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Constance Piper Mystery #1
The Sixth Victim: A Victorian murder mystery with a supernatural twist
Whether gift or curse, can she harness her abilities to hunt this mysterious killer and uncover the truth that threatens Whitechapel?
London’s East End, 1888: When darkness falls, terror begins …
The foggy streets of London’s Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. Constance’s mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a séance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight?
Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling “the Whitechapel Mystery,” attributing the murder to the Ripper.
As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She’ll need all the help she can get—because there may be more than one depraved killer out there …
London’s East End, 1888: When darkness falls, terror begins …
The foggy streets of London’s Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. Constance’s mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a séance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight?
Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling “the Whitechapel Mystery,” attributing the murder to the Ripper.
As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She’ll need all the help she can get—because there may be more than one depraved killer out there …
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
132 people are currently reading
1310 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Harris
21 books527 followersFrom the author's website:After studying History at Oxford University, I began my journalistic career on a newspaper in my home town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. I progressed onto a London newspaper, where I became women's editor. From there I moved to become a feature writer on Best magazine. After two years I was made editor of a regional arts and listings publication. This was followed by another two years as deputy editor on Heritage magazine. Motherhood meant a spell as a freelance, contributing to several national magazines, such as Country Homes & Interiors, Perfect Home and Woman's Journal, as well as newspapers such as The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian. During this time I also worked as a literary publicist and for a documentary-making company. In 2005 I was made editor of Berkshire Life magazine.
In 2000 I won a European-wide screenplay writing competition run by the London Screenwriters' Workshop and the resulting screenplay was optioned by a film company. The script was set in 18th century London and my subsequent research led to the invention of Dr Thomas Silkstone, an American anatomist and the world's first forensic scientist.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Author Tessa Harris[5] also made him one of the main characters in her book The Dead Shall Not Rest which uses a fictional character Thomas Silkstone to examine the beginnings of forensic science, anatomy and surgery. The book, which is well referenced, emphasises the difficulty and need of anatomists of the time gaining access to bodies to dissect, and the illegal trade in dead bodies that eventuated due to this.
In 2000 I won a European-wide screenplay writing competition run by the London Screenwriters' Workshop and the resulting screenplay was optioned by a film company. The script was set in 18th century London and my subsequent research led to the invention of Dr Thomas Silkstone, an American anatomist and the world's first forensic scientist.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Author Tessa Harris[5] also made him one of the main characters in her book The Dead Shall Not Rest which uses a fictional character Thomas Silkstone to examine the beginnings of forensic science, anatomy and surgery. The book, which is well referenced, emphasises the difficulty and need of anatomists of the time gaining access to bodies to dissect, and the illegal trade in dead bodies that eventuated due to this.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 12, 2017
3.5 stars
The Sixth Victim, the first book in a neo-Victorian mystery series, offers an entertaining take on the Jack the Ripper murders.
While Jack the Ripper is reaping fear and havoc on the streets of Whitehall, Constance, a poor flower girl, is searching the streets for her missing teacher, Emily.
Told through alternating POV’s of Connie and Emily, the streets of Whitehall come alive. The fear is pervasive, as women are constantly looking over their shoulders in fear that they might be Jack’s next victim. Harris plays around with the origins of “the sixth victim”-- a woman’s corpse found on the construction site of Scotland Yard that was never fully determined to be as one of Jack’s victims. The corpse plays a pivotal role.
This was a fun, light read with an interesting take on the Jack the Ripper murders. There’s a supernatural element that I wasn’t prepared for, which added an intriguing layer of strangeness.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Sixth Victim, the first book in a neo-Victorian mystery series, offers an entertaining take on the Jack the Ripper murders.
While Jack the Ripper is reaping fear and havoc on the streets of Whitehall, Constance, a poor flower girl, is searching the streets for her missing teacher, Emily.
Told through alternating POV’s of Connie and Emily, the streets of Whitehall come alive. The fear is pervasive, as women are constantly looking over their shoulders in fear that they might be Jack’s next victim. Harris plays around with the origins of “the sixth victim”-- a woman’s corpse found on the construction site of Scotland Yard that was never fully determined to be as one of Jack’s victims. The corpse plays a pivotal role.
This was a fun, light read with an interesting take on the Jack the Ripper murders. There’s a supernatural element that I wasn’t prepared for, which added an intriguing layer of strangeness.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2017
Another day on the street.......
Excitement touched with the heavy weight of fear spreads through the winding streets of Whitechapel. Neighbors clutch at one another and gawking becomes the likely pasttime for those afflicted with poverty and hopelessness. It's September of 1888 and ol' Jack has claimed another unfortunate victim from among the throngs who shutter their doors or hold up in dark alleys.
Constance Piper and her sister, Flo, know these streets only too well. Constance engages in trade as a flower girl selling her wares outside theaters. Flo has the swift hand that reaches into pockets with the delicate swirl of silk. They both live with their mother in a shanty of a tenement not given to the likes of visitors.
But Constance benefits from the tutelage of Emily Tindall who teaches at the local church. Miss Tindall has taught her to read and this skill comes in handy when perusing the newspapers for the latest on Jack the Ripper. When Miss Tindall doesn't show up at the church, Constance sets her mind to following her trail.
Across town, Dr. Terence Cutler engages in an activity that benefits the women of the streets, their benefactors, and his pocket. When his wife finds out, she leaves him. Trouble shows up on his doorstep when his sister-in-law, Pauline, demands to know where Geraldine is. And oh, dear reader, the heaviness of the situation is upon us now.......
Tessa Harris presents a brash and bumptious storyline unlike any other that you've engaged in with Jack at the wheel. She brings the flavor of the streets to life with the ol' Cockney dialogue that rings true to the times and creates suspicion where every man in Whitechapel seems to embody the likes of Jack the Ripper. The pace is spot-on as she purposefully swings the hammer of the storyline back and forth to her chosen characters with their explicit point of view. We get deftly inside of their heads and that can bring out a rash of goosebumps and wide-eyed visions for sure.
Although Jack's serial reputation is attributed to five victims, this "sixth" may or may not be his or are there many, many more that had suffered from the laying on of hands by Jack? Makes you turn your head slowly in a different direction hearing his footsteps echoing with catlike precision.
I received a copy of The Sixth Victim through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to Tessa Harris for the opportunity.
Excitement touched with the heavy weight of fear spreads through the winding streets of Whitechapel. Neighbors clutch at one another and gawking becomes the likely pasttime for those afflicted with poverty and hopelessness. It's September of 1888 and ol' Jack has claimed another unfortunate victim from among the throngs who shutter their doors or hold up in dark alleys.
Constance Piper and her sister, Flo, know these streets only too well. Constance engages in trade as a flower girl selling her wares outside theaters. Flo has the swift hand that reaches into pockets with the delicate swirl of silk. They both live with their mother in a shanty of a tenement not given to the likes of visitors.
But Constance benefits from the tutelage of Emily Tindall who teaches at the local church. Miss Tindall has taught her to read and this skill comes in handy when perusing the newspapers for the latest on Jack the Ripper. When Miss Tindall doesn't show up at the church, Constance sets her mind to following her trail.
Across town, Dr. Terence Cutler engages in an activity that benefits the women of the streets, their benefactors, and his pocket. When his wife finds out, she leaves him. Trouble shows up on his doorstep when his sister-in-law, Pauline, demands to know where Geraldine is. And oh, dear reader, the heaviness of the situation is upon us now.......
Tessa Harris presents a brash and bumptious storyline unlike any other that you've engaged in with Jack at the wheel. She brings the flavor of the streets to life with the ol' Cockney dialogue that rings true to the times and creates suspicion where every man in Whitechapel seems to embody the likes of Jack the Ripper. The pace is spot-on as she purposefully swings the hammer of the storyline back and forth to her chosen characters with their explicit point of view. We get deftly inside of their heads and that can bring out a rash of goosebumps and wide-eyed visions for sure.
Although Jack's serial reputation is attributed to five victims, this "sixth" may or may not be his or are there many, many more that had suffered from the laying on of hands by Jack? Makes you turn your head slowly in a different direction hearing his footsteps echoing with catlike precision.
I received a copy of The Sixth Victim through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to Tessa Harris for the opportunity.
August 13, 2017
3.75 Stars → A poor flower girl named Constance with the gift of clairvoyance is searching for her missing teacher on the streets of Jack the Ripper's London in Tessa Harris' historical mystery THE SIXTH VICTIM. At the same time, an upper crust lady enlists Constance's help in finding her missing sister, fearing she may be the sixth victim of the deranged murderer.
This was an audio/eBook combo read for me. I enjoy Victorian mysteries, and this was a good one, definitely pulls readers into the dark and grizzly happenings of the time. Confusing at first, the book took me a few chapters before I felt comfortable with the characters and story, though overall I liked it. Constance is an intriguing and sympathetic character, and the perfect heroine for this new series.
The audiobook was performed by two narrators, Fiona Hardingham and Gemma Dawson. Their accents and inflections for the many characters helped make this an entertaining story. Eerie and gruesome!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (eBook) and the publisher (audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.
This was an audio/eBook combo read for me. I enjoy Victorian mysteries, and this was a good one, definitely pulls readers into the dark and grizzly happenings of the time. Confusing at first, the book took me a few chapters before I felt comfortable with the characters and story, though overall I liked it. Constance is an intriguing and sympathetic character, and the perfect heroine for this new series.
The audiobook was performed by two narrators, Fiona Hardingham and Gemma Dawson. Their accents and inflections for the many characters helped make this an entertaining story. Eerie and gruesome!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (eBook) and the publisher (audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2017
Well, not my usual thing, my first foray into historical fiction and boy this one was a blast.
The story, set in Victorian London during the time of the infamous Jack The Ripper, is told from two perspectives. Constance Piper,a flower seller from the slums of Whitechapel, she lives with her mother and her sister Flo in squalor. Constance and Flo go out daily earning their crust. Constance selling the flowers to the well to do clients while Flo pickpockets the customers to keep themselves in food and shelter.
Our other narrator is Emily Tindall, a Sunday school teacher, Constance's teacher. She has taken a shine to Constance and taken her under her wing. Constance has learnt how to speak "correctly" and more importantly to read under the tutelage of Miss Tindall. The whole of Whitechapel and indeed the country is gripped in both fear and excitement as they are in the grip of Jack The Rippers reign. Constance can of course read the news articles to her sister and friends as The Rippers rampage ensues.
When Miss Tindall goes missing, much to Constance's dismay, she decides to follow the clues of her last whereabouts to try and track her down and find out where she has gone or what has happened to her.
This one really took me by surprise. Not my usual read, I was apprehensive going into it, fearing I wouldn't like the genre at all. After an initial sceptical couple of chapters at the start from me(a story taking place in Victorian London, not me at all) it just all fell into place and I was taken in completely by the characters, the setting and the era. It's an intriguing read. Quite unusual and my synopsis above really only scratches the surface of the story.
It's a Jack The Ripper work of fiction of sorts, a detective style novel(with no detective) and a large supernatural element that works beautifully. A bizzare mixture that somehow works effortlessly.
This is the first in a series featuring Constance apparently and I'm delighted to hear it. This was a cracker of a read and I will most certainly be reading the follow ups when they are published.
I would most certainly recommend giving this a go even if it doesn't sound like your thing. To really is a fantastically fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Tessa Harris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story, set in Victorian London during the time of the infamous Jack The Ripper, is told from two perspectives. Constance Piper,a flower seller from the slums of Whitechapel, she lives with her mother and her sister Flo in squalor. Constance and Flo go out daily earning their crust. Constance selling the flowers to the well to do clients while Flo pickpockets the customers to keep themselves in food and shelter.
Our other narrator is Emily Tindall, a Sunday school teacher, Constance's teacher. She has taken a shine to Constance and taken her under her wing. Constance has learnt how to speak "correctly" and more importantly to read under the tutelage of Miss Tindall. The whole of Whitechapel and indeed the country is gripped in both fear and excitement as they are in the grip of Jack The Rippers reign. Constance can of course read the news articles to her sister and friends as The Rippers rampage ensues.
When Miss Tindall goes missing, much to Constance's dismay, she decides to follow the clues of her last whereabouts to try and track her down and find out where she has gone or what has happened to her.
This one really took me by surprise. Not my usual read, I was apprehensive going into it, fearing I wouldn't like the genre at all. After an initial sceptical couple of chapters at the start from me(a story taking place in Victorian London, not me at all) it just all fell into place and I was taken in completely by the characters, the setting and the era. It's an intriguing read. Quite unusual and my synopsis above really only scratches the surface of the story.
It's a Jack The Ripper work of fiction of sorts, a detective style novel(with no detective) and a large supernatural element that works beautifully. A bizzare mixture that somehow works effortlessly.
This is the first in a series featuring Constance apparently and I'm delighted to hear it. This was a cracker of a read and I will most certainly be reading the follow ups when they are published.
I would most certainly recommend giving this a go even if it doesn't sound like your thing. To really is a fantastically fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Tessa Harris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2017
I have never really read novels set in this era but the subject of this book intrigued me. I was captivated from the first chapter!
Set in 1888 as Jack the ripper has just begun his reign of terror the story is told from two perspectives, Constance and Emily's. The story alternates between the two.
Constance is a flower girl and comes from a poor family, she and her sister make money by stealing from the rich, whilst Constance sells the flowers, Flo pickpockets the customers. She lives in Whitechapel, one of the poorest parts of London and the place where the Jack the ripper murders are taking place.
Emily Tindall is from a good background, she is a Sunday school teacher and has taken Constance under her wing, teaching her to read and showing her a life far removed from her own.
The sixth victim is one of those amazing books that pulls you into the pages, I connected with the characters and couldn't wait to follow the twists and turns of the story. Very early on you find that Emily isn't quite what you believe. I don't want to spoil the book for you, but when you discover the 'secret' it makes you see the story in a whole different light.
The book runs alongside the murders of Jack the ripper but they are very much in the background, the main story is Constance's search for Emily who seems to have gone missing and how her psychic abilities slowly, to her amazement grow. Constance is also approached by a lady from the upper classes who fears her sister has been victim to Jack the ripper. The lady asks for Constance's help to solve the mystery.
