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Prisoner 4374
For more than a century, Dr. Thomas Neill Cream was a potential Jack The Ripper suspect.
He was a sinister character, preying on the unfortunate souls who were forced to make a living as streetwalkers in Victorian London, and ultimately led those poor women to an untimely and torturous death. These crimes eventually branded him the 'Lambeth Poisoner'.
However, during the time of the heinous Ripper murders, Dr. Cream was incarcerated in Joliet Prison, Illinois. Over the decades, this fact alone has caused debate as to whether or not he deserves to be under suspicion of being the Whitechapel fiend. Was it possible that Dr. Cream bribed his way out of jail, perhaps using a doppelganger to take his place while secretly finding a passage to England with murder in mind?
This fascinating book, told from the standpoint of Cream himself, explains the twisted logic behind his actions. The author has done considerable and meticulous research, tracing Cream's life from his adolescent years in Canada to his last moments on the gallows at Newgate.
NOTE: This is the large print edition of Prisoner 4374, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.
He was a sinister character, preying on the unfortunate souls who were forced to make a living as streetwalkers in Victorian London, and ultimately led those poor women to an untimely and torturous death. These crimes eventually branded him the 'Lambeth Poisoner'.
However, during the time of the heinous Ripper murders, Dr. Cream was incarcerated in Joliet Prison, Illinois. Over the decades, this fact alone has caused debate as to whether or not he deserves to be under suspicion of being the Whitechapel fiend. Was it possible that Dr. Cream bribed his way out of jail, perhaps using a doppelganger to take his place while secretly finding a passage to England with murder in mind?
This fascinating book, told from the standpoint of Cream himself, explains the twisted logic behind his actions. The author has done considerable and meticulous research, tracing Cream's life from his adolescent years in Canada to his last moments on the gallows at Newgate.
NOTE: This is the large print edition of Prisoner 4374, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.
- GenresTrue Crime
118 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2015
46 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Griffiths-Jones
33 books72 followersA.J.Griffiths-Jones is a historian & genealogist with a special interest in Victorian Crime. After a decade of living & working in China, she now lives in Shropshire, England. A.J's interests include cooking, travelling & swimming.
Her debut book 'Prisoner 4374' was the result of ten years research in to the life of Dr.Thomas Neill Cream, the notorious Lambeth Poisoner & Jack the Ripper suspect.
A.J. is currently working on a sequel Ripper book and a series of novels, the first of which 'The Villagers' was published early 2016.
Her debut book 'Prisoner 4374' was the result of ten years research in to the life of Dr.Thomas Neill Cream, the notorious Lambeth Poisoner & Jack the Ripper suspect.
A.J. is currently working on a sequel Ripper book and a series of novels, the first of which 'The Villagers' was published early 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 3, 2016
Of all the possible candidates for Jack the Ripper, Dr. Thomas Neil Cream may be the most unlikely. Born in 1850 and hung for murder at Newgate Prison in 1892, he is occasionally touted as one of the possible suspects. He was a murderer himself responsible for the death of several women and one man in Canada, the United States, and England. Yet his link to Jack the Ripper is only in the unsubstantiated rumor that he stated at the moment of his hanging, "I am Jack the...". (One biographer has suggested that Cream actually said in a moment of great fear and panic, "I am ejaculating" but that is probably as far fetched as "I am Jack the..".) But whatever rumors and innuendos existed to link him with Jack the Ripper, there are two bits of information that makes it nearly impossible.
1. Cream preferred poison not knives or surgical equipment. Serial killers rarely change their mode of operations. But even more convincing...
2. Thomas Neil Cream was in Joliet Prison in Illinois for a murder when the infamous Ripper slayings took place in 1888. He was not released until 1891.
In Prisoner 4374, A. J. Griffiths-Jones accounts the life and crimes of Thomas Neil Cream from his start as an abortionist at the age of 24 to his death at 42. I must say up front that I was a little disappointed with the back cover blurb that insinuated that Cream may have actually bribed his way out of prison to do the crimes and had a "doppleganger" take his place in his cell. For this is never a claim made in Griffiths-Jones' book. The author makes it clear early on that she does not believe Cream committed the Whitechapel murders. So what we have is a biography of sort about Cream who was dubbed the Lambeth Poisoner by the British press. The author chooses to tell the story of the Lambeth Poisoner in first narrative as Cream himself might have written it. And thus lies the problem. Is this a novel or a true crime documentation of his life? Although the author states she extensively researched her subject, and I am sure she did, there are no footnotes or appendix with references and some photos of Cream and papers such as a few letters and his sentence commutation which are too small to read and have no description of what they entail. With the first person narration it is difficult to assert the facts from what the author perceives in dramatic license as Creams' perception and opinion. So essentially, Prisoner 4374 only works as a fictional biography.
Fortunately, it works fairly well at that level. Griffiths-Jones does have a casual yet distinct style that brings out the personality in what must have been a charismatic if morally bankrupt man. The author adds a flair to the narrative and shows more than a little understanding of a anti-social personality depicted the way Cream makes excuses for his behavior and justifies his deeds. In its own way, it is an enjoyable read of a murderer who, despite the questionable linkage to Jack, has a certain villainous attraction of his own. One of the things that draws me to the story is that in Cream, we have a murderer who worked on two continents, something that is unusual and a dubious achievement at the time. Certainly anyone who enjoys reading about murderers and especially serial killers will find this entertaining.
But even though I enjoyed the story, It seems like there was a lot more to be said than a brief imaginary autobiography. Cream and his villainy stands equal to others in his Victorian times like H.H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper whoever he really was. There never was a real link to Jack the Ripper and it is unfortunate that the author felt she needed to tease that link to get it going. The good thing about this book is that it is a fine introduction to a singular villain of the late 19th century. The not so good thing is that it is mostly just a taste, not deciding if it wants to be fiction or biography. I would recommend this on the standalone weight of the subject matter and apart from the ludicrous Jack the Ripper connection. Also those who like books about serial killers, and there are more of us than you would guess out there, will enjoy reading about one that is lesser known than the usual subjects. But if you are attracted to the book solely on the Ripper connection, you will be disappointed.
Two and a half stars.
1. Cream preferred poison not knives or surgical equipment. Serial killers rarely change their mode of operations. But even more convincing...
2. Thomas Neil Cream was in Joliet Prison in Illinois for a murder when the infamous Ripper slayings took place in 1888. He was not released until 1891.
In Prisoner 4374, A. J. Griffiths-Jones accounts the life and crimes of Thomas Neil Cream from his start as an abortionist at the age of 24 to his death at 42. I must say up front that I was a little disappointed with the back cover blurb that insinuated that Cream may have actually bribed his way out of prison to do the crimes and had a "doppleganger" take his place in his cell. For this is never a claim made in Griffiths-Jones' book. The author makes it clear early on that she does not believe Cream committed the Whitechapel murders. So what we have is a biography of sort about Cream who was dubbed the Lambeth Poisoner by the British press. The author chooses to tell the story of the Lambeth Poisoner in first narrative as Cream himself might have written it. And thus lies the problem. Is this a novel or a true crime documentation of his life? Although the author states she extensively researched her subject, and I am sure she did, there are no footnotes or appendix with references and some photos of Cream and papers such as a few letters and his sentence commutation which are too small to read and have no description of what they entail. With the first person narration it is difficult to assert the facts from what the author perceives in dramatic license as Creams' perception and opinion. So essentially, Prisoner 4374 only works as a fictional biography.
Fortunately, it works fairly well at that level. Griffiths-Jones does have a casual yet distinct style that brings out the personality in what must have been a charismatic if morally bankrupt man. The author adds a flair to the narrative and shows more than a little understanding of a anti-social personality depicted the way Cream makes excuses for his behavior and justifies his deeds. In its own way, it is an enjoyable read of a murderer who, despite the questionable linkage to Jack, has a certain villainous attraction of his own. One of the things that draws me to the story is that in Cream, we have a murderer who worked on two continents, something that is unusual and a dubious achievement at the time. Certainly anyone who enjoys reading about murderers and especially serial killers will find this entertaining.
But even though I enjoyed the story, It seems like there was a lot more to be said than a brief imaginary autobiography. Cream and his villainy stands equal to others in his Victorian times like H.H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper whoever he really was. There never was a real link to Jack the Ripper and it is unfortunate that the author felt she needed to tease that link to get it going. The good thing about this book is that it is a fine introduction to a singular villain of the late 19th century. The not so good thing is that it is mostly just a taste, not deciding if it wants to be fiction or biography. I would recommend this on the standalone weight of the subject matter and apart from the ludicrous Jack the Ripper connection. Also those who like books about serial killers, and there are more of us than you would guess out there, will enjoy reading about one that is lesser known than the usual subjects. But if you are attracted to the book solely on the Ripper connection, you will be disappointed.
Two and a half stars.
July 12, 2021
This is not my usual read as I tend to enjoy the gruesome and extreme, but serial killers fascinate me and how best to know one is to read a diary style book of a real serial killer who was allegedly friends with Jack the Ripper. I know this is not the actual diary, but the author writes so well, I truly believed I was reading his story. He was telling me all about his life and the murders. I recommend this for all thriller addicts who are as fascinated about what makes a serial killer 'tick'.
December 1, 2020
Prisoner 4374 tells the story of Jack the Ripper suspect Dr. Thomas Neill Cream. A strong first person narrative brings Cream to life as a cocky and audacious hater of prostitutes. Griffiths-Jones takes the reader back to Cream’s university days in Canada, and his appetite for debauchery and excess and all the self-justifications that go with it. His salaciousness results in syphilis. From there, the story moves to Chicago and on to London where he is convicted for murder. Could he be the Ripper? How, when he was serving time during the Ripper murders?
Action-packed with excellent characterisation of protagonist Cream, this is a fast-paced and impactful read. The story is very well-crafted, and Griffiths-Jones slots in her factual details with aplomb. Impeccably researched, Prisoner 4374 is a terrific imaginative re-telling that makes a delightfully entertaining contribution to the Ripper swag.
Action-packed with excellent characterisation of protagonist Cream, this is a fast-paced and impactful read. The story is very well-crafted, and Griffiths-Jones slots in her factual details with aplomb. Impeccably researched, Prisoner 4374 is a terrific imaginative re-telling that makes a delightfully entertaining contribution to the Ripper swag.
April 9, 2020
This researched volume in story form outlines the evil intent of Dr. Cream. He has been stricken with syphilis and seeks his revenge on the harlots of any area where he dwells: London, Canada, or the United States. The customs and mores of the day are within the tale. There is also the mention of his mysterious friend R in London. He was incarcerated for the murder of the husband of one of his female patients and served time during the exploits of Jack the Ripper in London. What makes this tale different is the fiendish delight he takes in his murders. He finally escapes from prison because of an appeal and new witnesses. His inheritance allows him to return to London where he finally falls in love with a pure woman. His desire, however, to continue to destroy the harlots of the world drives him to murder again and again. Will he befoul his pure love or will the agents of the law bring him to justice at last? Will the mysterious R be revealed? It’s a shame Vincent Price no longer lives to portray this evil man on screen.
December 6, 2021
This is the story of Dr Thomas Neill Cream (The Lambeth Poisoner) who was hung in 1892. We follow his exploits in Canada and England and gain understanding of him and the life he led.
Having his name in the frame for being Jack The Ripper, this story proves his innocence of that crime.
The author has written a well documented and interesting book. Painstaking research must have gone into this and I enjoyed the way the author wrote the book.
