FROM OUR EDITORS

Mystery and thriller writer extraordinaire Patricia Cornwell uses her crime-solving know-how to solve one of history's most baffling cases: the infamous crime spree of Jack the Ripper. Cornwell has invested millions in her quest to reveal who the Ripper really was, and the results of her intense investigation are guaranteed to amaze and enthrall.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Between August and November 1888, at least seven women were murdered in London's Whitechapel area. The gruesome nature of their deaths caused panic and fear in the East End for months, and gave rise to the sobriquet that was to become shorthand for a serial killer - Jack the Ripper." "For over a hundred years the murders have remained among the world's greatest unsolved crimes, and a wealth of theories have been posited which have pointed the finger at royalty, a barber, a doctor, a woman and an artist. Using her formidable range of forensic and technical skills, Patricia Cornwell has applied the rigorous discipline of twenty-first-century police investigation to the extant material, and here presents the hard evidence that the perpetrator was the world-famous artist Walter Sickert." By using techniques unknown in the late Victorian age, Patricia Cornwell has exposed Sickert as the author of the infamous Ripper letters to the Metropolitan Police. Her detailed analysis of his paintings shows how his art continually depicted his horrific mutilation of his victims, and her examination of this man's birth defects, the consequent genital surgical interventions and their effects on his upbringing presents a casebook example of how a psychopathic killer is created.

SYNOPSIS

Crime fiction writer Cornwell adds yet another volume to the Jack the Ripper literature. She argues that the serial killer had to be the painter Walter Richard Sickert (d. 1942) and that the killings continued beyond the 1888 murder spree. She presents a portrait of Sickert as deranged by genital deformations and points to clues in his paintings and his biography as giving weight to her description of him as psychopathic. Explorations of the physical evidence, including DNA tests commissioned by Cornwell are presented and new clues are sought in the accounts of the murders of the Ripper's victims. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"I knew the identity of a murderer and couldn't possibly avert my gaze," declares bestselling author and Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine chairman of the board Cornwell (The Last Precinct). Claiming to have cracked the unsolved case of Jack the Ripper, the author, combining superb investigative skills and meticulous research with modern technology, presents strong, albeit largely circumstantial, evidence as to the true culprit in this uncharacteristic work of nonfiction. Cornwell's man is the handsome, educated actor-cum-artist Walter Richard Sickert, and she delves into his life, probing the psychological pain and sexual deformity which led to his "impotent fury." Screen, stage and TV actress Burton's splendid, professional narration deserves much of the credit for the book's smooth translation to abridged audio format. Transporting listeners to 19th century England, Burton easily transitions between American and English accents, bringing an authentic, resonating flavor to the era and to the desperate lives of London's "unfortunates" who became the killer's prey. Despite some tedious and over-detailed readings of medical records, laws and police reports, as well as descriptive accounts of Cornwell's experiences re-opening the case, this audiobook turns potentially dry material into an enthralling exploration. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Forecasts, Nov. 11). (Nov.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Cornwell's mission is to prove that artist and iconoclast Walter Sickert was the real Jack the Ripper. Her method is an intriguing though somewhat repetitious circling through Victorian London, where she pulls together circumstantial evidence and coincidences as well as an analysis of his artwork to name him a viable suspect if not the indisputable perpetrator. The portrait of the times and obstacles faced by the authorities is often more intriguing, as the author works through the historical flaws, glitches, mistakes, and limitations of the original investigations. Kate Reading's familiarity with Cornwell's fiction may be jarring for those used to her as the voice of Kay Scarpetta or Pete Marino. Ultimately, Cornwell's expertise as the creator of a modern crime world helps her as a writer more than a "case closer." A popular choice for true crime audiences, historians, and Cornwell fans; Books on Tape's library edition may be a better investment, especially since both publishers use the same reader.-Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile