Product Description

There have been countless attempts to solve the brutal murders committed by Jack the Ripper more than a hundred years ago. It seems that almost everyone has their own theory and their own suspect, ranging from the reasonably likely to the entirely preposterous. What this most famous of British criminal cases has always required is a professional eye to analyse with all the benefits of modern investigate techniques. Now that has been provided in the shape of the man most qualified to solve the case: former British murder squad detective Trevor Marriott. His long and arduous investigation dispels the rumours, fantasies and urban legends which have for so long stalked through the shadowy world of this vile killer. The results are startling: for many years it has been accepted that Jack the Ripper killed only five, but now, it can be revealed that up to nine were victims. And, most astonishing of all, a new prime suspect never previously considered has emerged, with evidence linking him not only to the Whitechapel cases, but to murders all over the world. "Jack the Ripper: the 21st Century Investigations" reveals the Ripper's true identity at last, and the fate that befell him.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75769 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Trevor Marriott joined the Bedfordshire Police in 1970. During his time as a detective he was assigned to murder cases and was also in Special Branch. Throughout this highly successful career, he developed a fascination with the unsolved Whitechapel murders, looking at the century-old case through the experienced eyes of a modern-day criminal investigator. The knowledge and insight into the criminal mind gained by interviewing murderers, rapists and robbers proved invaluable in his work to pinpoint the real perpetrator of Britain's most notorious serial killings.

Customer Reviews

Over-Hyped, below average book
I don't know who wrote the synopsis for this book's cover but I doubt they actually read the book. Mr Marriott DOES NOT solve the Ripper murders. He doesn't even propose a likely candidate. His opinion (which may be valid but is still an opinion that is not backed up with any hard facts) is Jack was a merchant Seaman. Apparently he has spent a lot of time researching shipping logs and proposed a couple of likely ships that COULD have had Jack The Ripper working on board BUT the actual crew lists no longer exist. He readily admits during the last chapter he can't put a name to the Ripper!

The forensic detective insights promised for this book were sorely lacking and, with only a couple of minor details, means this book is, once again, another tomb reeling off the author's pet theory with nothing substantial to back up the claims. Most of the main suspects are written off purely because they don't fit in with his opinion.

It is a real shame because if this book had approached the subject in the way the cover/synopsis had promised it would have been a very interesting and inlightening read. Instead we just have another author cashing in with nothing new to present.

This isn't a book that should be tossed away lightly - it should be thrown with great force
As a Jack the Ripper enthusiast I was keen to see what Marriot could bring to the discussion.

On reading it in the space of just over 2 hours the answer to that question is simple: Nothing.

The large proportion of the 307 page large-print book is filled with already widely availble coroner's reports and witness statements. Very little space is dedicated to logical and insightful discussion of the case.

The "synopsis" is a blatent fabrication - "it can be revealed that up to nine were victims" - Marriot only agrees on the canonical five and "probably" dismisses other victims.

No suspect is put forward in place of the ones he carelessly dismisses and the groundbreaking theory he proposes is far from new! His conclusions were already documented in 1888.

I conceed that this book may be of interest to "newbies", but even then I wouldn't bet on it.

Morbid, But Fascinating Nonetheless
What is it about the human mind that makes us have a morbid curiosity about death, particularly violent death. I for one don't know, but it is there in a great majority of human beings and I seemingly am no different to anyone else. I approached this book with more than a little trepidation but after reading a dozen or so pages, I found it hard to put down.

The book and author claim that 21st. century investigation methods have at last solved the Whitechapel murders. I personally found it inconclusive. The author puts forward a well structured and well thought out case but I personally feel that the timescale is against any investigation. I am sure that there may have been compelling evidence at the time of the murders, evidence that was either discounted, or never written down by incompetent, or by today's standard, poorly trained officers. Other books on the Ripper have intimated that because of who, or what these women were, their deaths were not taken seriously enough by the police, until that is they realised they had a serial killer to deal with.

I found the book a really interesting, if unhealthily morbid read. Perhaps the time scale of one hundred years plus took some of the brutality away from the deaths of these poor unfortunate women, I am not sure. What I do know is that there will always be a fascination with Jack the Ripper, whoever he was . . .