Having his name in the frame for being Jack The Ripper, this story proves his innocence of that crime.
The author has written a well documented and interesting book. Painstaking research must have gone into this and I enjoyed the way the author wrote the book.
April 7, 2020
Odd in a good way.
May 5, 2019
Having stumbled across this book at a local book fair, I was quickly entangled in the complex and dark world of Dr Thomas Neill Cream. Told in the first person, the book unravels his story from his young days to his eventual demise. I won't add any spoilers in case readers are not familiar with the case, or indeed, the man.
The writing is superb, the language used by the author capturing the snapshot of the era perfectly. From Ontario to Chicago, Liverpool to London, the reader is whisked along, following on the coat tails of the infamous doctor.
The book appears thoroughly researched, which I must commend Griffiths-Jones on. Each page is believable, many dark, with occasional light passages thrown in, all in keeping with the man's personality.
A wonderful find, that I enjoyed immensely.
I would strongly recommend this book to lovers of crime, historical crime, general fiction or anyone who enjoys a dastardly tale.
Five stars.
The writing is superb, the language used by the author capturing the snapshot of the era perfectly. From Ontario to Chicago, Liverpool to London, the reader is whisked along, following on the coat tails of the infamous doctor.
The book appears thoroughly researched, which I must commend Griffiths-Jones on. Each page is believable, many dark, with occasional light passages thrown in, all in keeping with the man's personality.
A wonderful find, that I enjoyed immensely.
I would strongly recommend this book to lovers of crime, historical crime, general fiction or anyone who enjoys a dastardly tale.
Five stars.
February 24, 2020
Amazing!
An absolutely incredible book- I was so engrossed! I couldn’t recommend this enough! So well written and researched. Can’t wait to read the next book from this impressive author
An absolutely incredible book- I was so engrossed! I couldn’t recommend this enough! So well written and researched. Can’t wait to read the next book from this impressive author
January 7, 2021
Not typically my genre, however, I found Prisoner 4374 an extremely entertaining and easy read. The conversational style of writing kept me engaged. Having lived around London most of my life, I have, of course, heard the stories of Jack the ripper. I haven’t, however, heard of the Lambeth Poisoner. The book was written as an autobiographical narrative with, evidently, some association with 'R', being Jack the Ripper.
I found the sinister Dr Thomas Neill Cream's journey from Illinois to the East End of London interesting, fascinating and macabre. I was hooked right through to his final moments on the gallows. Well done, A.J. Griffiths-Jones!!
I found the sinister Dr Thomas Neill Cream's journey from Illinois to the East End of London interesting, fascinating and macabre. I was hooked right through to his final moments on the gallows. Well done, A.J. Griffiths-Jones!!
January 4, 2021
Absolutely loved this extremely clever book. Taken from a true story but spoken through the words of the criminal, as if it were his biography. Chilling and yet exciting. highly recommended.
September 23, 2025
True crime but reads like a novel. Incredibly well researched. I did not know about Dr Cream and found it fascinating thar he was Canadian.
January 1, 2016
I bought this book at an event held in my local library, where I was able to meet and chat with the author. She has researched the life of Dr Thomas Neill Cream, a notorious poisoner executed in London in 1892. Because of a reported gallows confession, cut short by the rope, he remained a marginal suspect in the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. The book is his life story written in autobiographical form.
The first thing it does, beyond doubt, is eliminate him from the list of Ripper suspects. But Cream’s actual story is darkly fascinating, and possesses a page turning quality that conventional presentation may well have lacked.
In short, the author observes her meticulously researched facts, and adds as part of the consecutive narrative the sort of informed conclusions that a normal biography would probably offer in the final chapter. This is no mean feat; I was impressed by the authenticity of style, quality of writing, and how these insights are included. It is a bit like beginning with two separate tapestries of merit and combining them to form a single, far more impressive one.
Cream’s career from arrogant, gifted, and handsome young medical student to sadistic serial murderer is convincing, chilling, and in its own sad and curious context understandable. An additional thread running through the book gives a possible explanation to the so-called gallows confession.
The photographs, which are exclusively copyrighted to the author, also impress. He looks every inch the man depicted in the prose. There are also reproductions of letters and other documents.
At the beginning there is a short verse written by the author that try as I might I could not appreciate. No doubt others will, and I confess to being not good with poetry. But either way this is an extremely engrossing, informative, and memorable book.
The first thing it does, beyond doubt, is eliminate him from the list of Ripper suspects. But Cream’s actual story is darkly fascinating, and possesses a page turning quality that conventional presentation may well have lacked.
In short, the author observes her meticulously researched facts, and adds as part of the consecutive narrative the sort of informed conclusions that a normal biography would probably offer in the final chapter. This is no mean feat; I was impressed by the authenticity of style, quality of writing, and how these insights are included. It is a bit like beginning with two separate tapestries of merit and combining them to form a single, far more impressive one.
Cream’s career from arrogant, gifted, and handsome young medical student to sadistic serial murderer is convincing, chilling, and in its own sad and curious context understandable. An additional thread running through the book gives a possible explanation to the so-called gallows confession.
The photographs, which are exclusively copyrighted to the author, also impress. He looks every inch the man depicted in the prose. There are also reproductions of letters and other documents.
At the beginning there is a short verse written by the author that try as I might I could not appreciate. No doubt others will, and I confess to being not good with poetry. But either way this is an extremely engrossing, informative, and memorable book.
July 13, 2016
Scottish-born Dr. Thomas Neill Cream is often suspected of being the face behind the Jack the Ripper murders, but has he been misrepresented? There's no doubt he was responsible for several deaths, but does the fact that he spent time in an American prison during the Whitechapel killings let him off the hook, or could he have been otherwise involved in the legendary murders? Beginning with Cream's early years in Montreal, the author of this fascinating book allows the Doctor himself to tell his own story, charting his many romantic liaisons as well as portraying his progression from supplier of dubious 'cure-all' remedies, to abortionist and murderer.
