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Jacqueline Beard
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The Ripper Deception: A page-turning Victorian murder mystery with a twist you won't see coming. (Lawrence Harpham Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Jacqueline Beard (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 509 ratings

A miser's death. The Ripper's shadow. The hunt begins.

When a miserly recluse meets a lonely end, Harpham uncovers clues that lead him to the unsolved mystery surrounding Edmund Gurney's death years earlier. Meanwhile, Violet grapples with a series of strange disturbances at a Suffolk rectory, where whispers of witchcraft and ancient curses abound.

With time running out and the body count rising, Harpham and Violet must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and deception to unmask the killer before more lives are lost.

A masterful blend of historical intrigue and witchcraft, this atmospheric thriller will captivate fans of Karen Charlton and Anne Perry.
__________________________________________________
Praise for the Lawrence Harpham Mysteries:

★★★★★ This book was a page-turner. I found I did not want to put it down till the mystery was solved.

★★★★★ A book full of mystery and intrigue.

★★★★★ …gripping mystery with some very evil turns of events.

★★★★★ …clever and entertaining…

★★★★★ Vivid and captivating dual timeline detective story.

★★★★★ Another wonderfully crafted story in the Lawrence Harpham series.

★★★★★ Couldn't wait to read this mystery.

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  1. Book 2 of 9
    Lawrence Harpham
  2. Print length
    250 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 9, 2019
  6. File size
    1.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ms. Beard has wonderful abilities as a writer with unique, clever plotting and interesting, complicated characters." 5* Goodreads review

"What an intriguing take on the Ripper story! With historical references and well researched description, this books takes things in a different direction.
A perfect extension to the current series, and an enjoyable read. Would highly recommend." 5* Amazon Review

From the Author

The Ripper Deception is the second in the Lawrence Harpham murder mystery series combining true crime and real historical events.  Some characters are fictional, but many more are real. I have undoubtedly taken liberties with the way they interact in their fictional setting, but have tried to keep to historical fact.

True crime has always fascinated me, especially when unsolved.  Even though Jack the Ripper was never caught, details of his crimes and victims are well known.  Experts have gleaned every available fact from vast ranges of resources and credible, well-considered theories abound.  So much effort has gone into solving these terrible atrocities, yet no-one paid the price, nor will they ever. 

The Ripper Deception is a new take on an old theme. But a word of caution - it is a work of fiction and not intended as the final solution, however feasible it may seem...

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07P9SG8RW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vinci Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 9, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 9 ‏ : ‎ Lawrence Harpham
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 509 ratings

About the author

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Jacqueline Beard

Jacqueline Beard

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Jacqueline Beard is a writer and genealogist living in Gloucestershire, with an East Anglian ancestry going back to the 1500s. She writes Victorian murder mysteries and is currently working on books in the Lawrence Harpham and the Constance Maxwell mystery series. Jacqueline’s books are a rare mix of true crime and fiction inspired by old newspaper reports. When Jacqueline is not writing or researching “dead people,” as her husband so charmingly puts it, she is walking in the glorious Cotswolds with her dog. Jacqueline enjoys technology and spends far too much time on her computer. She dislikes flying, dentists and balloons – especially red ones.

Find out more on her website https://jacquelinebeardwriter.com/

or cringe at her embarrassing efforts on Tiktok @jacquib333

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
509 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Sharon Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Solid 5
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Both Ripper and historical fiction fans should enjoy this tale. Set in the 1800s with enough detail to appreciate the era, the reader is immersed into the plodding investigation of Lawrence Harpham. He is a private detective with limited scientific forensic evidence available and must rely on eye-witness accounts, a little undercover work, and his instincts. He's partnered with Violet Smith who, much to her chagrin, is often relegated to the safer aspects of their investigations. Add to the mix, the private diary of "Jack the Ripper."
    When the opportunity to investigate two cases, Lawrence and Violet head off to different regions of England—each pursuing their own leads. Violet is pleased with opportunity to prove herself although she is a little nervous. Her investigation and Lawrence' s pull both of them to the Society for Psychical Research. Violet has formed a friendship with one of its members who assisted her in her investigation. Lawrence is suspicious of the organization's reach. As they proceed, suspicions are raised that the murders attributed to Ripper might be more than the acts of a lone killer.
    Well written and reasonably historically accurate enough to provide an enjoyable variation on the infamous Jack the Ripper saga. I give this a solid 5.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kat Starwolf
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Ripper Deception is … Deceptive
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve been intrigued by the Jack the Ripper story since I first read about in my teens fifty some odd years ago. Therefore, when fiction authors, investigators or anyone else come out with accounts that they declare are based on fact, I’m even more intrigued. And skeptical.

    However, while the premise for this story IS intriguing, it was also a bit convoluted. My problem was and is that I’ve read too many investigative accounts by individuals who were either well established in the law enforcement community in one way or another, and/or had also worked on the Ripper cold case files. Or something similar. In other words, there are lots of excellent theories about who the Ripper actually was, as well as what actually happened. Not all of those theories pan out.

