Ripper Diary: The Inside Story

by Seth Linder, Seth Linder, Caroline Morris

Every bit as mysterious as the Whitechapel murders themselves, the "Ripper Diaries" have intrigued and infuriated both historical researchers and the "Ripperologists" since they first came to light in 1992. Either one of the most sensational finds of the 20th century or one of its most brilliant literary hoaxes, the diary of Jack the Ripper has created its own tangled and tortuous history. It is this history which Keith Skinner, Seth Linder and Caroline Morris disentangle in a work of literary sleuthing which offers a reassessment of the evidence and insight into the personalities involved in Ripper research.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the ultimate he said, she said and the ultimate example of why you will never find the truth about any historical controversial event/character etc.
This book tracks the twists and turns of the major players as they rush to determine whether a diary is or is not a confession of James Maybrick as being Jack the Ripper.
Now I do not know if it is or is not, I have not actually read the diary or examined it and I am not an expert.
What this book proved to me, was if someone actually had the genuine article too many people have too many vested interests of finance, reputation etc for there ever to be a consensus. Some one, some where will claim it is a fraud or that their theory is the correct one.
The book also demonstrates what happens to people under intense scrutiny on so many levels. It was an interesting read and did a reasonable job of trying to explain all the major players and their motivations.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not another book about if the Diary is genuine or a hoax, but rather a look into the history of the scrapbook, the people surrounding it and the quests to prove it as the work if James Maybrick in 1888 & 89 or the work of forgers in the late 1980s. The whole complicated and confusing saga is laid out here "for all eyes to see."

[Jason Bleckly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute train-wreck. I'm not talking about this book. This book is excellent. I'm talking about the shenanigans that went on surrounding the publishing of Jack the Rippers Diary. It destroyed marriages, broke people, bankrupted businesses. If you thought Jack was nutter, he's got nothing on the publishing industry.

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It presents a plausible case for the Diaries. It's well written and researched and the authors know their stuff.