With a special interest in Victorian villains, Ms Griffiths-Jones has utilised extensive research, accessing previously unpublished photographs and documents to bring Dr Cream's story to life. Adopting an unconventional autobiographical style, she perfectly captures the tone and style of the period, writing in a voice that screams with authenticity and truth.
I loved this book from the first page, found myself held in the Doctor's evil grip, and was unable to put the damn thing down (expect for a little sleep!) until the very end. The author's attention to detail only adds to the authentic feel of the work, sketching perfect images of the times, the people and the murderous killing spree.
A. J. Griffiths-Jones is a highly talented and clever writer and I'll be looking out for the sequel to 'Prisoner 4374' with great eagerness.
With a special interest in Victorian villains, Ms Griffiths-Jones has utilised extensive research, accessing previously unpublished photographs and documents to bring Dr Cream's story to life. Adopting an unconventional autobiographical style, she perfectly captures the tone and style of the period, writing in a voice that screams with authenticity and truth.
I loved this book from the first page, found myself held in the Doctor's evil grip, and was unable to put the damn thing down (expect for a little sleep!) until the very end. The author's attention to detail only adds to the authentic feel of the work, sketching perfect images of the times, the people and the murderous killing spree.
A. J. Griffiths-Jones is a highly talented and clever writer and I'll be looking out for the sequel to 'Prisoner 4374' with great eagerness.
April 26, 2020
In a refreshingly different approach to the writing of historical events and characters, this story is cleverly written from the perspective of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a suspect in the Ripper murders.
As his tale unfolds, a relationship develops between the Dr and the reader with whom he delights in divulging details of his sordid escapades, taking the reader on a tour of his life during Victorian times.
The charming gentleman portrayed by Dr Cream hides a cold and calculating character whose motives were clear but questionable. Human life was viewed as a commodity, expendable when no longer of use or when hampering his progression be that emotional, financial, physical or other.
Despite his evil ways, it was hard not to feel a little compassion for the Dr whose emotions swung from desire to disgust for those who had inflicted him with what was to become both a driving force and debilitating factor in his work.
A.J. Griffiths-Jones has incredible talent, which is showcased perfectly in Prisoner 4374. The depth of her research is evident from the level of detail given to Dr Cream’s character and the events, which play out during the time of the Ripper murders.
A fabulous read that brings the Victorian streets alive and entertains the reader throughout.
As his tale unfolds, a relationship develops between the Dr and the reader with whom he delights in divulging details of his sordid escapades, taking the reader on a tour of his life during Victorian times.
The charming gentleman portrayed by Dr Cream hides a cold and calculating character whose motives were clear but questionable. Human life was viewed as a commodity, expendable when no longer of use or when hampering his progression be that emotional, financial, physical or other.
Despite his evil ways, it was hard not to feel a little compassion for the Dr whose emotions swung from desire to disgust for those who had inflicted him with what was to become both a driving force and debilitating factor in his work.
A.J. Griffiths-Jones has incredible talent, which is showcased perfectly in Prisoner 4374. The depth of her research is evident from the level of detail given to Dr Cream’s character and the events, which play out during the time of the Ripper murders.
A fabulous read that brings the Victorian streets alive and entertains the reader throughout.
February 17, 2016
I'm no book doctor and read only on impulse. I came to this book simply because of the fantastic British series 'RIVER' . But a different book is mentioned there. anyways this book is the most clear way to understand Dr. Thomas NC .
Beautifully written in first person narrative by AJGJ. though I could not connect with Dr Thomas at times but considering this book is written on research material , the quality of narration is near perfect and from the heart(of AJGJ).
those who expect this to be the jack the ripper revealing details kind of book will be disappointed. But then I fail to understand who will take the Lambeth poisoner route to read this book.
I came thru RIVER. I loved the book. I loved AJGJ's style. This was my first legal purchase on kindle so definitely worth it. proud of my purchase.
will end my review with his quote featured in the first episode of RIVER
“It is forbidden to kill, therefore all murderers are punished, unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”
Voltaire's words .... relevant even today.
Beautifully written in first person narrative by AJGJ. though I could not connect with Dr Thomas at times but considering this book is written on research material , the quality of narration is near perfect and from the heart(of AJGJ).
those who expect this to be the jack the ripper revealing details kind of book will be disappointed. But then I fail to understand who will take the Lambeth poisoner route to read this book.
I came thru RIVER. I loved the book. I loved AJGJ's style. This was my first legal purchase on kindle so definitely worth it. proud of my purchase.
will end my review with his quote featured in the first episode of RIVER
“It is forbidden to kill, therefore all murderers are punished, unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”
Voltaire's words .... relevant even today.
August 5, 2016
Thanks to a remarkable and meticulous research, A.J. Griffiths-Jones traces Cream's life from his teenage years in Canada until his last breath on the scaffold at Newgate.
The work includes exclusive photos not previously published and reconstruct the motives and the criminal's movements .
This book, using the ploy of the biographical form of Dr. Cream, explains the twisted logic behind its actions. Thus it appears to be Fiction and Non- Fiction at the same time.
"Prisoner 4374" captures the reader's attention with investigative elements that, just because it exposed in a biographical manner, led him to devour the book hoping to get "a clearer view of the individual that is talking to us."
I do not want spoilers so I recommend you buy and read this book to get the answer to the question "Dr. Thomas Neil Cream was Jack the Ripper?"
The work includes exclusive photos not previously published and reconstruct the motives and the criminal's movements .
This book, using the ploy of the biographical form of Dr. Cream, explains the twisted logic behind its actions. Thus it appears to be Fiction and Non- Fiction at the same time.
