Ripper Confidential by Tom Wescott (2017)

[Debra A]

Totally agree with you on debs and the Jackson/torso thing. I've been asking her for a while to write a book on the torsos case and or any connection to the ripper. Same thing to fish and or ed stow also, and throw lech into it by all means I say.

I would but my felt tips have dried up, Abby!

[Tom_Wescott]

In my world, Tom, it is not for those who deliver insults to decide how the insulted person should react.

In this case, I thought that The Station Bat needed to read up about who was sniping at whom before he commented. It´s much like ripperology in that respect - once you have facts to back up your statements with, you´re in the clear.

Friendly advice. You should work at being more self-aware, and to make the choice not to feel insulted. I'm not an enemy of yours and have no wish to insult or hurt you. But if I were I'd feel very empowered by your reactions.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fisherman]

Thou doth protest too much.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

In my world, Tom, it is not for those who deliver insults to decide how the insulted person should react.

In this case, I thought that The Station Bat needed to read up about who was sniping at whom before he commented. It´s much like ripperology in that respect - once you have facts to back up your statements with, you´re in the clear.

[Tom_Wescott]

So, you gather that when Tom wrote that Edward is my master, that was me sniping at Tom?

Thou doth protest too much.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fisherman]

Fisherman, perhaps if you put a little more effort into getting your book published (as I for one am really looking forward to reading it and have been since I saw the Channel 5 documentary) and a little less time into sniping at Tom (who incidentally, has written two cracking books and is going to be a tough act to follow), Karma on the forum would be restored................

So, you gather that when Tom wrote that Edward is my master, that was me sniping at Tom?

I see. I shall have to refrain from that in the future and write books for you instead.

[The Station Cat]

True enough - it is about you. A classic americanism that, mistaking Swedes for Swiss.

Fisherman, perhaps if you put a little more effort into getting your book published (as I for one am really looking forward to reading it and have been since I saw the Channel 5 documentary) and a little less time into sniping at Tom (who incidentally, has written two cracking books and is going to be a tough act to follow), Karma on the forum would be restored................

[Fisherman]

You're Swedish, Fish. Chill out. It ain't always about you.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

True enough - it is about you. A classic americanism that, mistaking Swedes for Swiss.

[Tom_Wescott]

Swiss? SWISS??

You're Swedish, Fish. Chill out. It ain't always about you.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fisherman]

According to one very verbose Facebook poster and his Swiss friend, neither do I.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Swiss? SWISS??

[Tom_Wescott]

Well then Deb needs to get on that! Not that I'm trying to turn the thread about your book into one where I talk about all the authors I like or the people I want to see write books.

It's no problem. You can talk about Sesame Street if you want. It keeps my thread up towards the top.

I don't wish to tear down other Authors who have spent so much time and energy on this subject.

Me either. As a Ripper author myself, I'm told it's bad form for me to comment negatively upon the books of others. But if we're only talking about authors who've spent a lot of time and energy on the case, then Marriott is fair game.

I certainly don't have the knowledge, experience, or mentality to do such a thing.

According to one very verbose Facebook poster and his Swiss friend, neither do I.

But I think you sell yourself short with your writing abilities. I wish I could pinpoint exactly what it is about your style that makes it a joy to read, but sadly I cannot. Maybe there is a more conversational tone to it instead of other books "lecture" style.

Thank you. I believe it's a sense of urgency and excitement. All of Bank Holiday Murders and large chunks of Ripper Confidential were written WHILE I was researching and was really into it. Like all the stuff about Brady Street and Margaret Millous. Instead of taking notes like a sane person, I was writing the manuscript. Changing, rewriting, etc. This is probably not the correct way to write non-fiction, but it's how I did it. And I loved it. Also the Fanny Mortimer chapter was a true joy to write and it came out FAST. Other parts of the book were more of a slog for me, such as Goulston Street. I think that was at least six months, off and on. Because all that was old hat to me. Murder in the Neighborhood, which I wrote eons ago, is to me a very boring read. At least the topographical stuff. But I know people like that stuff. All the old essays were written the same way, quickly and with a sense of enjoyment.

Anyway, back to your book I go. My goal is to be finished by mid week.

Yeah, I should probably look at it again before I start doing podcasts. Let me know what you think of the rest of it.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fisherman]

A major Ripper author sent me a wonderful PM recently and in the course of it compared my work ... to Trevor Marriott's. I won't go into here how I felt about that.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

I have entertained the same thought myself, Tom. Let me begin by saying that it was an unexpected experience on my behalf - to me, the two of you are worlds apart in most ways.

It also needs to be said that I have not read your latest book: I have only read The Bank Holiday Murders. So I cannot produce any in-depth analysis.

But when I read that you are proposing that Polly Nichols had been subjected to organ theft, and that Llewellyn had missed out on it (I hope this is the correct interpretation of your suggestion, otherwise you must correct me), I could find no closer parallel in Ripperology than Trevors suggestion that the eviscerated victims of the Whitechapel murders had their organs taken away in the morgue and not on the murder sites.

So, not being able to comment on your underlying reasoning, this was my reaction too: a link between you and Trevor presents itself readily.

I have experienced the exact same thing myself, and for the same kind of reason: Many people think that I am a siamese twin to those who propose Hutchinson as the killer, on account of both Hutch and Lechmere being witnesses who are accused of lying their way out of the matter.

I think I am as far removed from the Hutchinsonians as I can possibly be in terms of our respective takes on the case, but there you are - people will first and foremost see the seemingly obvious, and not go into the underlying reasoning to any larger degree.

[Dane_F]

I can tell you that you haven't read any of Debs's books. She hasn't written any. The stuff she's published that I mentioned has been in the Ripper journals, such as Ripperologist.

I didn't mean to put you on the defensive with my reply re: Simon. It wasn't so much your comment, just that I've been compared a number of times with him and only because our books are 'different'. I just wanted to illustrate that they're not different in the same way. A major Ripper author sent me a wonderful PM recently and in the course of it compared my work not only to Simon's but to Trevor Marriott's. I won't go into here how I felt about that.

As for Simon, he's a much more talented writer than myself, so I agree, there's no basis of comparison for our writing styles. I wish there were.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Well then Deb needs to get on that! Not that I'm trying to turn the thread about your book into one where I talk about all the authors I like or the people I want to see write books.

As far as defensive goes, no worries at all my friend. I was concerned more about maybe I said something in such a way that I didn't intend it to come across. Your response was warranted in the light of being compared to Trevor.

I don't wish to tear down other Authors who have spent so much time and energy on this subject. I certainly don't have the knowledge, experience, or mentality to do such a thing. But I think you sell yourself short with your writing abilities. I wish I could pinpoint exactly what it is about your style that makes it a joy to read, but sadly I cannot. Maybe there is a more conversational tone to it instead of other books "lecture" style.

Anyway, back to your book I go. My goal is to be finished by mid week.

[Simon Wood]

Thanks, Tom. The cheque is in the mail.

[Tom_Wescott]

I can tell you that you haven't read any of Debs's books. She hasn't written any. The stuff she's published that I mentioned has been in the Ripper journals, such as Ripperologist.

I didn't mean to put you on the defensive with my reply re: Simon. It wasn't so much your comment, just that I've been compared a number of times with him and only because our books are 'different'. I just wanted to illustrate that they're not different in the same way. A major Ripper author sent me a wonderful PM recently and in the course of it compared my work not only to Simon's but to Trevor Marriott's. I won't go into here how I felt about that.

As for Simon, he's a much more talented writer than myself, so I agree, there's no basis of comparison for our writing styles. I wish there were.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Dane_F]

I love Simon and his writing but his work is night and day from mine. I don't consider what I do to be 'alternative' or even 'out of the box'. Some of my ideas are 'new' but they're not alternative. Read what I say about the grapes and what he says and you'll see the difference.

I did not mean to imply that you and Simon had similar styles. Sorry if that is how you took it. I was merely using Simon as an example I look at as someone who has years upon years in the Ripper field and is yet still able to theorize completely new ways of looking at things without rehashing the same old tired story.

Most new ideas are sensationalized by the Author to the point that it is silly and hard for me to either accept or make the logical leaps necessary to understand their point of view. Mr. Wood I feel at least tries to ground his research, even if the opinions he has are extremely different than most.

I actually agree that your two writing styles are completely different. I think you put it a good way, your ideas are "new" but not "out of the box" while I do believe Mr. Wood has more of an "alternative" way of viewing things.

This has been a lot of people's feelings for years, or so I keep hearing. Particularly since Stewart Evans stopped publishing.

Would you like to see the greatest Ripper suspect book ever written?

Yes I agree that too many books are the same old hat. Especially the new suspect books. Either books that disregard any evidence that is contrary to their opinion or books that make too many leaps that by the end it is mere speculation upon speculation upon speculation. These are also the books tha it seem feel the need to retell the entire story of every victim in the exact same way as all the previous books.

As far as seeing the greatest Suspect Book ever written. . .Absolutely I want to see that! I have tall demands I realize. Actually, it doesn't even need to be a suspect book. I want to read the greatest victim book ever. I don't know if I could ever be convinced of a suspect (I have no pet suspects myself) but the new information surrounding the victims I find absolutely captivating.

Have you read the stuff she's published with Rob Clack? Some of the best stuff I've read. Rob Clack also published on the torso solo-style a couple years ago. Great stuff, but mere teases compared to what they could do in a book. But it's easier to write a book when you're in the midst of the excitement of discovery. It's harder later on when you've become burnt out on a subject. I'm speaking from my own experience, not from anything Debs has said, but I speculate (that's all I do, according to some) that such burn out plays a part in why the (relatively overwhelming) task of writing a book hasn't yet been appealing.

I have not read any of Deb's books, I don't think. Or maybe I have and I can't remember, unfortunately one of the problems with reading so many Ripper books is keeping everything straight in my mind. Does she have anything on Kindle? Unfortunately, being someone of the new generation I have little use or desire for paperback anymore. I don't think I've read the entire A-Z yet because there's no kindle version, I know I know.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Regards,
Dane