see that Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder” was on. The movie was at the scene where Margot Mary Wendice asked Mark Halliday if he really believed in the perfect murder. Halliday replied, “Yes, absolutely. On paper, that is. And I think I could, uh, plan one better than most people; but I doubt if I could carry it out.” He went on to explain why. “In stories things usually turn out the way the author wants them to; and in real life they don't... always.”

How amusing, I thought, since I had just been considering Cohen’s reason for writing such an intriguing mystery, one that had me playing an armchair detective, along with very real ones from history, until the last few pages. (My guess at who Jack the Ripper might be, at least in this work of fiction, was oh so wrong.)

Admittedly, I do not read many mysteries, but this particular one, which is steeped in history and offers another consideration on who the notorious murderer may have been, had me intrigued. Initially, I was less interested in the possibilities of Jack the Ripper and much more curious about Henry James and his siblings. I loved the fact that the author took the question, “Who from history would you invite for dinner?” and expanded it into an intelligent, fascinating novel, one that gives her much wiggle room to imagine how notables, including writers and artists, reflected on the possibility of just who Jack the Ripper was. However, the author’s imagination was fueled by what had to have been extensive research and sharp knowledge of the era rich with such creative figures.

Cohen not only does a great service to those from history, but obviously has a good time doing so. It’s as though she’s imagining how delightful it would be to be a fly on the wall at a formal dinner hosted by Oscar Wilde where the guests include Henry James, Robert Browning, George du Maurier, John Singer Sargent, and Samuel Clemens. The very idea is titillating. Imagine, too, the egos in the room where James and Clemens, published under the nom du plume, Mark Twain, criticize each other’s writing.

Yet, for history buffs, What Alice Knew offers another consideration on who the notorious murderer may have been, but explored as a delightful historical fiction. As it happens, I did many Google searches with the unfamiliar names in this novel, discovering that most of them were real people with real lives living during a time that was unsettled by Jack the Ripper. Halliday was right that “in stories things usually turn out the way the author wants them to; and in real life they don't... always,” but it’s clear that Cohen relied on historical details to write this work while attempting to glean some possible answers from those who were actually there. By the time I turned to the last page, though, I was satisfied who Cohen revealed as the murderer, but wanted to know so much more about Henry James and his siblings, along with Walter Sickert, Sir Charles Warren, Nora Sidgwick, etc.; hence, the Google search. But here, fiction not only did a fabulous job making me curious about those who lived and breathed during the reign of Jack the Ripper, but made me appreciate the storyteller’s ability to bring to life those long gone talented beings.

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Dec 07, 2012 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, bookclub, library

My rating of this book is 2.5 stars, and I initially rounded it up to 3 (feeling generous?). However, I decided to round it down to 2 because I didn't enjoy it as much as most other books I rate 3 stars. Plus, I think Goodreads' 2-star label of "It was ok" more accurately describes how I felt about this book than the 3-star "I liked it."

I didn't think it was a bad book and it was certainly easy to read (pages flew by with little effort), but I wasn't impressed and I didn't find myself excited to...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Cathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story is (yet) another take on Jack the Ripper. The murders are not really the focus of the story, though. The story revolves around the James family, Henry (the famous novelist), William (the psychologist and philosopher) and Alice (a bed-ridden invalid). Henry is part of London society, hobnobbing with Oscar Wilde and John Singer Sargent; while Alice stays at home, entertaining guests from her sickbed. Alice's exact ailment is never really revealed. Also not detailed is the exact nature o...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, but more for the sense of place and the interesting characters, than for the Jack the Ripper storyline.

Alice James, sister to author Henry, and psychologist William, has been an invalid most of her life, and she's content with that. She lives a peaceful reclusive life, and manages her illness accordingly.

But when her brothers become, through an odd set of circumstances, involved in the investigation in London of the Jack the Ripper murders, Alice realizes that her introspect...more I enjoyed this book, but more for the sense of place and the interesting characters, than for the Jack the Ripper storyline.

Alice James, sister to author Henry, and psychologist William, has been an invalid most of her life, and she's content with that. She lives a peaceful reclusive life, and manages her illness accordingly.

But when her brothers become, through an odd set of circumstances, involved in the investigation in London of the Jack the Ripper murders, Alice realizes that her introspective life makes her the perfect person to review, interpret and piece together the evidence her brothers provide to her. Alice is convinced that she can solve the murders with her brothers doing her legwork.

The book has several things I enjoy: it's set in the Victorian era, it involves the Jack the Ripper case, and it has extremely clever, witty and intelligent writing. The characters, particularly the three James siblings are not always likeable, but they are always clever, and they have plenty of knowledge and ability, each in their own unique way. Henry is the writer, frustrated at his lack of success, but basically a good egg, he has the social connections to go to places, and talk to the people Alice feels can provide important evidence. William, as a rising star in the new field of psychology, and having been asked to come to London from Boston to assist the police in investigating the murders, has access to all the information the police gather. Alice herself is the passive-aggressive invalid, who may have a weak body, but her mind is razor-sharp and with the time on her hands, she can spend all day thinking about the case and making connections between the evidence.

The best thing about this book for me was the writing. I found it sharp and intelligent and interesting. There are a number of famous real historical characters who make cameo appearances: Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Ellen Terry, and - of particular interest to me, William Chester Minor, the lunatic and murderer, who was a key contributor to the creation of the Oxford English dictionary, from the asylum where he was confined. I read a non-fiction book recently about that story, and it was fascinating. So it was a neat surprise to have him pop up in this fiction story along with other actual people. It gave an extra flavour to the story.

What the author did in working the Ripper case into the story was something I felt at first was predictable and obvious, but when we got to the very end - which I won't detail to avoid spoilers - was yet another clever approach to that concept, which I felt was ultimately well done.

Bottom line: if you enjoy intelligently-written historical fiction that blends real people and events with a good fictional plot, and/or if your preferred time-frame is Victorian England and/or if you are interested in Jack the Ripper stories, you may enjoy this book. If you're into all three, I would definitely recommend it as a good read!(less)

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Nov 06, 2010 iubookgirl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Though only Alice and Henry get a mention in the title, all three of the famous Jameses play a role in this tale. William James is called in by Scotland Yard to help solve the case of Jack the Ripper. Alice decides she and her brothers are perfectly suited to unravel the mystery with their combined talents. Marantz Cohen expertly weaves these historical characters into an historical mystery to create an intriguing yet plausible solution to this great unsolved crime. She also injects contemporary...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Luci rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 13, 2012 Kolleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, suspense, horror

This is a story about Jack the Ripper, and Alice and her brothers who decide to try to discover who the man actually is. Too bad the story is more about the brothers rather than what the title suggests, as Alice herself is an invalid (by her own choosing and self-diagnosis) and never gets out of bed. Does she solve the mystery? Sure, but she takes up only about a third of the story line.

This book was really hard for me to get into. The writing was old-fashioned and hard to read, and having no kn...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, mystery-thrillers, england, london

Henry James is suffering through boring drunken dinner parties in London, but when his brother William-renowned for his groundbreaking work in the new science of psychology-is summoned from America by Scotland Yard to help investigate an East End serial killer who calls himself Jack the Ripper, things are suddenly much more interesting.

Their bedridden sister Alice James takes on the role of lead detective, as the three precocious siblings attempt to unravel the true identity of the killer. Searc...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, library-books

What Alice Knew is an original and entertaining historical mystery and many well known historical figures make an appearance. Henry James, his psychologist brother William and their bedridden sister Alice are the main protagonists, but others such as Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and John Singer Sargent figure prominently.

And of course - Jack the Ripper. Cohen brings 1888 London, England to life with her descriptions of locales and social customs. The conversations between the siblings is witty, clev...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Lisa Murray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

Well, this definitely isn't the light-hearted Jane Austenesque style of Cohen's earlier writing. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this journey toward the macabre, but I've like Cohen's earlier work. So I read. It's a rich text with more depth than her earlier work. Despite the darker subject matter, I appreciated the cameo appearance by John Singer Sargent, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Clemens and William Chester Minor (asylum-bound contributor to the OED). The mystery was handled well and the sibling rela...more

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Sep 07, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

What Alice Knew fictionalizes the ultimate mystery - Who is Jack the Ripper? The end result is a whirlwind of action and intrigue that makes the familiar case new and exciting.

