Ripper Confidential by Tom Wescott (2017)

[Tom_Wescott]

AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. If you'd like both, purchase the paperback first and you can then return any time and purchase the Kindle edition at a discount price.

[GUT]

AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. If you'd like both, purchase the paperback first and you can then return any time and purchase the Kindle edition at a discount price.

Good luck with it Tom.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Tom's new book looks great, is well-written and well-considered.

I hope it sells by the shed-load.

Regards,

Simon

[Fisherman]

From the Amazon promotion site:

Groundbreaking history and exciting investigative journalism combine in a work jam-packed with newly unearthed finds and fresh insights that pull us deeper into the world of Jack the Ripper and closer to the man himself. Wescott does not promote a suspect but instead comprehensively investigates the murders of Polly Nichols and Elizabeth Stride, bringing to light new medical evidence, crucial new material on important witnesses, and – revealed for the first time – the name of a woman who may have met Jack the Ripper and survived to tell the tale.

Also discussed in this book:

Charles Lechmere, recently named as a suspect in the Jack the Ripper documentary, Conspiracy: The Missing Evidence, is restored to his proper place in history as an innocent witness.

Walter Sickert, the subject of Patricia Cornwell’s Jack the Ripper books, was not the Ripper, but is revealed here to have been only one of several artists and poets who may have been acquainted with victim Mary Kelly.

Bruce Robinson’s Jack the Ripper book, They All Love Jack, controversially endorsed the myth that fruiterer Matthew Packer sold grapes to Liz Stride which were later found on her hand. Around this was constructed an intricate police conspiracy. In Ripper Confidential the truth is exposed and these events are proved beyond doubt to have never taken place.

Was Elizabeth Stride a Ripper victim? For the first time, all the myths are cleared away and the facts are looked at in great detail.

The contemporary investigators speak out from the past and tell us what they thought of one of the Ripper’s most enigmatic and controversial clues – the chalk-written message on the wall in Goulston Street. Did the Ripper write it and what might it actually have said?

A comprehensive look is taken at Berner Street witness, Israel Schwartz. Why did he disappear within weeks from the written record? Was or was he not a legitimate witness? This and much more is discussed, and for the first time it’s revealed why he did not give evidence at the inquest, why the two best known versions of his story are inconsistent, and – most crucially – that he was not the last person to see Liz Stride with a man who was probably her killer.

So it sounds to me as if Charles Lechmere is proven to be a witness only, as if Walter Sickert is proven not to have been the killer, the Stride murder is finally presented for exactly what it was with every misconception cleared away and the GSG is explained and it´s potential meaning revealed. It is also established whether the Ripper wrote it or not (and there is a spolier in the Amazon text, since it is called on of the Rippers most enigmatic clues...)

It´s good thing that this book surfaces and puts an end to so may things that we have been pondering for so many fruitless years!

I am, however, slightly worried about how the author himself has appeared on JTR, saying:
"Since there's pages of discussion about my mention of Lechmere in the Amazon book description, I'll quickly mention that I incorporated popular Ripper-related search words into the description to boost it's searchability. I also mention 'Patricia Cornwell's Jack the Ripper book', 'Bruce Robinson' and some other stuff. The book itself is hardly about Charles Lechmere."

Either Tom is being very modest here, not accepting the full glory of having brought so many matters to a final conclusion, or perhaps he has gotten slightly cold feet?

To my mind - and do keep in mind that I am quite a cynical old geezer - it sounds as if the restoration of Charles Lechmere to a mere witness status may turn out to be nothing but Tom having a dig at the docu, much in the same vein that people out here have done the exact same.

And perhaps the decapitation of the Sickert theory is something of the same kind?

Time will tell.

If that IS the case, one must say that it is a good thing that Tom chose such a thrilling array of key words for Amazon to use, and that Amazon was able to present it in such a mouthwatering shape - if nothing else, the competence to market a new book seems to have been ship-shape. It may well be that both searchability and sellability will benefit from the combined efforts.

I wish Tom the best of luck with his new book. May it stir an interest for the case and, not least, for Charles Lechmere.
And may it deliver what Amazon says it delivers.

The very fact that the news hit Casebook on April 1:st isn´t reassuring, though.

[Tom_Wescott]

Yeah, Fish. I got cold feet. Because, you know, that's what I do.

Thanks, everyone, for the support.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[barnflatwyngarde]

I have just ordered it from Amazon.

At 364 pages there is clearly enough room for Tom to cover his chosen topics at length.

As an ex librarian, can I suggest (again) that your publisher contact all UK library authorities informing them of the book.

The JTR murders are perennially popular with library readers, so if they know about the book, quite a few authorities will buy copies.

Good luck.

[Fisherman]

Yeah, Fish. I got cold feet. Because, you know, that's what I do.

Tom Wescott

Probably the wisest decision you could make, Tom. Unless, of course, you manage to prove Lechmere a witness only, prove Cornwell wrong (she is, but I´ll be damned if I can prove it) and clear up the Stride and GSG business, all in one breath.

[Fisherman]

Just read Tom posting on JTR. It seems he has no proof at all to discount Lechmere as the killer, although he interprets evidence in a manner that he thinks points away from the carman.

Much more interestingly, it seems he reasons that Nichols may have lost a part of her innards "such as the uterus".

I know that he does not think very much of Llewellyn, but it sounds ever so slightly odd to me.

It sounds reminiscent of Toms former book, where I thought the suggestions made were much more intriguing than the underlying fact basis.

Maybe I need to get that book anyway. We´ll see.

[Sam Flynn]

Just read Tom posting on JTR. It seems he has no proof at all to discount Lechmere as the killer.

Just as you have no proof at all that he was the killer, so that puts you and Tom on an even footing. I love a happy ending, Fish

[John G]

I'm definitely going to buy this book, Tom, if only because of the comprehensive look into Israel Schwartz, a witness who has been discussed many times on this board!

I would just add that I greatly enjoyed The Bank Holiday Murders which, in my opinion, was one of the very best books written on the subject.

[Fisherman]

Just as you have no proof at all that he was the killer, so that puts you and Tom on an even footing. I love a happy ending, Fish

Yes, I noticed that you could not lay your hands on the book quickly enough.

Expectations, expectations - all in vain.

I know that Lechmere is not a proven killer, Gareth - I have actually pointed out as much numerous times. If he WAS, there would be no debate. The fact that I mentioned that he is not a mere proven witness either owed to the fact that Amazon marketed the book as such - it was said that Lechmere was "restored" to that status. Which, I´m sure, would have made your day. But alas...!

[Elamarna]

Working my way through the book.

Plenty of information and ideas to ponder over. So far so good.

Steve

[Tom_Wescott]

Just as you have no proof at all that he was the killer, so that puts you and Tom on an even footing. I love a happy ending, Fish

My feet are bigger.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Sam Flynn]

My feet are bigger.

Everything's bigger in America.

[Fisherman]

My feet are bigger.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

I prefer large accomodation in the other end.