What is the worst Ripper book you've ever read?

[TomTomKent]

I am tempted to suggest The Daily Mail. Back when my parents read it, there was a tendency to regurgitate the press release for pretty much every Ripper book released, further thinning and confusing material already thinned from books of variable quality.

[Pcdunn]

Collaborative effort?

There are also many curious things about the ms itself, different authors being involved, clear evidence of serious editing, and much else.

Very interesting! Maybe it was a sort of "round-robin" effort by two or more people taking turns writing it.

[Abby Normal]

No, Abby, not really. It's a curious document because it was found among the possessions of the author who created a much loved kid's character called Larry the Lamb and doesn't fit in with anything that's known about the man, his interests, or his work. So did Beament write it, or did someone else? If someone else, who? It's also written from the murderer's perspective and doesn't conform with the known facts, which is a little odd as one would have expected the author to make some effort to fit the facts (although much depends on the author's intent); it is nonetheless an early work of fiction, if that is what is is, written from the murderer's perspective and furthermore makes no real effort to justify himself. He kills because he likes it. There are also many curious things about the ms itself, different authors being involved, clear evidence of serious editing, and much else.

Thanks Paul!

[PaulB]

No, Abby, not really. It's a curious document because it was found among the possessions of the author who created a much loved kid's character called Larry the Lamb and doesn't fit in with anything that's known about the man, his interests, or his work. So did Beament write it, or did someone else? If someone else, who? It's also written from the murderer's perspective and doesn't conform with the known facts, which is a little odd as one would have expected the author to make some effort to fit the facts (although much depends on the author's intent); it is nonetheless an early work of fiction, if that is what is is, written from the murderer's perspective and furthermore makes no real effort to justify himself. He kills because he likes it. There are also many curious things about the ms itself, different authors being involved, clear evidence of serious editing, and much else.

[Harry D]

It conjures up the image of various knife wielding psychos running around Whitechapel almost bumping into one another.

Yes, and not just any knife-wielding psychos but knife-wielding psychos with a flair for eviscerating women and removing organs. Who all strike within a few weeks of each other before disappearing into the aether.

[Abby Normal]

Is there anything to the Carnac thing?

[barnflatwyngarde]

I only ask because I read his chapter in "The Mammoth Book of JTR" where he contests that all of the Ripper murders (yes ALL of them!) were completely unconnected. Wouldn't mind reading the book for a laugh but it's stupidly expensive on Amazon.

It conjures up the image of various knife wielding psychos running around Whitechapel almost bumping into one another.

[Harry D]

Harry,
Y

Oops!
Clumsy fingers.

Anyway, as I was saying......Yeah I read "The Killer Who Never Was" many years ago.

My recollection is that he author never got close to making any decent kind of case for his premise.
I also seem to recall that there were some real factual howlers in the book, although perhaps the passage of time is wrong footing me on this point.

I only ask because I read his chapter in "The Mammoth Book of JTR" where he contests that all of the Ripper murders (yes ALL of them!) were completely unconnected. Wouldn't mind reading the book for a laugh but it's stupidly expensive on Amazon.

[barnflatwyngarde]

Harry,
Y

Oops!
Clumsy fingers.

Anyway, as I was saying......Yeah I read "The Killer Who Never Was" many years ago.

My recollection is that he author never got close to making any decent kind of case for his premise.
I also seem to recall that there were some real factual howlers in the book, although perhaps the passage of time is wrong footing me on this point.

[barnflatwyngarde]

Harry,
Y

[Harry D]

Has anyone read "The Killer Who Never Was" by Peter Turnbull?

[PaulWilliams]

So many to pick from

It is somewhat depressing that there are so many candidates. Personally I regard Uncle Jack as the worst due to the deliberate usage of false evidence.

[The Station Cat]

This maybe seen as a sweeping statement, but I think the worst book I've ever read on Jack the Ripper, would have to be ANY book which comes up with a theory as to who he was................

[DJA]

One of Trevor's was so disappointing that I never purchased another Jack the Ripper book.

[dantheman]

Isn't that one a novel, though? As opposed to fiction presented as fact, apparently.

It probably should be listed as a novel, however I found it under the true crime section at Barnes & Noble. Amazon has it listed under "Biographies and Memoirs".

Dan