Author Henry James, his pioneer in the field of psychology brother William and their "professional invalid" sister Alice do their part to help hunt down the famed killer when a forward thinking official invites William to consult on the case.

While attempting to solve the mystery, each of the siblings puts for their own str...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics-inspired

“What Alice Knew” is a fascinating and entertaining fictionalized “what if” look at the Jack the Ripper Murders (sometimes referred to as the Whitechapel Murders) if the case had been solved by the three famous James siblings, William, Henry, and Alice.

Bringing late 19th-century London brilliantly to life – and writing in a style very similar to that found in the psychologically-attuned, detail-oriented novels of Henry James – Marantz Cohen manages to spin a page-turning mystery while presenting...more “What Alice Knew” is a fascinating and entertaining fictionalized “what if” look at the Jack the Ripper Murders (sometimes referred to as the Whitechapel Murders) if the case had been solved by the three famous James siblings, William, Henry, and Alice.

Bringing late 19th-century London brilliantly to life – and writing in a style very similar to that found in the psychologically-attuned, detail-oriented novels of Henry James – Marantz Cohen manages to spin a page-turning mystery while presenting illuminating characterizations, both hilarious and tragic.

The book’s premise is established when Detective-Inspector Frederick Abberline, (the leader of the actual investigation), summons philosopher and psychologist William James from across the Atlantic to help solve the case. Henry and their sister Alice, already living in London in separate locations, agree to a collaborative effort with William, putting together their “much vaunted intelligence and creative skill to catch [the Ripper.]”

Using a shifting point of view, we see London of 1888 through the eyes of each sibling. Marantz Cohen portrays the dinner party-hoping Henry as being always a little jealous and critical of other writers, having him nearly break out into a fist fight with the visiting Samuel Clemens – “he did not like the homely demeanor that Clemens affected, and he liked even less the man’s great success with it” -- and initially refusing to drink out of a mug on which was painted the face of a Dickens character. At one point, when Henry and William visit the book’s oft-presented Oscar Wilde in his home, Henry notices that Wilde’s wife closely resembles him: “the resemblance was not surprising. If someone like Wilde was going to marry, he would try as far as possible to marry himself.”

Class distinctions are well delineated in the book and the philosophical William, upon his arrival in London, is struck by the foundational differences between American and British societies: “Thrown into the hubbub of the London streets after a workday, he was struck by the reality of teeming human life that his daily existence tended to obscure. The difference, he also realized, was the difference between the New World and the Old. . . . here, the past was always present, pushing up against you in coats of arms and family estates . . . Even among working people, the past hung heavy. They were pressed into age-old traditions and customs, following along, doing what was expected, doing what was always done. The idea of following the past because it was the past repulsed him . . .”

The reader is dropped, medias res, into the investigation as Inspector Abberline updates the medically trained William on the grisly murders that have already occurred, showing him stark photographs of the victims, and the page-turning murder mystery is on, each James sibling – always completely in character -- contributing significantly to the final and satisfying denouement.

(This review also appears at BookPleasures.com).
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Sep 07, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical-fiction, victorian, england, 19th-c

What initially caught my attention about this book was the subject of Jack the Ripper. I have always been intrigued by this story and have watched a show recently on this subject and I knew I had to read this author’s take on the crime. I didn’t really know much about the James family, but I figured I would learn as I went along.

One of the things that the author did that really made the book come to life was the use and understanding of the local language. You could certainly tell the difference...more What initially caught my attention about this book was the subject of Jack the Ripper. I have always been intrigued by this story and have watched a show recently on this subject and I knew I had to read this author’s take on the crime. I didn’t really know much about the James family, but I figured I would learn as I went along.

One of the things that the author did that really made the book come to life was the use and understanding of the local language. You could certainly tell the difference in whether the character was from the upper or lower class just through her word choices. This technique made the characters more realistic. At the same time, you had characters from all walks of life involved in this story. You had the James family and all of their cohorts at dinner parties and various functions, including artist John Singer Sargent, author Oscar Wilde, and assorted others. Not only did you get a crime/mystery story, but you also got a glimpse of the art world, literary world and acting world. You were really able to see the world as someone, like Henry or William James, would have – from the seedy, back alley to the posh, dining rooms.