"Prisoner 4374" captures the reader's attention with investigative elements that, just because it exposed in a biographical manner, led him to devour the book hoping to get "a clearer view of the individual that is talking to us."
I do not want spoilers so I recommend you buy and read this book to get the answer to the question "Dr. Thomas Neil Cream was Jack the Ripper?"
March 4, 2016
First of all what an amazing book the way a j has written this is so good your are taken on a journey through this man's life I learnt a lot about the man. I do find it hard to read some books but not thIs one, if you are a fan of true crime it's a must have book if not a fan give it a go you so wont be sorry worth every penny can't wait for the next one thank you a j for this book more some please
October 22, 2016
I found myself drawn to more material concerning Dr. Cream after writing a review of the dark drama RIVER. I was delighted by Griffiths-Jones' unique approach at voicing buttressed by a powerfully researched foundation.
If you've ever been intrigued by a human being you will find this exploration interesting and at times-- tense.
Highly suggested.
Griffiths-Jones is somebody to watch Jack the Ripper enthusiasts, mark my words...
FOR I AM JACK THE.....
...snap.
Yours truly,
Mordy
If you've ever been intrigued by a human being you will find this exploration interesting and at times-- tense.
Highly suggested.
Griffiths-Jones is somebody to watch Jack the Ripper enthusiasts, mark my words...
FOR I AM JACK THE.....
...snap.
Yours truly,
Mordy
January 11, 2020
Delightful
An interesting take on the infamous murderer, Dr Thomas Neill Cream, also known as the Lambeth Poisoner. Written in an autobiographical style the author guides us through the mind of a murderer. A mind all too consumed with anger, pain and the need to satisfy the most base of human cravings.
Really enjoyed this one.
Review by Robert Southworth author of The Spartacus Chronicles and Ripper Legacies
An interesting take on the infamous murderer, Dr Thomas Neill Cream, also known as the Lambeth Poisoner. Written in an autobiographical style the author guides us through the mind of a murderer. A mind all too consumed with anger, pain and the need to satisfy the most base of human cravings.
Really enjoyed this one.
Review by Robert Southworth author of The Spartacus Chronicles and Ripper Legacies
January 1, 2018
Such an interesting story!!
I truly enjoyed this book. I can't get enough of A.J. Griffiths-Jones and highly suggest this book. It has an interesting point of view and really keeps you on your toes.
I truly enjoyed this book. I can't get enough of A.J. Griffiths-Jones and highly suggest this book. It has an interesting point of view and really keeps you on your toes.
November 3, 2019
It Took a Minute, but...
Though it took a while to sort of sneak up on me, when it finally did I was rewarded with a casual but intense narrative. I am looking forward to her book on Jack, the Ripper!
Though it took a while to sort of sneak up on me, when it finally did I was rewarded with a casual but intense narrative. I am looking forward to her book on Jack, the Ripper!
October 5, 2020
I don’t usually read historical crime ,but I won this novel in a giveaway . I was hooked from the first page , the author did not disappoint , she captured the detail for the times and I was quickly drawn into the twisted life of Dr Cream .
June 16, 2016
A must read for all not just readers of crime has you gripped from the first page to the last .
January 5, 2017
Compelling look into the mind of Dr Cream. Meticulous research of his life and other details surrounding him. By far my favorite read of 2016.
May 16, 2020
Not something I would normally read, but I really enjoyed the life of the infamous Dr Cream.
Really enjoyable tale.
Really enjoyable tale.
April 10, 2016
Rating - 2 stars
Theories about who Jack the Ripper was abound - just checking Wiki will give you a good starting point and there's plenty more if you start looking in the more academic and serious research realms. For some reason, there is a large number of people who are still absolutely fascinated and intrigued by murders that have occurred well over a century ago - the mystery of the unsolved and the wish to lay the ghost to rest in some manner call.
All this is what the advertising of the book 'Prisoner 4374' focuses on - the curiosity and fascination with the unexplained - and unfortunately, one of the first places were it disappoints. Instead of providing the expected answer after this style of advertising (i.e. here is Jack, I found him!), Griffiths-Jones provides a story about something else and someone else, explaining away a theory about who Jack was by dismissing it and focusing elsewhere. This is a rather poor advertising approach from the publisher and should have been thoroughly avoided. By providing one premise and expectation and then completely dashing it, all you accomplish is a feeling of hollow disappointment and a wish to doubt all further advertising from the particular author (not necessarily their fault, as the publisher is often the deciding factor) and the particular publisher! It would have been more sensible to approach it from the perspective of contrast - "We've all heard about Jack The Ripper, but he wasn't the only sinister figure on the streets of Victorian London. Let's tell you the story of the Lambeth Poisoner!". That would make sense and you wouldn't be setting up your reader for an immediate disappointment. Alternatively, write the story that the blurb implies - make the Lambeth Poisoner actually Jack (this would abuse historical accuracy something awful, but that's what alternative universes are for)! Either way, don't tell your reader at the end that you're not going to give them what they have expected at all!
My next consideration is Griffiths-Jones' writing style, which is actually relatively good (the key reason for the second star in the rating). Often, even popular books lack the quality of language and style that can keep a reader interested enough to persist through the entirety whether or not the plot is good - this is especially true of self-published books and sadly more true than it should be with conventionally published books as well. I'll grant you that I'll often persist through a book that's dully and poorly written out of the fascination of watching the train wreck; however, this was not one of those instances - it's easily a one-session read-through, due to a good quality of writing. However - and this is a crucial 'however' -, the choice of first person perspective is a huge mistake and extremely off-putting. When writing about something as potentially uncomfortable and disturbing as a serial killer's motivations and behaviour, the sane mind wants and needs the protection of the distance of the third person - you don't want to empathise or identify with this type of individual, you don't want to have a feeling of commonality with them, because the moment you do, you start to make excuses for them, to make allowances of why it was ok for them to behave the way they did. Instead of maintaining the logical, human and sane disgust with the behaviour, this writing style choice begs you to accept, empathise, sympathise with the killer. It asks you to Stockholm and it shows that Griffiths-Jones did - instead of keeping the rational and sensible distance, somewhere within the research, Stockholm syndrome kicked in and it shows! By all means, write about a person's motivations (whoever they are), but don't blur the lines of what is and isn't acceptable behaviour - and in this case, that means write in the third person, make sure that the narrator is providing the critical disgust of the behaviour so that it's clear that the behaviour in question is not something that is condonable. Put in another perspective into the equation - the interviewer in Interview With A Vampire provides that and allows the theoretical distance (although Rice also fails to maintain an avoidance of gratuitous enjoyment of violence and brutality). The importance is to avoid turning the discussion of the motives and actions into a gratuitous peep show for the disturbed with the implication that 'it's all ok really'.
