Jack the Ripper: The Forgotten Victims

by Paul Begg, John Bennett

Experts agree that Jack the Ripper murdered five London women, but how many others did he slaughter in Britain or across the seas?

The number of women murdered and mutilated by Jack the Ripper is impossible to know, although most researchers now agree on five individuals. These five canonical cases have been examined at length in Ripper literature, but other contemporary murders and attacks bearing strong resemblance to the gruesome Ripper slayings have received scant attention. These unsolved cases are the focus of this intriguing book.
 
The volume devotes separate chapters to a dozen female victims who were attacked during the years of Jack the Ripper’s murder spree. Their terrible stories—a few survived to bear witness, but most died of their wounds—illuminate key aspects of the Ripper case and the the gangs of London’s Whitechapel district, Victorian prostitutes, the public panic inspired by the crimes and fueled by journalists, medical practices of the day, police procedures and competency, and the probable existence of other serial killers. The book also considers crimes initially attributed to Jack the Ripper in other parts of Britain and the world, notably New York, Jamaica, and Nicaragua. In a final chapter, the drive to find the identity of the Ripper is examined, looking at contemporary and later suspects as well as several important theories, revealing the lengths to which some have gone to claim success in identifying Jack the Ripper.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Mystery, British Literature

301 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Paul Begg is acknowledged worldwide as one of the leading authorities on the Jack the Ripper mystery. He has worked in newspapers, television and publishing. He has written extensively on Jack the Ripper, including Jack the Ripper: The Uncensored Facts, Jack the Ripper: The Definitive History and Jack the Ripper: The Facts. He is also the author of Into Thin Air, The Scotland Yard Files and Mary Celeste: The Greatest Mystery of the Sea. Paul was formerly the editor of the Ripperologist magazine and has appeared as an historical advisor on several television programmes.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack the Ripper: The Forgotten Victims
by Paul Begg

Wow, this is so well researched! Fascinating too! It goes beyond the iconic Five victims attributed to Jack the Ripper and tells about others before them, during and after in great detail. In GREAT detail! Like one lady died from maybe a heart attack from reading the newspaper about the killings! The newspaper had grizzly art work depicting the murder scene.

Although the book is just facts, it also gives the reader a feel for the life there at that time. The filth, the roads, the daily grind the poor would have to deal with consistently. I really felt the atmosphere and it was awful enough without throwing in a serial killer. There were gangs that ran the streets too.

There was a lot to absorb in here. Could Jack just be one of the street gangs? Some of the later killings were very different I thought. The bodies were chopped up and thrown in the river. Were there two serial killers? Interesting history. Sad but interesting. Graphic too so beware.

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Jack the Ripper: The Forgotten Victims, Paul Begg and John Bennett offer a compelling and very well researched (and beautifully documented - oh, what lovely endnotes!) portrait of women whose murders before, during, and after the Autumn of Terror in 1888 were somehow associated with Jack the Ripper. Some clearly were victims of this killer. Others might or might not have been. Still others were killed by men who were inspired by the Ripper. By focusing closely on Great Britain and as far afield as the United States, Jamaica, and Nicaragua, Begg and Bennett underscore the incredible impact of the Whitechapel murders.

This is not a book that seeks to argue for or against any particular suspect as the Ripper. The respectful attention remains on the "forgotten victims," how they lived and died, and what light these women's experiences sheds on their time and place. I highly recommend it to those who, like me, are interested in the Autumn of Terror as a window into a specific historical moment characterized by drastic changes in the media, communications, forensic science, law enforcement, and political and social ideas.

[Mark A Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly researched and clearly written, but ultimately unsatisfying. The authors demolish many popular myths about potential Ripper victims outside of the "canonical five", for example the links to supposed murders in Jamaica, Nicaragua and New York, but fail to give their own views on who was responsible for other potential killings closer to home. The new details on the four "torso murders" being carried out in London over the same timescale as the Whitechapel murders especially cries out for better analysis. Instead, the authors summing up avoids any suggestion of potential answers, just offering a brief defence against any accusations of misogyny and objectification of the women concerned. This lack of analysis in what is otherwise an excellent piece of historical detective work really leaves this book as one for the informed reader, rather than the general audience. Which is a pity if one of the reasons behind its publication was to make people more aware of the lives of those who have been "forgotten". Finally, l find it strange that little is made of the regular reoccurrence of 18 and 19 George Street as a residence used at differing times by many of those suggested as being potential Ripper victims, except in a footnote. Coincidence? The chance result of those concerned using a cheap lodging house alongside hundreds of others? Or something significant? The authors never say.

[Medhat The Fanatic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Patrick Whitehurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read on the lesser known cases and begs the question: were they also Ripper victims? Many obviously aren't and some very well could be. That's if Jack was even real, as some believe the murderer to be more than one person. No matter what you believe this book offers a compelling, and well researched, look at the grisly murders that occurred before and after Jack's tour of terror.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must have for any Ripperologist. Written by Paul Begg and John Bennett and published by Yale University Press it is a welcome addition to the numerous books out there about Jack the Ripper. This book not only touches on the subject of the 'canonical five' but on other murders and slayings which had a strong resemblance to Jack the Ripper's accused crimes.

The authors do a great job of providing clear information regarding other murders of women in and around London and how they may relate to Jack the Ripper. Many of these 'lost' women are overlooked when it comes to the famous murders. It is possible, according to the authors, that these other murders were products of the mystery killer, Ripper, or someone who was a fan of Ripper.

Each chapter focuses on a different, lesser known murder around the same time of the Ripper murders. The authors provide a picture of London in disarray, poverty, and panic. It gives life to women who would have been forgotten.


This book also contains stories of murders from around the world that were either attributed to Ripper or similar to the murders committed in London.

Inside the book are several black and white photos and drawings relating to the murders.

The authors have included as much detail as possible for each woman. This is a very graphic book and not for anyone who has a weak stomach.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in information about Jack the Ripper, the culture of London in 1888 and the lost victims of this time.

(Thank you to Goodreads, 1st reads giveaway, Yale University Press, and the authors Paul Begg and John Bennett for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. I won this book after entering a Goodreads, 1st reads giveaway, July,1 2014.)

C.L. Hailey.

[Robert Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much has been written about the so-called “Canonical five”, women who were brutally murdered by the serial killer dubbed, “Jack the Ripper”. In this book, authors Paul Begg and John Bennett carefully reconstruct these murders, and at the same time provide interesting historical and social background on the areas where the women (all prostitutes) were killed (mainly the Whitechapel area), and the background of the women. But this book goes further than the usual “ripperological” coverage of the ripper—the authors speculate, and to some degree, support a theory that many other women were killed in similar fashion at or about the time of named five women, in England, Jamaica, United States and other parts of the world. They endeavor to honor these women less they be forever unnamed and forgotten. They draw interesting similarities between the murders in England and one in New York City that was investigated by the bungling and dangerous Chief Inspector Thomas Byrnes who claimed to have coined the phrase, “the third degree”, as it related to tortuously questioning suspects. Byrnes had criticized the London police for their handling of the ripper case only to have his own case go unsolved. The book contains too much extraneous detail and does not offer a plausible solution to the identity of murderer. It is better than most books on the subject and reads easily.

[Written Melodies · Rating 1 out of 5]

Victorian England is held as the era of grand social decorum; yet, behind the mask of elegant manners hid the ugliness of an age high in atrocities. For in reality, this period was marked by massive immigration, disillusioned unemployed workers, and growing resentment among out-of-work natives toward the hordes of immigrants willing to work for lower wages. During this time, an evil monster coined “Jack the Ripper” appeared, slashing and mutilating women in London’s East End. Evading capture, the elusive Jack the Ripper still escapes identity. In his wake, Jack leaves a host of murders—those he committed, those inspired by him, and those attributed to him—in Britain and abroad. Jack the Ripper: The Forgotten Victims seeks to shed light on the ghastly unsolved murders.

The book opens with an attention grabbing, well-crafted introduction. However, it quickly loses its pull. I found the narrative hard to follow. It seemed like reading junior high school notes filled with he said/she said sentences. The authors jumped back and forth between murders making it difficult to distinguish the names, dates, and places from one another. Frankly, Jack the Ripper: The Forgotten Victims was a chore to read.

[Kaylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the book was interesting. The idea that there were other victims of Jack the Ripper than the "canonical five" (as referred to in the book)-Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly-seemed almost too fantastical to believe. Then again, to believe a serial killer would voluntarily stop killing after only five victims is also too fantastical.
Each chapter of the book covered a different potential victim (and a couple of chapters touched upon victims that didn't even exist) and went in depth as much as possible to make each victim become a real person. The only fault I have with the book is I wish the authors had included a chart or timeline of some sort in the beginning of the book for referencing. It would have been tremendously helpful, especially since some of the potential victims were killed around the same time as the "canonical five" victims, so the authors would make reference to the "Ripper" victims and it did get a bit confusing at times.

[Loran (Inked with Curiosity) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The Jack the Ripper murders have always fascinated me as horrible as that sounds and this was a unique take on the story. It stayed away from the entire argument of who Jack was and instead focused on the victims; more importantly victims of mimic crimes, victims likely killed by Jack but not officially recognized, and murders around the world inspired by the 'Ripper' craze. It was a bit technical at times and some victims stories seemed a little prolonged but for the most part I really enjoyed it and it was extremely well researched! For anyone interested in Jack the Ripper or true crime I would definitely recommend this!

[Bill Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference for those interested in murder cases whose victims, with varying degrees of credibility, have been regarded as possible Ripper victims. Meticulous research with a bare minimum of conjecture and zero leap of faith conclusions so rampant in many other Ripper "non-fiction" books. Begg covers murders in countries other than England, as Jack has been linked to crimes committed just about everywhere but Tibet. The New York City and New Jersey murders are discussed in a mercifully lucid and concise fashion. A worthwhile addition to anyone's collection of self-critical and self-controlled studies of the Ripper.

