People of Abandoned Character

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