Jack the Ripper: Threads: Think you know Jack the Ripper? Think again.: Fascinating New Look at an Old Mystery I have been interested in the unsolved mystery of Jack The Ripper for a long time but was unaware of the discovery of the James Maybrick Diaries until now. Threads is a fascinating read which merges fact and fiction ( something I do enjoy) and gives a definite possible answer to the mystery. Maybrick could certainly be placed in the area at the right time. The question I have always asked is ' Why did the killings stop'. The obvious answer is that Jack died. James Maybrick was poisoned, allegedly by his wife about 6 months after the killing of Mary Jane Kelly. So, was Maybrick Jack The Ripper? Maybe or maybe not but he is certainly as good a candidate as any. I would suggest you read Threads and decide for yourself.

Jack the Ripper: Threads: Think you know Jack the Ripper? Think again.: Really enjoyed this take on the Jack the Ripper legend. Really original take on the Jack the Ripper legend.

Jack the Ripper: Threads: Think you know Jack the Ripper? Think again.: It's Jack, But Possibly Not as You Thought You Knew Him The 'diary' of Jack the Ripper which emerged in Liverpool in 1992 has been debated over for just shy of thirty years now. The vast majority of commentators assume it to be a hoax, and there are many reasons for drawing that conclusion, but - critically - there are also very strong reasons for concluding that it is actually authentic. Sounds far-fetched, right? Jack was the quintessential End End psychopath who stalked the streets of his native Whitechapel, yes? Well, perhaps not the former but possibly the latter. James Maybrick - a wealthy Liverpool cotton merchant - knew Whitechapel in Liverpool very well, and significantly he had means, motive, and opportunity for the crimes he may well have transferred to Whitechapel in London (to protect his identity). After almost three decades, the debate goes on around the 'diary' (and the associated watch), but there is no debate that this most unlikely of candidates for Jack nevertheless fits the bill on many levels; and it is his 'fitting the bill' which has inspired Jay Hartley - a regular contributor to Jack the Ripper online forums - to weave what we know about Jack together with what we know about James to create a hugely readable version of what may very well have been more or less true. Using his writer's licence, Hartley joins the various threads of both stories and presents them in a gripping tale of fiction which - to those of us with many years of insight into the case - clearly form what may very well be the final truth in this most enduring of murder mysteries. Despite knowing a fair amount about both Jack and James, I read 'Threads' as though I were there in the late Victorian period, and Hartley's creative interpretation and skilful prose kept me enthralled as he challenged some of my own assumptions about Jack's crimes. In many regards, if you are new to 'Ripperology', you would be very well served to start with 'Threads' as your introduction to the case and - if you find that what is woven is also believable to you - you may have saved yourself many tortured hours of reading the plethora of Jack the Ripper books to try to fathom just exactly what did happen during those weeks of the 'Autumn of Terror' in late 1888. Don't be fooled by the fact that 'Threads' is fiction - it contains all of the characters and all of the relevant information that ties James Maybrick to Jack's terrible crimes and as such it is a fiction which informs and educates as well as stimulates and entertains. An excellent first work of fiction (to my knowledge) from Hartley, and a terrific read. Highly recommended, but beware - once you have been pulled in to the enigma of Jack the Ripper, you may find that the search for the truth turns the erstwhile casual reader into a dedicated sleuth. It's very addictive once you're gripped!I bought the hardback version of 'Threads', by the way, and I have to say it is beautifully made.

Jack the Ripper: Threads: Think you know Jack the Ripper? Think again.: Captivating Never have I felt the need to write a review of a book before finishing it!As a reader of Jack The Ripper true crime books for 50 years i think it is fair to say I am a quite absorbed by the subject matter of this novel. I have previously only considered one other fictional work on the subject worth the reading time. HOWEVER this book is beyond expectations.Anyone who knows about the Ripper diaries and Maybrick has a view on their authenticity. I wanted to believe that they solved the identity of who Jack was , but my head always weighed up the evidence and decided that they were false. BUT if they could ever have been true , then this well written book could convince me this was how! Still got to finish the read, hope I am not disappointed!

Jack the Ripper: Threads: Think you know Jack the Ripper? Think again.: Dramatic and suspenseful This is a powerful mixture of fact and fiction, to create a dramatic and suspenseful novel that brings the world of Jack the Ripper to life. An extremely impressive debut, highly recommended.