While there is some of that, definitely, I thought it was an interesting take on the many alternate theories surrounding the Ripper. Some of it, such as the DNA testing (?!) seemed kinda, you know, out there. But worth reading if you're interested in the the whole Jack the Ripper Thing. And I liked that she at least attempted to use archival sources and even may have turned up additional archival evidence.
Plus the reproductions of Walter Sickert's paintings next to the crime scene photos were seriously creepy.
I normally don't much care for Cornwell's writing, especially her fiction, because I basically just think it's bad. She was annoying at times with this book as well, but I did get the sense she was at least *trying* to find the truth.
i saw her tv documentary & thought she was needlessly vicious towards Sickert, especially the final scene where she goes on about the evil she can see in his eyes from a B&W reel of footage. At least Alan Moore's character assassination of Gull had some flair and style to it.
hmm, I didn't know there was a documentary. anyway. yeah, i think Sickert *got* to her, in a really fundamental way. I could tell, reading the book, the point where she changed from "intregued by mystery" to "hell-bent to peg Sickert" and a large part of that is, I think, that by her own admission, his paintings gave her the creeps.
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Plus the reproductions of Walter Sickert's paintings next to the crime scene photos were seriously creepy.
I normally don't much care for Cornwell's writing, especially her fiction, because I basically just think it's bad. She was annoying at times with this book as well, but I did get the sense she was at least *trying* to find the truth.
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