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Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case ClosedPortrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case ClosedPatricia Cornwell
 

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed

by Patricia Cornwell

"Between August and November 1888, at least seven women were murdered in London's Whitechapel area. The gruesome nature of their deaths caused panic and fear in the East End for months, and gave rise to the sobriquet that was to become shorthand for a serial killer - Jack the Ripper." "For over a hundred years the murders have remained among the world's greatest unsolved crimes, and a wealth of... (read more)

Top tags: true crime,  history,  jack the ripper,  forensics,  murder (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (1)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Muna G
  • Rated 4 stars

“Detailed forensic book on how Walter Sickert, who was the least suspected person at the time, was Jack the Ripper. Excellent book to learn about the world of forensic science and the psychotic behaviours of murderers. Cornwell puts the cards down on the table and clearly justifies her evidence. Very good read.”

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Didn’t Like It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
readsall
  • Rated 2 stars

“Did not find this book appealing at all, too long and too detailed.”

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Community:
  • Rated 3.393491 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 2.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Annette m

    annette m said:

    “its not a book you can chill-out too, but it is historical in a sense it portrays the first seriel killer in the 18th century, in the vaults of scotland yard there is evidence, in boxes, but alas no dna, can be sought due to contaimation, but erase all thoughts that its a surgeon, or a member of Late Queen Victoria, this man was a loner, he lived close by saw these women daily, dispised there way of life, how they conducted themselves, always drunk, offering their bodies, but this was eastend of london, where people were poor, had little, all these victims were vunerable
    Was this killers mother a prostitute? he witnessed his mother bringing men home as most poor people then lived, ate slept in one room,?
    Was she a holy devout woman, who thought that offering a female body to all and sunder, was evil, a great sin to God?
    Was he a sailor that worked on the docks?
    Was he a publican or worked in the brewery, who was denied sex off any of these women at the time,
    one thing for sure, he wanted nortority his name in history, this was granted to him,
    and he is still famous today, as he was then and although it says case closed, Scotland Yard have other ideas, no murder file closes, there will be more who will want to seek out
    WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER........... SOMEONE KNOWS HE MUST HAVE RELITIVES RELATED TO HIM IN THE PRESENT DAY, MAY BE THEY HAVE CLUES IN A BOX, IN THEIR ATTIC!!! that we dont, will never know about, as we dont have a name, only assumations, we dont have a grave for the criminal bodies to exhume or the public to take photographs of so hes one serial killer that has well and truely got away.”

    posted Thursday, July 10 2008
  • Annette m

    annette m said:

    “its not a book you can chill-out too, but it is historical in a sense it portrays the first seriel killer in the 18th century, in the vaults of scotland yard there is evidence, in boxes, but alas no dna, can be sought due to contaimation, but erase all thoughts that its a surgeon, or a member of Late Queen Victoria, this man was a loner, he lived close by saw these women daily, dispised there way of life, how they conducted themselves, always drunk, offering their bodies, but this was eastend of london, where people were poor, had little, all these victims were vunerable
    Was this killers mother a prostitute? he witnessed his mother bringing men home as most poor people then lived, ate slept in one room,?
    Was she a holy devout woman, who thought that offering a female body to all and sunder, was evil, a great sin to God?
    Was he a sailor that worked on the docks?
    Was he a publican or worked in the brewery, who was denied sex off any of these women at the time,
    one thing for sure, he wanted nortority his name in history, this was granted to him,
    and he is still famous today, as he was then and although it says case closed, Scotland Yard have other ideas, no murder file closes, there will be more who will want to seek out
    WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER........... SOMEONE KNOWS HE MUST HAVE RELITIVES RELATED TO HIM IN THE PRESENT DAY, MAY BE THEY HAVE CLUES IN A BOX, IN THEIR ATTIC!!! that we dont, will never know about, as we dont have a name, only assumations, we dont have a grave for the criminal bodies to exhume or the public to take photographs of so hes one serial killer that has well and truely got away.”

    posted Thursday, July 10 2008
  • Leslie W

    leslie w said:

    “Cornwell explores the many facets of the Ripper's life and points out a startling catalogue of parallels that seem to point directly to the famed artist who was never a suspect in his day. Simply studying the drawings, the paintings and the gruesome crime scene photographs alone seems to provide compelling evidence not to mention the rest of the book, which is a fascinating story of a very peculiar man who was born deformed, studied under Whistler and had the kind of time and money to support a shadowy and sinister Jekyll and Hyde existence.”

    posted Thursday, December 6 2007
  • sweeteyes

    sweeteyes said:

    “I loved this book...I think Patricia did an awesome job of researching and telling the story of this infamous murderer..I also do believe it was the artist after reading this...great job Pat!! ”

    posted Friday, October 12 2007
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