The Trial, Imprisonment and Death of The Yorkshire Ripper

by Chris Cook

224 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 15, 2026

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Trial, Imprisonment and Death of The Yorkshire Ripper by Chris Cook was given to my Pen & Sword and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an interesting summary of the 'whys' and 'why nots' of both the Ripper investigation failings and how the Yorkshire Ripper, with cunning and guile hoodwinked the judicial system into getting special treatment with his insanity verdict (helped by his visions of God, followed by the Devil). None the less, Sutcliffe in prison had a target on his back and was attacked by no less than 3 separate prisoners.

Cook tries hard to make a manifesto out of his findings, reiterating various points - the photofits and their likeness to Sutcliffe not being utilised, the testimony of the victims vs the pigheadness of the police forces re: the tapes and various errors in police work that caused the tragedy to stagger on with terrible results. Still, I think maybe the book could be edited down - some chapters could be merged and, disappointingly, no reference to the idea that Sutcliffe supposedly converted to Islam for protection. Perhaps that was media innuendo.

I think there's enough material for its own book but I believe both books Cook has written should be combined at some point.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up under the shadow cast by Peter Sutcliffe; watching how terrified my female family members were only visiting each other after dark when accompanied by a male family member, I have been intrigued by the psychological effect of these crimes. The recent ITV drama, The Long Shadow, once more drew attention to the misogyny women experienced.
This book looks at the trail, concentrating on his attempts to be classed as “ mad not bad”. Throughout the book there is no discussion of his homemade “underwear” which if produced in court would have proved his crimes were sexual motivated. That withstanding, the book is extremely well researched, easily read without legal jargon and chronologically follow the events it covers. It is factual, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the previous book this was something I had hoped for. This is a subject who is well written about but often the victims become a side note. This had a more human feel to it and covered more areas and it was lovely to have it all in the one place. Clearly well researched as always this was engaging and interesting despite the subject matter. I felt i learned more about the ripper and his victims as a whole than i had ever before. This is perfect for anyone who wants to know more and offers a balanced view of complex issues such as voices in your head. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this cracking 5 star read. It dealt with a difficult killer in a balanced and informative manner.

[Sarah Higginbottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling and detailed without being sensational. Chris Cook walks you through the trial and aftermath of the Yorkshire Ripper in a way that’s easy to follow but still chilling. It’s heavy subject matter, but I appreciated how the book focused on the legal process and the impact of the crimes rather than just the lurid details. A strong choice if you’re into true crime that actually explains how the justice system dealt with one of Britain’s most infamous cases.

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Chris Cook and Pen & Sword📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Trial, Imprisonment, and Death of the Yorkshire Ripper, by Chris Cook, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Yorkshire Ripper had at least 19 victims, a serial killer, to be sure. This was an interesting true crime read, about a horrible killer, who will not be named.

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I was reluctant to kill. I know it is wrong to kill, but when you have a reason, it is justified and right.’

Another great true crime book by Chris. I love this man’s work and will aways recommend his books to the world.

I didn’t know a lot of about Peter’s later life, so I found this to be quite interesting to learn.

Imagine if this man had been stopped sooner?

‘Prostitutes should be exterminated. They corrupt men. It affects their lives’.