Not complete, but good.
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Donald Rumbelow has an excellent writing style and this is an easy to read and understand book. In particular, he does a great job of helping the reader understand the conditions in London's east end during this time of the old city's history. He also gives the reader a complete understanding of the limitations faced by police in the late 1800's. If no one saw the killer commit the crime, it was almost impossible to make an arrest. This is a fairly short book as compared to other ripper books but there is a wealth of information. This would be an excellent book for someone just getting interested in the ripper for it is more of an introduction to the case than anything else. Rumbelow never really makes any attempt to solve the case. Instead he spends a lot of time showing the faults in other ripper writer's theroies. I think it was Sherlock Holmes who said that if you get rid of all the things that were impossible, what was left was the answer, no matter how improbable. I think that may be what Rumbelow is up to. Truth be known, the section I enjoyed most was the chapter called "Beyond the Grave", which deals with ripper like killers who followed Jack. The Yorkshire and Dusseldorf rippers and Jack the Stripper for example. Their cases are not only highly interesting but also prove that the shadow of Jack the Ripper will be hanging over us for a long time.
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an excellent review by a Scotland Yard Detective
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Donald Rumbelow, as a Scotland Yard Detective, provides a grim, realistic study of the Ripper Case, even down to studying such vague connections as Ellery Queen fictional work concerning it.
He was permitted access to records that are still sealed, and was shocked to find how little of the records survived. He was also able to put back the death bed picture of Mary Kelly.
The only fault I find is in his analysis of the suspects. He seemed to rigid and not willing to look into this with any real depth. Overall, a must for any ripperologist!!
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A suitably gruesome read
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I have read some books on the Ripper before, but enjoyed this one the most. Rumbelow writes well and incorporates all the most interesting theories and facts along with some great photographs. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through.
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Great start fro any ripperologists
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Donald Rumbelow is on of the UKs leading Ripper experts and this book, revised comprehensively over the years contains just about all of the known research, evidence and theories regarding the Whitechapel Murders. He's also a really nice guy who leads the excellent Ripper Walk here in London. No Jack collection is complete without this.
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