The Hunt for the 60s' Ripper

by Robin Jarossi

A look at the 1960s Nude Murders in West London, a series of prostitute killings that were never solved, with contemporary insights from ex-detectives and experts.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2017

Reviews

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jack the Stripper/Nude Killings case of the early 1960s was a huge deal at the time. Seven murders, hundreds of policemen deployed, masses of press coverage. But it was never solved. And the culprit is the most prolific, never caught serial killer in Britain of the Twentieth Century. Actually, he would seem to be the most prolific never caught serial killer this country has ever produced. Ahead even of the other more famous Jack. It is strange how little this case is remembered. Even ten years later it had apparently largely been forgotten

Between 1962 and 1965 (although there may have been another victim in 1959), the bodies of seven murdered prostitutes were found in West London. Initially their bodies were left in The Thames, but then the killer changed M.O slightly and abandoned them outside various commercial premises. One of the biggest manhunts in British history was launched, but despite the arrived of legendary Chief Superintendent John Du Rose, the killer just vanished into the ether.

Robin Jarossi’s book is the best guide to the case I have ever come across. One which examines it in a great deal of detail and with a magnificent amount of empathy.

That last point is important, as Jarossi really does go far out of his way not to portray the victims as just victims, but actual people themselves. That’s particularly hard to do (and thus particularly impressive) as it seems the police at the time, and the press reporting on it, often saw them as nothing more than common prostitutes and not people to be mourned. They were still condemned, even as their deaths were being investigated. But Jarossi does his best – sometimes with only scattered fragments of information to go on – to make them real and not just grainy photos on a police investigation room wall.

Of course, he doesn’t solve the case, but he sets up some interesting theories and dismisses some other theories, and – without a doubt – gives the best oversight to this strangely forgotten case there’s ever been.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the Whitechapel Murders committed by Jack The Ripper in 1888 are still well known today a series of killings in London in the 1960s seem largely forgotten. A serial killer known as the Nude Killer (AKA Jack The Stripper) murdered seven (possibly eight) prostitutes, but was never caught.
Robin Jarossi's book is a straightforward, yet detailed, account of the killings. He sets the murders in context with events happening at the time & what lifts Jarossi's work above many other true crime books is his genuine sympathy for the women killed, & his respect for them as human beings rather than just victims.
Without the aid of modern technology the task of catching a killer in the 1960s was extremely time consuming & labour intensive. This, combined with the way investigations were carried out then, meant that despite the huge dedication to capturing him the Nude Killer was never caught.
Jarossi's outstanding research enables him to dismiss many suspects as being the killer. However, his conclusions regarding why the killer escaped (& his probable occupation) seem more than plausible to me. If you have any interest in reading true crime stories then I can highly recommend this excellent piece of work.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

From 1964 until 1965, In the Queensway and Shepherds Bush areas, someone is stalking and killing prostitutes, meticulously murdering and dumping them in the early hours, naked and strangled in the dark streets.

Seven, possibly eight, girls were murdered; more than Jack the Ripper seventy-seven years before. His crime spree sparked the biggest manhunt in history. With little evidence, no witnesses and a lack of empathy for the victims the case becomes cold and the mystery continues to this day.

The book is right up my street. I had not heard about these crimes before and was very interested in reading about them. The book meticulously goes through each crime, each victim and each investigation, making it easy to follow the time line. The story is told with compassion for the victims and does not cross the line of thrill seeking. The author has quite obviously researched this crime well and taken the time to tell this very sad story.

The book is well written and edited and a pleasure to read. There were no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes that I noticed which made a lovely change and made it a pleasure to read.

I look forward to the next book by this author; hopefully, another true crime as he seems to have a talent for this genre.

Isis

Breakaway Reviewers were given a copy of the book to review.

[Ant Koplowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and very well written account of the largely unforgotten London 'Nudes Murders' that took place during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Robin Jarossi has produced a detailed and very readable account of this series of murders. I must admit, I had never heard of these cases or of this suspected serial killer, despite the extensive media coverage (much of it highly febrile) at the time. This story seems to have faded into almost obscurity, most likely due to the underlying prejudice against the killer's victims; working class prostitutes. This was a similar fate as befell the Yorkshire Ripper's victims nearly 15 years later.

Jarossi writes in an engaging and thoughtful way and he brings alive the social milieu of the time. The book is very even-handed, neither overly critical or excessively flattering to the police, with the victims and their lives taking centre stage wherever possible. The police worked seriously hard in trying to identify the murderer, but organisational and the investigative limitations of the time were against them. Luck wasn't on their side in this manhunt and after the killings stopped in 1965, the perpetrator got away with it.

