Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 8:56 pm:

---

quote:

Dear Chris,

I began reading your book on the same day that I received it. Without exaggeration, I was barely able to put it down until it was finished. The unique and refreshing combination of traditional historical analysis and your personal
insight/life experience is extremely atmospheric, absorbing, and completely enlightening. Furthermore, the fact that the book is a direct reprint of your investigative manuscript, [I refused to hire a professional editor because of the confidential material. C.M.] only makes it all the more intriguing and refreshing.
l amost felt as though I had been peeking into the personal files of a private investigator -- or more aptly, a cross between a Victorian-era detective and a 20th century Mickey Spillane-type private eye. Even the odd misplaced commas and frequent 'Americanisms' add to the atmosphere in your relaying the seven-month-long investigation into book format. The juxtaposition of 1880s Whitechapel and 1980s (and ''70s) New York (and the fascinating and deadly characters you encountered) makes for a wonderfully refreshing, quite chilling, and informative narrative. More importantly, this intriguing life experience of yours has succeeded in bringing to light the man who I am now convinced was the actual Whitechapel murderer! I sincerely believe you have 'hit the nail on the head' Chris! If ever again any naive individual should mention suspects such as Walter Sickert, Lewis Carroll, or the Duke of Clarence, I will gladly shove your book under their noses and I'm sure they will immediately shut up.

Finally, I am extremely happy to have read your brilliant contribution to the field of true-crime/ Ripper studies, and I am completely looking forwad to your sequel book.

P.S. Not only has your book brought to light the man most likely to have been the Jack the Rpper, but it is a chilling reminder that 100 years later, there are many potential Jack the Rippers lurking about in any big city. I sure as hell will think twice before ever again accepting a drink from a stranger.

Sincerely,
Mildred

---

---

quote:

Dear Stephen,

Just to let you know, our computer system completely crashed last Tuesday evening (Feb. 3 -4) and has been down untill this afternoon (Thursday, 12th, Feb.). We have not been able to receive or send emails until today!

More importantly, you are completely wrong in thinking that Milestone Press has not sent email explanations to customers AND refund offers to anyone who hadn't yet received their book and was not prepared to wait. (this was done in the days and weeks after our long, detailed message was placed in your MessageBoard in early to mid Jan.). Out of the 312 customers who ordered the book, 300 have already happily received their books since dispatch resumed on January 7th. The 10 - 28 day wait, which was clearly explained, began on that date (Jan. 7th) and lasted till February 5th (maximum 28 DAYS). At this point, only 12 customers have waited slightly over that unfortunate period which ended last week -- Feb. 5 - 6. As we just had to order a new batch of copies from our printers/suppliers, and will receive them tomorrow afternoon, the remaining 12 customers will have their books dispatched next week and will receive them by mid or late next week (Liz Foster, our sales manager, unfortunately, ordered slightly less copies than she should have).

Also, there were only 19 customers who ordered our book as a result of your advert. Most of our customers ordered through adverts placed in local newpapers and seller periodicals (which began running some two weeks before we even placed an advert with your website) . Some of your website viewers who ordered as a result of the Casebook advert were, unfortunately, last on the list as our local advert customers inundated us with orders in early December - days before we placed an advert with your website. Once dispatch resumed on January 7th, we, therefore, felt obliged to dispatch the books in chronological order of receipt. Once again, the final 19 customers without a book will have their product by next week.

We have also been dealing with 2, and soon a third, bookshops in England who had long ago reserved initial minimum orders.

Finally, the system failure from last week was a sudden and unexpected nightmare. Many of our email addresses and important contact numbers were temporarily lost (some still have not been retrieved!!). Because of this lengthy distraction and lack of internet facilities (and NO, it wasn't possible to use an internet cafe - most of the info and contact data was crashed in our computer -- not to mention time and schedule factors!) I was unable to contact you regarding further advertising, etc.

As our printers/suppliers are running smoothly and have no delays/holidays till next Christmas, any new orders received will be sent their merchandise within the normal time frame (7 -14 days).

---