Jack the Ripper: The Casebook [Hardcover]

Richard Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2009

Investigate one of the most compelling killers of all time! Jack the Ripper: The Casebook takes readers on a tour of Victorian London’s underworld where the slayings took place, from street corner taverns to unsavory lodging houses. One by one the murder victims are revealed, the circumstances of their killings investigated, and the suspects analyzed. What amateur sleuths will find most fascinating here are the many facsimiles of contemporary documents, including letters allegedly sent by Jack the Ripper to police and elsewhere, police reports, press articles, and personal correspondence. These facsimiles provide readers with access to all the available information so they, too, can try to unravel this century-old mystery.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Jones is an internationally renowned Jack the Ripper expert, and head guide on the widely acclaimed Jack the Ripper Walks. He has written 16 books, many of which have been published worldwide, and makes frequent television appearances.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Andre Deutsch (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 023300257X
• ISBN-13: 978-0233002576
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jack the Gimmick, November 12, 2009

By 

R. Howell "boriskhan" (Medford, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

The book gets two different ratings from me. First, the information - it's straight forward if not brief but covers more-or-less the basics of events and suspects - three stars. Second, the presentation - great pictures, great cover which actually closes shut with a magnetic overlay flap to hold it shut, and of course the gimmick itself, actually 'pullout' fantastic fascimiles of police reports and a number of the infamous Ripper letters - strong five stars. The presentation and appearances are really that good and a briliant marketing ploy. The writing is strong enough but the information is minimal, no topic gets more than two pages and the coffee-table-sized book is only 64 pages long. The author's refuting of the suspects was lacking and almost whimsical to me.

Overall - is it worth adding to your collection, oh absolutely just for the fascimiles. Is the $24 price worth it - that's up for debate. Basic information for beginners, great gimmick for arm-chair researchers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Addition to Any Ripper Library, September 13, 2010

By 

Douglas "The Dougster" (Bellport, NY) - See all my reviews

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

At a mere 64 pages, Jack the Ripper: The Casebook is not an exhaustive or definitive tome on the Whitechapel murders. What it is, however, is an attractive and informative overview of the crimes meant for leisurely perusal. The pull-out document replicas might seem a bit gimmicky to some, but they do actually enhance the mood and are well done. I wouldn't recommend this for someone seeking some great little-known insight to the mysteries surrounding Jack the Ripper, but it is a great coffee table book, and a wonderful introduction for the Ripper neophyte.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, High Quality Ripperology / review by Gene Stewart, May 27, 2010

By 

Gene Stewart "Gene Stewart" (Bellevue, NE United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

Richard Jones has put together a fascinating collection of pictures, information, and facsimiles. Included in this slender but beautifully published volume are reproductions of police reports and some of the more notorious Ripper letters. This is not a book for going into depth about each suspect, nor is it comprehensive in its survey of Victorian Whitechapel and the Ripper's milieu. It is, however, a lovely addition to any library of Ripperology and is sure to delight anyone interested in the armchair pursuit of Saucy Jack. The cover serves as an interesting box, with a magnetic flap that closes over what would be the open end of the book opposite the binding. The reproductions of the letters and reports, including a page from an 1888 broadside, are what make this a must-have for Ripper enthusiasts. I was very pleased with the quality of this and found the price reasonable; recommended. / Gene Stewart