THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS OF 1888: ANOTHER DEAD END? (A Work in Progress)

Softcover. SIGNED, NUMBERED LTD. EDITION. A series of gruesome and inexplicable murders, which occurred in a very limited area of the East End of London from April 1888 to February 1891, were committed without anyone ever being convicted, or even brought to trial. Known as the "Whitechapel Murders", the elusive perpetrator of these crimes has gone down in history as the infamous Jack the Ripper. There are very few authentic, known historical police suspects, but hundreds of names have appeared in relation to potential perpetrators. Every so often a new "suspect" is proposed, generating varying degrees of media attention. This has led to numerous false alarms, unfounded claims and unscrupulous exploitation. Never-ending debates among Ripperologists, armchair criminologists, academics and historians have turned the studies of the subject into a muddled mix of fact, fiction, sensation and speculation. And there seems to be no end in sight. As the murders will most probably never be "solved" to the satisfaction of anyone, these discussions continue, unabated. But did the police of the time actually know the truth about the murderer (or murderers)? Here the author explores the possibility that the identity of the man that has gone down in history as Jack the Ripper was actually known to the police (or at least some senior members of the forces involved). It has been widely accepted that this could not have been the case, but the author argues otherwise. John Malcolm, a non-academic, amateur researcher and "armchair detective", may seem unqualified to assess this conclusion, but puts forth a forceful and well-researched effort that flies in the face of conventional thinking. No sensational conspiracies, cover-ups or "final solution" will be found here - only a lucid and sobering assessment of the extant facts, put in an historical context, that should stand up tall when compared with the endless parade of fanciful and ridiculous theories that are shamelessly promoted, year after year. The author has been studying the history of the Whitechapel murders, including the people, the places, and the times, for more than twenty-five years. He has contributed to numerous publications dedicated to the histories of the crimes and the East End, spoken at events, and accumulated a wealth of knowledge that has garnered him a degree of respect within the Ripperological community. This book, (a revised, updated version of 'Confessions of a Ripperologist first published in 2005 and 2018) not only presents the unpopular view that the "greatest murder mystery of all time" was actually no mystery at all, explores some of the major players, theories, and peripheral controversies associated with the case. The book is also illustrated with modern full-colour photos of what remains of the murder sites, as well as several contemporary photos. It is very different from the 2005 version - it's still full colour throughout, and the production is far superior this time. Illus., Propaganda/Appendix or Unnecessary Addenda. 214pp. trade size softcover. SIGNED, NUMBERED (to 100) LIMITED EDITION. New