In terms of the investigation into the White Chapel Murders and Jack the Ripper, I think the best way to describe it, was like a Victorian version of CSI. You learned who some suspects were, tried to collect evidence and use the science they had at the time to interpret that evidence, witnesses were questioned, documents examined, and much more. Theories were thrown around and the author provides a fictional theory to who the killer may have been – but nothing was set in stone, much like the real story of Jack the Ripper. I love crime shows, so this book was perfect. To top it all off, the ending really made you think about all of the facts you thought you knew from the story, and really consider what you believed.

Overall, this book was a hit for me. The pages just flew by and I never wanted to put it down. It now had reignited my interest in the Ripper story.

This book was received for review from the publisher - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.(less)

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Sep 05, 2010 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to read and review Paula Marantz Cohen’s new novel, What Alice Knew, as I have read nearly every book (nonfiction and fiction) about Jack the Ripper I can get my hands on and I enjoy certain aspects of the Victorian era.

I was not disappointed by this marvelous book, which alternated between darkness and stinging intelligence but always remained descriptive. Ms. Cohen brought to life the bleak disparity between the lucky (the upper class) in London and abjec...more I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to read and review Paula Marantz Cohen’s new novel, What Alice Knew, as I have read nearly every book (nonfiction and fiction) about Jack the Ripper I can get my hands on and I enjoy certain aspects of the Victorian era.

I was not disappointed by this marvelous book, which alternated between darkness and stinging intelligence but always remained descriptive. Ms. Cohen brought to life the bleak disparity between the lucky (the upper class) in London and abject (below working class poor ) residing in Whitechapel of 1888. Turning each page, I could detect the slight lavender from a well to do gentleman’s handkerchief, to the aroma of a nice beef bouillon soup and then, just as quickly, the heavy scent of drink and hopeless despair from the squalid streets and back alleys. So vivid were her words that I could easily picture each chapter and event as though I were watching a film, or as if Ms. Cohen were describing such occurrences from memory.

Ms. Cohen takes real persons of note, such as Henry James, William James, Alice James, Oscar Wilde and John Singer Sargent, but to name a few, and spins a fascinating, complex novel. Reading What Alice Knew, it was relatively easy to forget I was reading a work of fiction, based upon actual persons, and not an exact accounting of a horrible season in London in 1888.

Taking on real life persons can be a risky business, nevermind the as-yet officially unidentified Jack the Ripper. Ms. Cohen does so with aplomb. I was fascinated with how she wove her literary web surrounding this black figure and more than pleased and satisfied with how she resolved the mystery.

In all, I thoroughly enjoyed What Alice Knew and found it surpassed my expectations. So good and engrossing was the read that I handily zipped through it in just over 2 days and it left me wanting to read more books of the period, including those of central character Henry James himself.

If you like period dramas, mysteries and thrillers and fictional takes on the infamous Jack the Ripper, I encourage you to pick up this book. You won’t be sorry.
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Jan 09, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This historical fiction concerns the Jack the Ripper case and provides a unique take on the case by involving the famous James family: author Henry James, his brother and psychologist, William James, and their bright, but invalid sister, Alice. While Alice and Henry live in London, William has been asked to come from the U.S. to consult on the psychological aspects of the Ripper case by Scotland Yard. Alice is intrigued by the case and convinces William and Henry to work with her to help determi...more

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About Paula Marantz Cohen

Paula Marantz Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English, received her BA in English and French from Yale University and her Ph.D. in English from Columbia University. She is the author of seven books and numerous essays on literature, film, and culture.

Her most recent academic book, Silent Film and the Triumph of the American Myth (Oxford UP), was selected as a Choice Outstanding Book for 2003. H...more

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Books by Paula Marantz Cohen

Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATs

Silent Film and the Triumph of the American Myth

Alfred Hitchcock: The Legacy of Victorianism

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“He could not do most things, and what he could do, he did. But William had always been capable of many things. The stress of choice had weighed on him.” — 1 person liked it

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