04-11-2015, 11:49 PM
I finished reading the book a few days ago. It is very good - very angry, moving and affecting in parts - and the general consensus among other critics (and folks on a couple of the prominent 'Ripperology' forums such as Casebook.org) is that it is unlike any other book on Jack the Ripper. The scope is much wider and the portrait Robinson paints of corruption throughout the era is a frightening one. He spends a couple of hundred pages examining the figures involved in the investigation, shows their widespread links to elite Freemason groups, and methodically breaks down the mechanics of a cover-up. It's really not just a Ripper book, it's additionally a very well written and convincing study on conspiracy in general. It's informative about the era, but I also took its depiction of the establishment working to protect itself from an honest enquiry to be prescient about current events. The Daily Mail in the UK took the time to craft a detailed hit-piece on the volume, which should tell you something.
Robinson makes a strong case for his suspect, and carefully points out where events and evidence rule out the various other Ripper suspects discussed elsewhere. Much of his analysis is ingenious, and he makes a lot of observations - new to me - that are obvious in retrospect. I'm hesitant to write a long list of all the good points I found in the book, as it would take a 2000 word piece to do the work justice. I'll simply say for now that I recommend everyone on this forum should take the chance to read it.
Robinson makes a strong case for his suspect, and carefully points out where events and evidence rule out the various other Ripper suspects discussed elsewhere. Much of his analysis is ingenious, and he makes a lot of observations - new to me - that are obvious in retrospect. I'm hesitant to write a long list of all the good points I found in the book, as it would take a 2000 word piece to do the work justice. I'll simply say for now that I recommend everyone on this forum should take the chance to read it.