I began reading this book unaware that it had anything to do with Jack the Ripper and by the time I got to the chapter where he is mentioned I got quite a surprise! (Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler :o). I don’t know much about Jack the Ripper so I had to look him up.

However, those who are familiar with Jack trivia, please don’t be put off—it’s not your average “boring retelling”, because it doesn’t stay true to the “facts”—it’ wasn’t written for that purpose. You see, it’s not really about Jack the Ripper at all. It’s a fictional account about the other people in his life. I won’t go into whom because it might spoil some things. But intriguing concept, yes?

The beginning might be a bit slow for some, (not for me, though, as I don’t read books just to get them finished), because it does a fine job of building character. But by around a third of the way through it really began to pick up pace. I read the last half of the book in half the time I read the first half. The world was believable. Some moments left me holding my breath. Some moments left me teary (especially toward the end), and for a person who doesn’t often read this genre, it was a smooth and enjoyable hit of “history”.

I highly recommend this. It’s history without being history. Gotta love that, yeah?