I am afraid that I, Sherlock Holmes, must act as my own chronicler in this singular case, that of the Whitechapel murders of 1888. For the way in which the affair was dropped upon my doorstep left me with little choice as to the contrary. Not twelve months prior, the siren’s call of quiet domesticity and married life had robbed me of Watson’s assistance as both partner and recorder of my cases. … cases. Thus, when detective inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard required a lead–any lead–I found myself forced to pursue Jack the Ripper alone and without the aid of my faithful friend. And all for the most damnedable of reasons:
Early on in my investigations, Dr. John H. Watson, formerly of 221b Baker Street, emerged as my prime suspect.
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Sherlock Holmes & the Ripper of Whitechapel earns 5/5 Pipes…Compelling!
As an eager Anglophile and mystery fan, I regularly seek out manifestations of Doyle’s fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. Whether the original Victorian setting or reimagined in contemporary times, whether involving new characters or changing gender, whether incorporating historical events or devising new encounters, I am game to check it out. Case in Point: “Sherlock Holmes and the Ripper of Whitechapel” by M.K. Wiseman. Using details and suppositions from the infamous real-life, and unsolved, crime to challenge literature’s most adept detective and adding some fictionalized ideas and theories, Wiseman employs a first-person narrative, like a personal account, offering investigative insights, inner thoughts and feelings, and descriptive ideas from Holmes’s perspective. And the twist? Watson, whose medical practice and ten-month marriage has kept him otherwise occupied, becomes a source of suspicion…by Holmes.
It’s 1888, and the Ripper is wielding fear and a knife throughout London’s East End. Holmes has kept abreast of the details, but, as suggested by friend John Watson, he has kept his distance from the investigation. This changes when the fourth victim is found and Sir Charles Warren, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, arrives at Baker Street following up with LeStande suggestion to get Holmes’s help. The crime scene is gruesome, but the most disturbing detail is the scrawl chalked on the wall, “Five. Fifteen more and then I give myself up.” To complicate Holmes’s involvement, post mortems are mishandled, useless details and public sentiment are distractions, crime scenes are disrupted, and his own pertinent notions and profiles are ignored. However, most troubling is the physical evidence, witness statements, and a profile devised from the killer’s penned letter causing Holmes incapable of, in good conscience, dismissing his friend Watson as a person of interest.
I have enjoyed film and television versions of Sherlock Holmes along with any clever twists on many of the original elements and also insightful documentaries and fictional interpretations of Jack the Ripper, and this version holds a high spot with an extremely fascinating premise, intense in some descriptions, of course, and a writing style that does well to illustrate the characters I’ve come to love. I was totally engaged in Holmes’s thoughts in connection to the crime itself and judgements passed against the police and their foibles, but it was his conflicting feelings about entertaining suspicions toward his friend Watson that were so compelling. Wiseman does well to make you feel his angst having been overlooked, now that Watson is married, and his efforts to uncover what it is that has him niggled about his friend and this case. The investigative journey often partners Holmes with Lestrade since Watson is frequently preoccupied which mandates the spying on his friend, and the additional murders are vicious causing more panic exacerbating the cat and mouse chase and personal danger. All leading to a shocking ending. Wow! What a fantastic read!
To be blunt, the story was well crafted but left me unsatisfied at the portrayal of the relationship between Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. In the process, Watson seemed better fleshed out and Holmes left as a cardboard image of the legend. Part of the problem may be it is one of many books placing Sherlock Holmes in confrontation with Jack the Ripper. The variation is intriguing in the premise and personal effect on Holmes but some of the parodies of the Sherlock Holmes characters by other authors came across as more representative of Holmes. I’m glad I read it but not interested in re-reading it.
Being a lifelong fan of Sherlock Holmes, I couldn’t pass up the chance to dig into this story. And I wasn’t disappointed.
In this retelling, the infamous Holmes is called into the case of the Ripper of Whitechapel, aka Jack the Ripper. While his investigation gleans more than that of Lestrade and Scotland Yard, they also lead him to an unlikely suspect, his friend and partner, Dr. John Watson.
His investigation becomes three-fold: to exonerate his friend or find him guilty… which he cannot allow himself to believe to be true; to find the real killer committing the heinous murders; and to find out why Watson has been acting so out of character, lying to him, and his wife, Mary.
This fast-moving quick read delivers a more personable Holmes, with less of the arrogance and disdain for everyone around him. He is more honest with and about himself, admitting his own failings and shortcomings. Told entirely from his point of view, there is more compassion for those he encounters and less judgment. Okay, except for Lestrade and the Yard. He realizes their job is not an easy one but still disapproves of their shoddy and sometimes, less than professional investigating.
Before Sherlock can prove Watson’s innocence to himself, the police put him under surveillance, promising to arrest the doctor. Working alone, Holmes tries to beat the clock, losing hope not only when all the evidence points to his friend, but when he’s also involved in a life and death struggle with the notorious Jack the Ripper.
A stellar read weaving the great fictional detective with the real-life unsolved crimes of serial killer Jack the Ripper. I highly recommend!
Enjoy!
I found it very interesting and intriguing because this time, his best friend and confidant, Dr Watson, was the primary suspect in a series of murders that he took upon to solve.
I enjoyed this suspenseful story, especially because it made him more human and reliable, all his conflicted feelings about everything and his well-known gut intuition saved the day again as expected.
A must-read for sure.
It’s suspenseful, dark and sometimes gruesome but so worth the time.
A meticulously researched book! Oh the history! M. K. Wiseman handles the real-life horror of Jack the Ripper without shying away from the details. With all the graphic stuff readers consume today, you would think that this wouldn’t horrify. You’d be wrong! The fact that Wiseman stayed so close to the actual history, and that you know it as a reader gave me chills. I felt the icy fear and sick horror I can only imagine was reminiscent of a resident of White Chapel during these gruesome events. But even still, Wiseman captures all that while being respectful to the real victims. She does not sensationalize Jack. She gives you the facts as they were.
Now on to the Holmes aspect. First let me say that I am a casual Holmes reader. I have read some of ACD’s novels and a few short stories, but I am by no means a Holmesian. I watch the movies, and I always jump at new interpretations of the beloved character. Wiseman’s classical writing style complimented the entire feel of the story, and she got around any inconsistencies of style with ACD by making the story from Holmes’s perspective rather than Watson’s, as his generally are. This had the added bonus of giving the whole cannon a very fresh feel.
I will say that I had a few parts where I raised one eyebrow, places where I felt that certain implications weren’t addressed or parts where I was unconvinced by Holmes’s assumptions. But that didn’t encumber the story overall, and they weren’t bothersome enough for me to take any stars away.
A thrillingly spine-tingling delight of a book. The dark and sinister alleyways of the Victorian East End evoke a sense of menace and of evil afoot. This one has left me looking over my shoulder every time I have to take the stairs.
The seamless blend of fact and fiction was very appealing.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of historical mysteries.
I read this book as a free ARC but this review is my voluntary and honest opinion.