[Tim Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack the Ripper's victims are generally numbered at five, but were there more?

During his reign of terror, there were other unsolved murders including three dismembered women who were never identified. Many were thought at first to be the Ripper's work but were later discounted.

This leaves two possibilities. Either there was another serial killer at large in Whitchapel or Jack was more prolific than is generally recognised. I incline to the former view, but the author never really makes up his mind.

[Florry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by this book. It’s so well documented and gives us so many details about life in Jack the Ripper’s days. I enjoyed reading it and also I like its covers.
I was pleased to discover great historical information about events and victims that I never knew about. I now understand how confusing that time was and what kind of life people had back then.
I was shocked of the monstrous crimes and I was revolted that nobody cached the real serial killer.
I feel sorry for the numerous victims that were murdered at that time.
Thank you for the great reading!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well thought out research, not so much focused on salacious gory details of the crimes but creates a portrait of life for people during the Ripper times. Paul Berg and John Bennett give a biography for the known and possible victims of Jack the Ripper. The authors challenge the media stories and breaks down the inquests. Fascinating read for anyone interested in serial killers.

[Tom Wescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book looking at the non-canonical Whitechapel murder and tangential victims. A necessary and well-written read. Highly recommended.

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read a novel that alluded to the Ripper case, so I had to look up a few facts. Looking up facts is not as easy as you might think in the Ripper case, as there are so many unknowns.

[Paul Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and detailed overview of murders that have been connected to Jack the Ripper.

[Matthew Gurteen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting study into the lives of murdered women we have forgotten around the time of the Jack the Ripper case. Like 'The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper' by Hallie Rubenhold, this book focuses more on the social conditions rather than aimlessly speculating the murderer's identity. It tells the story of real working women in England, America, and Jamaica as well as how the Ripper murders created a media frenzy across the globe. Although I appreciate that it took a more nuanced approach to its study, I would have liked more information about the women before their murders. The book jumps between cases, and in my opinion, it would have benefited by just focusing on a select few. Although I understand there is only so much you can do in a book like this, and the authors were clearly trying to showcase a wide variety of cases. Most of the pages are dedicated to the inquests, however, rather than the lives leading up to that point. That being said, I still really enjoyed this book. I would still recommend Rubenhold's book first for anyone interested in a study into real Victorian women's lives, but this is a close second.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the insight into the history of London. I learnt a lot about life in the slums. The murders were grisly and I enjoyed the many alternate theories behind who jack really was and how he inspired others. Only 3 star however, as I felt like a lot of it was of course speculation, and there was a lot of unnecessary detail.

[D. Wickles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading about Jack-the-Ripper and now I understand the time period (economic, societal and political aspects) better. Plus this book talks about several other potential Ripper victims in London and other countries. Very interesting.

[MaggieDay · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I found this book extremely informative, I did find the writing very academic and dry. It felt I was reading a compilation of facts rather than a book explaining why there were more victims of Jack the Ripper than the "canonical" five.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what the point of this was. Nothing really new here and no particular focus or point to be made (there's a rambling afterword which tries to help but fails). Feels like a lot of leftover research that led someone to say "There's enough here to fill a book so why not".

[Nyree · Rating 2 out of 5]

was lots of information i have already read about in various other books. it was nice there was more detail about the women and there lives but still very disconnected and not well written.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revealing set of stories. Done by ripper ???. That's the intriguing question

[artemis · Rating 3 out of 5]

the afterword was really good i have really mixed feelings?

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and yet saddening dedication of those homicide victims wrongly accredited to JtR.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like The Five by Hallie Rubenfold, Jack The Ripper's Forgotten Victims attemps to refocus the conversation around Jack the Ripper to focus on the women who actually died instead of the men who could possibly have killed them. This book is both more extensive and less in-depth than The Five, and is less interested in the canonical five victims that Rubenfold discusses, though it does talk about their lives.

Instead, the authors go through the lives of a list of women who, at one time or another, have been claimed as Ripper victims. When they cannot talk about the woman herself (as in the case of some dismembered bodies located but never identified), they still do their best to focus the discussion on the victim and on the life she must have lived. The book is emphatically not interested in the killers, even when they were identified. Instead, the authors want to talk about the lives women in the 1880s lived and the deaths they might have died. It's a very satisfying and very easy read.

If you're interested in killers, why they kill, and who might have been responsible for the deaths of these women, you will not like this book. If you're more interested in the victims, everyday life in the 1880s, and life and death in Victorian cities, this is right up your alley.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book. There is a lot of filler information which may be interesting to some, such as talking about the background of these victims and just what London was like at the time. It didn't do anything for me, I enjoyed most of the deaths, though most were pretty clearly not Ripper victims and I had to skip around