Tom Slemen's Book on Colonel Claude Reignier Conder

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi All

I have been alerted through a contact in Liverpool that Tom Slemen's book on alleged Ripper suspect Colonel Claude Reignier Conder is apparently finally being published by Bluecoat Press this month. Bluecoat Press has published a number of other Slemen titles on Haunted Liverpool. The man who runs the company is, I am told, Colin Wilkinson, the same man who runs the "Streets of Liverpool" blog which I have been referencing recently on JtR Forums. Mr Wilkinson stated four weeks ago on a Tom Slemen thread on the Yo! Liverpool forum, that "Tom's book on the Ripper is expected late-April. It is definitely worth a read (publisher talking again)."

Chris

[mklhawley]

Hi All

I have been alerted through a contact in Liverpool that Tom Slemen's book on alleged Ripper suspect Colonel Claude Reignier Conder is apparently finally being published by Bluecoat Press this month. Bluecoat Press has published a number of other Slemen titles on Haunted Liverpool. The man who runs the company is, I am told, Colin Wilkinson, the same man who runs the "Streets of Liverpool" blog which I have been referencing recently on JtR Forums. Mr Wilkinson stated four weeks ago on a Tom Slemen thread on the Yo! Liverpool forum, that "Tom's book on the Ripper is expected late-April. It is definitely worth a read (publisher talking again)."

Chris

Hi Chris,

I apologize for not being familiar with Slemen, but does the fact that he dabbles in the paranormal cause you any concern? I am open minded to the paranormal, but I have noticed some paranormal experts take lots of liberties with the evidence. How would you characterize Slemen's research?

Thanks Chris,

Mike

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Chris,

I apologize for not being familiar with Slemen, but does the fact that he dabbles in the paranormal cause you any concern? I am open minded to the paranormal, but I have noticed some paranormal experts take lots of liberties with the evidence. How would you characterize Slemen's research?

Thanks Chris,

Mike

Hi Mike

I am not going to prejudge Tom Slemen's book on Colonel Claude Reignier Conder.

I confess I do have my doubts about paranormal research but Mr. Slemen's book on Conder might be of a different order entirely, with different expectations and types of evidence than he uses in his paranormal work.

In truth, I confess that I don't know anything about the book other than what I have heard, as reported above. On the other hand, we are hoping to review the book in Ripperologist shortly, so stay tuned.

All the best

Chris George

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello all

This book is now listed on Amazon's UK site as Jack the Ripper: British Intelligence Agent by Tom Slemen and Keith Andrews for £8.99 in paperback -- although at present a notice on the site states, "Temporarily out of stock."

Chris

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Chris. Now that you've stepped out on this one you're probably going to have to read and review it. LOL.

I would strongly recommend to everyone NOT pre-ordering this book. It's been promised for 8 or 9 years now.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Chris. Now that you've stepped out on this one you're probably going to have to read and review it. LOL.

I would strongly recommend to everyone NOT pre-ordering this book. It's been promised for 8 or 9 years now.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Hi Tom

You might be right to advise caution. The book has been previously listed as "Jack the Ripper: British Intelligence Agent (Harper Collins 2008)" on a Wikibin site on Tom Slemen. Obviously, it never came out, I don't believe, from Harper Collins, so I don't know if the book deal somehow fell through when either the authors or publisher backed out, or something.

That having been said, I should think there is a better chance that the book is out, or else shortly will be out from Bluecoat Press, given that the Liverpool firm is Tom Slemen's regular publisher, having brought out a large number of his titles as noted above.

Chris

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello all:

Today, from Tom Slemen's publisher, Colin Wilkinson, at Bluecoat Press, posted at Yo! Liverpool:

"It has taken a long time but at last Tom's book on Jack the Ripper is now in the shops. At 400 pages, it is a pretty heavy read but I look forward to hearing people's opinions in due course. There will always be new theories on who was the Ripper but Tom has a very original take which has drawn admiration from Richard Whittington-Egan, widely recognised as one of the foremost Ripperologists in the world."

Chris

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

According to Amazon, it was released May 1st and is now "out of print" and has "limited availability"...

best wishes

Phil

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Phil

I don't know anything about the book other than what I have heard. I do not have it, but do hope that it will be openly available to everyone who wishes to purchase a copy.

Indeed, I trust that soon all of us will be able to judge for ourselves the viability of the candidacy of Colonel Claude Reignier Conder for being the Whitechapel Murderer.

All the best

Chris

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

I sent a pm to Colin Wilkinson about this, and am waiting a reply.
I look forward to reading this book.

best wishes

Phil

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris, all

In a follow up to the previous posting, I have a reply from Colin Wilkinson..

...It only came out last Friday - so give it a few days to filter through. Waterstones have it - so try www.waterstones.co.uk if you are having problems.

Cheers

The above refers to both UK and International buyers.
Hope this helps all.

best wishes

Phil

[Stewart P Evans]

Of Interest

I think the book will prove of interest, especially to those who enjoy bit of a conspiracy theory.

It's a 'meaty' book and has much on Fenian, anarchist and socialist connections. That said, I don't go along with theory of course, but it's well-written and explores some unusual areas.

[ChrisGeorge]

Thanks, Stewart and Phil.

Chris

[Stewart P Evans]

Criticism

I think that one of the main criticisms of this book is going to be the lack of sourcing, there's not even a bibliography.

[Tom_Wescott]

Thanks for that review and info, Stewart, and also the heads up on the 'Myth is born' thread. I just ordered the book through Waterstones.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott