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The Devil in Whitechapel: The Untold Story of Jack the Ripper
During the autumn of 1888, a series of murders occurred in London’s East End that sent shockwaves reverberating around the world. The victims were all prostitutes,their killer, a knife-wielding assailant with an insatiable bloodlust. Within the space of just three months, this unnamed fiend would claim at least five lives. Then, he mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a trail of mutilated corpses and a scar upon our collective psyche that endures to this day. The atrocities attributed to Jack the Ripper have become the stuff of legend. And like any legend they have become the subject of wild speculation and unfounded theory...until now. Join true crime author Robert Keller as he embarks upon a forensic examination of this most enigmatic of murder cases.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
166 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 17, 2022
Rational and Reasonable
Robert Keller has done a fine job in laying out the basic facts known today about Jack the Ripper and the five Canonical murders usually attributed to him. He also tells about some other murders which are sometimes, but not
always chalked up to Jack's account.
Mr. Keller has gone through the few police records that still exist from 1888 and 1889, private letters referring to Jack written by officials in the case, medical patholigist's reports,and news paper accounts written at the time.
Also presented are the theories of the modern day put forth in books by various authors and movie makers. At the end he gives his ideas about Jack the Ripper , and his murders.
The author's approach and ideas are rational and reasonable, I believe. They make this the best, most near the truth, book about Jack the Ripper that I have read thus far!
,
Robert Keller has done a fine job in laying out the basic facts known today about Jack the Ripper and the five Canonical murders usually attributed to him. He also tells about some other murders which are sometimes, but not
always chalked up to Jack's account.
Mr. Keller has gone through the few police records that still exist from 1888 and 1889, private letters referring to Jack written by officials in the case, medical patholigist's reports,and news paper accounts written at the time.
Also presented are the theories of the modern day put forth in books by various authors and movie makers. At the end he gives his ideas about Jack the Ripper , and his murders.
The author's approach and ideas are rational and reasonable, I believe. They make this the best, most near the truth, book about Jack the Ripper that I have read thus far!
,
January 10, 2021
Nothing New
Not a surprise...no compelling evidence suggesting finally who the killer could have been. Instead, heavily ruminating that we will never know. Rather non-descript criminal profile which in truth is just a canned description of every serial killer. No hot suspect. Not even a suggestion. Regurgitation of questionable facts and debunking of every other authors suggested suspect.
Not a surprise...no compelling evidence suggesting finally who the killer could have been. Instead, heavily ruminating that we will never know. Rather non-descript criminal profile which in truth is just a canned description of every serial killer. No hot suspect. Not even a suggestion. Regurgitation of questionable facts and debunking of every other authors suggested suspect.
August 5, 2017
A good primer
Obviously I have heard of Jack the Ripper but I had only a cursory knowledge of the case. This book is a good introduction to Jack the Ripper and gives background to the murders. It appears to be well structured and reasoned. I am looking forward to reading other books on the case.
Obviously I have heard of Jack the Ripper but I had only a cursory knowledge of the case. This book is a good introduction to Jack the Ripper and gives background to the murders. It appears to be well structured and reasoned. I am looking forward to reading other books on the case.
May 8, 2017
Finally, a believable approach!
I've read several stories about "Jake the Ripper" and
Mr. Keller puts the whole story in an understandable "read". I recommend this book and I'm off to read another from him!
I've read several stories about "Jake the Ripper" and
Mr. Keller puts the whole story in an understandable "read". I recommend this book and I'm off to read another from him!
May 17, 2017
Very well done
I have read many accounts of Ripper lore. This is particularly good in that the author does not try to name a suspect. I enjoyed the impartial view from a distance. I recommend this as it is informative as well as a quick read.
I have read many accounts of Ripper lore. This is particularly good in that the author does not try to name a suspect. I enjoyed the impartial view from a distance. I recommend this as it is informative as well as a quick read.
July 2, 2018
This book, while offering some details I hadn’t heard before, read like a middle school research paper. Keller’s approach in discussing forensics and profiling was appealing but it was extremely repetitive; I think the book could have easily been half the length.
August 18, 2022
Read numerous books on Jack the Ripper. This is matter of fact, insightful and easy to read.
October 27, 2017
I was very disappointed in "The Devil in Whitechapel: The Untold Story of Jack the Ripper" by Robert Keller. Much of the text is an attempt at discrediting other theories concerning Jack's true identity. There is nothing wrong with another point of view but I expect Keller to offer up a theory of his own that would hold weight and give us pause for speculation. He didn't.
For me, this text was awkward to read. He repeated himself multiple times under new chapter headings without providing new material to accompany his assertions. I read to the end hoping for a redemption of the work but was disappointed. I felt this book offered nothing to the debate of the Ripper's identity.
For me, this text was awkward to read. He repeated himself multiple times under new chapter headings without providing new material to accompany his assertions. I read to the end hoping for a redemption of the work but was disappointed. I felt this book offered nothing to the debate of the Ripper's identity.
March 3, 2017
Enjoyable.
I admit to having a morbid fascination with "The Ripper" and though normally I don't actively seek out books and stories related to the subject, I will read or watch most that I happen upon if they appear to be somewhat credible and unbiased.
I came across this book whilst looking for an author that does not claim to be able to unveil the name of "The Ripper" and that is truly what I got. An informative and unbiased portrayal of known facts. Given the subject has been covered by so many in so many different and not so different ways, a lot of the information isn't new, but then facts are facts and that doesn't change with time, nor should it with whichever author is telling the story. What I liked about this book is that it largely sticks with known facts (all the facts?), the author has tried not to influence those with his own opinions but there would be no story if there wasn't at least some slant in the findings, conjecture is and always has been all we have when there's simply never going to be enough evidence to lead to unquestionable proof.
An enjoyable easy read and given that I read this immediately after reading Patricia Cornwell's Ripper, has made me question things all over again, but that's a good thing. X
I admit to having a morbid fascination with "The Ripper" and though normally I don't actively seek out books and stories related to the subject, I will read or watch most that I happen upon if they appear to be somewhat credible and unbiased.
I came across this book whilst looking for an author that does not claim to be able to unveil the name of "The Ripper" and that is truly what I got. An informative and unbiased portrayal of known facts. Given the subject has been covered by so many in so many different and not so different ways, a lot of the information isn't new, but then facts are facts and that doesn't change with time, nor should it with whichever author is telling the story. What I liked about this book is that it largely sticks with known facts (all the facts?), the author has tried not to influence those with his own opinions but there would be no story if there wasn't at least some slant in the findings, conjecture is and always has been all we have when there's simply never going to be enough evidence to lead to unquestionable proof.
An enjoyable easy read and given that I read this immediately after reading Patricia Cornwell's Ripper, has made me question things all over again, but that's a good thing. X
January 3, 2017
Whether already familiar with the Jack the Ripper tale or new to this fascinating true-crime story, this book is for you. In addition to providing details of the various murders attributed to the famed killer, Keller also explores some of the more likely as well more ludicrous suspects and brings in information from other experts to form a detailed profile of who Jack the Ripper might have been, even if the specific identity of this iconic killer may never be known. My lone annoyance with the book was that it is seemingly meant to be read straight through, so the author's tendency to repeat information (in some cases, it appears he literally copied and pasted from a prior section) seems overkill. That did not detract from what an informative and quick read this was, however, and again, I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Jack the Ripper.
August 18, 2016
Seeing Saucy Jacky from a new angle
This is an interesting study of Jack the Ripper with some thought-provoking insights as to the character and identity of the Ripper. There are quite a few errors in the book, but the story is worthwhile reading.
Note that a London newspaper in 1888 used the term "serial killer."
This is an interesting study of Jack the Ripper with some thought-provoking insights as to the character and identity of the Ripper. There are quite a few errors in the book, but the story is worthwhile reading.
Note that a London newspaper in 1888 used the term "serial killer."
March 13, 2017
Excellent book
The Devil in Whitechapel is a terrific introduction to the history surrounding Jack the Ripper. The first half of the book is devoted to the details of the crimes. In the second half Robert Keller distinguishes between known facts and suppositions closing with a very well argued systematic approach to finally unveiling the identity of the killer. Very well done!
The Devil in Whitechapel is a terrific introduction to the history surrounding Jack the Ripper. The first half of the book is devoted to the details of the crimes. In the second half Robert Keller distinguishes between known facts and suppositions closing with a very well argued systematic approach to finally unveiling the identity of the killer. Very well done!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews