The Complete Jack the Ripper [Paperback]

Donald Rumbelow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2009

Discover the theories and facts surrounding the Whitechapel murders in David Rumbelow's "The Complete Jack the Ripper"...It is 1888 in London's Whitechapel district, where one by one a group of prostitutes are brutally murdered. Opium smoking Inspector Fred Abberline is called upon to investigate these horrific murders and through his visions track down and trap Jack the Ripper. David Rumbelow's casebook sets the crimes firmly in their historical setting, examines the evidence comprehensively and scrupulously, disposes of a number of theories and legends and relates the murder to popular literature and to later similar sex crimes. In addition he has had the advantage of access to some of Scotland Yard's most confidential papers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donald Rumbelow lectures on crime and London history and is a former chairman of the Crime Writers Association. He is a London Tourist Board Blue Badge Guide. He is married and has two children. Among his interests are travel, theatre, collecting books and the English Civil War.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books, Limited (UK) (April 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140173951
• ISBN-13: 978-0140173956
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating account of the Whitechapel crimes of 1888., September 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Jack the Ripper (Hardcover)

Mr Rumbelow's book is probably the most entertaining and well-written book available on the Whitechapel crimes yet produced. Although first published in 1975 it still seems fresher than most works on the subject today. Mr Rumbelow recounts many unknown about the Whitechapel/East End area at the time of the murders. Strange and interesting facts such as the local confectioner's of the time selling 'Leather Apron' toffee abound in this volume and makes for a very entertaining read. Mr Rumbelow himself is a police officer of 27 years experience and brings this knowledge to the fore in his examination of the slayings. A natural writer, he keeps the book pacy and fresh, having written previous works on police history/true crime. This book is most recommended, it was revised and reprinted in 1988 by Penguin Publishing and is invaluable to anyone studying the crimes of 'Jack the Ripper'. His examination of the suspects is exemplary and brings human feeling and warmth to the victims of the murderer, something which mo

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gritty & Realistic Study of the Ripper Murders, December 15, 2001

By 

Nancy A. Fox (West Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Jack the Ripper (Paperback)

Donald Rumbelow is a former police office. As such, he writes from a logical, investigative stand-point. He does not glorify, conspiricize or add to the bizarre aura surrounding these crimes.

Mr. Rumbelow begins and ends with the facts of the case. He gives a terrific background to conditions in Whitechapel in the 1880s, very important to understanding the crimes. He has gone through police files to pull out the actual records and facts recorded at the time of the records, and he goes through the main suspects and gives the pros and cons of each suspect.

Donald Rumbelow also tries to put to rest some of the conspiracies that surround the case (eg. it was not unusual for the police to destroy records as they were not routinely saved until well into the 20th century). Mr. Rumbelow also puts into perspective forensic science at the time of these murders, for example finger print evidence was only admitted into legal proceedings and became common place 20 years later. All of this helps us understand some of the reasons that Jack the Ripper was never caught (at least as the Ripper) and why he has not been definitely identified over 100 years later.

The book is a bit out of date, however it still has a lot of good information - especially concerning the realities of police work and conditions in the East End in the 1880s. I would strongly recommend this book as a good starting place for anyone interested in reading about the Ripper killings. However be forewarned, these are brutal murders described fairly graphically with some photos of the victims. If you are very squeemish, this isn't the book for you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best on the subject, October 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Jack the Ripper (Paperback)

In all the silliness that has been published about the Ripper killings, this is one of the half-dozen or so books that top the pile. It was the first thorough and truly unbiased attempt to deal with the case in a clear-headed investigative manner. It also inspired much of the research that has led to new and enlightening discoveries in the 25 years since it was first published. Other reader reviews that criticize Rumbelow forget that some of what is now publicly known was not available in 1975. The Sugden book is more up to date, but for many years this was the be-all and end-all book for Ripperologists. It is still worth reading, especially for dedicated students of the subject. The opening section on the horrors of life in Victorian Whiechapel is still a remarkable bit of writing, and the approach to the evidence is clear and extremely well-organized.