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The Judas Reflections #1
Murder in Whitechapel
About Murder in Whitechapel:
Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret...
His real name is Judas Iscariot.
Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, Judas' disguise as Emmanuel does little to ease his eternal loneliness. Having recovered nine of his thirty blood coins, his focus is not yet on redemption for his treacherous role in the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Distractions come easily for the rich entrepreneur and sometimes sleuth who presently resides in England, 1888. Fascinated by the spate of murders in London's poverty stricken Whitechapel, Emmanuel soon realizes the killings resemble others he is familiar with, and the bloody signature of killing and taunts speaks to the unholy talents of yet another immortal...an enemy from long ago.
This knowledge fuels his determination to track and apprehend the infamous Jack the Ripper at any cost.
With the backdrop of a Victorian Society, rigid and moralistic, along with the plight of those less fortunate, Emmanuel seeks to align himself with Scotland Yard. With the help of his immortal pal, Roderick Cooley, and by pretending to be an American private investigator interested in the horrific prostitute killings, he sets out to stop the senseless bloodshed. But, has he bitten off more than he can chew, by immersing himself in the slums and disease of the Ripper's hunting grounds?
As the mystery unfolds it becomes the ultimate test...not only of his abilities as an immortal, but also of his very soul.
Praise for Aiden James:
"Aiden James is a master storyteller... Out-freaking-standing-excellent!" ~Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews for Plague of Coins
"We are watching a master at work." ~J.R. Rain, Bestselling Author
of the Vampire for Hire series
Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret...
His real name is Judas Iscariot.
Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, Judas' disguise as Emmanuel does little to ease his eternal loneliness. Having recovered nine of his thirty blood coins, his focus is not yet on redemption for his treacherous role in the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Distractions come easily for the rich entrepreneur and sometimes sleuth who presently resides in England, 1888. Fascinated by the spate of murders in London's poverty stricken Whitechapel, Emmanuel soon realizes the killings resemble others he is familiar with, and the bloody signature of killing and taunts speaks to the unholy talents of yet another immortal...an enemy from long ago.
This knowledge fuels his determination to track and apprehend the infamous Jack the Ripper at any cost.
With the backdrop of a Victorian Society, rigid and moralistic, along with the plight of those less fortunate, Emmanuel seeks to align himself with Scotland Yard. With the help of his immortal pal, Roderick Cooley, and by pretending to be an American private investigator interested in the horrific prostitute killings, he sets out to stop the senseless bloodshed. But, has he bitten off more than he can chew, by immersing himself in the slums and disease of the Ripper's hunting grounds?
As the mystery unfolds it becomes the ultimate test...not only of his abilities as an immortal, but also of his very soul.
Praise for Aiden James:
"Aiden James is a master storyteller... Out-freaking-standing-excellent!" ~Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews for Plague of Coins
"We are watching a master at work." ~J.R. Rain, Bestselling Author
of the Vampire for Hire series
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2012
66 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
Aiden James
84 books311 followersedit biographydelete
Biography
Aiden James is the bestselling author of "Cades Cove: the curse of Allie Mae", "The Judas Chronicles", and the "Nick Caine Adventures" (with J.R. Rain). The author has published over forty books and a new series is set to begin in the fall of 2022 (The BloodStar Chronicles). At present, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Fiona, and an ornery little dog named Pepper.
To learn more about Aiden James and his latest books, please visit AidenJamesNovelist.com, or look for him on Facebook (Aiden James, Paranormal Adventure Author) and Twitter (@AidenJames3).
You can also learn more about Aiden and Fiona, and their interests, at the links below:
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ManorHousePu...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 4, 2015
This book has an amazing premise with an execution that is...lacking. The book is just all over the place.
Judas thinks once he found the 30 silver coins his immortality will end and he will age normally. Judas tells a friend that a major injury might still kill him. Judas suddenly knows that a beheading will certainly kill him.
It makes sense that immortality doesn't come with a manual, but that was just odd. A clear explanation of what he knows for sure and what he suspects would have been nice (that would have been an occasion where I hadn't minded a bit of infodumping...the author clearly isn't averse to it since he also told us the life-story of several completely irrelevant characters).
There is some good stuff as well: Judas has a fellow immortal friend who had the misfortune of not looking like a healthy, middle-aged men. He has to disguise his paleness and his eyes constantly, but still sticks out so much that he's met with some suspicion. That's just a nice detail that isn't included in many stories about immortality (even nicer would have been if the main character would have had to deal with that problem...)
But the rest...Judas feels like a failed try at an unreliable narrator. He says he cares und is looking for redemption but then imports opium and sells it to illegal opium dens (he also imports "cotton, gold, diamonds, tea, spices" no where did that come from?
he does change his opinion on the opium but not a word about the other stuff).
There was a weird jumping back and forth between extremes going on. He can't do anything for the people in the East End. He throws money at them. Child labour sucks but happens. He feels bad about getting others in trouble. He thinks it's mostly their fault anyway...it felt like reading the First Person narration of about five different people. And not only when it come to his (lack of) guilt: the first time they get an incredibly vague description of a guy who might be the Ripper Judas immediately thinks that this sounds like a fellow immortal whom he knows to be violent and who hates woman. And then he suddenly doesn't even consider other possibilities. No, it just has to be him...later he gets a second description, that also matches and then he thinks 'Previously I had doubts but now I was sure it had to be him.' You had doubts? When?