Stockholm syndrome means that you start excusing behaviour that you wouldn't otherwise accept, that you start identifying with the perpetrator of horrific deeds and harm. It is something that should be avoided at all costs, especially when writing about something as damaging and problematic as serial killing. Griffiths-Jones does not manage to avoid that and as such, this devalues all the attempts at research that she has done. Her attempts are definitely more consistent than I've seen otherwise (if you want a truly dismal example, check out my review on Captain Shelby) and as such, it is commendable. However, the empathising with the killer issue has created flaws and potential attempts at claiming that 'he wasn't all that bad'. The various sources I've checked show that there's inconsistency in some details of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream's life and possible murders. The actual certain number is relatively low, but there's no clarity on how many actual murders there were cumulatively over the years. He was 42 when arrested and tried for the Lambeth poisonings, which leaves plenty of time for a much wider trail of corpses. Griffiths-Jones takes a very low estimate into the consideration and tries to pass off one of the known possibles as someone else's mistake (midwife's, not his) - whilst that is possible (midwives were not infallible), the probability is that it was one of his murders - the patient was poisoned as well. However, either way, in consideration of the clear signs of sympathy for Dr. Cream, Griffiths-Jones' choice to exonerate him of that murder is less the suggestion of an impartial author trying to only attribute the verifiable cases to a killer for the sake of the pursuit of accuracy and more an attempt to excuse his behaviour by making him a victim of circumstance.
In fact, the inclusion of a lifelong illness also tries to excuse his behaviour by trying to provide an 'explanation' of why he acted the way he did - it's not so bad, he was ill anyway... None of the sources suggested that he had any chronic conditions, though there is mention of an addiction to morphine; however, that is not a confirmation of illness, just a sign that within his psychological profile, there was space for a particular addiction due to some cause or other. It is not an excuse nor a justification for his actions. It's a speculation that Griffiths-Jones makes and, unfortunately, even if it could be a possible fact, the combination with the exonerating style of writing just creates the argument of 'he couldn't help it' - again a very, very questionable standpoint and one that ultimately supports the behaviour of that type of individual within society. It turns the abuser into a 'pseudo-victim' with whom we should identify and sympathise, rather than with the true victims who are left voiceless and dismissed (relevantly, this article explores something of that second aspect - the voiceless and dismissed victim - in its first half, I don't fully agree with all of it - it is somewhat too feminist for accuracy's sake -, however, I find that there are rarely articles on anything that I can fully agree with).
Directly because of this treatment of the killer as a 'pseudo-victim', the psychological profile consistency is lacking in the course of the novel. Instead of drawing on contemporary professional sources such as forensics, criminal profiling and psychology, the book just tries to describe his motives as a simplistic hatred for women (something that isn't even fully consistent in the book - as it ranges from a hatred specifically of prostitutes and otherwise of women in general and back and forth, which doesn't make real sense), sometimes presented as due to a feeling of injury because of the illness acquired via a prostitute (an illness that does not seem to be accurate to history anyway). There is no real further profiling in the equation and Dr. Cream's voice as the narrator begs the reader to take his side in this belief. The result of this is the feeling that the reader should be agreeing that prostitutes (and women!) are contemptible and expendable. This is more often than not a popular culture notion of the motivation in serial killing, which omits details such as what is available (who is easier to be victimised), whether or not the particular individual fits the preferred victim profile and what exactly triggered the behaviour - at best, it is an oversimplification of the psycho-pathologies involved and most often, it is an excuse of them (making the victim unimportant and expendable). Ultimately, Dr. Cream's exact motivations do not seem to be clear from what other sources mention and any author trying to assign a motivation to an individual needs to cross-compare the known behaviour of that individual thoroughly with such reference materials as the DSM-V or Turvey's Criminal Profiling. It's not enough to just research the data around an individual or time that you want to write about; the author needs to research behaviour and that means delving into psychology. A good author (in this case) needs to be both a general researcher and an expert in psychology, and that second is strongly lacking in Griffiths-Jones' work.
I could continue at length on each of this points, however, the gist is this - interesting premise, better written than some; but, overall, don't bother. I don't see why anyone would want to identify and empathise with a serial killer and that is the only possible result from the choice of the first person and the Stockholm syndrome inducing style of discussion of the events in Dr. Cream's life. If you're interested in finding out about him, I suggest you look up academic sources on him, which will provide you with the same facts, without the request to 'like' him or his actions.
A couple sources on Dr. Cream that might interest -
Trust Me, I'm Your Doctor, by Julie L. McDowell
Doctors, Detectives And the Professional Ideal: The Trial of Thomas Neill Cream and the Mastery of Sherlock Holmes, by Paula J. Reiter (especially the first half)
Wiki (for those who want the quick summary and for the further reading titles)
Theories about who Jack the Ripper was abound - just checking Wiki will give you a good starting point and there's plenty more if you start looking in the more academic and serious research realms. For some reason, there is a large number of people who are still absolutely fascinated and intrigued by murders that have occurred well over a century ago - the mystery of the unsolved and the wish to lay the ghost to rest in some manner call.