All aspects of the case are covered, although there is probably slightly too much speculation and supposition towards the end. But that's a minor quibble about an intelligent and thought-provoking account of one of London's most gruesome series of murders.

© Koplowitz 2020

[Dai Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am old enough to remember these murders at the time they were occurring and found this, well researched and very detailed, book interesting (although hesitant to use any word that might offend anyone connected with the victims). It is amazing that these murders are now almost completely forgotten when we still talk about the much earlier Jack the Ripper crimes (especially as there were less victims with the latter). A well written book which supplies a great deal of background information (as well as theories as to who the murderer may have been.
I am grateful to have received this book as a 'Giveaway'

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a good intense read and I am so shocked at how the victims didn't have any sympathy given towards them as well as justice just because they we're seen as dirty!

This is such an interesting detailed read and enjoyed the conclusions and opinions of other detectives on the investigation

It just shows how much the police have evolved since these times and the technology used today would have caught the murderer before he could even murder any more.

Very good book to read if interested in crime just a shame it's unsolved

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book about a series of prostitute murders in England during the mid 1960's. Most of the book covers the murders and investigations to find the killer. Women left nude and strangled in different parts of the city. Hence, the Nude Murders. I enjoyed this part of the book quite a bit. The last couple chapters talks more on modern attempts to figure out what went wrong with the investigation and to discuss some of the suspects. Not bad reading but not as interesting to me. Still overall a good book and I enjoyed it.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would have been 5 stars only it was very repetitive in the middle. It talks about the victims, the crime scenes, the missing pieces as well as theories that the police have. It also discusses how modern investigators would probably have solved this crime due to lack of technology at the time. Very interesting read

[Lord Bathcanoe of Snark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of a series of unsolved murders which shadowed the crimes of Jack the Ripper and gives an insight into what was to come with the likes of Peter Sutcliffe.
Robin Jarossi paints a picture of the sixties that were not so swinging. It's a well researched, insightful and gripping book; a winner for fans of true crime.

[John Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an unsolved crime it will always be difficult to match other true crime books which can detail how the perpetrator was brought to justice. That said this was a well written and well researched book

[Colin Oaten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating study of a the prostitute murders committed in 60's London ,largely in and around the Hammersmith and Notting Hill areas, largely overlooked and forgotten in modern times by a serial killer who was never caught.

[Anne Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting.

A well written, thorough account of what is for most a long-forgotten murder case from the 1960s, which remains unsolved.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read about a serial killer who targeted prostitutes in the 1960s but was never caught.

[Charlotte Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. I'd not heard of this case before reading the book and found it fascinating, it was a book that I didn't want to put down.

[Nicola Beedall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read, gave lots of insights into the hunt for the killer, how they went about trying to catch him, and the frustrations of missing out on some clues.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good account of a largely forgotten killing spree in the 60's. As always, when the killer remains undiscovered, there feels an inevitable sense of something missing.

[Ernie McCracken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious.

[Doghouse Gav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Factual

Good factual read that looks into the murder of 7 women and examines what went wrong with the investigation and why the murderer was never caught.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a voice to the women much malign ed by the era an earlier version of what was to happen in the seventies with the Yorkshire ripper case.

[Jack Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the unsuccessful hunt for a now almost forgotten mass murderer of the 1960s. Forgotten, no doubt, because no one was ever caught let alone hanged for the murders.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's readable but it's not great.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this book felt like one big stream of consciousness which meant that it could probably be cut by a third when you take out the numerous times the author repeated themselves, including quoting a quote they'd only just quoted in the previous chapter. That was a nod to a sentence in which the author uses two variations of "frustrate" very close together instead of possibly picking up a thesaurus.

End note: this guy has such a boner for the killer John Christie I wish I had known beforehand and set myself up a drinking game to play whilst reading this. If I'd drank every single time Christie (and later, Peter Sutcliffe) was mentioned I'd not only be drunk and happy, I wouldn't have been quite so bored.

[David Ellery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scattering of glitches and errors in the prose, a little repetition, and it does get mildly bogged down in the last third, but overall a well-written, engrossing and empathetic account of the Hammersmith Nude Murders of the mid sixties. It strikes a very good balance between frankness and restraint, and I especially applaud the author's focus on the victims, something you don't see anywhere near often enough. Definitely recommended for those with an interest in real-life crime.

A reread has highlighted just how much this bogs down toward the end, especially in the last couple of chapters, labouring the same details over and over again, and all in the service of an underwhelming conclusion that doesn't really warrant the melodramatic cover taglines. A couple more errors noted, including an apparent garbling of data, and one rather questionable turn of phrase. A mostly strong book held back by niggling flaws.