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Knife's Tell
In 1888 one of the most notorious serial killers in history plagued London’s East Side.
Knife’s Tell is not about those murders, but the life behind them. What would cause a normal person to slay in such a horrific way?
Daniel Dark has explored an alternative tale of a doctor lost in reality trying to correct his past. With the help of his personal servant, he searches the Chapel for answers about his connection to the man with the knife.
Where did he come from? And how is the doctor part of his plans for escaping the police at every turn?
Read Knife’s Tell to learn the story behind the blade that killed London.
Knife’s Tell is not about those murders, but the life behind them. What would cause a normal person to slay in such a horrific way?
Daniel Dark has explored an alternative tale of a doctor lost in reality trying to correct his past. With the help of his personal servant, he searches the Chapel for answers about his connection to the man with the knife.
Where did he come from? And how is the doctor part of his plans for escaping the police at every turn?
Read Knife’s Tell to learn the story behind the blade that killed London.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2017
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Dark
9 books34 followersDaniel Dark, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, grew up with homicide every day. Having a homicide detective as a father, he was able to learn about those that were brought to justice, and the ones that were not.
Spending many hours in Central police headquarters and in his grandfathers hematology lab gave Daniel an unusual childhood and a love for science. Along with this, his great uncle owned the oldest book store in Nashville. His parents took him there regularly, where developed a love of reading and found out about history.
Daniel went on to become an Electrical Engineer and Industrial Maintenance Manager till NAFTA took away his job. A year later he went to culinary school and studied Victorian cooking, after which he opened a Victorian-style restaurant.
He became a heart and stroke survivor at fifty years old, where he used writing to rehabilitate his brain. The first book written by Daniel was on Victorian Catsup, which had over two hundred catsup recipes in it from the late 1700’s to 1910, with over sixty different flavors. Daniel used the book to start his 1876 Catsup company as Mr Catsup.
Knife’s Tell represents his debut novel as an author.
Spending many hours in Central police headquarters and in his grandfathers hematology lab gave Daniel an unusual childhood and a love for science. Along with this, his great uncle owned the oldest book store in Nashville. His parents took him there regularly, where developed a love of reading and found out about history.
Daniel went on to become an Electrical Engineer and Industrial Maintenance Manager till NAFTA took away his job. A year later he went to culinary school and studied Victorian cooking, after which he opened a Victorian-style restaurant.
He became a heart and stroke survivor at fifty years old, where he used writing to rehabilitate his brain. The first book written by Daniel was on Victorian Catsup, which had over two hundred catsup recipes in it from the late 1700’s to 1910, with over sixty different flavors. Daniel used the book to start his 1876 Catsup company as Mr Catsup.
Knife’s Tell represents his debut novel as an author.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 11, 2020
When an author tackles as well-known and morbidly fascinating a subject as Jack the Ripper, they face the daunting task of covering very familiar territory in a compelling and unique way.
In Knife’s Tell, author Daniel Dark, who is steeped in Victorian-era culture and cuisine, does exactly that, exploring the intriguing question of the psychological motivations that propel a successful London doctor into murderous madness.
Dark’s story takes place before the infamous string of unsolved murders of women started in April 1888, before Jack the Ripper earned his name by targeting and mutilating prostitutes in the Whitechapel district of London’s impoverished and crime-infested East End.
The good doctor, who specializes in treating women, is snobbish and domineering. He craves control, is at ease in the clubby environs of the upper class and is a drug addict in an era where narcotics in tonics and patent medicines were a commonplace.
He is also inexorably drawn to the dangers and fleshly corruption of crime-infested Whitechapel, its streetwalkers and back-alley bawds, its pinch purses, brutish robbers and casual murderers.
With a blade in his cane, he deliberately poses as an easy mark, a well-off pigeon slumming and ripe for the taking. When they start to strike, he’s faster and deadlier. With every foray, he draws ever closer to becoming the shadowy man with the knife who haunts his dreams while also penetrating the hidden network of criminals who rule Whitechapel.
In marked contrast to his secret life, the doctor also serves as a forensics expert and medical examiner to police whose investigations include some of his victims. With the discipline of a mad genius, he is utterly compartmentalized, able to serve two masters -- the law and his inner demons.
Dark’s story is also redolent with psycho-sexual drama and explicit carnal gamesmanship and dominance between the doctor and four ravishing women. This is such a strong sub-plot that it could very well mark the beginnings of a new sub-genre -- horr-rotica. Not the first time this phrase has been used.
Ripper aficionados should welcome Knife’s Tell to the fold for its prequel approach and its exploration of the psychological motivations of their favorite serial killer before the spree that earned this still anonymous killer his nickname. It’s a well-told tale that even those who aren’t steeped in Ripperology can savor and enjoy.
In Knife’s Tell, author Daniel Dark, who is steeped in Victorian-era culture and cuisine, does exactly that, exploring the intriguing question of the psychological motivations that propel a successful London doctor into murderous madness.
