Casebook Review:

Anyone who's followed the latest Ripper research knows the name Chris Scott. For the past several years he has contributed countless contemporary press reports and other historical tidbits to the Casebook and to Ripperologist magazine. He's spent literally hundreds, if not thousands, of hours combing through press archives, census records and the like, and many of his discoveries are compiled into the eBook, Jack the Ripper: A Cast of Thousands.

This book is unique in that it focuses exclusively on the "side characters" of the case. You won't find extensive biographies of Annie Chapman or Michael Ostrog here, but rather in-depth investigative analyses on people like Mrs. Buki (allegedly a former landlady of Mary Kelly's), Thomas Cutbush (the fellow Macnaghten's famous memoranda sought to exonerate), and Anne Deary (wife of suspect Roslyn D'Onston). Obviously, this is not a book for the beginner Ripperologist. But those with a passion for the details and an unquenchable thirst for "new" information related to the case will devour every digital page.

The writing style is casual, and Chris makes sure not just to relate what he's found, but how he found it, and where. Budding researchers will learn a great deal from his sources and methods.

Recommended, as a specialist book for inveterate Ripperologists. Full text available online here.

(Chris Scott is a co-editor of Casebook: Jack the Ripper.)