Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert

3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars | 3,513 ratings

Price: 21.88

Last update: 07-23-2024


Top reviews from the United States

OLD1mIKE
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2019
After all these years, it’s doubtful anyone will know absolutely whether Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper. But Patrica Cornwell makes a compelling argument, writes a good story and keeps it interesting.

Well researched and interesting. An update of her 2002 “Portrait of a Killer” book with additional information. Maps, pictures, timelines and other graphics make it easier to stay engaged. Some graphics are animated, so set “Media Auto Play” to Auto. Not only the gory details, but also a rich history of cultural and historic 19th century London. Her team applied scientific methods, such as paper analysis and DNA gives a new unique approach to an old story. Spoiler, you have to get to page 250 to start seeing the scientific arguments. Some criticized her for speculating. She is obviously obsessed with the general topic and the historical period, so there is some speculation and “What-if-ness. But, speculation is an inherent component of the “Scientific Method”: Observe, Form a Hypothesis (speculate), Make a Prediction, Test the Hypothesis and Iterate using the test results. Admittedly, the absolute scientific proof isn’t there. Her personell interest and knowledge takes the book a bit astray from basic facts with a lot of history and culture. Almost a conversation. But the book is interesting, well researched, well written and worth the read.
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars If You Love The Ripper...This Is a Must Read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
I planned a recent trip to London and I am going on the Jack The Ripper Tour. I have always had a fascination w/ the Ripper and the fact that his identity has not been solved. Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors and this book she has written is amazing. Not only is it a wonderful history lesson, packed with detail, pictures, maps and photos taken in 1888-1891, but the details/depth she took in researching this topic is incredible. I'm not sure if I believe it was Walter Sickert, but it is the most interesting book I have read recently. If you are facinated by Jack, you MUST read this book!
BET
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read in you're into Ripper conspericy theories and lesser or unknown suspects at that time
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
Well written, but a stretch that Sickert was the Ripper. Evidence such as his mentor believing he was in London during one of the Ripper murders smacks of trying to force unconfirmed suppositions to conform to the Ripper murders, and this is just one example. Another being paintings that supposedly depicted Ripper killings, and his attending shows at the dance hall that would have him walking the streets where some of the murders took place (not mentioning that other people were on the streets at the very same time (witnesses to the actual killings, others attending the shows, etc.). The biggest problem I have though is that the monstrous fiend that committed the the butchery of the Mary Jeanette Kelly murder, was at this point totally out of control and probably would have escalated even further in future murders causing him to be eventually caught. The author tries to suggest that murders that happen after Mary Kelly's (which most seem to believe was the Ripper's last) and were more similar to earlier Ripper murders (indicating some deescalation on his part) could also have been done by Sickert, yet no strong evidence is really provided. I believe he wouldn't have stopped and would have most likely escalated where as Sickert seemed at this point not to be very strong on the authorities radar. This author's theory, seems very similar to the unbelievable American Ripper documentary series now On the History channel, which in my opinion, is also making vague suppositions to fit in as stated facts (i.e. H. H. Holmes may have been in London during the Ripper murder time frame because no documentation could be found during that time placing him in Chicago. They don't mention that this could apply to millions of others that also couldn't be proved not to be in London during the same time period). In closing this review, if you like conspiracy theories, then this book may be of interest.
Steven Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars Sickertbdidnit.
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
Very in-depth detailed and meticulous. Enjoying this read seems crude but the deep dive on W.R.S. was interesting. I, also, would like to have current investigation tools to determine who slaughtered these poor souls.
Robert Grant Wealleans
5.0 out of 5 stars This is not a courtroom and there is no trial and we do not read with the standard "beyond a reasonable doubt" but thinking in "civil law" terms much like "OJ" acquitted but held liable for the death of ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2018
I'm a lawyer, a retired one. Many believe "proof" is CSI or rock-solid science, facts, smoking guns, etc., but in court, an intricate web of circumstantial evidence so compelling can lead to a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. 130 years on is it enough to overcome reasonable doubt? You be the judge, but I will tell you that when three "Ripper letters" to the police and two Walter Sickert letters have the same watermark and forensically come from the same batch of paper (a ream of just 24 pages) PLUS all the other circumstantial evidence, no other person in history has made such a case against a single, named suspect except Patricia Cornwell. I think she's cracked it. The author is so far ahead of any other Ripperologist, detective, or researcher in terms of her evidence and persuasive arguments. I've read the other books by other authors and in my opinion, they do not compare. This is not a courtroom and there is no trial and we do not read with the standard "beyond a reasonable doubt" but thinking in "civil law" terms much like "OJ" acquitted but held liable for the death of his wife and her friend, under a lesser proof standard (preponderance of the evidence) in a civil liability case, Patricia Cornwell's case would find me voting in favor of that liability where Walter Sickert is concerned. Well done! An intriguing and exciting read!

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