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Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman Paperback – March 1, 2012

by John Morris (Author)

3.9 94 ratings

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The Jack the Ripper murders of 1888 continue to exert a macabre hold on the collective imagination of the masses more than a century later, and this book, the result of extensive research, sheds some light on them. Among the first serial murders, their brutality and bizarreness begged questions such as What kind of person could have performed such horrific deeds? and How could they not have been caught by the huge police effort? The book offers keen insight into Victorian London and its policing as it follows the investigations of the infamous murders. Arguing that many unresolved questions could be answered if Jack was in reality a woman, this bold account names a suspect and explains why the murders stopped.

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About the Author

John Morris is a legal consultant specializing in immigration.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Seren (March 1, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1854115669
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1854115669
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,564,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,833 in Serial Killers True Accounts
- #12,427 in Criminology (Books)

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3.9 94 ratings

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John Morris

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Born in Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire more years ago than I care to remember... in fact I don't remember. My school teachers said I'd never amount to anything. I became a lawyer so I guess they were right. After graduating from Guildford College of Law I practised as a solicitor in Swansea, South Wales where I built up a large criminal following. It was at this time that I was introduced to, and became deeply involved in the forensic side of criminal investigation/detection methods. Happily married to the same long suffering wife Yvonne; two wonderful adult children one of whom is also a lawyer with criminal aspirations (so to speak) the other, a happily married business lecturer. Moved to Rep of Ireland in year 2000 and continued to practise law with emphasis on crime. Now retired and living in Wicklow, southern Ireland. Consider family, friends and interests in everything, the most important elements in life.

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3.9 out of 5

94 global ratings

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Frank W Cannon

Jackie the Ripper?

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2012

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This book is a refreshing, well-researched read on Jack the Ripper. The author has given a detailed, exceptional account on the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper.

While the book is fairly expensive for a Kindle, you do get what you pay for. This book held my interest from the moment I picked it up. His writing style is not technical for the research done; it is an easy read. The author makes a compelling argument for his premise, and he can definitely make a believer out of you. That is what a good book is all about. His attention to detail is fantastic--no stone left unturned.

Morris brings the book full circle in a vivid way. I am an English teacher and I found his reference to Rudyard Kipling to be very intriguing; so much so, in fact, that I found myself rereading that part several times, referring back to the beginning, and analyzing that particular poem all over again. That is what a good book does.

6 people found this helpful

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W. Hensley

Great book.

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2012

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John Morris and his father had done some great detective work, they knew so much about the topic and studied it for years. I highly recommend this book. They reference other books on the topic and how they were unable to answer certain questions about the murders, however Mr Morris and his father had a great interest in this topic and got to the bottom of it. Reread the police reports time and time again to look for clues, got familiar with the people and learned their backgrounds.. I loved it. Best one yet.

It was so interesting to me I got the book late in the night of 6/4/12 finished it on 6/6/12.

5 people found this helpful

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Georgie

Not Convincing

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2012

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I've read a number of books pertaining to Jack the Ripper and this book is just another wild shot in the dark. The premise rides on four things; 1. Clothing found burnt in Mary Kelly's fireplace being women's clothing......a "fact" the author points out numerous times; 2. A Mrs. Caroline Williams stating she saw a woman she insisted was Mary Kelly several hours after Mary's estimated time of death; 3. The childless marriage of Dr. John Williams and his wife Lizzie "causing" the deterioration of their marriage and her mind; 4. Dr. Williams had an affair with a woman named Mary

To begin, the author tells us that it is "probable" and "possible" that Lizzie Williams, a pampered young woman raised as a lady and heiress to her father's tinplate manufacturing industry would've been present during her husband's surgical performances on the removing of the uteri of women thereby giving her knowledge on how to remove one quickly. It is nearly impossible to believe that a doctor who was living a respectable life in polite society, recognized as a gynecologist to Queen Victoria's daughters would bring his Victorian era, lady wife to witness something so horrifying as a surgery where anesthesia was not yet developed.

Proceeding forward into their childless marriage, the author "imagines" their unhappiness and resentment with Lizzie becoming more unhappy even "possibly" depressive. He backs this information with no substantiated evidence. However, he goes forward with Lizzie finally snapping over her father's bankruptcy forcing her to become fully dependent on a husband who had appeared to have tired of her. Williams was having affairs and up comes the name "Mary." Given that Williams performed abortions for the unfortunates of the White Chapel area, it is automatically assumed that the "Mary" was Mary Kelly.

Bringing things forward to the neighbor witness who states she saw Mary Kelly hours after her death, the author automatically concludes that the woman seen was Lizzie in Mary's clothing having burned her own clothing in Mary's fireplace. Never a thought that perhaps the woman was Mary and perhaps the completely mutilated corpse in the bed was not Mary.

The author takes a very "it must've been a woman" approach to the book with absolutely no solid evidence or information that follows any logical sense. It's almost an archaic view to suppose a woman who was infertile could suddenly crack so badly as to want to mutilate her husband's mistress IF the Mary in question is Mary Kelly. Murder, yes. Mutilation, no. Or better yet, murder of her husband even better given his roving eye and affairs. Given that Lizzie led a tea room life in fashionable London doesn't equate with someone street smart enough to enter the hell of White Chapel. Equally, it is completely illogical to present Mary Kelly as a fertile woman whom John Williams would choose to have a child with. The child would be illegitimate and Mary was a prostitute.

Overall, there are far better theories backed by more logical concepts. This book is a good work of fiction.

6 people found this helpful

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Mort Mason

Jacki the Riperess?

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2012

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A most provocative book, well written and quite compelling. Begun with suppositions based upon what-ifs and what-might-have beens, the research and its conclusions, as found between this book's covers, are truly tantalizing. Moreover, the book's findings are both believable and quite possible. It draws some serious conclusions, but in the final analysis, it is more than possible that Jack the Rippper could well have been Jack the Ripperess. In fact, it is highly likely that such is the case. In any event, a remarkably good read.

5 people found this helpful

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Barbara Paulsen

Save your money

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2012

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This book is speculation at best. There are no hard facts to support this claim. The claim that there was extensive research just doesn't hold up.

2 people found this helpful

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Bernardo

Not convinced

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2012

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A reasonable case is made for the possability that the Ripper could have been a woman but I thought the case for it being the named woman was very weak. And the book did not make a good read.

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2012

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This is a good book. It is not a great book. Very interesting premise with a different view than others. There is extensive circumstantial evidence to support the theory but no concrete evidence. The author sometimes uses a tone of certainty where there is no certainty. Worth the read.

4 people found this helpful

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Book reviewer

Fantastic read

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2012

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I downloaded this book onto my kindle late last night and from the moment I started it, I could not put it down. It is clear that the author has researched the subject thoroughly and has made a very convincing argument that the suspect he names was Jack the Ripper. I have read many true crime books and would say that this book is up there with the best.

4 people found this helpful

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Angela Harris

Intriguing.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2023

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I really enjoyed reading this book.
A different perspective and one not thought of before as far as I'm aware.
It does make a lot of sense and it's been well researched and the author followed the evidence where it went. A very thought provoking book.
Highly recommended.

S. Mayer

GAnz neue Aspekte

Reviewed in Germany on July 14, 2019

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Wusst ich alles gar nicht. Dachte, es wär ein serienkiller, der ein paar Frauen ermordet hat. Aber diese Details.... Selber lesen. Super spannend!

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Lilly G.

Poorly written and researched. Author jumps to ludicrous conclusions ...

Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2016

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Poorly written and researched. Author jumps to ludicrous conclusions. Some of his "deductions" are truly embarrassing. There are times I questioned whether he actually knew a single woman because he makes some of the most sexist and demeaning assumptions about women and our thought-processes.

miss helen janet ross

Book was in perfect condition

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2024

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Haven't had a chance to read it yet but I can say the book was is perfect condition, good as new, I am looking forward to reading this book

πxie

Wow

Reviewed in Germany on May 2, 2013

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...wow, wow! Sehr crasse Hypothese, aber bestens argumentiert. Liest sich spannend und erscheint erschreckend logisch und einleuchtend. Gutes Buch für Freunde düster-viktorianischer Grusel-Krimis. Nice work!

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