I loved the way the stories entwined and developed, how characters ended up linking. The way Tessa portrays Emily's story is beautiful, it is as if Emily is talking to the reader directly, here is a snippet of a piece of Emily's story hat shows this perfectly;
''Constance does sleep, albeit fitfully, so we shall leave her to return to my own story. For now, it is time to take you on a terrifying journey''
This is the first in 'Constance Piper Mystery' series, I'm waiting with baited breath for the second installment which Tessa tells me will be out in 2018.
Set in 1888 as Jack the ripper has just begun his reign of terror the story is told from two perspectives, Constance and Emily's. The story alternates between the two.
Constance is a flower girl and comes from a poor family, she and her sister make money by stealing from the rich, whilst Constance sells the flowers, Flo pickpockets the customers. She lives in Whitechapel, one of the poorest parts of London and the place where the Jack the ripper murders are taking place.
Emily Tindall is from a good background, she is a Sunday school teacher and has taken Constance under her wing, teaching her to read and showing her a life far removed from her own.
The sixth victim is one of those amazing books that pulls you into the pages, I connected with the characters and couldn't wait to follow the twists and turns of the story. Very early on you find that Emily isn't quite what you believe. I don't want to spoil the book for you, but when you discover the 'secret' it makes you see the story in a whole different light.
The book runs alongside the murders of Jack the ripper but they are very much in the background, the main story is Constance's search for Emily who seems to have gone missing and how her psychic abilities slowly, to her amazement grow. Constance is also approached by a lady from the upper classes who fears her sister has been victim to Jack the ripper. The lady asks for Constance's help to solve the mystery.
I loved the way the stories entwined and developed, how characters ended up linking. The way Tessa portrays Emily's story is beautiful, it is as if Emily is talking to the reader directly, here is a snippet of a piece of Emily's story hat shows this perfectly;
''Constance does sleep, albeit fitfully, so we shall leave her to return to my own story. For now, it is time to take you on a terrifying journey''
This is the first in 'Constance Piper Mystery' series, I'm waiting with baited breath for the second installment which Tessa tells me will be out in 2018.
April 14, 2017
This series debut, set in Victorian London during the terror of Jack the Ripper's killing spree, is strong and atmospheric. Young flower girl Constance Piper is sensitive and idealistic, despite her poverty and lack of education. She sets out to discover what has happened to her friend Emily Tindall, a lady dedicated to helping the children of Whitechapel, who has mysterious disappeared.
The action is narrated by both Constance and Emily, each peeling away the many layers of interconnecting mysteries. The darkness of Victorian society and its mores form the perfect backdrop for the disturbing events that unfold. Along the way, Piper discovers that she is a spirit medium, a development that both frightens and fascinates her. Readers will need a strong stomach for the graphic descriptions of the violence perpetrated on the murder victims.
Despite this, the book is compelling and not to be missed. I will be looking for the second title in this series.
Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
The action is narrated by both Constance and Emily, each peeling away the many layers of interconnecting mysteries. The darkness of Victorian society and its mores form the perfect backdrop for the disturbing events that unfold. Along the way, Piper discovers that she is a spirit medium, a development that both frightens and fascinates her. Readers will need a strong stomach for the graphic descriptions of the violence perpetrated on the murder victims.
Despite this, the book is compelling and not to be missed. I will be looking for the second title in this series.
Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
September 29, 2025
The Sixth Victim
By : Tessa Harris
Historical thriller
What's its about:
London s East End, 1888: When darkness falls, terror begins...
The foggy streets of London s Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. Constance s mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a seance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight? She longs for the wise counsel of her mentor and champion of the poor, Emily Tindall, but the kind missionary has gone missing.
Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling the Whitechapel Mystery, attributing the murder to the Ripper.
As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She ll need all the help she can get because there may be more than one depraved killer out there...
My thoughts:
Five stars
First off I want to say it took me awhile to get into the story, and that it wasn't the story fault or how it was written, because I had to keep putting it down , and the reason is because I kept having a migraine headache, and with those I just don't feel like reading, but once it was gone and I re picked it up ,I was instantly pulled into the story, so.what did I love about:
1: the point of views from Emily Tindall and Constance Piper
2: time period 1888 London
3: the twist on the Jack the Ripper case
4:of anything that deals with Jack the Ripper I knew I'm going to love or at least like.
5: Clairvoyant aspect
What I hated: no thing
This story has everything I love about a thriller, it's reach's out and grabs you and pulls you in and won't let go, it.keeps you on the edge of your set .With that said I would love to.say thinks to NetGalley as well as to Kensington Books for giving me a.change at reading what turned out to be a really great book in a change for my honest opinion which this is.can't wait to buy a copy.of it.
June 22, 2018
RATING: 3 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
The Sixth Victim was an interesting take on time around Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel. I realized going in there was "clairvoyance" aspect to this novel which made the novel more intriguing to me. Yet, as I was a few chapters in, I did not care for this anymore. Having the novel alternate between Emily and Constance wasn't confusing or anything, I just didn't like it. It really stopped me from liking this book more. I give three stars on the research of the time and place, and having been well-written. I started the second book, so I will not be continuing the series. I will have to check on the other series that Harris wrote
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
The Sixth Victim was an interesting take on time around Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel. I realized going in there was "clairvoyance" aspect to this novel which made the novel more intriguing to me. Yet, as I was a few chapters in, I did not care for this anymore. Having the novel alternate between Emily and Constance wasn't confusing or anything, I just didn't like it. It really stopped me from liking this book more. I give three stars on the research of the time and place, and having been well-written. I started the second book, so I will not be continuing the series. I will have to check on the other series that Harris wrote
November 4, 2022
A Victorian mystery with a dash of clairvoyance, and a different take on Jack the Ripper, the result was an entertaining read.
November 5, 2018
I loved all the gruesome details. This is a good mystery with a fresh twist on Jack the Ripper.
May 5, 2017
Thieves perpetuated from poverty and the hopelessness to survive! Constance and her sister Flo spend their day selling flowers to patrons doomed to have their pockets picked. Emily a teacher strives to make reality brighter for the unfortunate in the 1880's of London. Narration bounces between Constance and Emily and was quite confusing until the rhythm was obtained by this reader. The terror of Jack-the-Ripper plays a primary part in this story combined with the question of missing persons.
Many characters to keep track of that intertwine in the shadows of Tessa Harris' story. Entertaining read with a sprinkling of the paranormal involved. Dark, violent, sad and gruesome events are depicted. "A copy of this book was provided to me by Kensington Books via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion."
Many characters to keep track of that intertwine in the shadows of Tessa Harris' story. Entertaining read with a sprinkling of the paranormal involved. Dark, violent, sad and gruesome events are depicted. "A copy of this book was provided to me by Kensington Books via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion."
July 3, 2017
Okay so honestly I am really confused about this book. I so wanted to love it but it was kind of a slow go and while I sort of liked it I also sort of didn't so I am confused as to what I want to rate it.
It's set in the days of Jack the Ripper, London, 1888 and the descriptions of the killings are a bit gory (though I have read about them before). It's told in two different POV's and this is where at times it gets confusing. There are a lot of things going on as not only is there the mystery surrounding the sixth victim, but a Doctor's wife is missing and her sister is searching for her, and there is the second POV's mystery.
Constance and her family are pretty poor and she is known as the flower girl because she mostly tries to sell flower to the richer people. While her sister is a pickpocket and pretty good at it. While at a magic type show she has her first strange thing happen to her and she doesn't know exactly what happened. She slowly finds out that she is Clairvoyants which is not really a good thing because there are fakes all over the place and so not many people would really believe her. Constance wishes more than anything to talk to her teacher but she has gone missing.
There is one person who thinks that maybe she can help and that is Pauline who is the sister who fears that he sixth victim could be her sister. She urges Constance to use her second sight to try and find out what has happened to her. Constance has some frightening dreams and is assisted by someone she knows.
I really feel like I can't say much about it in fear of giving to much away and that even means telling you who the second POV is, but I can tell you I struggled with this one. In the end, I was intrigued by it but I think the author just had to many storylines going even though they all wrapped up in the end it just made for a heavier read at least for me. As I look at the reviews on goodreads I am beginning to think it was just me as it seems a lot of people enjoyed this one. It's the first one in a series and I really think it was kind of setting things up a bit for how the series will be with Constance second sight and...well I just can't say. :) I might give the second one a try and see if I like it better, I am just not sure yet.
It's set in the days of Jack the Ripper, London, 1888 and the descriptions of the killings are a bit gory (though I have read about them before). It's told in two different POV's and this is where at times it gets confusing. There are a lot of things going on as not only is there the mystery surrounding the sixth victim, but a Doctor's wife is missing and her sister is searching for her, and there is the second POV's mystery.
Constance and her family are pretty poor and she is known as the flower girl because she mostly tries to sell flower to the richer people. While her sister is a pickpocket and pretty good at it. While at a magic type show she has her first strange thing happen to her and she doesn't know exactly what happened. She slowly finds out that she is Clairvoyants which is not really a good thing because there are fakes all over the place and so not many people would really believe her. Constance wishes more than anything to talk to her teacher but she has gone missing.
There is one person who thinks that maybe she can help and that is Pauline who is the sister who fears that he sixth victim could be her sister. She urges Constance to use her second sight to try and find out what has happened to her. Constance has some frightening dreams and is assisted by someone she knows.
I really feel like I can't say much about it in fear of giving to much away and that even means telling you who the second POV is, but I can tell you I struggled with this one. In the end, I was intrigued by it but I think the author just had to many storylines going even though they all wrapped up in the end it just made for a heavier read at least for me. As I look at the reviews on goodreads I am beginning to think it was just me as it seems a lot of people enjoyed this one. It's the first one in a series and I really think it was kind of setting things up a bit for how the series will be with Constance second sight and...well I just can't say. :) I might give the second one a try and see if I like it better, I am just not sure yet.
May 22, 2017
I love anything to do with Jack the Ripper and the late 1800's in the East End of London. "The Sixth Victim" by Tessa Harris does a absolutely fantastic job of bringing this time period to life in a very realistic and vivid way.
A young flower girl named Constance Piper is trying to live her life as best she can in the East End while trying to come to terms with her apparent clairvoyant abilities and also the fear of walking the streets while Jack is on the loose. She is also searching for her missing teacher, Emily Tindall who taught her to read and speak correctly, and saw much promise in the very intelligent young girl. Then Constance is contacted by a high-born lady who worries that the latest victim attributed to Jack is her sister and wants Constance to use her clairvoyant powers to help her find out the truth.
Jack the Ripper's East End is brought to life so very well. I know I said it before but I was very impressed by Tessa Harris's ability to bring a long forgotten time period to life. I felt as if I were walking along with Constance in the East End and the West End. The characters were so well developed and the story flowed so well that I was reluctant to put the book down. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I love historical mysteries and this seems like it will be among the best.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.
A young flower girl named Constance Piper is trying to live her life as best she can in the East End while trying to come to terms with her apparent clairvoyant abilities and also the fear of walking the streets while Jack is on the loose. She is also searching for her missing teacher, Emily Tindall who taught her to read and speak correctly, and saw much promise in the very intelligent young girl. Then Constance is contacted by a high-born lady who worries that the latest victim attributed to Jack is her sister and wants Constance to use her clairvoyant powers to help her find out the truth.
Jack the Ripper's East End is brought to life so very well. I know I said it before but I was very impressed by Tessa Harris's ability to bring a long forgotten time period to life. I felt as if I were walking along with Constance in the East End and the West End. The characters were so well developed and the story flowed so well that I was reluctant to put the book down. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I love historical mysteries and this seems like it will be among the best.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2017
The Sixth Victim
by Tessa Harris
Kensington Books
Kensington
Historical Fiction , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 30 May 2017
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of The Sixth Victim through Kensington Books and Netgalley:
This book takes us to 1888 London, when the city is being gripped by terrors of the murders by one man, Jack the Ripper. Prostitutes are being murdered in the Whitechapel District of London. For a time it seemed that every man in the district was under suspicion.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere during this time, and Constance's Mother finds comfort in contacting her late husband that way, but Constance is unsure whether or not she believes.
Soon Constance finds herself getting herself mixed up with what's happening around her.
What do Mediums, Seance's and Jack the Ripper have to do with each other find out in The Sixth Victim.
Four out of five stars.
by Tessa Harris
Kensington Books
Kensington
Historical Fiction , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 30 May 2017
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of The Sixth Victim through Kensington Books and Netgalley:
This book takes us to 1888 London, when the city is being gripped by terrors of the murders by one man, Jack the Ripper. Prostitutes are being murdered in the Whitechapel District of London. For a time it seemed that every man in the district was under suspicion.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere during this time, and Constance's Mother finds comfort in contacting her late husband that way, but Constance is unsure whether or not she believes.
Soon Constance finds herself getting herself mixed up with what's happening around her.
What do Mediums, Seance's and Jack the Ripper have to do with each other find out in The Sixth Victim.
Four out of five stars.
October 24, 2021
The "talking-to-the-reader" thing that we see in Emily's POV threw me a bit but all in all I really enjoyed how well the atmosphere was painted in this. Excited to read the rest of the series.
August 4, 2022
Like Moriarty in the Sherlock Holmes stories I think that Jack the Ripper is rather overdone now And think we’ve had enough books concerning him.
July 20, 2018
This is the first book I've read by this author.
I don't generally read mysteries that deal with the paranormal, but this book is so well written it is the exception to my "rule."
The story is set in 1880s London. The author has obviously done her research, and describes living conditions in East London of the time so vividly (especially the Whitechapel area), I could hear the sounds, smell the smells and feel the cold damp of the fog.
She provides intimate and eye-opening details of the rigid class system of the time, especially the vise-like societal rules and roles for women of all classes in the late 1880s England. Her heroine does not live in a fine house, wear beautiful clothes, or have servants at her beck and call, like so many other novels. Nor is she the perennial governess.
Her protagonist is a (literally) dirt poor Londoner, living in grubby circumstances in the East End's Poplar area, barely scratching out a living by selling bunches of flowers to the upper classes in various parts of London, while her older sister lifts a bob or two from her distracted and unsuspecting customers. It isn't the life she would have chosen for herself. (At least the girls aren't prostitutes like so many of their neighbors, who are being murdered at an alarming rate by Jack, The Ripper.)
The girls support themselves and their widowed mother (who apparently suffers from either asthma, tuberculosis or emphysema) at just above starvation level in their rat-infested neighborhood. And yet, the author writes so well, we develop a sympathy for this girl, her family and her neighbors.
She catches the eye of a young teacher at a church-run school, who begins to open her eyes and mind by first teaching her to read, and then introducing her to great literature, art, and poetry. Our little flower-seller is so open and eager to learn, the teacher takes her under her wing, encouraging her to speak and dress properly, hoping to help the girl raise herself from the dire circumstances into which she was born.
But when the Whitechapel murders continue, and the young girl's teacher, mentor, encourager and friend suddenly disappears without warning or words of parting, our heroine's horizons expand in many unexpected ways.
The author uses a delightful literary device by voicing the narrative of the two main characters in an interesting way. We are taken through the stories of several characters, without it seeming disruptive or becoming confusing, convoluted or distracting.
This was a great summer read for me. I am pleased to learn it is the first book in a series. I eagerly look forward to more.
I don't generally read mysteries that deal with the paranormal, but this book is so well written it is the exception to my "rule."
The story is set in 1880s London. The author has obviously done her research, and describes living conditions in East London of the time so vividly (especially the Whitechapel area), I could hear the sounds, smell the smells and feel the cold damp of the fog.
She provides intimate and eye-opening details of the rigid class system of the time, especially the vise-like societal rules and roles for women of all classes in the late 1880s England. Her heroine does not live in a fine house, wear beautiful clothes, or have servants at her beck and call, like so many other novels. Nor is she the perennial governess.
Her protagonist is a (literally) dirt poor Londoner, living in grubby circumstances in the East End's Poplar area, barely scratching out a living by selling bunches of flowers to the upper classes in various parts of London, while her older sister lifts a bob or two from her distracted and unsuspecting customers. It isn't the life she would have chosen for herself. (At least the girls aren't prostitutes like so many of their neighbors, who are being murdered at an alarming rate by Jack, The Ripper.)
The girls support themselves and their widowed mother (who apparently suffers from either asthma, tuberculosis or emphysema) at just above starvation level in their rat-infested neighborhood. And yet, the author writes so well, we develop a sympathy for this girl, her family and her neighbors.
She catches the eye of a young teacher at a church-run school, who begins to open her eyes and mind by first teaching her to read, and then introducing her to great literature, art, and poetry. Our little flower-seller is so open and eager to learn, the teacher takes her under her wing, encouraging her to speak and dress properly, hoping to help the girl raise herself from the dire circumstances into which she was born.
But when the Whitechapel murders continue, and the young girl's teacher, mentor, encourager and friend suddenly disappears without warning or words of parting, our heroine's horizons expand in many unexpected ways.
The author uses a delightful literary device by voicing the narrative of the two main characters in an interesting way. We are taken through the stories of several characters, without it seeming disruptive or becoming confusing, convoluted or distracting.
This was a great summer read for me. I am pleased to learn it is the first book in a series. I eagerly look forward to more.
July 6, 2017
3.5 Tessa Harris's latest historical mystery is The Sixth Victim - this is the first book in her new Constance Piper series.
Harris sets her novel in a time a place that I love to read - London, England's East End in the 1880's. 1888 to be exact - the time frame that Jack the Ripper was making himself known.
Flower seller Constance Piper has tried to better herself, learning to read and write with the help of Miss Emily Tindall. But when Emily goes missing, Constance cannot believe she would leave without saying good-bye. As Jack's kills start to populate Whitechapel, Constance is frightened that an unidentified corpse may be that of her beloved teacher. And a high-born lady fears it may be her sister. Who could this unknown victim be? Teacher, sister or another of Jack's victims - the sixth?
Harris's historical detail is well researched. Her descriptions, language and settings immediately drew me into the past - the dirty streets, the social strata and the fear of that time period.
Clairvoyance is all the rage in Victorian England and Constance seems to have the sight. Although based in fact, this is where the story fell down for me. I loved the mystery, the possibilities and the characters. Constance is a wonderful lead. But I'm just not sure I bought into the paranormal aspect that Harris introduces. While it is a driving part of the story, I would have been just as happy without it.
I chose to listen to this book. There were two readers - Fiona Hardingham and Gemma Dawson. I really like more than one narrator - it feels like more of a production if you will. Hardingham and Dawson were fantastic. Their British accents ranged from educated and posh to the streets of Whitechapel. Realistic and so believable. And easy to listen to and understand. I'm not sure which actress voiced Constance, but the voice immediately created a vibrant picture of the character.
Harris has penned an unusual mystery and a strong lead off in this new series
Harris sets her novel in a time a place that I love to read - London, England's East End in the 1880's. 1888 to be exact - the time frame that Jack the Ripper was making himself known.
Flower seller Constance Piper has tried to better herself, learning to read and write with the help of Miss Emily Tindall. But when Emily goes missing, Constance cannot believe she would leave without saying good-bye. As Jack's kills start to populate Whitechapel, Constance is frightened that an unidentified corpse may be that of her beloved teacher. And a high-born lady fears it may be her sister. Who could this unknown victim be? Teacher, sister or another of Jack's victims - the sixth?
Harris's historical detail is well researched. Her descriptions, language and settings immediately drew me into the past - the dirty streets, the social strata and the fear of that time period.
Clairvoyance is all the rage in Victorian England and Constance seems to have the sight. Although based in fact, this is where the story fell down for me. I loved the mystery, the possibilities and the characters. Constance is a wonderful lead. But I'm just not sure I bought into the paranormal aspect that Harris introduces. While it is a driving part of the story, I would have been just as happy without it.
I chose to listen to this book. There were two readers - Fiona Hardingham and Gemma Dawson. I really like more than one narrator - it feels like more of a production if you will. Hardingham and Dawson were fantastic. Their British accents ranged from educated and posh to the streets of Whitechapel. Realistic and so believable. And easy to listen to and understand. I'm not sure which actress voiced Constance, but the voice immediately created a vibrant picture of the character.
Harris has penned an unusual mystery and a strong lead off in this new series
May 16, 2017
Like the rest of Whitechapel, Constance Piper is living in fear of the unknown killer that roams the streets at night – Jack the Ripper. After witnessing a stage hypnotist perform his act, however, Constance has not been feeling herself and begins to think that she has somehow acquired the powers of second sight. She is soon contacted by a lady who fears that the latest victim may be her missing sister – can Constance use her skills to unmask the killer? Just when she needs her help the most, Constance’s teacher and friend, Emily Tindall, has also gone missing. Is her disappearance linked to the man known as the Whitechapel Killer?
The Sixth Victim is a fictional tale set during 1888 when the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, was striking fear across the whole of the east end of London. I originally thought that this was going to be another take on this age-old mystery but was pleased to discover that it merely provided a backdrop for the main plot and the focus was placed on the missing women and a torso that had been found in another part of London.
I warmed to Constance very quickly – a girl who, although living amongst abject poverty, longs to better herself in order to find a way out of the slums of the east end. In The Sixth Victim, the author has managed to create a very colourful image of Whitechapel, showing a stark contrast between the lives of the unfortunate inhabitants to that of the more well-to-do who live in the grand houses and hotels of London. It was easy to imagine (even with out the aid of Constance’s second sight) the sounds and smells of the area and understand why the women of that time lived in constant fear.
