Jewbaiter Jack The Ripper: New Evidence & Theory

by Stephen Senise

Did Jack The Ripper flee London for the colony of New South Wales at the height of the world's most notorious serial-murder rampage ? Was the deadly attack on Alice McKenzie in 1889, his last thrown of the dice in pursuit of what was, not just a killing spree but a macabre, politically motivated publicity stunt ? Is it conceivable that a maniac took it upon himself to try and shut down immigration to England at a critical crossroads, just as Whitechapel was being thrust into the political spotlight ? Journalist Stephen Senise explores these questions and London's East End, and discovers that by February 1888 community tensions were so high that two select committees of investigation were dispatched to advise parliament on the social and industrial tensions tearing a community apart. Enter an opportunist hell-bent on broadcasting a hateful message... a madman, who would usher in the 'Autumn Of Terror'..

314 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2017

About the author

When freelance writer Stephen Senise isn't chasing the ponies he is a keen amateur psephologist. His political analysis has featured in capital city dailies across Australia, the Brisbane Institute's 'The Brisbane Line', and on ABC radio. He has worked as a researcher and media advisor for members of parliament in Sydney and Canberra; and as a union organiser based on-campus at Southern Cross University. He lives in northern New South Wales where his articles and photography have appeared in most local and regional newspapers over the course of the past decade or more. He is an English literature honours graduate from the University of Western Sydney.

Reviews

[M.K. Beker · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! That's my one-word review of this book.

I have been a bit of a Jack the Ripper buff for years and years, although this is the first text I've read on the subject. My first real introduction to the legendary serial killer was the British mini-series from 1988, Jack The Ripper, starring Michael Caine. I was hooked from that point on.

Recently, my wife and I were watching Ripper Street on Netflix when my wife surreptitiously jumped online to track down some good books for me. (She's always on the look out for books for me, bless her heart!) Somehow, she found and ordered this original edition of author Stephen Senise's book; she didn't realize there was an updated (and hugely more readily available!) edition titled, False Flag Jack The Ripper. We're a Jewish household and we both love to read works on Jewish history, so when my wife stumbled on this junction of Ripper and Judaism, she knew she'd discovered something I would enjoy.

But "enjoy" barely begins to cover it! Mr. Senise is a spectacularly talented writer and it was no surprise when I learned he was a journalist. The foundation of his intensive, thorough research combined with his clean, crisp prose, allows the story of Jack the Ripper to unfurl dramatically from the first page to the Afterword -- who he was, why he committed the unthinkable acts of violence he is so famous for, why he chose White Chapel and surrounds for his killing fields, why he began and ended his reign of terror when he did... essentially, everything you've ever wanted to know about Jack the Ripper, and more.

And, yes, you read that right: who he, Jack the Ripper, really was. I walked away from Jewbaiter Jack The Ripper feeling confident that I not only understood the reason for the killing spree, but that I could tell you the real name of the infamous murderer.

Don't worry, I'm not going to say the name and ruin it for you! But I can call him now by his name. Amazing.

I don't want to go into much more detail because Stephen lays out this story like a suspenseful (though informative) mystery. Beguiling facts are slowly disgorged, then revelations are drawn from them. You are given jigsaw puzzle pieces, and then the full image is assembled before your eyes. This is a page-turner. This is a fascinating account that is more than worthy of one of the greatest legends and manhunts in human history.

If you like to understand history better; if you are fascinated in particular by Jack the Ripper and his autumn of terror; if you love a good mystery; if you're curious about Judaism and the path its people have wandered over the centuries; in short, if you are just plain looking for a great book, I promise you will find everything you're looking for and more in Jewbaiter Jack The Ripper.

(I believe you will find even more still in the updated edition, but I have not read that yet so I cannot promise anything!)