All this is what the advertising of the book 'Prisoner 4374' focuses on - the curiosity and fascination with the unexplained - and unfortunately, one of the first places were it disappoints. Instead of providing the expected answer after this style of advertising (i.e. here is Jack, I found him!), Griffiths-Jones provides a story about something else and someone else, explaining away a theory about who Jack was by dismissing it and focusing elsewhere. This is a rather poor advertising approach from the publisher and should have been thoroughly avoided. By providing one premise and expectation and then completely dashing it, all you accomplish is a feeling of hollow disappointment and a wish to doubt all further advertising from the particular author (not necessarily their fault, as the publisher is often the deciding factor) and the particular publisher! It would have been more sensible to approach it from the perspective of contrast - "We've all heard about Jack The Ripper, but he wasn't the only sinister figure on the streets of Victorian London. Let's tell you the story of the Lambeth Poisoner!". That would make sense and you wouldn't be setting up your reader for an immediate disappointment. Alternatively, write the story that the blurb implies - make the Lambeth Poisoner actually Jack (this would abuse historical accuracy something awful, but that's what alternative universes are for)! Either way, don't tell your reader at the end that you're not going to give them what they have expected at all!
My next consideration is Griffiths-Jones' writing style, which is actually relatively good (the key reason for the second star in the rating). Often, even popular books lack the quality of language and style that can keep a reader interested enough to persist through the entirety whether or not the plot is good - this is especially true of self-published books and sadly more true than it should be with conventionally published books as well. I'll grant you that I'll often persist through a book that's dully and poorly written out of the fascination of watching the train wreck; however, this was not one of those instances - it's easily a one-session read-through, due to a good quality of writing. However - and this is a crucial 'however' -, the choice of first person perspective is a huge mistake and extremely off-putting. When writing about something as potentially uncomfortable and disturbing as a serial killer's motivations and behaviour, the sane mind wants and needs the protection of the distance of the third person - you don't want to empathise or identify with this type of individual, you don't want to have a feeling of commonality with them, because the moment you do, you start to make excuses for them, to make allowances of why it was ok for them to behave the way they did. Instead of maintaining the logical, human and sane disgust with the behaviour, this writing style choice begs you to accept, empathise, sympathise with the killer. It asks you to Stockholm and it shows that Griffiths-Jones did - instead of keeping the rational and sensible distance, somewhere within the research, Stockholm syndrome kicked in and it shows! By all means, write about a person's motivations (whoever they are), but don't blur the lines of what is and isn't acceptable behaviour - and in this case, that means write in the third person, make sure that the narrator is providing the critical disgust of the behaviour so that it's clear that the behaviour in question is not something that is condonable. Put in another perspective into the equation - the interviewer in Interview With A Vampire provides that and allows the theoretical distance (although Rice also fails to maintain an avoidance of gratuitous enjoyment of violence and brutality). The importance is to avoid turning the discussion of the motives and actions into a gratuitous peep show for the disturbed with the implication that 'it's all ok really'.
Stockholm syndrome means that you start excusing behaviour that you wouldn't otherwise accept, that you start identifying with the perpetrator of horrific deeds and harm. It is something that should be avoided at all costs, especially when writing about something as damaging and problematic as serial killing. Griffiths-Jones does not manage to avoid that and as such, this devalues all the attempts at research that she has done. Her attempts are definitely more consistent than I've seen otherwise (if you want a truly dismal example, check out my review on Captain Shelby) and as such, it is commendable. However, the empathising with the killer issue has created flaws and potential attempts at claiming that 'he wasn't all that bad'. The various sources I've checked show that there's inconsistency in some details of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream's life and possible murders. The actual certain number is relatively low, but there's no clarity on how many actual murders there were cumulatively over the years. He was 42 when arrested and tried for the Lambeth poisonings, which leaves plenty of time for a much wider trail of corpses. Griffiths-Jones takes a very low estimate into the consideration and tries to pass off one of the known possibles as someone else's mistake (midwife's, not his) - whilst that is possible (midwives were not infallible), the probability is that it was one of his murders - the patient was poisoned as well. However, either way, in consideration of the clear signs of sympathy for Dr. Cream, Griffiths-Jones' choice to exonerate him of that murder is less the suggestion of an impartial author trying to only attribute the verifiable cases to a killer for the sake of the pursuit of accuracy and more an attempt to excuse his behaviour by making him a victim of circumstance.
In fact, the inclusion of a lifelong illness also tries to excuse his behaviour by trying to provide an 'explanation' of why he acted the way he did - it's not so bad, he was ill anyway... None of the sources suggested that he had any chronic conditions, though there is mention of an addiction to morphine; however, that is not a confirmation of illness, just a sign that within his psychological profile, there was space for a particular addiction due to some cause or other. It is not an excuse nor a justification for his actions. It's a speculation that Griffiths-Jones makes and, unfortunately, even if it could be a possible fact, the combination with the exonerating style of writing just creates the argument of 'he couldn't help it' - again a very, very questionable standpoint and one that ultimately supports the behaviour of that type of individual within society. It turns the abuser into a 'pseudo-victim' with whom we should identify and sympathise, rather than with the true victims who are left voiceless and dismissed (relevantly, this article explores something of that second aspect - the voiceless and dismissed victim - in its first half, I don't fully agree with all of it - it is somewhat too feminist for accuracy's sake -, however, I find that there are rarely articles on anything that I can fully agree with).
Directly because of this treatment of the killer as a 'pseudo-victim', the psychological profile consistency is lacking in the course of the novel. Instead of drawing on contemporary professional sources such as forensics, criminal profiling and psychology, the book just tries to describe his motives as a simplistic hatred for women (something that isn't even fully consistent in the book - as it ranges from a hatred specifically of prostitutes and otherwise of women in general and back and forth, which doesn't make real sense), sometimes presented as due to a feeling of injury because of the illness acquired via a prostitute (an illness that does not seem to be accurate to history anyway). There is no real further profiling in the equation and Dr. Cream's voice as the narrator begs the reader to take his side in this belief. The result of this is the feeling that the reader should be agreeing that prostitutes (and women!) are contemptible and expendable. This is more often than not a popular culture notion of the motivation in serial killing, which omits details such as what is available (who is easier to be victimised), whether or not the particular individual fits the preferred victim profile and what exactly triggered the behaviour - at best, it is an oversimplification of the psycho-pathologies involved and most often, it is an excuse of them (making the victim unimportant and expendable). Ultimately, Dr. Cream's exact motivations do not seem to be clear from what other sources mention and any author trying to assign a motivation to an individual needs to cross-compare the known behaviour of that individual thoroughly with such reference materials as the DSM-V or Turvey's Criminal Profiling. It's not enough to just research the data around an individual or time that you want to write about; the author needs to research behaviour and that means delving into psychology. A good author (in this case) needs to be both a general researcher and an expert in psychology, and that second is strongly lacking in Griffiths-Jones' work.
I could continue at length on each of this points, however, the gist is this - interesting premise, better written than some; but, overall, don't bother. I don't see why anyone would want to identify and empathise with a serial killer and that is the only possible result from the choice of the first person and the Stockholm syndrome inducing style of discussion of the events in Dr. Cream's life. If you're interested in finding out about him, I suggest you look up academic sources on him, which will provide you with the same facts, without the request to 'like' him or his actions.
A couple sources on Dr. Cream that might interest -
Trust Me, I'm Your Doctor, by Julie L. McDowell
Doctors, Detectives And the Professional Ideal: The Trial of Thomas Neill Cream and the Mastery of Sherlock Holmes, by Paula J. Reiter (especially the first half)
Wiki (for those who want the quick summary and for the further reading titles)
July 1, 2022
📘📘BOOK REVIEW 📘📘
Prisoner 4374 by A J Griffiths-Jones
I’m not a reader of true crime but this has been sitting on kindle for a while so thought I would give it a go. It’s a relatively quick read that I did in one sitting - under 2 hours - and tells the story of Dr Thomas Neill Cream, in the first person. I enjoyed the narrative which I found well written and easy to read and I could imagine him having put pen to paper and having written this himself.
Briefly, Cream was a Canadian born Doctor who, over the course of his life murdered a number of women in Canada, USA and UK. But his real ‘claim to fame’ was the suspicion that he was Jack the Ripper!
Cream was clearly a arrogant, sick and tortured man and the book left me wondering if this was down to nature, or if, as he seemed to believe, was a result of his having syphilis. Whatever the reason I couldn’t find any sympathy for him. This has clearly been very well researched and it was fascinating. A good read with some interesting facts that show he was clearly not Jack the Ripper but did he know who was? That we will never know but he did warrant his own pseudonym the 'Lambeth Poisoner'. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prisoner 4374 by A J Griffiths-Jones
I’m not a reader of true crime but this has been sitting on kindle for a while so thought I would give it a go. It’s a relatively quick read that I did in one sitting - under 2 hours - and tells the story of Dr Thomas Neill Cream, in the first person. I enjoyed the narrative which I found well written and easy to read and I could imagine him having put pen to paper and having written this himself.
Briefly, Cream was a Canadian born Doctor who, over the course of his life murdered a number of women in Canada, USA and UK. But his real ‘claim to fame’ was the suspicion that he was Jack the Ripper!
Cream was clearly a arrogant, sick and tortured man and the book left me wondering if this was down to nature, or if, as he seemed to believe, was a result of his having syphilis. Whatever the reason I couldn’t find any sympathy for him. This has clearly been very well researched and it was fascinating. A good read with some interesting facts that show he was clearly not Jack the Ripper but did he know who was? That we will never know but he did warrant his own pseudonym the 'Lambeth Poisoner'. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 9, 2019
People already know how big a fan I am of true crime and this is an absolute cracker of a book. Told through the eyes of the murderer, Neil Cream, it give a fresh perspective to his terrible deeds. Being a Scottish fan of both true crime, and the 19th century, I was already very familiar with the man's crimes and life. He was monstrous and fascinating. I was not to be disappointed. The research put in by the author is meticulous. The detail, the sense of place and time, the way she populated the man's psychology, is outstanding work.
I consumed this book in just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down. This would make a wonderful drama for T.V. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have a new favourite author.
I consumed this book in just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down. This would make a wonderful drama for T.V. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have a new favourite author.
February 12, 2020
Sorry fellow readers but I did not like it at all.
My first issue is that I purchased it as I love books about Jack the Ripper so I was looking forward to another suspect/theory. This isnt. There is a tenuous link because of what was uttered on the gallows but that is it! I feel a little cheated.
Secondly the style is not to my taste. Having the subject of the book narrating his own life became annoying and I struggled through the book as a result.
Not my cup of tea but well written nonetheless.
My first issue is that I purchased it as I love books about Jack the Ripper so I was looking forward to another suspect/theory. This isnt. There is a tenuous link because of what was uttered on the gallows but that is it! I feel a little cheated.
Secondly the style is not to my taste. Having the subject of the book narrating his own life became annoying and I struggled through the book as a result.
Not my cup of tea but well written nonetheless.
September 1, 2017
I don't often give up on books but this was one I couldn't keep reading. On the face of it a story about Jack the Ripper is one I would want to read. But whether it was the style of writing or the style of presentation, I don't know, but I just couldn't get far into the book. In fairness it wasn't the same style of book that I'd just been reading s perhaps I should give it a try again sometime in the future. I'm not sure I will though.
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