I was not sure what to expect when a supernatural element was introduced to the story as this is not my favourite genre of writing, but I felt that it was written well and allowed the plot to move on at a steady pace. It also appears to show how other subsequent books in the series could take shape. Overall, the plot was a good one and I liked how the author has seamlessly merged fact with fiction.
A great read which promises to be the start of a fascinating new series.
With thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
The Sixth Victim is a fictional tale set during 1888 when the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, was striking fear across the whole of the east end of London. I originally thought that this was going to be another take on this age-old mystery but was pleased to discover that it merely provided a backdrop for the main plot and the focus was placed on the missing women and a torso that had been found in another part of London.
I warmed to Constance very quickly – a girl who, although living amongst abject poverty, longs to better herself in order to find a way out of the slums of the east end. In The Sixth Victim, the author has managed to create a very colourful image of Whitechapel, showing a stark contrast between the lives of the unfortunate inhabitants to that of the more well-to-do who live in the grand houses and hotels of London. It was easy to imagine (even with out the aid of Constance’s second sight) the sounds and smells of the area and understand why the women of that time lived in constant fear.
I was not sure what to expect when a supernatural element was introduced to the story as this is not my favourite genre of writing, but I felt that it was written well and allowed the plot to move on at a steady pace. It also appears to show how other subsequent books in the series could take shape. Overall, the plot was a good one and I liked how the author has seamlessly merged fact with fiction.
A great read which promises to be the start of a fascinating new series.
With thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
March 17, 2021
Da una parte, posso dire che l'autrice riesce a dare una voce unica ad ogni personaggio, cosicchè ogni POV sia riconoscibile subito e sia chiaro chi è il narratore.
Dall'altra, purtroppo è proprio il POV principale, cioè quello di Constance che mi è piaciuto meno di tutti, in parte perchè Constance non è un grande personaggio. Si lascia sempre trascinare dagli altri, e non combina molto per buona parte del volume.
Piuttosto interessante la direzione che ha voluto dare alla vicenda di Jack lo squartatore, ma non del tutto originale (se leggete il manga Black butler sapete a cosa mi riferisco).
Il POV di Emily è scritto veramente bene ed è il mio preferito, ma non credo che continuerò la serie.
Dall'altra, purtroppo è proprio il POV principale, cioè quello di Constance che mi è piaciuto meno di tutti, in parte perchè Constance non è un grande personaggio. Si lascia sempre trascinare dagli altri, e non combina molto per buona parte del volume.
Piuttosto interessante la direzione che ha voluto dare alla vicenda di Jack lo squartatore, ma non del tutto originale (se leggete il manga Black butler sapete a cosa mi riferisco).
Il POV di Emily è scritto veramente bene ed è il mio preferito, ma non credo che continuerò la serie.
June 18, 2017
A well-written Victorian mystery told from the viewpoint of two main characters. One feels they are walking the streets of London and feeling the fear Jack the Ripper inspires in those afoot. The author takes a slightly different take on the number of victims generally attributed to Jack. While I suspected Emily's secret fairly early, it didn't deter from the overall enjoyment of the story.
June 6, 2019
This was a great historical mystery and an interesting fictional portrayal of the "Jack the Ripper" case. I really enjoyed meeting this main character and am looking forward to the next in the series.
December 17, 2022
I gave myself a snow day to read this. I am not disappointed with my choices.
June 22, 2017
Good set-up for a series. A bit slow at times, but worth finishing.
May 5, 2021
Interesting book with a narrative by 2 different people which took a bit to understand as one of the characters really moved around.Some interesting twists in the storyline. Basically a good book set in London in 1888. This is by the same author of the Dr Silkstone series which I enjoyed very much.
October 3, 2017
Maybe this was a great book overall, but it was just really too slow-moving and hard to get into for me and I did not finish it.
Neither Constance nor Emily grabbed me as characters, or drew me into their world or who they were. I did not feel any sympathy or connection to them in the one-quarter of the book I managed before giving up.
I also wasn't drawn in at all to the world. I get that the author was trying to set a mood and make us feel what it was like to live in Whitechapel during the Ripper's rampage, but the early part of this book is just the daily life of poor people living in this dark and rough environment, which is fine, but I didn't feel like anything actually HAPPENED in the quarter I read that made me want to keep reading to get to what I presume was the good stuff. I kept wondering how much more boring I would have to endure before the exciting stuff started. However much that was, it was longer than I could tough it out. Especially since my next audio book had arrived from the library, there was just no incentive for me to stick with this one.
Neither Constance nor Emily grabbed me as characters, or drew me into their world or who they were. I did not feel any sympathy or connection to them in the one-quarter of the book I managed before giving up.
I also wasn't drawn in at all to the world. I get that the author was trying to set a mood and make us feel what it was like to live in Whitechapel during the Ripper's rampage, but the early part of this book is just the daily life of poor people living in this dark and rough environment, which is fine, but I didn't feel like anything actually HAPPENED in the quarter I read that made me want to keep reading to get to what I presume was the good stuff. I kept wondering how much more boring I would have to endure before the exciting stuff started. However much that was, it was longer than I could tough it out. Especially since my next audio book had arrived from the library, there was just no incentive for me to stick with this one.
August 14, 2018
I enjoyed Tessa Harris's previous series, The Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mysteries, so I thought I would enjoy this as well. Unfortunately that was not the case. I felt like she passes on an opportunity to make Geraldine Jack the Ripper. Upon hearing Emily knows her husband because if his work in White Chapel, Geraldine murders her in a fit of madness. She chops up her body and disposes of it. Her mind lost to her newfound insanity, she starts killing and mutilating the prostitutes of White Chapel, where her doctor husband works. She is taking out her rage at her husband on these prostitutes that he helps. Since her father and now husband is a doctor, she might have a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy. Once it's found out, her husband does what he did in the book, confines her to a mental asylum and keeps it all secret. So generations are left to wonder and theorize who "Jack" was.
No instead the ending was very anticlimactic. Most of the story had little to do with Jack the Ripper. And the way Emily died was built up too much for what it ended up being.
No instead the ending was very anticlimactic. Most of the story had little to do with Jack the Ripper. And the way Emily died was built up too much for what it ended up being.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2019
The first in a forthcoming murder mystery series set in London during the 1880s. That time and place is famous for one particular murder mystery – Jack the Ripper – but Harris takes an interesting approach by having the Ripper murders be merely the background to her own story. Constance Piper is a young woman in the extremely impoverished Whitechapel district who makes her living through a combination of selling flowers and pickpocketing. Her teacher and friend, Emily Tindall, a well-educated upper class missionary, has taught her to dream of a better life for herself, but Emily has gone missing and no one except Constance seems to care. Meanwhile, the headless body of an unidentified woman is discovered on the construction site that will eventually become Scotland Yard. The police claim it has no connection to Jack the Ripper, but are they right? And can Constance figure out who the woman was?
The story switches between two narrators. Constance, the first POV, is mostly just trying to live a normal life, and does not particularly want to solve mysteries. Her neighbours' and family's ghoulish interest in following updates of the Ripper case scares her, and though she wants to figure out what happened to Emily, she doesn't have trouble believing such a well-off woman might have left town without bothering to tell her poor student. The other POV is Emily herself, who – not a spoiler, since this is revealed in the very first pages – is now a ghost. Emily wants to make contact with Constance and direct her towards a problem Emily tried to solve while she was alive herself, which eventually connects to that nameless torso. Emily's narration frequently speaks directly to the reader, throwing in hints such as "now I will reveal this" or "you'll have to wait for me to tell you that".
I thought this was an awesome idea for a murder series: taking on the tropes of Victorian Spiritualism by giving the detective her very own spirit guide! Unfortunately Harris's writing falls flat on multiple fronts.
One of the problems – as I suppose should have been self-evident – is that having a nearly omniscient ghost as a main character means that far too much is revealed to the reader far too soon. One lengthy subplot in The Sixth Victim is whether the headless torso is evidence that a doctor killed his missing wife. But we know, from literally the very first scene the doctor is in, that he couldn't have murdered his wife, since invisible Emily is witness to scenes that don't fit with that scenario. Why then does The Sixth Victim spend something like a third of its running time on the red herring of the doctor? There's just scene after scene after scene of ~oooh, maybe he did it~ when we know all along that he didn't! It's simultaneously boring and frustrating.
When Harris does reveal the actual answers to her mysteries, they're... dumb. Sorry. I'm trying to think of a more evocative, more specific word to describe the ending of this book, but it's just dumb.
I had other problems with The Sixth Victim as well (Emily's character in particular is inconsistent: she's described both as having a degree from Oxford and as being so poor that her salary as a part-time teacher at a charity school is the only thing keeping her off the streets; she never has the sort of culture clash I would expect from a Victorian woman raised in wealth introduced to a London slum), but it really is the dumb ending that's going to stop me from reading any other books by Harris, no matter how intriguing their premise.
The story switches between two narrators. Constance, the first POV, is mostly just trying to live a normal life, and does not particularly want to solve mysteries. Her neighbours' and family's ghoulish interest in following updates of the Ripper case scares her, and though she wants to figure out what happened to Emily, she doesn't have trouble believing such a well-off woman might have left town without bothering to tell her poor student. The other POV is Emily herself, who – not a spoiler, since this is revealed in the very first pages – is now a ghost. Emily wants to make contact with Constance and direct her towards a problem Emily tried to solve while she was alive herself, which eventually connects to that nameless torso. Emily's narration frequently speaks directly to the reader, throwing in hints such as "now I will reveal this" or "you'll have to wait for me to tell you that".
I thought this was an awesome idea for a murder series: taking on the tropes of Victorian Spiritualism by giving the detective her very own spirit guide! Unfortunately Harris's writing falls flat on multiple fronts.
One of the problems – as I suppose should have been self-evident – is that having a nearly omniscient ghost as a main character means that far too much is revealed to the reader far too soon. One lengthy subplot in The Sixth Victim is whether the headless torso is evidence that a doctor killed his missing wife. But we know, from literally the very first scene the doctor is in, that he couldn't have murdered his wife, since invisible Emily is witness to scenes that don't fit with that scenario. Why then does The Sixth Victim spend something like a third of its running time on the red herring of the doctor? There's just scene after scene after scene of ~oooh, maybe he did it~ when we know all along that he didn't! It's simultaneously boring and frustrating.
When Harris does reveal the actual answers to her mysteries, they're... dumb. Sorry. I'm trying to think of a more evocative, more specific word to describe the ending of this book, but it's just dumb.
I had other problems with The Sixth Victim as well (Emily's character in particular is inconsistent: she's described both as having a degree from Oxford and as being so poor that her salary as a part-time teacher at a charity school is the only thing keeping her off the streets; she never has the sort of culture clash I would expect from a Victorian woman raised in wealth introduced to a London slum), but it really is the dumb ending that's going to stop me from reading any other books by Harris, no matter how intriguing their premise.
May 8, 2018
London’s East End, 1888: When darkness falls, terror begins...
The foggy streets of London’s Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. In desperation, even Scotland Yard has turned to them to help apprehend the Ripper. Her mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a séance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight? She longs for the wise counsel of her mentor and champion of the poor, Emily Tindall, but the kind missionary has gone missing.
Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling “the Whitechapel Mystery,” attributing the murder to the Ripper.
As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She’ll need all the help she can get—because there may be more than one depraved killer out there...
Out May 2017
BIO
"From the author's website: After studying History at Oxford University, I began my journalistic career on a newspaper in my home town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. I progressed onto a London newspaper, where I became women's editor. From there I moved to become a feature writer on Best magazine. After two years I was made editor of a regional arts and listings publication. This was followed by another two years as deputy editor on Heritage magazine. Motherhood meant a spell as a freelance, contributing to several national magazines, such as Country Homes & Interiors, Perfect Home and Woman's Journal, as well as newspapers such as The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian. During this time I also worked as a literary publicist and for a documentary-making company. In 2005 I was made editor of Berkshire Life magazine.
In 2000 I won a European-wide screenplay writing competition run by the London Screenwriters' Workshop and the resulting screenplay was optioned by a film company. The script was set in 18th century London and my subsequent research led to the invention of Dr Thomas Silkstone, an American anatomist and the world's first forensic scientist.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Author Tessa Harris[5] also made him one of the main characters in her book The Dead Shall Not Rest which uses a fictional character Thomas Silkstone to examine the beginnings of forensic science, anatomy and surgery. The book, which is well referenced, emphasises the difficulty and need of anatomists of the time gaining access to bodies to dissect, and the illegal trade in dead bodies that eventuated due to this."
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love, love, love anything 'Jack The Ripper.' There's still so much we don't know about him.
I am quickly becoming a Tessa Harris fan! This is the first book in her Constance Piper Mystery Series and what a way to start off!
There's a main plot and a sub-plot included here and set around the time of Jack The Ripper in London 1888. The author manages to create a great vibe going in to this book that continues to creep you out as you turn page after page.
The main character is well developed and placed in the middle of both mysteries.
I can't say too much without giving the story away completely, but I really love Tessa Harris' voice and writing style. A bit slow here and there but still worth finishing the book. There are some disturbing descriptions that you should be aware of, but we are talking Jack The Ripper.
Hey! Did you hear that they think this Holmes guy may have been The Ripper??? oooooo
:) Love it!
Pick this book up and read it to its end.
The foggy streets of London’s Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. In desperation, even Scotland Yard has turned to them to help apprehend the Ripper. Her mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a séance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight? She longs for the wise counsel of her mentor and champion of the poor, Emily Tindall, but the kind missionary has gone missing.
Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling “the Whitechapel Mystery,” attributing the murder to the Ripper.
As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She’ll need all the help she can get—because there may be more than one depraved killer out there...
Out May 2017
BIO
"From the author's website: After studying History at Oxford University, I began my journalistic career on a newspaper in my home town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. I progressed onto a London newspaper, where I became women's editor. From there I moved to become a feature writer on Best magazine. After two years I was made editor of a regional arts and listings publication. This was followed by another two years as deputy editor on Heritage magazine. Motherhood meant a spell as a freelance, contributing to several national magazines, such as Country Homes & Interiors, Perfect Home and Woman's Journal, as well as newspapers such as The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian. During this time I also worked as a literary publicist and for a documentary-making company. In 2005 I was made editor of Berkshire Life magazine.
