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Sorta Off Topic > Looking for a good read on "Jack the Ripper"

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message 1: by Dan (last edited Oct 21, 2014 08:21PM) (new)

Dan (dan2345) | 9 comments I'm very fascinated with the legend of Jack the Ripper. I believe his crimes had a signifigant influence on the horror genre. I'm looking for a good book on him. I know Patricia Cornwell's book is supposed to be pretty good, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks.


message 3: by Dan (new)

Dan (dan2345) | 9 comments Thanks, Holly :)


message 4: by Steve (new)

Steve O'rourke | 47 comments Anything with Donald Rumbelow's name on it is worthwhile.


message 5: by Quentin (new)

Quentin Wallace (quentinwallace) | 9 comments Dan I don't know if you ever read Graphic Novels, but From Hell by Alan Moore is like a definitive work on the Jack the Ripper murders. It's also very, very long lol.


message 6: by Quentin (new)

Quentin Wallace (quentinwallace) | 9 comments Randolph wrote: "Quentin wrote: "Dan I don't know if you ever read Graphic Novels, but From Hell by Alan Moore is like a definitive work on the Jack the Ripper murders. It's also very, very long lol."

I think [boo..."


I agree Randolph, I think Alan Moore solved the mystery, and he had the research to back it up.


message 7: by Canavan (new)

Canavan | 377 comments I never read Cornwell's book, but I seem to recall that it was widely criticized by serious scholars.


message 8: by Justin (new)

Justin (justinbienvenue) | 71 comments I see that this thread hasn't had any comments in almost two years. However I do have a few recommendations for some Jack the Ripper books.

The Mystery Behind Jack the Ripper--Serial Killer
Dark Streets of Whitechapel
Secret of Whitechapel

I myself have a short story on him on Wattpad called "Ripper" which dramatizes the one time he was almost caught. You can read it here at:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/1058281...


message 9: by [deleted user] (last edited Oct 24, 2016 03:57PM) (new)

Philip Sugden's The Complete History of Jack the Ripper is really really really good, thanks to Sugden's impeccable research and his delightfully snarky tone. Any Jack the Ripper book is concomitantly a history of the police and Sugden does not downplay that aspect. He also attempts to invest in the emotional lives of the victims and key players without projecting too much authorial fancy.

As a history of Jack the Ripper, it's as good as anything else. As a historiography of Ripperology, it's delicious. He rips apart all the major theories with zest and wit, including dear old Alan Moore's theory. Worth it just for his prose and snark.


message 10: by Justin (new)

Justin (justinbienvenue) | 71 comments Any new Jack the Ripper books?


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