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The Autobiography of Jack the Ripper
The Autobiography of Jack the Ripper: In His Own Words, The Confession of the World's Most Infamous Killer | James Carnac
"It's either a genuine confession by Jack the Ripper, or it's an extraordinary novel...Only you can decide."Paul Begg, author of Jack the Ripper: The Definitive History In the Whitechapel neighborhood of London in 1888, five women were horribly mutilated and murdered by the infamous killer, Jack the Ripper. Though there were many suspects, the monster was never caught. This recently discovered memoir from the 1920s introduces a new suspect: James Willoughby Carnac, a little-known figure who claims to have been the Ripper. Carnac describes the events and geography of Whitechapel in 1888 with chilling accuracy, including details of the murders that appear to have been unavailable to the public at the time. He presents a credible motive for becoming Jack, and, for the first time ever, a reason for ending the killing spree. Ultimately, you, the reader, must decide if this is simply one of the earliest imaginings of the caseand a groundbreaking literary addition to the Ripper canonor if it is the genuine autobiography of Jack the Ripper himself. "A text that will no doubt be debated for years to come."Alan Hicken, Montacute Museum, Somerset, England "Intricate and creepy."The Daily Express (UK) "Easily read and worth it for the ending."Kirkus
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LostInSpace
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I enjoyed this as a work of fiction though I don‘t believe it is plausible this man was Jack the Ripper.

Too many questions raised and the ending of the book came out of nowhere. I am fascinated by JR and have read many books about the murders and the victims and I was not convinced, still a good read though!

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MicheleinPhilly
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Litsy friends are the BEST. Thank you Emily! #bookmail

emilyhaldi That was quick!!! Hope you enjoy 😘 5y
Reviewsbylola Jack the Ripper was fantastic imo! 5y
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Meredith3
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It was interesting to read this after my sister @AnnieD took me on a mini tour of White Chapel! I would love to delve a little deeper into the crimes themselves- I feel like they cut the dirty details out 🔪 James did a great job of making himself out not to be a total homicidal maniac. He almost seems like a normal guy 🤔 thanks to @emilyhaldi @Mdargusch for loaning me the book!

emilyhaldi I agree, I wish there were some dirtier details in here! 😜 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘m pretty sure you are the type of person that could find the human side to any homicidal maniac. 6y
AnnieD I will have to let you go on a real tour next time where they post pictures of the mutilated bodies... 6y
Meredith3 Right?!? @emilyhaldi thanks! @Reviewsbylola omg @AnnieD that sounds awesome! 💀 6y
Mdargusch Glad you liked it. 👍🏼 6y
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emilyhaldi
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I'll tell you who's #savage - Jack the Ripper, or perhaps James Carnac... The man who supposedly wrote the pictured autobiography / confession that was found many years later. The book details the early stages of his life and what prompted him to brutally murder his victims. Whether or not it's real or fake, I suppose we'll never know....
#nuyear

DeborahSmall Interesting! Love it ❤️ 6y
Cathythoughts Jack the Ripper ! Excellent choice here ! Savage ! 6y
TrishB Great pick 👍🏻always interesting theories about Jack the Ripper! (edited) 6y
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Mdargusch Good one! 6y
Reviewsbylola So good! 6y
Meredith3 No, we are about to find out, home girl!!!! 🕵️🏻‍♀️ 6y
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emilyhaldi
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I am eager to read this book but avoiding due to the anticipated nightmares that will follow 😳 My goal is to get to it before next year's trip to London.. what better way to get inspired for a trip! ☠️
#startswithj
#anditsaugust

Jess_Read_This Have you seen the new History Channel show American Ripper? An ancestor of H. Holmes, one of America's first serial killers, is attempting to prove Holmes was also Jack the Ripper. It's been pretty interesting. 7y
Reviewsbylola I really enjoyed this! 7y
JenReadsAlot I went to London last year and did a Jack the Ripper walking tour! So fun. 7y
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emilyhaldi @Jess_Read_This I haven't heard of that show but I will definitely look into it!! Thanks! 7y
emilyhaldi @JenReadsAlot My family talked about doing that tour bc we are all so into true crime 🖤 Happy to hear you enjoyed it! 7y
Mdargusch I've read this! It's fascinating and it all takes place in the neighborhood where @AnnieD lives. 7y
Mdargusch H. Holmes is the murderer in Devil in the White City. There were a lot of similarities between the two crimes. I have this book if you want to borrow it when you come home. 7y
emilyhaldi @Mdargusch oh! Didn't realize that was H. Holmes .. are you watching that show? Sounds like something you and dad would like! And thanks for the book offer but I already own this one ☺️ 7y
Mdargusch I am taping it 7y
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Reviewsbylola
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These are the print books I read in October (minus One True Loves, which I loaned out to my friend). I also read two ebooks, The Wonder and My Name is Lucy Barton. That is 9 total books for the month, which is exactly how many I read in September. I usually read more ebooks but this month was not great on that front. I have had a difficult time finding and eBook to hold my interest-- it's much different for me than reading a print book.

Reviewsbylola My favorite was The Autobiography of Jack the Ripper and my least favorite was definitely June. 7y
Lindy I find the experience of ebook reading quite different too, likely due to the small screen: I read on my iPod. I'm used to it, and comfortable, but I prefer to choose books with short chapters. If not, I have a tendency to skim, which I rarely do with paper. 7y
Reviewsbylola I read on my phone (iPhone 6+, so decent screen) and usually only at night when I am in bed with my kids. It just isn't as gratifying to me as print books. @lindy 7y
MyNamesParadise Omg so jealous of I See You!!! Enjoy! 7y
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Reviewsbylola
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I am a true crime enthusiast. I know a negligible amount about Jack the Ripper but nothing substantial. My mom passed this book onto me after she read it and I assumed it was fiction. Which it may be--that was one of the cool things about this book. Discovered as a manuscript from around 1928, it purports to be written by the real Jack the Ripper. No one knows if it is it is truly non fiction. I wish the Ripper expert who weighed in had . . .

Reviewsbylola . . . gone more in depth in his after word. That is really my only complaint though. This was such a riveting account I could barely put it down. 8y
AGirlAndHerBooks I've always found JTR to be very intriguing. 👣👣 8y
Reviewsbylola I do too. It just throws me that so little is known as far as who the perp is. There are so many theories. I just read an old Daily Mail article though that said they had been able to match the DNA from Catherine Eddowes to one of the suspects. That seems pretty damning and also shocking that they were able to do that with such a degraded sample. And then I wondered if the man they matched it to could have authored thus manuscript. @AGirlAndHerBooks 8y
javadiva I saw a documentary a few years ago where they were able to deduce who the real JTR was. He even came to America. :( 8y
Reviewsbylola I just saw an article about a DNA match too a Polish man. Not sure if that is the same man from the documentary you saw. The interesting thing about this manuscript is that they really have no idea who James Carnac (the author) is, so it is possible it is a pseudonym. I don't know enough about the case to deduce one way or the other but I would guess it is not a factual account. Either way it was a very fascinating read. @javadiva 8y
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Reviewsbylola
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Dinner tonight was lasagna soup with ricotta cheese balls and garlic bread. And because who doesn't like to read about disemboweling people at the dinner table, my current read is the fascinating memoir written in 1928 by a man who claims to be the real Jack the Ripper.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled That is fascinating! I had no idea this existed. 8y
Reviewsbylola Me neither! My mom read it (I believe maybe she heard about it during a visit to London last year) and passed it on to me. @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com 8y
DebinHawaii Looks delicious and the book sounds interesting too! 👍 8y
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