    As for this story: in my opinion, while it may be an alternate theory – a POSSIBILITY – it is only a theory if even that. Then again, maybe it was just a plot device. Still, needless to say, I wasn’t really impressed.

    Additionally, the author might consider returning to school to take English grammar and spelling classes. While I try not to be too critical when I read, sometimes it’s challenging not to do so when continually misspelled and misused words plague the manuscript. For instance, using the word ‘bought’ when ‘brought’ should have been utilized. Not trying to be nit-picky, but it IS irritating. If one is going to write, learn grammar and learn to spell. And if your native language is NOT English, please learn English well enough to utilize idioms correctly.

    Just saying….

    Bottom line, however, it IS an interesting plot, but not one to keep me glued to the other books in this author’s series of books.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Twisting mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This was an interesting mystery with well-defined main characters. The plot is gripping, and the fact that it includes the Ripper only makes it more fascinating. Journal entries written by the killer add more tension to the story. This is definitely one to read!
    One person found this helpful
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  • LD Cordill
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Mysterious Whodunit
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019
    The Ripper Deception is about Detective Lawrence and his assistant Violet. Set between 1888 and 1891, the two set off on different paths to figure out different pressing mysteries. On their complicated investigations they stumble upon Jack the Ripper murders and SPR society. Somehow everything fits together, but Lawrence must figure out how and why.
    Lawrence reminded me a bit of a Sherlock Holmes type, but my favorite character by far was Violet. She was easily likeable and had her obstacles being a female detective in the 1800s. At times the writing can be a little stilted, but the plot keeps the story going. I felt like the book took a while to take off, but by chapter two the pace was set and became a quick read. I found the personal journaling of Jack the Ripper very interesting and that may have been my favorite part of the whole book.
    I recommend this book to those who like complex mysteries mixed in with some Jack the Ripper.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Brian Michaud
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
    Once I started reading The Ripper Deception, I could hardly put it down. The writing is intelligent and clever. Jacqueline Beard has a great writing style that draws the reader in and keeps them there.
    Lawrence Harpham is a detective in the line of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes but with more human flaws that make him more real and relatable. His assistant, Violet Smith, is a resourceful woman who breaths fresh life into the typical assistant/sidekick role with her independent mindset.
    The mystery unfolds in an intriguing way. Three seemingly unrelated cases in different parts of England become entangled in a plot that involves the notorious Jack the Ripper. Lawrence and Violet find that a controversial group called the Society for Psychical Research may be at the center of the mystery, so they search for answers by attempting to infiltrate the organization. Their investigation quickly becomes more dangerous than either expected as they discover that the killings in London may not be simply the work of a lone madman.
    One of the things that I appreciated most is that the settings are described in a way that makes one feel like they are right there experiencing the feel of life in the 1800s yet not too descriptive as to bog down the story. Embedded throughout the story are journal entries written by Jack the Ripper. These were my favorite parts of the book because they were intense and creepy (in a good way).
    I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or who enjoys historical fiction.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon CustomerJackie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Really good read, great characters, great storyline
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  • Vesper
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining mystery
    Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    1891 Ipswich. After attending an inquest private investigator Harpham is asked by his friend Inspector Fernlagh to accompany him to view the body of a dead female, Miss Ruth Moss. Meanwhile Harpham's partner Violet Smith is in Chelmondiston, investigating strange ghostly goingons in a vicarage. There she meets members of the Society for Psychical Reasearch, there on the same mission. Do these two events have any connection to the death of Edmund Gurney in Brighton in 1888.
    An enjoyable historical mystery, with its likeable characters.
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  • justwoodall
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another great historical mystery.... with two minor flaws.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A thoroughly enjoyable novel based around the infamous 'Jack the Ripper' murders in the 1880s. Lawrence and Violet are extremely well written characters and I look forward to reading more.

    The two minor flaws?
    1) Violet's 'haunting' case was never wrapped up. I would have liked a conclusion to that.
    2) The novel is set in 1891 and Lawrence is reading a Bram Stoker novel that we are led to assume is Dracula as he mentions Jonathan Harker. Dracula was first published in 1897.
    Just a couple of niggles in an otherwise great read.
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  • ardent reader x
    5.0 out of 5 stars To be honest
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If this has not been included in the kindle unlimited i would have not read this and I would have missed out on an excellent read

    The style of writing is both interesting and captivating with a urgent need to know the ending when you have only just started

    I know this is written many times in many reviews but I am genuinely looking forward to reading book 3 to see where the next mystery takes Lawrence,Violet and myself

    Happy reading
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  • Alison Atherton
    3.0 out of 5 stars Soft approach to the ripper story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the book as I have read many many ripper books fact and fiction the storyline was OK but lacked the fast paced reading I'm used to in these genre of books if your a fan of Jack the ripper then read and make your own mind up
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