In 2000 I won a European-wide screenplay writing competition run by the London Screenwriters' Workshop and the resulting screenplay was optioned by a film company. The script was set in 18th century London and my subsequent research led to the invention of Dr Thomas Silkstone, an American anatomist and the world's first forensic scientist.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Author Tessa Harris[5] also made him one of the main characters in her book The Dead Shall Not Rest which uses a fictional character Thomas Silkstone to examine the beginnings of forensic science, anatomy and surgery. The book, which is well referenced, emphasises the difficulty and need of anatomists of the time gaining access to bodies to dissect, and the illegal trade in dead bodies that eventuated due to this."
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love, love, love anything 'Jack The Ripper.' There's still so much we don't know about him.
I am quickly becoming a Tessa Harris fan! This is the first book in her Constance Piper Mystery Series and what a way to start off!
There's a main plot and a sub-plot included here and set around the time of Jack The Ripper in London 1888. The author manages to create a great vibe going in to this book that continues to creep you out as you turn page after page.
The main character is well developed and placed in the middle of both mysteries.
I can't say too much without giving the story away completely, but I really love Tessa Harris' voice and writing style. A bit slow here and there but still worth finishing the book. There are some disturbing descriptions that you should be aware of, but we are talking Jack The Ripper.
Hey! Did you hear that they think this Holmes guy may have been The Ripper??? oooooo
:) Love it!
Pick this book up and read it to its end.
May 28, 2017
Ever since a trip to London, staying in a hotel in Whitechapel and taking a cracking Ripper Tour, I have been a bit fascinated by Jack and his antics so I was more than interested in seeing what this author could do with this book. I am by no means an expert Riperologist but, to me, she has weaved her own story seamlessly into the setting. Incorporating fact (as we know it) with her fiction to produce a pretty good read.
Constance is trying to find her teacher Emily Tindall. She hasn't been seen in time and she is worried. She tries to follow her footsteps, she goes to her church, her place of work and gets fobbed off at every turn. Being only young and of dubious "employment" herself, Constance lucks out at every turn.
We also hear from a doctor, Terence Cutler, who we learn early on also has his own dubious working habits! His wife has also disappeared and, having avoided this situation for a fair while, is forced to confront it when her sister, Pauline, turns up asking after her.
Then a fortuitous meeting between Constance and Pauline has them combining forces to find out what has happened to both Pauline's sister and Miss Tindall. A meeting of minds who, together could get to the bottom of things, as the cases appear linked. Drawn to an unknown body, the sixth victim, that has been found and possibly not attributed to the Ripper, together they investigate.
The narrative is interspersed with Emily telling her own story. Why isn't she able to just tell someone what is happening? What evil is really happening in and around Whitechapel?
I simply devoured this book cover to cover. I got fully immersed in the place, the time, and the story as I devoutly followed all the characters as they tried to get to the truth. As this story merges with the Ripper story, there is quite a bit of gore described but not for shock, it is totally befitting the narrative. The other case in question is also a bit hard hitting so I guess what I am trying to say, without giving spoilers, is that this book is not for the faint-hearted.
Initially, I was a bit confused with the parts narrated by Emily herself. I couldn't get how she could be where she was, see what she saw, but couldn't do anything about it. Maybe she was in hiding, maybe she was scared. I would probably have been given what I found out later was happening but, as with all books that I am enjoying, I just held those thoughts and went with it all, trusting the author would come good eventually. And she did. Definitely. And it works. I have seen this sort of supernatural element bomb in some books, but here it was very effective.
Characterisation was also very good. I found that speech, mannerisms and behaviour were all congruent with the time and place setting, which made the characters come across as being totally believable. I was well able to connect with the majority almost instantly which really helped my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved the chalk and cheese combination of Constance and Pauline. They clicked so well together. And the dark characters were all deliciously evil and it oozed from the pages when they were around.
Pacing was darned near perfect. As the narration switches between the characters it in turn switches between the different elements of the book. This kept the narrative fresh for me which meant that it kept my interest and concentration throughout the book. I was not a fan of having to put it down and, when life made me, I got a bit grumpy, eager to get back to the wonderful world I was totally immersed in before.
All in all, a darned near perfect read for me combing all the elements I need from a book, including that satisfying feeling at the end. I read this book thinking it was a stand alone, on finishing it, I was very happy to find out that it is actually book one of a new series. One that I will be definitely putting on my watch list.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Constance is trying to find her teacher Emily Tindall. She hasn't been seen in time and she is worried. She tries to follow her footsteps, she goes to her church, her place of work and gets fobbed off at every turn. Being only young and of dubious "employment" herself, Constance lucks out at every turn.
We also hear from a doctor, Terence Cutler, who we learn early on also has his own dubious working habits! His wife has also disappeared and, having avoided this situation for a fair while, is forced to confront it when her sister, Pauline, turns up asking after her.
Then a fortuitous meeting between Constance and Pauline has them combining forces to find out what has happened to both Pauline's sister and Miss Tindall. A meeting of minds who, together could get to the bottom of things, as the cases appear linked. Drawn to an unknown body, the sixth victim, that has been found and possibly not attributed to the Ripper, together they investigate.
The narrative is interspersed with Emily telling her own story. Why isn't she able to just tell someone what is happening? What evil is really happening in and around Whitechapel?
I simply devoured this book cover to cover. I got fully immersed in the place, the time, and the story as I devoutly followed all the characters as they tried to get to the truth. As this story merges with the Ripper story, there is quite a bit of gore described but not for shock, it is totally befitting the narrative. The other case in question is also a bit hard hitting so I guess what I am trying to say, without giving spoilers, is that this book is not for the faint-hearted.
Initially, I was a bit confused with the parts narrated by Emily herself. I couldn't get how she could be where she was, see what she saw, but couldn't do anything about it. Maybe she was in hiding, maybe she was scared. I would probably have been given what I found out later was happening but, as with all books that I am enjoying, I just held those thoughts and went with it all, trusting the author would come good eventually. And she did. Definitely. And it works. I have seen this sort of supernatural element bomb in some books, but here it was very effective.
Characterisation was also very good. I found that speech, mannerisms and behaviour were all congruent with the time and place setting, which made the characters come across as being totally believable. I was well able to connect with the majority almost instantly which really helped my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved the chalk and cheese combination of Constance and Pauline. They clicked so well together. And the dark characters were all deliciously evil and it oozed from the pages when they were around.
Pacing was darned near perfect. As the narration switches between the characters it in turn switches between the different elements of the book. This kept the narrative fresh for me which meant that it kept my interest and concentration throughout the book. I was not a fan of having to put it down and, when life made me, I got a bit grumpy, eager to get back to the wonderful world I was totally immersed in before.
All in all, a darned near perfect read for me combing all the elements I need from a book, including that satisfying feeling at the end. I read this book thinking it was a stand alone, on finishing it, I was very happy to find out that it is actually book one of a new series. One that I will be definitely putting on my watch list.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
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