Dark’s story takes place before the infamous string of unsolved murders of women started in April 1888, before Jack the Ripper earned his name by targeting and mutilating prostitutes in the Whitechapel district of London’s impoverished and crime-infested East End.
The good doctor, who specializes in treating women, is snobbish and domineering. He craves control, is at ease in the clubby environs of the upper class and is a drug addict in an era where narcotics in tonics and patent medicines were a commonplace.
He is also inexorably drawn to the dangers and fleshly corruption of crime-infested Whitechapel, its streetwalkers and back-alley bawds, its pinch purses, brutish robbers and casual murderers.
With a blade in his cane, he deliberately poses as an easy mark, a well-off pigeon slumming and ripe for the taking. When they start to strike, he’s faster and deadlier. With every foray, he draws ever closer to becoming the shadowy man with the knife who haunts his dreams while also penetrating the hidden network of criminals who rule Whitechapel.
In marked contrast to his secret life, the doctor also serves as a forensics expert and medical examiner to police whose investigations include some of his victims. With the discipline of a mad genius, he is utterly compartmentalized, able to serve two masters -- the law and his inner demons.
Dark’s story is also redolent with psycho-sexual drama and explicit carnal gamesmanship and dominance between the doctor and four ravishing women. This is such a strong sub-plot that it could very well mark the beginnings of a new sub-genre -- horr-rotica. Not the first time this phrase has been used.
Ripper aficionados should welcome Knife’s Tell to the fold for its prequel approach and its exploration of the psychological motivations of their favorite serial killer before the spree that earned this still anonymous killer his nickname. It’s a well-told tale that even those who aren’t steeped in Ripperology can savor and enjoy.
October 18, 2018
I've read many Ripper books, both fiction and non-fiction regarding Jack the Ripper. With Daniel's Knife's Tell a unique perspective has been taken and people that are familiar with the case, or even just the period, will enjoy this telling of the infamous Autumn in Whitechapel. While the majority of Ripper stories take place during the murders, this is set before that. You could actually say that this is a prequel.
Daniel's knowledge of the period is obvious and his level of detail is brilliant. It truly puts you in the Victorian era. His examination of the mind and it's descent towards madness is compelling. We learn about a man who wasn't always The Ripper but his lifestyle and appetites contribute to him becoming the man with the knife. I have told Daniel that his book should be read in school as I think it makes for a fascinating case study of human character.
An added bonus is the recipes that are of the dishes/meals that are mentioned during the book. As an expert in Victorian cuisine it's right in Daniel's wheelhouse. The book is stark and very confronting in parts, which was fine with me. I wonder if those events were also in Daniel's wheelhouse.
Can't wait for the next installment and therefore the next perspective.
Daniel's knowledge of the period is obvious and his level of detail is brilliant. It truly puts you in the Victorian era. His examination of the mind and it's descent towards madness is compelling. We learn about a man who wasn't always The Ripper but his lifestyle and appetites contribute to him becoming the man with the knife. I have told Daniel that his book should be read in school as I think it makes for a fascinating case study of human character.
An added bonus is the recipes that are of the dishes/meals that are mentioned during the book. As an expert in Victorian cuisine it's right in Daniel's wheelhouse. The book is stark and very confronting in parts, which was fine with me. I wonder if those events were also in Daniel's wheelhouse.
Can't wait for the next installment and therefore the next perspective.
February 23, 2019
Most people know about the autumn of Terror in Victorian London 1888 where a killer who became know to the world as Jack the ripper killed five prostitutes in a gruesome manner.
This book is interesting fictional account of the months leading up to these murder. Daniel Darks character is a pillar of society, a doctor, forensics expert and medical examiner to police but the reality is, he is a sick , twisted , controlling , drug addicted killer. I don't want to go into the storyline any more than I have already because this will spoil of discovering of the doctor's dastardly deeds for for yourself.
Dark has done a wonderful job of getting inside the mind of a killer and with reproducing Victorian London for its readers. A highly recommended read and in my opinion deserves it places amongst by Jack the ripper book collection.
This book is interesting fictional account of the months leading up to these murder. Daniel Darks character is a pillar of society, a doctor, forensics expert and medical examiner to police but the reality is, he is a sick , twisted , controlling , drug addicted killer. I don't want to go into the storyline any more than I have already because this will spoil of discovering of the doctor's dastardly deeds for for yourself.
Dark has done a wonderful job of getting inside the mind of a killer and with reproducing Victorian London for its readers. A highly recommended read and in my opinion deserves it places amongst by Jack the ripper book collection.
March 7, 2018
This one is not for the faint of heart nor timid. Mr. Dark takes you on a titillating ride in a carriage through the 1800's streets of London through the eyes of the ole devil himself's blade , Jack the Ripper. Dark weaves a tale of lust mixed with intrigue and horror like you have never experienced before. You do not have to be a Ripper fan to enjoy this book. I recommend this read if you enjoy a cross genre horror with a twist. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews