Taken by the Ripper

by Sydney Winward

What if everything you knew about Jack the Ripper was false?

Medicine is all Clara Thompson knows. It’s real. It’s tangible. A straightforward science. So when she is cornered by vampires one fateful evening in Whitechapel, England, her entire world is thrown off balance when she learns of the existence of creatures in the night. And what throws her off balance even more is the ghoul who saves her, a beast she should fear, but she can’t help but be enamored by.

Jack the Ripper.

When she is recruited by a monster hunter named Claude La Cour to solve the mysterious case of the Ripper and to stop the deaths occurring in the city, she is thrown into the twists and turns of loyalty, love, and an impossible choice. To betray the Ripper? Or give into what her heart desires the most?

But both Claude and the Ripper keep dangerous secrets, ones that could destroy the life she has created for herself and her sisters. When a more sinister evil is at work, can she trust the Ripper to keep her safe? Or will she betray the one she cares for the most to protect her sisters from harm?


Monsters have always existed. They walk amongst us or live in the shadows. Hungering. Craving. Looking for love. Are you ready to meet these swoon-worthy specters and creatures of the night? It’s time for monsters…

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2025

Reviews

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a fascinating and unusual take on monsters by linking them to the Jack the Ripper mythology, which immediately gives the story a dark and compelling atmosphere. The plot itself is interesting and layered, with shifting alliances, sudden attacks, and constant uncertainty that keeps the tension high throughout the book.
The main female character is repeatedly caught between changing loyalties, and the narrative moves back and forth quite a lot. While this adds to the sense of danger and instability, it also makes the book a bit demanding to read. You do need to pay attention to keep track of what’s happening and who can be trusted at any given moment.
That said, the complexity is also part of what makes the story engaging. It’s not a light or effortless read, but if you enjoy darker themes, monster lore, and a plot that challenges you, this book has a lot to offer. Overall, it’s a good and intriguing book with a concept that stands out and rewards readers who are willing to invest the effort.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely different take on Jack the Ripper!

I’m going to start out by saying that Sydney Winward has quite the imagination. I have never heard any kind of a story about Jack the Ripper even close to this one. Our main female characters is Clara, a woman who has taken over the hospital her father—a doctor—started in Whitechapel. After her father died, Clara became responsible for her two younger sisters. While going out one night to pick up medical supplies, Clara is attacked by vampires! Yes, they do exist. Just before the vampires manage to get her to swallow something black, a man-like being saves her and kills the vampires. This being tells Clara that he is a Ghoul and she can call him Jack, as in Jack the Ripper. There were a lot of twists and turns to this story that I definitely was not expecting. The writing style fit the period but wasn’t too slow-moving to keep my interest. The plot definitely kept my attention and did not let go until the very last word. A highly enjoyable read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Sydney Winward’s Taken by the Ripper, Clara Thompson is a woman of science whose world is upended when she is saved from a vampire attack by a ghoul known as Jack the Ripper. Recruited by a monster hunter to help solve the gruesome murders plaguing Whitechapel, Clara finds herself torn between her duty to protect her sisters and her growing attraction to the misunderstood beast who saved her. As she navigates a web of secrets held by both the hunter and the Ripper, she must decide whom to trust before a more sinister evil destroys everything she loves.

I enjoyed this paranormal twist on the Jack the Ripper legend. Winward does an excellent job of weaving vampires and ghouls into the gritty fabric of Victorian London, creating an eerie and romantic atmosphere. The tension between Clara's logical nature and her feelings for the Ripper was a highlight.

If you enjoy historical retellings with high stakes and a touch of the macabre, this is a must-read.

Thank you to Sydney Winward and BookSirens for providing the review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Gjohnson135 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love this version of Jack the Ripper. Staying alive in White Chapel is not easy. Being a woman is not easy. Using medical skills just adds more complexity to life. Clara, can be nothing else, medicine is at her core. She and her sisters live day to day, existing and working to keep themselves safe. Well, as safe as they can be as Clara continues to provide medical services to those in need. Enter, an annoying but handsome detective, some vampires, a swoon worthy ghoul, and it is game on. Clara and her sisters, Norma and Mazie, and Claude and ‘Jack’ are on a collision course of adventure. Secrets, decisions, surprises, and love are found in unexpected places. Great short read! I just wanted more. Always my problem with short stories. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: As someone who enjoys true crime stories I was elated to see how a romance could be made out of a Jack The Ripper tale. And I'm not sorry I tried this out because WOW; the author did an outstanding job making something entirely new out of the historical legend and it came together beautifully. As an oldest sibling I really sympathized with Clara and the friction she has with her family, especially one of her siblings, while she's trying to take care of everyone and feeling stretched thin in the process. Since we move through the story with only Clara's perspective I loved how the author built tension for Clara in regards to her personal and professional life. She finds herself drawn into a world she never knew about and motivated to unravel the secrets that fill up Whitechapel... especially at night. 5/5 Stars

[Lj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, quick read that is a highly enjoyable mix of mystery and romance with a touch of the macarbe. You do need to be prepared not to think too deeply about things though as there are some plot points that I think aren't properly laid out or resolved and despite being set in England, it is too clearly written by an American. However, if you are just looking for a bit of creative escapism to fill an hour or two it is a great read.

I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and inventive take on the mystery of Jack the Ripper.

The characters were very well drawn and complex. The world building was excellent and expertly wielded. The plot was intriguing, exciting and so very dark and dangerous and compelling. Great read and look forward to reading more monsters. Highly recommend this book.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie Hyslop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an amazing read with a great spin of the classic Jack the Ripper cautionary tale. I loved the twist’s and turns this book took. I truly enjoyed Clara’s character growth throughout the story. This was a story that had me hooked from the get go. There was a couple of gasps of shock when you turned the page though. I loved it!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My curious interest in a new version of the Jack the Ripper scenario led me to select this book. I enjoyed the twist of historical murders being of the paranormal world. I very much liked the Clara character and her medical involvement.

[Hannah Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken by the Ripper by Sydney Winward
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a cute and quick little read loosely based on Jack the Ripper with a big paranormal twist! I love that our FMC was a physician and such a strong lead. I did guess the plot twist pretty immediately, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. Cute! Note: I received a free ARC of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

[Andi Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author and a new take on the old Jack the Ripper. :) Quick read and thoroughly enjoyed. And just love the cover art. :)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Summer Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! Would recommend and enjoyed it. Loved the spin on the jack the ripper story. Will have to read more by Winward.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and very imaginative retelling of Jack the Ripper, although there are some dark plot lines in this story. I feel there should be trigger warnings for some people who may be affected. The author created well rounded characters in a short story which is an accomplishment.

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the different take on what jack the ripper could potentially be! It flowed nicely and I feel a lot of thought was put into it. The storytelling was amazing. I had some stuff figured out which is why I did 4 stars but overall I loved it. I will be sure to read other works by Sydney Winward!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read anything about Jack the Ripper or monsters and to be honest I was a little skeptical about this at first but it is a really good read. I need more monster historical romances, especially during the Victorian Era. So good!

[Jennifer Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

Unexpected and a fun twist on a macabre story! Just the right kind of mystery and romance. Really loved the surprise ending.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

guys this slapped!!! perfect spooky vibes

[Ariana Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice monster romance, very well written, got me absolutely hooked!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charity E. Beaudoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the Jack the Ripper story, though I must say it was predictable. That being said, it was an enjoyable and quick read, with a strong female lead.