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On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed
“An outstanding analysis of Peter Sutcliffe, his crimes, his victims and the reasons for the failure of the police investigation.” —North Yorks Enquirer Peter Sutcliffe, The Yorkshire Ripper, remains the most infamous serial killer in British criminal history. His reign of terror saw 13 women brutally murdered and the largest criminal manhunt in British history. Just like Jack the Ripper, his Victorian counterpart of 1888, he remains a killer of almost mythical proportions, yet the locations and circumstances surrounding his foul deeds remain a subject of confusion to this day . . . until now. Using ground breaking new research together with the original police reports, newspaper descriptions and eye witness testimony, we can finally present the truth about what actually happened. For the first time in over four decades we re-examine the crime scenes and deliver the real story of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. “An extremely detailed, very comprehensive, and at just over 200 pages, not daunting to read, next important addition to any student of true crime’s library.” —The True Crime Enthusiast
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 29, 2019
Over the years, I have read a few books about the Yorkshire Ripper case and they all have different things to offer in terms of viewpoint or focus. This is a fairly straightforward re-telling of events, which looks at the mistakes the investigation made and how, had things been done differently, then the case should have been closed much more quickly. Of course, hindsight is a good thing, but certainly there were errors that were made and links that were not. The ‘stone in the sock,’ incident and the fact that Peter Sutcliffe was found hiding behind a hedge, with a hammer, were indications that should have tied in with later crimes, but the connections were not made. However, a card index is not a computer programme, and, linked to the beliefs of some police that the killer was concentrating on prostitutes, meaning they did not tie in an earlier attack on a schoolgirl (who had created an excellent photofit of her attacker), also meant there were failures in the case.
Although there is a brief biography of Sutcliffe, this did not have the depth of “Somebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son,” by Gordon Burn, for example. This is a fairly short book, which concentrates on key events and does a good job of presenting the evidence clearly and concisely. If you were reading a first book on these crimes, this will give you a good overview. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGally, for review.
Although there is a brief biography of Sutcliffe, this did not have the depth of “Somebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son,” by Gordon Burn, for example. This is a fairly short book, which concentrates on key events and does a good job of presenting the evidence clearly and concisely. If you were reading a first book on these crimes, this will give you a good overview. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGally, for review.
November 23, 2019
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Review to be added to Amazon US on 2nd February 2020!
I thought that this book, On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed was excellent, it was a completely additive read and I flew through the pages.
I love reading books on true crime and this was a very detailed book that covered the horrific murders and attacks of the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe.
I read the book spread over a few evenings and I have to say that the book was superb. The writing style was perfect and I really enjoyed the length of the chapters and how the book had been set out.
It was full of detail and the author really brought what happened to life, it was horrific and I can’t even image what it would have been like to have been around at that time (his reign of terror was before I was born), no-one was safe on the streets as his attacks and murders towards the end of his campaign showed. These attacks are tragic and harrowing.
It is 5 stars from me for this book – very highly recommended!!
Review to be added to Amazon US on 2nd February 2020!
I thought that this book, On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed was excellent, it was a completely additive read and I flew through the pages.
I love reading books on true crime and this was a very detailed book that covered the horrific murders and attacks of the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe.
I read the book spread over a few evenings and I have to say that the book was superb. The writing style was perfect and I really enjoyed the length of the chapters and how the book had been set out.
It was full of detail and the author really brought what happened to life, it was horrific and I can’t even image what it would have been like to have been around at that time (his reign of terror was before I was born), no-one was safe on the streets as his attacks and murders towards the end of his campaign showed. These attacks are tragic and harrowing.
It is 5 stars from me for this book – very highly recommended!!
May 30, 2025
I was prompted to seek out an account of the crimes of Peter William Sutcliffe, dubbed by the press "The Yorkshire Ripper", after reading Jennie Godfrey's excellent fiction title The List of Suspicious Things, which is set in Yorkshire during the time of the murders.
On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed provides a précis of each of Sutcliffe's known crimes, including the murders of thirteen women and non-fatal attacks on several others, and an account of his arrest on 2 January 1981 and subsequent trial. Author Richard Charles Cobb speculates on a couple of intriguing points that have never been explained, and describes how each of the crime scenes appears in the present day (the book was published in 2019).
Sutcliffe died in prison from Covid-19 in 2020. However, his series of crimes between 1975 and 1980 still haunt many who lived and worked in Yorkshire and Lancashire at the time.
On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed provides a précis of each of Sutcliffe's known crimes, including the murders of thirteen women and non-fatal attacks on several others, and an account of his arrest on 2 January 1981 and subsequent trial. Author Richard Charles Cobb speculates on a couple of intriguing points that have never been explained, and describes how each of the crime scenes appears in the present day (the book was published in 2019).
Sutcliffe died in prison from Covid-19 in 2020. However, his series of crimes between 1975 and 1980 still haunt many who lived and worked in Yorkshire and Lancashire at the time.
November 6, 2021
3.75 stars rounded up to 4
August 31, 2019
On the trail of the Yorkshire Ripper covers the murder of 13 women and the attack on several others in and around the Leeds/Bradford area of England in the seventies to early eighties. It gives an insight into the police work at that time and terrible frustration they must have felt before the age of computers to compile hundreds of thousands of pieces of information. They had no real way to cross check little bits of info so things got missed in a case of this magnitude. The book does a great job of pointing this out and the author offers his opinion on a number of issues. Good book - recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 4, 2021
**A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review**
Wilma McCann
Emily Jackson
Irene Richardson
Patricia Atkinson
Jayne McDonald
Maureen Long
Jean Jordan
Yvonne Pearson
Helen Rytka
Vera Milward
Josephine Whitaker
Barbera Leach
Margeurite Walls
Jacqueline Hill
These women are the known victims of Peter Sutcliffe aka The Yorkshire Ripper. It is likely that there are many more names to be added to this list. These women are all to often unremembered. They are the 'victims of The Yorkshire Ripper' but they were also people, mothers, wives and daughters. Women whose only crime was being out after dark. Women who suffered the most depraved and violent acts and whose memory was trampled on by Yorkshire Police and The National Press who just didn't care.
This book does a good job at telling their story. It is written in chronological order from Wilma McCann to Jacqueline Hill. The author spends more time telling the reader who these women were and less time on 'him'. The crimes, the horror of them and the bungled response from the authorities are not shied away from. This book is frightening, infuriating and desperately sad but it never veers into the untasteful. It is sympathetic to these women and not fascinated with the man who took them.
The book claims that it reveals Sutcliffe 'final secrets' but there was nothing in here I didn't already know about the man but plenty I didn't know about his victims which is to this books credit but also a terribly sad reflection of the way we immortalise the villain whilst ignoring their victims.
It has been 46 years since Sutcliffe murdered Wilma McCann and sadly not much has changed. Women are still chastised for being out after dark, still judged on who they are and what they wear. We are still a society that teaches women how not to get murdered whilst teaching boys to go and sow wild oats and when it gets out of hand defending them with the tiresome 'boys will be boys' narrative. When a woman goes missing and is killed (as sadly happened to Sarah Everard just weeks ago) the first questions are 'why was she out so late?' and 'what did she do?' The language and judgement highlighted in this book are still the same today. I found reading this to be a sad dose of reality. Although this happened all these years ago it could have been just yesterday. A frightening thought indeed.
Wilma McCann
Emily Jackson
Irene Richardson
Patricia Atkinson
Jayne McDonald
Maureen Long
Jean Jordan
Yvonne Pearson
Helen Rytka
Vera Milward
Josephine Whitaker
Barbera Leach
Margeurite Walls
Jacqueline Hill
These women are the known victims of Peter Sutcliffe aka The Yorkshire Ripper. It is likely that there are many more names to be added to this list. These women are all to often unremembered. They are the 'victims of The Yorkshire Ripper' but they were also people, mothers, wives and daughters. Women whose only crime was being out after dark. Women who suffered the most depraved and violent acts and whose memory was trampled on by Yorkshire Police and The National Press who just didn't care.
This book does a good job at telling their story. It is written in chronological order from Wilma McCann to Jacqueline Hill. The author spends more time telling the reader who these women were and less time on 'him'. The crimes, the horror of them and the bungled response from the authorities are not shied away from. This book is frightening, infuriating and desperately sad but it never veers into the untasteful. It is sympathetic to these women and not fascinated with the man who took them.