Also he talks a lot about how this immortal is much stronger than him and he could never beat him in a fight (except a duel. Perhaps...oh ffs I'm tired of listing all the contradictions in this book). But he never explains why. It doesn't seem to be a simple case of 'he's a better fighter'. Somehow Judas considers him totally out of his league because...because...whatever
It might have made some sense if he'd been an older immortal, but he's almost 1000 years younger than Judas so what makes him so special? No idea.
I understand that the beginning of a series needs to leave some questions open but there were too many things that just did not make sense at all.
Which is sad because the bits that dealt with Judas's guilt over betraying Jesus were actually done really well (AND CONSISTENT) and showed glimpses of how this could have been a really good book but alas...
Review Copy provided by the Curiosity Quill Press.
Judas thinks once he found the 30 silver coins his immortality will end and he will age normally. Judas tells a friend that a major injury might still kill him. Judas suddenly knows that a beheading will certainly kill him.
It makes sense that immortality doesn't come with a manual, but that was just odd. A clear explanation of what he knows for sure and what he suspects would have been nice (that would have been an occasion where I hadn't minded a bit of infodumping...the author clearly isn't averse to it since he also told us the life-story of several completely irrelevant characters).
There is some good stuff as well: Judas has a fellow immortal friend who had the misfortune of not looking like a healthy, middle-aged men. He has to disguise his paleness and his eyes constantly, but still sticks out so much that he's met with some suspicion. That's just a nice detail that isn't included in many stories about immortality (even nicer would have been if the main character would have had to deal with that problem...)
But the rest...Judas feels like a failed try at an unreliable narrator. He says he cares und is looking for redemption but then imports opium and sells it to illegal opium dens (he also imports "cotton, gold, diamonds, tea, spices" no where did that come from?
he does change his opinion on the opium but not a word about the other stuff).
There was a weird jumping back and forth between extremes going on. He can't do anything for the people in the East End. He throws money at them. Child labour sucks but happens. He feels bad about getting others in trouble. He thinks it's mostly their fault anyway...it felt like reading the First Person narration of about five different people. And not only when it come to his (lack of) guilt: the first time they get an incredibly vague description of a guy who might be the Ripper Judas immediately thinks that this sounds like a fellow immortal whom he knows to be violent and who hates woman. And then he suddenly doesn't even consider other possibilities. No, it just has to be him...later he gets a second description, that also matches and then he thinks 'Previously I had doubts but now I was sure it had to be him.' You had doubts? When?
Also he talks a lot about how this immortal is much stronger than him and he could never beat him in a fight (except a duel. Perhaps...oh ffs I'm tired of listing all the contradictions in this book). But he never explains why. It doesn't seem to be a simple case of 'he's a better fighter'. Somehow Judas considers him totally out of his league because...because...whatever
It might have made some sense if he'd been an older immortal, but he's almost 1000 years younger than Judas so what makes him so special? No idea.
I understand that the beginning of a series needs to leave some questions open but there were too many things that just did not make sense at all.
Which is sad because the bits that dealt with Judas's guilt over betraying Jesus were actually done really well (AND CONSISTENT) and showed glimpses of how this could have been a really good book but alas...
Review Copy provided by the Curiosity Quill Press.
August 26, 2016
Just finished reading “Murder in Whitechapel (Judas Reflections Book 1), by Aiden James and Michelle Wright. I read all 8 of “The Judas Chronicles” Books by Aiden James and wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about reading the “Judas Reflections”, but I was once again pleasantly surprised, delighted and entertained. It was great fun revisiting Judas before he was known as William Barrow in a completely different time and place. As always, Aiden James does what he does so very well, tells a great story. This is my first time reading anything by Michelle Wright and what she contributed to this read was quite stunning.
Synopsis: Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret…His real name is Judas Iscariot.
Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, Judas’ disguise as Emmanuel does little to ease his eternal loneliness. Having recovered nine of his thirty blood coins, his focus is not yet on redemption for his treacherous role in the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Distractions come easily for the rich entrepreneur and sometimes sleuth who presently resides in England, 1888. Fascinated by the spate of murders in London’s poverty stricken Whitechapel, Emmanuel soon realizes the killings resemble others he is familiar with, and the bloody signature of killing and taunts speaks to the unholy talents of yet another immortal…an enemy from long ago.
This knowledge fuels his determination to track and apprehend the infamous Jack the Ripper at any cost.
With the backdrop of a Victorian Society, rigid and moralistic, along with the plight of those less fortunate, Emmanuel seeks to align himself with Scotland Yard. With the help of his immortal pal, Roderick Cooley, and by pretending to be an American private investigator interested in the horrific prostitute killings, he sets out to stop the senseless bloodshed. But, has he bitten off more than he can chew, by immersing himself in the slums and disease of the Ripper’s hunting grounds?
As the mystery unfolds it becomes the ultimate test…not only of his abilities as an immortal, but also of his very soul
Synopsis: Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret…His real name is Judas Iscariot.
Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, Judas’ disguise as Emmanuel does little to ease his eternal loneliness. Having recovered nine of his thirty blood coins, his focus is not yet on redemption for his treacherous role in the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Distractions come easily for the rich entrepreneur and sometimes sleuth who presently resides in England, 1888. Fascinated by the spate of murders in London’s poverty stricken Whitechapel, Emmanuel soon realizes the killings resemble others he is familiar with, and the bloody signature of killing and taunts speaks to the unholy talents of yet another immortal…an enemy from long ago.
This knowledge fuels his determination to track and apprehend the infamous Jack the Ripper at any cost.
With the backdrop of a Victorian Society, rigid and moralistic, along with the plight of those less fortunate, Emmanuel seeks to align himself with Scotland Yard. With the help of his immortal pal, Roderick Cooley, and by pretending to be an American private investigator interested in the horrific prostitute killings, he sets out to stop the senseless bloodshed. But, has he bitten off more than he can chew, by immersing himself in the slums and disease of the Ripper’s hunting grounds?
As the mystery unfolds it becomes the ultimate test…not only of his abilities as an immortal, but also of his very soul
April 6, 2013
Murder in Whitechapel is about a really interesting character, and I’m not talking about Jack the Ripper for those who know the stories, although Jack the ripper is in the book too. I’m talking about Judas Iscariot. I’ve always been intrigued with the immortal Judas character and this book tells us one of the many stories of what happened to Judas after he betrayed Jesus. We are told bits and pieces of Judas’ back story and find him in 1888 London. He thinks or hopes he can get some redemption if he can stop the gruesome killings and catch the infamous “Jack the Ripper.” He loses focus and deals with some distractions that cause him to make some mistakes. Can these small sins be overlooked if he can stop Jack the Ripper from killing? I expected Judas to be a selfish, rough, crude person but he is anything but that. Helping to put an end to Jack the ripper and the killings is not just a selfish way to get redeemed, he is genuinely concerned about these girls and that no one should die like that. I was thinking that for being around for centuries he sure is too trusting and gets into trouble without thinking, but that is how Judas is. He is actually deep down a regular guy who made a terrible mistake, it just happened to be Jesus of all people he betrayed. Great characters, great storytelling with some historical information too. Couldn’t put it down, was so intriguing. Definitely a must read. Aiden and Michelle make a great team.
April 13, 2013
I've enjoyed the three installments to the Judas Chronicles by Aiden James (Plague of Coins, Reign of Coins, and Destiny of Coins) and watching as Judas becomes less self-involved and more... focused.
Meet Judas Iscariot as you've never read about him before- in reverse! The Judas Reflections are Judas regressing, becoming less redeemable, more repugnant as time goes by.
In this installment, Judas is operating under the name Emmanuel Ortiz, and he is living the high life. He's tight-fisted, a penny-pincher. Each little act of monetary kindness is overblown in his mind, as he hates parting with him money at all. He's found only 8 silver shekels so far, and really isn't concerned with finding the rest. He'll get to it... later. Always later.
Instead he's focused on finding and stopping Jack the Ripper, both for the gratitude and fame he'll amass by doing so, and to hopefully earn some good karma, another stop on his way to redemption for betraying Jesus.
A fascinating look into who Judas used to be. I look forward to learning more about his past.
Meet Judas Iscariot as you've never read about him before- in reverse! The Judas Reflections are Judas regressing, becoming less redeemable, more repugnant as time goes by.
In this installment, Judas is operating under the name Emmanuel Ortiz, and he is living the high life. He's tight-fisted, a penny-pincher. Each little act of monetary kindness is overblown in his mind, as he hates parting with him money at all. He's found only 8 silver shekels so far, and really isn't concerned with finding the rest. He'll get to it... later. Always later.
Instead he's focused on finding and stopping Jack the Ripper, both for the gratitude and fame he'll amass by doing so, and to hopefully earn some good karma, another stop on his way to redemption for betraying Jesus.
A fascinating look into who Judas used to be. I look forward to learning more about his past.
March 14, 2013
AMAZING WORK OF 2 very talented authors!!! If love history, murder, and can open your mind to what may happen to what happens after a person passes on and what Heaven may be like, well, you NEED to read this book!!! I'm not great at writing reviews, but I love history and this book is set in London, 1888....the cover will pull you in, then that first page just, well, before I knew it, I was through the book!! I felt like I was on the streets of London, a country I want to go to so much, and I was able to go there through this book...I could smell what the character were smelling, feel their angst, and heaven, well, I feel a little better if and when I do move on. I can't give this book more then 5 stars, but in my review I can!!! 10 stars and they are glowing brightly up there in heaven, as this book was heaven to read!!! And great mystery as well!! I don't want to give anything away and I so want to tell you more, but you will have to read the book to know how amazing this ended up being!!! I'd love to have that cover framed as well!!!!
Happy reading,
JacqueB
Happy reading,
JacqueB
July 15, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book on a free-to-review agreement from Chelsea Rafferty, Courtney Young and Quill Publishing.
I enjoyed this book. To read a non-fiction based on a twist to the bible was quite interesting. I liked how Judas was portrayed in this book and how it tied into the Bible.
I love how Judas is on a path trying to seek redemption and doesn't know how to gain it. It's also interesting to see that Jesus visits him and tells him how but Judas still ignores what Jesus is trying to tell him. I also love how all this is surrounding the on goings of Jack the Ripper and how Judas gets involved trying to help catch the person responsible for it.
Overall this was an interesting book and would love to read more of the character and his story. The authors kept me not wanting to put the book down and that's the kind of books I love to read.
I enjoyed this book. To read a non-fiction based on a twist to the bible was quite interesting. I liked how Judas was portrayed in this book and how it tied into the Bible.
I love how Judas is on a path trying to seek redemption and doesn't know how to gain it. It's also interesting to see that Jesus visits him and tells him how but Judas still ignores what Jesus is trying to tell him. I also love how all this is surrounding the on goings of Jack the Ripper and how Judas gets involved trying to help catch the person responsible for it.
Overall this was an interesting book and would love to read more of the character and his story. The authors kept me not wanting to put the book down and that's the kind of books I love to read.
March 14, 2013
If you love history entwined with a bit of mystery and even a little murder then this book is a must have!! Set in Victorian London this story gives a whole new take on the idea of the mysterious Jack The Ripper, from the point of view of two very talented authors. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down. The story is well written and kept me enthralled throughout. I loved the characters different personalities, from the Irish man who could appear very cold and distant but proved otherwise more than once to the cheeky and feisty Marianne who proved that even in Victorian England women had their own minds!! A truly wonderful glimpse into the mysterious past of Judas Iscariot and a must read for anybody with a taste for the unusual!!
March 16, 2013
These two authors were able to bring Aiden's well loved and known character, two actually, into the 1800's and create a life for them that was completely real. Gave us a mystery, insight to their state of mind, led us to where the characters were heading, and I am so wanting more...like maybe from the early 1900s? Immortal stories that are only based on present day LOOKING back have been done well, but a series that can bring the entire book back, well, this story did it perfectly! Not just memories, but an entire book based on 1888! Beautiful work. Must read, thank you.
Michelle Wright Aiden James
Michelle Wright Aiden James
August 21, 2013
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I am really loving this book. The discrepancies ever so subtly emerged into the story line of what we believe Judas Iscariot is and who he thinks he is and what he does to show who he is, is truly an engaging, entertaining and makes for good reading. Set up Judas against Jack the Ripper and you have a good thriller with depth to it that is surprising and a story line that is entertaining.
I really, really liked the nuances. Pick up your copy and see if you still think of Judas as such an utter brute….
This is a very entertaining thriller with a unique new interpretation of what may have happened in the East End….
WaAr
I am really loving this book. The discrepancies ever so subtly emerged into the story line of what we believe Judas Iscariot is and who he thinks he is and what he does to show who he is, is truly an engaging, entertaining and makes for good reading. Set up Judas against Jack the Ripper and you have a good thriller with depth to it that is surprising and a story line that is entertaining.
I really, really liked the nuances. Pick up your copy and see if you still think of Judas as such an utter brute….
This is a very entertaining thriller with a unique new interpretation of what may have happened in the East End….
WaAr
April 3, 2013
I loved it! I definitely think Aiden James and Michelle Wright have the writing chemistry to make this series a huge success. This the first book in the new series The Judas Reflections. This series will tell the story of Judas Iscariot from Victorian England backwards to the beginning (I believe). Anyone who has read Aiden James the Judas Chronicles will definitely enjoy the Judas Reflections as we, the reader, gets to see how the Judas' character devolved from his current situation in the Judas Chronicles to how he reacted and treated people in and before the Victorian Period.
March 17, 2013
As I used to work at the London Hospital in Whitechapel and have known all the streets around the area it brought back some good times, not I might add in the age this book is set. I enjoyed reading it and found it to be a good yarn, you go Judas, your one of the good guys now. More please !
December 2, 2016
BACKWARDS IN TIME
I've read THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, books one through 7. Here we begin a flashback to JUDAS' earlier years in the a800's as Immanuel Ortiz. His lifelong friend Roderick is helping with his questionable opiate business, although he doesn't agree with the practice and wants Judas to return to America with him.
Judas has other pressing matters though. He's still looking for his coins, but he's taken a break from that to explore his business possibilities, and then Jack the Ripper begins terrorizing London, and Judas fancies himself a detective. He's determined to find out who this guy really is and stop him at all costs.
But as things progress, he finds that he may know the killer better than he imagined, and the more sure he became, the less he looked forward to the meeting he knew had to come eventually.
In his search, Judas finds himself in places no respectable gentleman would ever go. He befriends a prostitute trying to better her life and finds that he's compassionate towards her and wants to help her get off the streets. They connected in a way he never expected during his search for information. But then Jack the Ripper strikes again.
