The Ripper Code

by Thomas Toughill

Thomas Toughill applies his detective skills to one of the greatest mysteries, the identity of Jack the Ripper. The result is a book which is as original as it is enthralling. Toughill suggests that Jack the Ripper was a former "friend" of Oscar Wilde and that Wilde dropped hints about this in several of his works, most notably The Picture of Dorian Gray, which Wilde wrote in 1889, the year after the Ripper murders took place. In fascinating detail, the author argues that Wilde's story, that of a privileged man whose life of vice in the East End of London turns him into a murderer, is in fact a coded message about the Ripper's identity. However, The Ripper Code is not just a fascinating voyage through the writings of Oscar Wilde and others. It is also a striking example of original detective work. Here, as in his previous books, Toughill unveils stunning evidence from a hitherto untapped source and uses it to devastating effect in arguing his case.

Genres: True Crime, History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting theory, but one based on mainly coincidence and speculation, absolutely no hard evidence to back it up. I am incredibly skeptical of the idea that The Picture of Dorian Gray had any links to the Whitechapel murders let alone that it holds the key to who the murderer is. There are many more convincing theories as to who Jack the Ripper really was, but anybody who has an interest in the case may find this a worthwhile read, even if it is just to read up on another crazy theory, or even just to find out a little more about Oscar Wilde's life.

[Ivy Blossom · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so stupid. The author dismisses suspects without reason, and then goes in a Da Vinci Code level conspiracy that Oscar Wilde wrote Dorian Grey to send a message about the Ripper's identity. It is a hilarious work, if you know you know anything about Ripper scholarship and criminal investigation.

Some highlights include:

"At a stroke then any theory of the ‘Jill the Ripper’ variety can be dismissed out of hand. True, there is no absolute physical proof that the Ripper was male; as far as is known, the doctors who inspected the Ripper’s victims found no semen or any sign that the women had had intercourse with the murderer. But why would a prostitute go to a secluded spot late at night with another woman? And it is simply too much to accept that a woman could inflict on a member of her own sex, or the other sex for that matter, the sort of injuries suffered by Mary Kelly."
That's not to say there's any credibility on the on the Jill the Ripper theory, but his argument here is very mysogisnitic. The rest of this claims are equally stupid and not well founded. One day I will go over one by one, to fully show how stupid Toughill's conclusion is.

[Tony Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Ripperology is your thing then it’s a must read. Excellently laid out and the theory is believable. We’ll never have real evidence but the list of circumstantial evidence, duplicate dates and similar names is mind blowing. 4.5 out of 5

[Polstar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do love to read another theory on who Jack The Ripper was; as this theory involved Oscar Wilde I was doubly intrigued.
The book opens with the ubiquitous rehashing of the murders and their context. This is well written and although I've read this in numerous shapes and forms, it was quite readable.
Then the theory kicks in and this is where it all went wrong for me. It suddenly felt like I was reading an episode of Ancient Aliens - where the author KNEW that what he was writing was quite far-fetched and tenuous however he needed to assert the theory with 'it is probable that' or 'it could be suggested that' (or similar phrases - these aren't direct quotes from the book).
The well structured and well measured prose of the first section of the book gives way to almost inane ramblings, desperate to prove their hypothesis.
It's a real pity as it's an interesting idea but there seems to be little firm evidence to support it.
I'd recommend this to people who'd like to read another book about the murderer but don't expect to be adding Frank Miles to the list of suspects following this book.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the more interesting Ripper theories I've read about, but the evidence presented is extremely disappointing. Toughill sets out to prove that Oscar Wilde knew who Jack the Ripper was, and he left clues in The Picture of Dorian Gray, but these clues turn out to be a flimsy chain of coincidences and circumstantial evidence that wouldn't hold up in the court of even the most open-minded Ripperologist.

[Ella Guru · Rating 1 out of 5]

Useful description of the known facts in the first part of the book but once the author begins to try and build some sort of theory, quite frankly, the whole thing becomes a farce. Unreasonable assumptions and faulty logic on nearly every page. . . .now struggling to suspend common sense enough to let me waste more time by finishing it

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give it two stars only because it was an amusing read...the scholarship is non-existant.