The book claims that it reveals Sutcliffe 'final secrets' but there was nothing in here I didn't already know about the man but plenty I didn't know about his victims which is to this books credit but also a terribly sad reflection of the way we immortalise the villain whilst ignoring their victims.
It has been 46 years since Sutcliffe murdered Wilma McCann and sadly not much has changed. Women are still chastised for being out after dark, still judged on who they are and what they wear. We are still a society that teaches women how not to get murdered whilst teaching boys to go and sow wild oats and when it gets out of hand defending them with the tiresome 'boys will be boys' narrative. When a woman goes missing and is killed (as sadly happened to Sarah Everard just weeks ago) the first questions are 'why was she out so late?' and 'what did she do?' The language and judgement highlighted in this book are still the same today. I found reading this to be a sad dose of reality. Although this happened all these years ago it could have been just yesterday. A frightening thought indeed.
March 7, 2022
An interesting and objective examination of Sutcliffe's reign of terror, documenting the lucky escapes and false leads which allowed the Yorkshire Ripper to prolong his murder spree.
August 22, 2019
The Yorkshire Ripper murdered 13 women and attacked a number of others before he was caught and locked away. There were missed opportunities and misdirections within the search.
The book covers the trail of Peter Sutcliffe's attacks in chronological order, in addition to the attacks the book covers the police work. The book is very well researched piecing together a lot of information from a number of different sources giving a full picture.
Sadly at the time, the police missed a lot of facts - perhaps if forensics were more advanced at the time it would have been solved quickly - resulting in missed opportunities to save lives, these are all highlighted throughout the book.
Normally I wouldn't enjoy books that aren't from survivors or have a direct relation to the event however this was so well researched. I wasn't alive at the time but I as I live in the area it is something I have heard about growing up but not something I have read about before.
My two only minor criticisms are some of the languages could be better chosen as we move forward. The author has clearly visited each site while researching the book however, I don't think it was needed to name the businesses, it might have been better to say 'a car garage' rather than a specific business name.
Overall it was a good read and is very well written, one I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the cases. I look forward to reading future books from the author should he cover other UK cases.
The book covers the trail of Peter Sutcliffe's attacks in chronological order, in addition to the attacks the book covers the police work. The book is very well researched piecing together a lot of information from a number of different sources giving a full picture.
Sadly at the time, the police missed a lot of facts - perhaps if forensics were more advanced at the time it would have been solved quickly - resulting in missed opportunities to save lives, these are all highlighted throughout the book.
Normally I wouldn't enjoy books that aren't from survivors or have a direct relation to the event however this was so well researched. I wasn't alive at the time but I as I live in the area it is something I have heard about growing up but not something I have read about before.
My two only minor criticisms are some of the languages could be better chosen as we move forward. The author has clearly visited each site while researching the book however, I don't think it was needed to name the businesses, it might have been better to say 'a car garage' rather than a specific business name.
Overall it was a good read and is very well written, one I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the cases. I look forward to reading future books from the author should he cover other UK cases.
July 28, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When the Yorkshire Ripper was on the loose I was a young child living in the North West of England. This case fascinated me especially knowing how frightened women were and I desperately wanted him to get caught. Being young and impressionable I thought that the police would catch him quickly and lock him up in prison forever, that obviously didn’t happen. Throughout the years I have watched countless documentaries and read books and news articles about this case, and I have to say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read on the subject. I have gained lots of new information when I thought I knew everything there was to know.
The book is written in a straightforward way and so is easy to read. The author is very respectful to all of the victims whether still alive or dead. Throughout the book we also get to know from Peter Sutcliffe’s POV what happened with each victim. The thing that manages to make me angry every time I read or watch anything about this case is the amount of mistakes the police made. Throughout this book I became aware of other mistakes they made that were new to me.
Whether you think that you know all there is to know about this case or just know the basics I highly recommend this book.
When the Yorkshire Ripper was on the loose I was a young child living in the North West of England. This case fascinated me especially knowing how frightened women were and I desperately wanted him to get caught. Being young and impressionable I thought that the police would catch him quickly and lock him up in prison forever, that obviously didn’t happen. Throughout the years I have watched countless documentaries and read books and news articles about this case, and I have to say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read on the subject. I have gained lots of new information when I thought I knew everything there was to know.
The book is written in a straightforward way and so is easy to read. The author is very respectful to all of the victims whether still alive or dead. Throughout the book we also get to know from Peter Sutcliffe’s POV what happened with each victim. The thing that manages to make me angry every time I read or watch anything about this case is the amount of mistakes the police made. Throughout this book I became aware of other mistakes they made that were new to me.
Whether you think that you know all there is to know about this case or just know the basics I highly recommend this book.
October 29, 2019
Not a bad account of the Yorkshire Ripper killings but far from a definitive look at the man and his crimes. At just over 200 pages, it provides a concise description of his 13 murders and attempted murders. Does this book reveal new information as the author claims ? I can’t see it myself; there doesn’t appear to be much, if anything, new. Is the author considering setting up a tourist trail of the locations of the Ripper killings as he provides current photographs, diagrams and descriptions of the murder sites - a strange preoccupation with the then and now site details! Unfortunately, proofreading leaves a lot to be desired - ‘were’ instead of ‘where’ amongst the few examples. Also, does Manchester really have a population of 20 million !? Despite these silly errors, if you want a concise chronological book about the murders, then this does the job. In my list of favourite/best true crime books, is another (better) book about the Yorkshire Ripper, this author actually mentions it in this book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
October 18, 2019
This is a very interesting but very scary book. Peter Sutcliffe, The Yorkshire Ripper, remains the most infamous serial killer in British criminal history. This book takes another look at the crime scenes and gives us the real story of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. The truth can now be told with the use of DNA, police reports, newspaper accounts and eye witness testimony. In the past a lot of the information was not clear and now the confusion has been set straight. I thoroughly enjoyed Cobb's book and found it very informative. It follows the timeline of the killings and shows us the ruthlessness of Peter Sutcliffe. We learn how and where he was captured, a peek at his trial and what has since happened to him. I would highly recommend this book to those who are a follower of true crime. I would like to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword Publishers for a copy of this book for an honest review.
August 23, 2019
On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper was an excellent book.
It is well written, researched and is easy to read. The Author is mindful of the fact that some victims are still thankfully alive. It follows the attacks in a chronological order. Explaining what happened at each attack and giving directions as to where you would find each site now, hence being on the trail.
It explains how the police failed in charging Peter Sutcliffe much sooner due to many factors. (Sadly lots being Police error.)
An excellent book and one which I would go back to again. I enjoyed the Authors writing style and would read other books by him as well.
Thanks to Netgally and Pen and Sword True Crime for the ARC. The Review is my own opinion.
It is well written, researched and is easy to read. The Author is mindful of the fact that some victims are still thankfully alive. It follows the attacks in a chronological order. Explaining what happened at each attack and giving directions as to where you would find each site now, hence being on the trail.
It explains how the police failed in charging Peter Sutcliffe much sooner due to many factors. (Sadly lots being Police error.)
An excellent book and one which I would go back to again. I enjoyed the Authors writing style and would read other books by him as well.
Thanks to Netgally and Pen and Sword True Crime for the ARC. The Review is my own opinion.
October 9, 2019
This is a very interesting account of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. It is written with sensitivity and respect to all the victims and is well researched. The attacks by Peter Sutcliffe are detailed in chronological order and the book is easy to read. Police errors are well documented, as is each murder site. A great insight into police work at that time, without the benefit of forensics and computers. A very interesting and informative read. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
August 1, 2019
A interesting and informative book about the Yorkshire Ripper. A book that was respectful to the victims. Well written and easy to read.
January 6, 2022
Meticulously researched with particular detail of addresses and locations. A very worthy addition to Burns, Lee and Bilton.
October 22, 2024
What a vile creature Sutcliffe was. I remember the day vividly him getting arrested I was only 16 at the time mum wouldn't allow me out on a night while he was committing his crimes. While we lived a few miles from Leeds/Bradford but but still only maybe an hour's drive from Bradford on the M62 it's frightening to think that he could have come over to the area we live. But the mistakes that the West Yorkshire Police made is ridiculous they had all the clues they just had to connect all the dots together but never did it makes me wonder if he did do more murders than he confessed to and those 'leggings' why weren't they taken into account during the trial and if there was any other evidence not taken into account maybe that would have been enough to convict him on the attacks/murders that had the same resemblance but maybe we'll never know. But at least some of the victims families got some closure but it doesn't bring them back
January 5, 2024
Well researched and meticulous account of the Ripper case.
