Wonderful telling of a long overdue history of the Ripper victims.


Even though I didn't feel in the mood for non-fiction, after I read the first few pages of this I could see that I was going to be gripped by it. So excellently researched and hypothesised where there were no other options, Hallie Rubenhold managed to give us a story that was history and for the most part true. The parts where she filled in the blanks for us were well-argued and logical. 

Above all, The Five gives background where there was none and fills in the blanks through testimony and through social commentaries of the time. She successfully blows the myth on these five women being targetted because they were prostitutes and paints portraits of them as real living people who deserve their stories to be known. 

Taken simply as a work of fiction, this would have had me turning the pages and desperate for more. The fact that it was based mainly on historical fact made it all the more shocking and gave us a picture of 19th Century London that was grim and distasteful. I'm grateful to have a fully realised telling of the Ripper story where the classic viewpoints are thrown into doubt. 

If you think non-fiction is not for you, give this book a try and be prepared to have your prejudices overturned. This is a fine piece of writing.