Whitechapel

by Bryan Lightbody

In the autumn of 1888 a series of notorious murders were perpetrated by an enigmatic killer known as 'Jack the Ripper' who terrified the Whitechapel district of East London. Six women were murdered in a four month period with the killings ending as suddenly as they began with an unknown motive. 'Whitechapel' tells the story of these killings and the events that surrounded them through the eyes of Robert Ford a young, fictional Victorian constable and his interaction with the detectives and victims involved in the case Subsequently this provides a hypothetical but plausible explanation of how and why the murders were perpetrated; how and why 'Jack the Ripper' was never caught and how members of the British establishment perverted the course of justice for their own selfish ends. It is also a story of love, duty, romance, tragedy and ultimately revenge that spans the late 19th Century in America, London and Paris through to the early 20th Century returning to St Louis, Missouri. 'Whitechapel' presents a compelling read as an historical thriller but also serves as a history lesson about the murders and about social deprevation in London during the late Victorian era. Although in reality the mystery of the killer's identity remains, 'Whitechapel' draws a conclusion on who and why committed these ghastly crimes.

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dan Yeager · Rating 3 out of 5]

The previous reviewers words are in actual fact fair. To a point. Having worked with Bryan in the past he would be the first to admit he rushed to publication with this book and it does indeed need editing. But for me having read it it does not detract from being a great read, and although using many Ripper themes quite an original conspiracy story. Conspiracy again I hear you say, well yes. It can never engender anything else by novelists or the latest researcher clutching at straws as unless someone finds a new box full of evidence there are no other avenues to frankly explore. It was a more original idea in its concept than Johnny Depp's From Hell movie which was just a re-hashed Murder By Decree. Bryan's second book is a much better read, better written, edited and a completely original concept, and a lesson to the current crop of corrupt, un-truthful politicians.
Whitechapel, dry? No. He is re-editing to make it slicker. Check out the amazon reviews, I'm not the only one who enjoyed it, but like H.B there is at least one other who didn't! You can't please everyone, am I the only person who thinks Grease (the movie) is rubbish? Well there you go!
Still I'll have to read the previous reviewers book, always nice to know if one author's work must be so much better than another.

[H.B. Pattskyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book I picked up as research for my own novel. I had high hopes, because the author is the son of a retired police constable in the UK, so he should know the material, which, in all fairness, he does seem to. The problem is the delivery. Beyond dry and difficult to read, the story telling was truly, and saddly, awful.

A good editor may have made all the difference to this one.

[John William Boundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this book a 5* rating but for the fact that it needed better editing, in that respect i agree with one of the previous reviewers. That said I really enjoyed this book. I felt I was stepping back in time and walking the streets of my ancestors.