Some of the writing isn’t great but so what. There were facts here that I hadn’t read anywhere else.
Wanna know the list of pubs Wilma McCann went to on that fateful night? Wanna know the name of Sonia Sutcliffe’s sister’s husband? Sure you do! This is a great book for true crime geeks such as myself.
It’s great to see the then and now accounts/photos of the sites that played a major part in the case. I live in Chapeltown in Leeds and so this feels very pertinent to me.
Also, the detective work that Cobb undertook regarding the Marguerite Walls case and the account of Sutcliffe getting changed into his ‘leg warmers’ and being seen by people doing so are excellent and not reported anywhere before. Good work.
Some of the writing isn’t great but so what. There were facts here that I hadn’t read anywhere else.
Wanna know the list of pubs Wilma McCann went to on that fateful night? Wanna know the name of Sonia Sutcliffe’s sister’s husband? Sure you do! This is a great book for true crime geeks such as myself.
It’s great to see the then and now accounts/photos of the sites that played a major part in the case. I live in Chapeltown in Leeds and so this feels very pertinent to me.
Also, the detective work that Cobb undertook regarding the Marguerite Walls case and the account of Sutcliffe getting changed into his ‘leg warmers’ and being seen by people doing so are excellent and not reported anywhere before. Good work.
November 30, 2023
excellent
Informed and interesting without being vouyeristic. The police handled this very badly and, as a result, many more were murdered. That is a shocking reflection on the police yet nobody appears to have been held to account. Things don’t appear to have changed much either. It will be interesting if more information does become available in the coming years leaving more blood on certain individuals reputations.
Informed and interesting without being vouyeristic. The police handled this very badly and, as a result, many more were murdered. That is a shocking reflection on the police yet nobody appears to have been held to account. Things don’t appear to have changed much either. It will be interesting if more information does become available in the coming years leaving more blood on certain individuals reputations.
February 17, 2025
***Thanks to Netgalley for the E- Arc in exchange for an honest review.***
It is an interesting and informative book about the Yorkshire Ripper. In my opinion it got a little confusing because after the description of the murder and the place where it occurred it would jump to the present, and then it would jump back to the time of the crime. Other than that little part it was good and talked about the victims respectfully.
It is an interesting and informative book about the Yorkshire Ripper. In my opinion it got a little confusing because after the description of the murder and the place where it occurred it would jump to the present, and then it would jump back to the time of the crime. Other than that little part it was good and talked about the victims respectfully.
August 1, 2020
Good book
If only the book had been checked for typographical errors it would have been five stars. Having read a lot in the Yorkshire Ripper (I remember as a teenager my aunt ringing the number to listen to the tape. Frightening didn't cover that) I learned a lot more about those terrible events of my defining years.
If only the book had been checked for typographical errors it would have been five stars. Having read a lot in the Yorkshire Ripper (I remember as a teenager my aunt ringing the number to listen to the tape. Frightening didn't cover that) I learned a lot more about those terrible events of my defining years.
December 11, 2023
Well written - an insight into of each of the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper, including those who survived. I am old enough to remember the reign of terror. Frighteningly, the various oversights and dismissals of the West Yorkshire Police Force are well documented in the book. If you’ve any interest in true crimes, this is definitely worth a read.
June 14, 2020
Ripper
To short not enough detail never felt had me in its grip was looking for more from the book thanks anyway
To short not enough detail never felt had me in its grip was looking for more from the book thanks anyway
April 17, 2020
This book follows the story of the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, from his first non-fatal attacks on women, through to the murder of his first known victim, to his eventual capture and trial.
The book is well researched, and the author gives those involved alot of respect,something that has not been often done in the past. The book also looks at the mistakes the investigation made and how, had things could have been done differently being the case ultimate conclusion much more quickly.
There is a clear narrative throughout making it easy to read and understand.
Would I recommend it, yes definitely if you are interested Yorkshire ripper case and true crime in general.
The book is well researched, and the author gives those involved alot of respect,something that has not been often done in the past. The book also looks at the mistakes the investigation made and how, had things could have been done differently being the case ultimate conclusion much more quickly.
There is a clear narrative throughout making it easy to read and understand.
Would I recommend it, yes definitely if you are interested Yorkshire ripper case and true crime in general.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews