The Ripper's Apprentice

Alfred Swain #2

by Donald Serrell Thomas

A sadistic murderer known only as "Fred," who specializes in poisoning prostitutes, offers to unravel his latest crime for a large sum of money, a crime that threatens the reputation of one of Victorian England's finest

Genres: Fiction

245 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

aka Francis Selwyn

Donald Serrell Thomas is an English author of (primarily) Victorian-era historical, crime and detective fiction, as well as books on factual crime and criminals, in particular several academic books on the history of crime in London. He has written a number of biographies, two volumes of poetry, and has also edited volumes of poetry by John Dryden and the Pre-Raphaelites.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second treatment of the Lambeth Murders during 1891-1892 that I have read by Mr. Thomas. The first, although written long after, was a Sherlock Holmes pastiche that shoehorns Holmes and Watson into the investigation into the poisonings and outre notes of warning and blackmail. I previously offered my opinion of that collection and rated it only a "3".

I found that this fictionalized account was much smoother. The characters of the lead investigator, Inspector Swain and his culprit, Dr. Cream, were fairly believable even though their conversations and interactions are molded to fit the historic facts. Without the added burden of making the tale conform to a Sherlock Holmes mystery, I think the author has allowed himself to write more "naturally". I find some of the sub-plots a bit strained, but overall it is a clear and well-paced story.

Now that I have had the opportunity to read a non-Sh piece, my opinion of his skills has gone up a bit (one score", you might say.) I still have one more of his non-Holmes books to read and hope it matches the quality of this one.

As in all of his writings, Mr. Thomas pays strict attention to the details of the Victorian world of which he writes. Both the broad strokes as well as minutiae are true-to-the-period. Yet these details are presented in a wholly natural manner, as if he himself lived and wrote during the period. But, except for a few speeches given by the characters, he avoids the stilted phrasing and complex logic common to the period, making the book easy for the modern reader to enter and follow the tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is one blemish where either the printer or editor missed a mix-up in the typesetting, however it affects only a couple of sentences.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite like no other book that I have read before with a shocking finale. Based on actual events this is not a cosy mystery in any sense of the word. There are edge of the seat moments throughout and many times when you believe the culprit has been captured. Even some of the characters don't like each other adding to the tension. There is an obvious clue I overlooked being so engrossed in the storyline. This is a must read if you love this genre

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very unpleasant. Two women are killed. After burial, someone is suspicious, so one of them is dug up again for the police. But a man is in the coffin, a mix-up having occurred. The graveyard keeper says this happens at times, the care not being given to the dead that is given to the living. I don't know how true that might be, can only suppose it would have to be in a well populated area.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a fictionalized account of the Dr. Cream and the Lambeth murders in 1891-1892. At his execution, he claimed to be Jack.