People of Abandoned Character
As seen:
By Clare Whitfield, and and, Tuppence Middleton
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1 review
‘Astonishing … I’d be amazed if it isn’t dominating the shortlists come next year’s awards season’ M.W. CRAVEN
Marry in haste… Murder at leisure?
London, 1888: Susannah rushes into marriage to a young and wealthy surgeon. After a passionate honeymoon, she returns home with her new husband wrapped around her little finger. But then everything changes.
Thomas’s behaviour becomes increasingly volatile and violent. He stays out all night, returning home bloodied and full of secrets. The gentle caresses she enjoyed on her wedding night are now just a honeyed memory.
When the first woman is murdered in Whitechapel, Susannah’s interest is piqued. But as she follows the reports of the ongoing hunt for the killer, her mind takes her down the darkest path imaginable. Every time Thomas stays out late, another victim is found dead.
Is it coincidence? Or is her husband the man they call Jack the Ripper?
2020 Head of Zeus Ltd
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The character of Jack the Ripper has been revisited repeatedly in fiction, and this is a refreshing take on an old story. Whitfield creates a character who is believable and the tale she tells is compelling. The atmosphere is dark and sinister and I did keep turning the pages to find out what happened. The depiction of Victorian London is excellent, and the hysteria of the press and public around the murders is portrayed well. However, in some places the plot felt cliched and implausible, and the descriptions of the victims - and final plot twist - left me unsettled. When exploring events like this, we need to remember that these were real people, and it feels wrong to alter their stories and retell their last violent moments for the gratification of the modern reader. Isn't it time to leave the Ripper's victims in peace?
Kathryn Boyle- teacher