Is he who Judas thinks he is? And can he be stopped? And through it all, is he going to be able to find any more of his coins?
I'm totally captivated by these books and it's interesting to look back in time to before Judas became William years later in America. We see his character much less developed and much less likable. After having read the seven books of his chronicles, it's amazing to see how awful he must have been back then and how much he'd changed by the time we meet him in the first book of the chronicle. I've already started the next one.
I've read THE COMPLETE JUDAS CHRONICLES, books one through 7. Here we begin a flashback to JUDAS' earlier years in the a800's as Immanuel Ortiz. His lifelong friend Roderick is helping with his questionable opiate business, although he doesn't agree with the practice and wants Judas to return to America with him.
Judas has other pressing matters though. He's still looking for his coins, but he's taken a break from that to explore his business possibilities, and then Jack the Ripper begins terrorizing London, and Judas fancies himself a detective. He's determined to find out who this guy really is and stop him at all costs.
But as things progress, he finds that he may know the killer better than he imagined, and the more sure he became, the less he looked forward to the meeting he knew had to come eventually.
In his search, Judas finds himself in places no respectable gentleman would ever go. He befriends a prostitute trying to better her life and finds that he's compassionate towards her and wants to help her get off the streets. They connected in a way he never expected during his search for information. But then Jack the Ripper strikes again.
Is he who Judas thinks he is? And can he be stopped? And through it all, is he going to be able to find any more of his coins?
I'm totally captivated by these books and it's interesting to look back in time to before Judas became William years later in America. We see his character much less developed and much less likable. After having read the seven books of his chronicles, it's amazing to see how awful he must have been back then and how much he'd changed by the time we meet him in the first book of the chronicle. I've already started the next one.
December 23, 2016
I’ve read previous works from Aiden James and while I enjoy them I do wish they were just as good and longer; this is my preference because I read so much and usually quickly that it seems that just as I am really engrossed the book ends, the rest is a plug for additional works and I am having to search for my next read or continue to the next in the series. I chose to read this because I had received the third book in the series as a NetGalley review and I like to read series in order.
I was disappointed that Emmanuel (Judas) was unable to kill his nemesis, however, thanks to Roderick he has made it easier for an immortal to kill him in the future. I have to say that I like the take on how his nemesis gained his immortality and wonder if this is the reason that all immortals gained it? Unlike many series, it is not done in chronological order, this book was set in the 19th century, the next is the 17th and the 3rd is the 15th century, which I thought unusual but I’ll see how I like it when I read the subsequent novels.
While this book lists as a little over 200 pages it is lees because at least 20 are an excerpt for the next book and then another excerpt which I don’t read if I am continuing the series. I expect to find that the books that are listed as under 200 pages are the same. When a book has a co-author it’s hard to know which author contributed more, whose ideas it was, etc. but this time it works and provides an entertaining, if short read.
4.25/5 STARS: **I read this novel using a selection from my Amazon Unlimited subscription; the review reflects my honest opinions.**
I was disappointed that Emmanuel (Judas) was unable to kill his nemesis, however, thanks to Roderick he has made it easier for an immortal to kill him in the future. I have to say that I like the take on how his nemesis gained his immortality and wonder if this is the reason that all immortals gained it? Unlike many series, it is not done in chronological order, this book was set in the 19th century, the next is the 17th and the 3rd is the 15th century, which I thought unusual but I’ll see how I like it when I read the subsequent novels.
While this book lists as a little over 200 pages it is lees because at least 20 are an excerpt for the next book and then another excerpt which I don’t read if I am continuing the series. I expect to find that the books that are listed as under 200 pages are the same. When a book has a co-author it’s hard to know which author contributed more, whose ideas it was, etc. but this time it works and provides an entertaining, if short read.
4.25/5 STARS: **I read this novel using a selection from my Amazon Unlimited subscription; the review reflects my honest opinions.**
October 15, 2021
Such an interesting story, not only about the life of Judas Iscariot, but who Jack the Ripper was. Even though this is all fiction, it was fascinating how a simple character from the Bible could be immortal! And how one simple young woman changed his outlook on life, and how he kept his promise to her.
October 12, 2023
Much too different
I love the first 7 books but this one is glaringly obvious it was not written by the same person. There's so much that is wildly different from the first 7 books that this should be Book 1 of its own series rather than part of the first 7 books. Just not nearly as good as the first 7.
I love the first 7 books but this one is glaringly obvious it was not written by the same person. There's so much that is wildly different from the first 7 books that this should be Book 1 of its own series rather than part of the first 7 books. Just not nearly as good as the first 7.
May 20, 2024
Murder in Whitechapel: A Judas Reflections Novel (Cursed Immortals Book 8)
A look back into Judas' past. Now that Judas has join Beatrice, Alistair, Amy and Jeremy, Roderick member they meeting Roti her in the 1800s. Jack the Ripper is terrorizing Whitechapel and Roderick and Judas are trying to find out who is killing prostitutes. Will they find the killer? Great story.
