The Best Book

[Johan Windh]

So, as a newcomer wanting to get a solid, objective grasp on the case; which book would you recommend? I first and foremost want to read the facts rather than various theories.

Thanks,

[Robert Linford]

The Jack the Ripper Sourcebook by Evans and Skinner.

[Johan Windh]

The Jack the Ripper Sourcebook by Evans and Skinner.

That one seems great. Thank you.

[Whitechurch]

I have read Sudgen's book several times and it has given me a foundation of the case. It is, I think detailed and shows really little bias.

[Gary Barnett]

Robert and Whitechurch have already provided two of the best, but for a nicely illustrated introduction you could do worse than Jack the Ripper/CSI: Whitechapel by John Bennett and Paul Begg.

I would also invest in an historic OS map from here:

http://www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk

Sheet 63, Whitechapel, Spitalfields and The Bank, 1894 would be the best option.

[Howard Brown]

Johan:

Three reference books which I think are essential for specialized knowledge :

Scotland Yard Investigates By Evans & Rumbelow
And
Capturing Jack The Ripper By Neil R.A Bell

The story of the police investigation into the murders.

Letters From Hell By Keith Skinner & Stewart Evans

The letters written to the police, press, and on occasion, to private citizens allegedly written by the Ripper

************************************************** ******

For a generalized overview of the Case, these two will work :

The A To Z Of Jack The Ripper Paul Begg, Keith Skinner, and Martin Fido

Jack The Ripper :The Facts Paul Begg

Look in your email.....when you get a chance.

[Johan Windh]

Many thanks for all the input!

[Stephen Collyer]

For general use I think it's hard to beat The Complete History by Sugden. I also think that Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates by Evans & Rumbelow gives a great contemporary feel.
The Bank Holiday Murders by Tom Wescott is a book to read once you have a fair knowledge of the Autumn of Terror which makes you reassess what you think you know.
Like many, I'm also a sucker for suspect books.
The best ones of these I've read in no order are:
Jack the Ripper and the Case for Scotland Yard's Prime Suspect by Rob House
The Lodger: Arrest and Escape of Jack the Ripper By Stewart P. Evans & Paul Gainey
The Trial of Jack the Ripper by Euan Macpherson
Jack the Ripper: The Simple Truth by Bruce Paley
and
The Secret of Prisoner 1167 by James Tulley.

[String]

Sugden and A to Z.

[Johan Windh]

I'm at the moment reading Sugden's book. Still in the beginning of things (Annie), but I find it very interesting and resourceful.

I already have a totally new view in my head when I think of JTR. It suddenly seems real. All the 'mainstream implemented' pictures are gone.

I now see real people, filthy streets, dim lights. And some dark, but very real figure, moving in the shadows.

[Cris Malone]

What makes Sugden stand apart is that he covers the subject in detail while keeping it flowing. I doubt there is one superfluous paragraph.