A look back into Judas' past. Now that Judas has join Beatrice, Alistair, Amy and Jeremy, Roderick member they meeting Roti her in the 1800s. Jack the Ripper is terrorizing Whitechapel and Roderick and Judas are trying to find out who is killing prostitutes. Will they find the killer? Great story.
February 3, 2025
Decent read but a bit lacking.
Well enough written but somehow fell a little flat and seemed to be missing a little in regards to tension and suspense levels. Could have done with a few twists instead of heading down well-trodden, expected paths. Maybe the next in the series will be more riveting.
Well enough written but somehow fell a little flat and seemed to be missing a little in regards to tension and suspense levels. Could have done with a few twists instead of heading down well-trodden, expected paths. Maybe the next in the series will be more riveting.
January 27, 2026
This book had such potential in terms of premise and the idea of Judas being immortal and trying to earn death and redemption, but it was barely fleshed out in the book. A casual mention and nothing more, and the climax left a lot on the table and was too fast. Overall, great potential but poor execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2019
I loved it!
Jack the Ripper has been done so many different ways... Some good, some bad, but this was my favorite so far! I can't wait to read another book in the series.
Jack the Ripper has been done so many different ways... Some good, some bad, but this was my favorite so far! I can't wait to read another book in the series.
February 10, 2019
Excellent read. Now the next book in the series
January 21, 2025
Dnf p50
February 24, 2017
This story is inconsistent with the previous series of books. Details about the main character's life and immortality are different than what was revealed in the other set of novels. I did appreciate seeing Judas in a light other than his William Barrow persona introduced in The Judas Chronicles. It adds a layer of complexity to a character who I believe should be among the most complex in history. I do enjoy the author's attempt in fleshing out the Judas character by writing of his encounters before becoming William Barrow and would be willing to read more. Still, the inconsistencies are difficult to ignore.
April 21, 2013
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher on Netgalley in return for an honest review*
Author
Born in Denver Colorado, Aiden James is fascinated by Gothic history and the supernatural. Aiden currently lives with his wife and two sons in Tennessee.
Michelle Wright was born in London's east-end into a family of psychic mediums, her passion for writing started young. By her early teens she had published stories in magazines and wrote scripts for school plays. In later years becoming a psychotherapist and journalist in-between practicing her psychic skills she travelled extensively. Having lived in Spain and the US she now resides in Belgium.
Review
I am not so sure what to say about this book or how to rate it. I love reading mystery and suspense books and Jack the Ripper is a great character to use building up a good story. Combined with the quite interesting idea of Judas becoming immortal to pay for his betrayal I was curious how it worked out in one story. After finishing the book I am asking myself what I read. In a way I liked reading the story. I loved the style but I did not find the story that exciting.
You are living in Judas his (or Emmanuel as he is called now) thoughts. This is entertaining enough and I like the way his whole live is playing part in the story. This is done so well you can really feel along and get angry when he is angry and worry when he is worried. Still this was not enough to make the story exciting. There is not really a puzzle idea thing are just happening and going on and I never really felt excitement for him getting close to Jack or not.
I liked the character of Roderick. He seems like an great fellow and I wonder who he is supposed to be in history. I was not able to guess. I am curious about other work by both writers. I loved their choice of words and the writing style was soothing and enjoyable. I will probably try the other books in the Judas series.
Author
Born in Denver Colorado, Aiden James is fascinated by Gothic history and the supernatural. Aiden currently lives with his wife and two sons in Tennessee.
Michelle Wright was born in London's east-end into a family of psychic mediums, her passion for writing started young. By her early teens she had published stories in magazines and wrote scripts for school plays. In later years becoming a psychotherapist and journalist in-between practicing her psychic skills she travelled extensively. Having lived in Spain and the US she now resides in Belgium.
Review
I am not so sure what to say about this book or how to rate it. I love reading mystery and suspense books and Jack the Ripper is a great character to use building up a good story. Combined with the quite interesting idea of Judas becoming immortal to pay for his betrayal I was curious how it worked out in one story. After finishing the book I am asking myself what I read. In a way I liked reading the story. I loved the style but I did not find the story that exciting.
You are living in Judas his (or Emmanuel as he is called now) thoughts. This is entertaining enough and I like the way his whole live is playing part in the story. This is done so well you can really feel along and get angry when he is angry and worry when he is worried. Still this was not enough to make the story exciting. There is not really a puzzle idea thing are just happening and going on and I never really felt excitement for him getting close to Jack or not.
I liked the character of Roderick. He seems like an great fellow and I wonder who he is supposed to be in history. I was not able to guess. I am curious about other work by both writers. I loved their choice of words and the writing style was soothing and enjoyable. I will probably try the other books in the Judas series.
May 7, 2013
In The Judas Reflections, Judas Iscariot, having failed at his suicide attempt, has been forced, like Cain before him, to walk the world as an immortal, seeking redemption. He is hunting the thirty pieces of silver he was paid for his betrayal of Jesus in hopes that he can buy back forgiveness and his soul. To this end, he has also committed to trying to do good although his old sins of greed and selfishness often get in the way.
In this novel, he is living in London during the time of Jack the Ripper. As an act of atonement, he is determined to hunt down the killer himself. Unfortunately, things are not always what they seem and Jack is a lot more of a threat than Judas (now known as Emmanuel) had imagined. It seems there is one more immortal walking the earth and Judas may be outmatched by evil.
I quite enjoyed this tale of sin and redemption. Judas is a likeable and complex character. I was intrigued by Roderick, his Irish partner, whose origins are only hinted at. I also found the descriptions of Victorian England very interesting, especially those of Whitechapel. Author James Aiden does a very good job of evoking the poverty and lack of hope its inhabitants lived with daily. Given this is a story about Judas Iscariot, there are some Christian themes involved. However, these aspects add to the story but don't overwhelm it.
I am not sure but I can guess, given the ending of the story, that this is just one book in a series and I look forward to reading more of Judas' search for the coins.
In this novel, he is living in London during the time of Jack the Ripper. As an act of atonement, he is determined to hunt down the killer himself. Unfortunately, things are not always what they seem and Jack is a lot more of a threat than Judas (now known as Emmanuel) had imagined. It seems there is one more immortal walking the earth and Judas may be outmatched by evil.
I quite enjoyed this tale of sin and redemption. Judas is a likeable and complex character. I was intrigued by Roderick, his Irish partner, whose origins are only hinted at. I also found the descriptions of Victorian England very interesting, especially those of Whitechapel. Author James Aiden does a very good job of evoking the poverty and lack of hope its inhabitants lived with daily. Given this is a story about Judas Iscariot, there are some Christian themes involved. However, these aspects add to the story but don't overwhelm it.
I am not sure but I can guess, given the ending of the story, that this is just one book in a series and I look forward to reading more of Judas' search for the coins.
September 19, 2015
I have read this one during a day. I'm still quite not sure whether I should give two or three out of five. I have read a lot regarding the Ripper,fiction and non-fiction.
The positive issue about this book was,that Aiden James approached a complete different and actually interesting story about Whitechapel and the Ripper.
Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret... his real name is Judas Iscariot.
And forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal for betraying Jesus Christ Judas disguised as Emmanuel is hunting Jack the Ripper to get redemption and recovering his thirty blood coins, which he once got for his betrayal.
(after I buying the book I recognized that this is a series about Judas Iscariot and his searching for his coins - but the other books needn't to be read to get the story)
This is more a book about Judas instead of the Ripper. But this didn't spoil the reading enjoyment. In contrary, Judas is such an interesting figure here, that sometimes I almost forgot during reading that this is a Ripper hunting.
So with the help of his immortal friend Roderick Cooley and pretending to be an American investigator, he sets out to stop the bloody killing.
I liked the book so far, I was entertained and James brought a very interesting, not cruel, very human, fighting with his sin , begging for remission Judas into the story.
But I quite didn't like the end. Maybe I have to consider that this is a series , and despite Judas solved this case here, the story of him continuous.
But after all it was no complete waste of time. Just decided to give three out of five.
The positive issue about this book was,that Aiden James approached a complete different and actually interesting story about Whitechapel and the Ripper.
Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret... his real name is Judas Iscariot.
And forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal for betraying Jesus Christ Judas disguised as Emmanuel is hunting Jack the Ripper to get redemption and recovering his thirty blood coins, which he once got for his betrayal.
(after I buying the book I recognized that this is a series about Judas Iscariot and his searching for his coins - but the other books needn't to be read to get the story)
This is more a book about Judas instead of the Ripper. But this didn't spoil the reading enjoyment. In contrary, Judas is such an interesting figure here, that sometimes I almost forgot during reading that this is a Ripper hunting.
So with the help of his immortal friend Roderick Cooley and pretending to be an American investigator, he sets out to stop the bloody killing.
I liked the book so far, I was entertained and James brought a very interesting, not cruel, very human, fighting with his sin , begging for remission Judas into the story.
But I quite didn't like the end. Maybe I have to consider that this is a series , and despite Judas solved this case here, the story of him continuous.
But after all it was no complete waste of time. Just decided to give three out of five.
July 19, 2013
Most everyone knows the story of Judas Iscariot from the Bible. In The Judas Reflections Murder in Whitechapel, authors Aiden James and Michelle Wright add a paranormal twist to things. In this series, Judas doesn't die but has to walk the earth as an immortal in order to track down the very coins he earned for betraying Jesus.
I really wanted to like this book. I love history, and the Victorian time period and the story of Jack the Ripper have always interested me. The problem for me was with Judas, who now goes by the name of Emmanuel Ortiz. The story is told from his point of view, but I didn't really find him to be a likable character. He's lived for centuries, but he doesn't seem to have learned anything from his time on earth. He's supposed to be searching for those coins he received as payment when he betrayed Jesus, but that seemed the least of his concerns in this book.
He decided that he knew who Jack the Ripper was and only he could take him down. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it was a let down for me. I'm not sure if this is the first book in the series, but I felt like there was a backstory I was missing. The writing was okay, but the editing could have been better. I would be willing to try another book in this series because I know some of the characters now and would like to see them grow throughout the series. I also like the idea of Judas trying to track down all his coins to atone for his sin.
I really wanted to like this book. I love history, and the Victorian time period and the story of Jack the Ripper have always interested me. The problem for me was with Judas, who now goes by the name of Emmanuel Ortiz. The story is told from his point of view, but I didn't really find him to be a likable character. He's lived for centuries, but he doesn't seem to have learned anything from his time on earth. He's supposed to be searching for those coins he received as payment when he betrayed Jesus, but that seemed the least of his concerns in this book.
He decided that he knew who Jack the Ripper was and only he could take him down. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it was a let down for me. I'm not sure if this is the first book in the series, but I felt like there was a backstory I was missing. The writing was okay, but the editing could have been better. I would be willing to try another book in this series because I know some of the characters now and would like to see them grow throughout the series. I also like the idea of Judas trying to track down all his coins to atone for his sin.
March 15, 2013
Judas as an Immortal.
His punishment for the death of Jesus is having to walk the earth for eternity. Interesting concept indeed. One that holds many possibilities, especially when you can have said Immortal wander through all strands of time and any important historical event.
One of those being Whitechapel in London during the time of Jack the Ripper.
The story is very light and entertaining with a hint of what it could have been if the author/s had chosen to give it a little more depth and ventured down the avenues that could have been explored. Then again the title implies many more adventures for Judas.
The Ripper is an old favourite and many authors like to have a swing at it. This is one with a slightly more abstract approach I admit.
For me it lacked that essence of pure plot that intrigues me enough to drag me all the way in. It was too light-hearted and the opportunity to make it something memorable was lost somewhere in between the pages.
However the concept is a good one. The spider just needs a better web.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
His punishment for the death of Jesus is having to walk the earth for eternity. Interesting concept indeed. One that holds many possibilities, especially when you can have said Immortal wander through all strands of time and any important historical event.
One of those being Whitechapel in London during the time of Jack the Ripper.
The story is very light and entertaining with a hint of what it could have been if the author/s had chosen to give it a little more depth and ventured down the avenues that could have been explored. Then again the title implies many more adventures for Judas.
The Ripper is an old favourite and many authors like to have a swing at it. This is one with a slightly more abstract approach I admit.
For me it lacked that essence of pure plot that intrigues me enough to drag me all the way in. It was too light-hearted and the opportunity to make it something memorable was lost somewhere in between the pages.
However the concept is a good one. The spider just needs a better web.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
July 10, 2013
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I chose this book to review based on the Title and Genre. I love historical fiction, and Whitechapel just screams Jack the Ripper. This was my first read by this author, so I was a little lost with the back story. Judas Iscariot, now immortal as punishment for betraying Jesus, is living in London and attempting to catch Jack the Ripper. It started off well, but there was a lot of references to past Judas Reflection novels that were beyond me. I got the main idea of most of it, but it was very confusing. I had a rough time getting through the grammatical and punctuation errors that were throughout the whole book. The editors did not do a very great job of correcting common mistakes. Usually, that does not distract me very much, but in this case the sheer volume of errors was hard to ignore. That said, the story itself was actually quite good. It was a really nice take on the Jack the Ripper story. I am not sure if I would continue the series though.
May 18, 2016
I was leery to read this book after reading all seven(7) of Immortal Chronicles of Judas Iscariot by this author because I was concerned about crossover with the previous series. Well, my fears were completely unfounded. This story is wholly original and was a delight to read.
First the setting of this book in 19th century England was nifty. And the author executes remarkable understanding of the era. His characters, descriptions, and the actions portrayed are on point with said era.
Judas Iscariot, aka Emmanuel Ortiz, and his friend Roderick Cooley, a fellow immortal, are smack dap in the middle of the Jack the Ripper case. Things don't go well and the two friends must face an enemy they dread.
This story moves at a good pace and this reader was never bored. I felt included in the story and could almost sense myself walking next to Judas as the story progressed.
Highly recommend you read this whether you have read the Immortal series or not.
First the setting of this book in 19th century England was nifty. And the author executes remarkable understanding of the era. His characters, descriptions, and the actions portrayed are on point with said era.
Judas Iscariot, aka Emmanuel Ortiz, and his friend Roderick Cooley, a fellow immortal, are smack dap in the middle of the Jack the Ripper case. Things don't go well and the two friends must face an enemy they dread.
This story moves at a good pace and this reader was never bored. I felt included in the story and could almost sense myself walking next to Judas as the story progressed.
Highly recommend you read this whether you have read the Immortal series or not.
June 1, 2013
A very good book. Emmanuel Ortiz is Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Jesus. Judas is immortal and is sentenced to retrieving the 30 coins he received and tossed back to the Pharisees. In his search for the coins, he also manages to involve himself in other adventures. This one centers around his search for Jack the Ripper in 1888 England. His search takes him away from his posh lifestyle to the dregs of East London where he encounters several interesting characters. The one thing I disliked about the book was that some of the information about Judas didn't line up with the information in the series, The Judas Chronicles. Not sure why James decided to deviate from the original storyline but it was still a very good read.
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