For fans of historical mysteries who don't mind a little supernatural element added to the mix. The back and forth POV chapters felt unnecessary but overall this was an interesting look at London during the age of Jack the Ripper.

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I thought... It was a different sort of book than i normal read, I just couldn't get into it.

Unfortunately, this book was archived before I got chance to read it.

For someone who doesn't like much historical fiction, I have ALWAYS been fascinated by the Jack the Ripper case. Seeing a book which tells the story from the perspective of potential victims was quite interesting. Seen through Connie and Emily's eyes, we see Whitehall come to life through them.

Adding a supernatural tint as a different way of looking at the murders of Jack the Ripper, we get a new strange look at what was always an unsolved case. Though there have been numerous books about this story, this was certainly a unique perspective I wasn't quite prepared for.

Slightly confusing at first, it then became an easy read and good start to what appears to be a series.

Set in Whitechapel in the heart of London's East End in 1888, during the reign of the notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper, 'The Sixth Victim' is an inventive and engaging re-telling and possible interpretation of events at a time that rocked the poverty-stricken society to the core. Harris tells a good tale and engages the reader with a variety of evocative and atmospheric descriptions and characterisation that ensures we are seeing events from two different perspectives. Although not aiming to present a theory about the identity of Jack the Ripper, Harris conveys the horrific and nerve-tingling events of this period through the eyes of a young girl, Constance Piper, a poor flower-seller and would be, albeit reluctant, spiritual medium from one perspective. At the same time, the story is narrated from the point-of-view of Miss Emily Tindall, Constance's Sunday school tutor, though there is clearly something different to the story told by Miss Tindall, which is revealed slowly as the chapters unfold.
Harris does a great job in pulling the readers in and ensuring we are immersed in the fog and murk of Whitechapel as Jack the Ripper claims his victims one by one and the citizens of the East End, particularly the women, have to constantly look over their shoulders, wondering if they will be next, listening for footsteps and the ominous sound and flash of the knife in the hand of one of London's most infamous and violent killers of all time.
For fans of this historical period and lovers of a thriller told from an alternative viewpoint, this is both entertaining and imaginative and will not fail to captivate the attention of all readers.

This was an interesting take on Jack the Ripper. The Sixth Victim had strong and engaging heroines. However, there were some gruesome scenes that I didn't like about the novel. Nevertheless, this is a perfect read for anyone interested in Jack the Ripper.

This book was all I hoped for and more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Loved the writing, loved the characters and loved the story.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I, like so many others, am fascinated by Jack the Ripper. So much has been written about his crimes and his identity both in fiction and non fiction. The Sixth Victim is a fiction but one steeped with a great deal of historical accuracy about London of 1888 and the crimes perpetrated by that nefarious villain. The skew of this story is unique. It involves four women- two sisters and two friends. Their lives and fates are tightly intertwined despite the social chasm between three of them and the fourth, an East End flower seller named Constance.
Two of the women have disappeared without a trace and the other two are searching for them. It is what brings them together and sets off a chain of events that is unexpected and thrilling.
There is a lot of suspense, atmosphere and drama as the four women are drawn to the conclusion. For those who enjoy the supernatural, that is an underlying theme as Constance evolves into a spirit medium. I suspect there may be future books by the way it ended. Regardless of whether there is or not, the author has come up with a different telling of the Ripper crimes that will either delight or perplex. Although it is pure caprice, it is nonetheless intriguing.. The story kept me turning the page.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

Okay so honestly I am really confused about this book. I so wanted to love it but it was kind of a slow go and while I sort of liked it I also sort of didn't so I am confused as to what I want to rate it. 

It's set in the days of Jack the Ripper, London, 1888 and the descriptions of the killings are a bit gory (though I have read about them before). It's told in two different POV's and this is where at times it gets confusing. There are a lot of things going on as not only is there the mystery surrounding the sixth victim, but a Doctor's wife is missing and her sister is searching for her, and there is the second POV's mystery.

Constance and her family are pretty poor and she is known as the flower girl because she mostly tries to sell flower to the richer people. While her sister is a pickpocket and pretty good at it. While at a magic type show she has her first strange thing happen to her and she doesn't know exactly what happened. She slowly finds out that she is Clairvoyants which is not really a good thing because there are fakes all over the place and so not many people would really believe her. Constance wishes more than anything to talk to her teacher but she has gone missing.

There is one person who thinks that maybe she can help and that is Pauline who is the sister who fears that he sixth victim could be her sister. She urges Constance to use her second sight to try and find out what has happened to her. Constance has some frightening dreams and is assisted by someone she knows. 

I really feel like I can't say much about it in fear of giving to much away and that even means telling you who the second POV is, but I can tell you I struggled with this one. In the end, I was intrigued by it but I think the author just had to many storylines going even though they all wrapped up in the end it just made for a heavier read at least for me. As I look at the reviews on goodreads I am beginning to think it was just me as it seems a lot of people enjoyed this one. It's the first one in a series and I really think it was kind of setting things up a bit for how the series will be with Constance second sight and...well I just can't say. :) I might give the second one a try and see if I like it better, I am just not sure yet.

2.5 rating and will be reviewed on my blog July 8th at http://booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com.

The possibility of a horrible death at the hands of Jack the Ripper hangs over the young women of Whitechapel, causing them to look carefully over their shoulders and be sure they are home before dark. Constance Piper makes a meager living selling fruit and flowers to those Londoners more fortunate, while her sister Flo is ready to pick their pockets for coin or trinkets they can sell to their mother’s beau. The only bright spot in Constance’s life is teaching Sunday school with her mentor, Miss Emily Tindall. Miss Emily has taught Constance to read, given her books, and tried to show her a different life than the dirt and poverty of Whitechapel. When Miss Emily disappears, Constance searches for her, finding assistance in strange and unexpected ways.

I love historical fiction, and The Sixth Victim did not disappoint. The descriptions of the area, the smell, the fear, everything was woven together beautifully to create a picture of London in 1888. I also love the paranormal, so Constance’s new-found abilities added a great deal to the story. I appreciated the varying perspectives of Emily and Constance, and liked the way everything tied together. With this being the first book in the Constance Piper series, I will definitely be on the lookout for Constance’s next adventures.

This is an interesting take on The Ripper murders concentrating on what became known as the Whitehall Mystery, where the headless torso of a woman was discovered in a vault on a building site of what later became the site of New Scotland Yard.
The book is written from the viewpoint of two young sisters Constance and Flo who are contemporaries of the victims. It transpires that Constance unknowingly is somewhat of a psychic or medium and while searching frantically for her missing teacher is actually being guided by a spirit. The story alternates between Constance and Emily, the missing teacher.
I thought it was fascinating and a really novel approach on a well-known event. It was well written and I could not put it down.

4-1/2*
London’s East End, 1888 - When Jack the Ripper roamed the streets London’s Whitechapel district had become the a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper. No one was safe especially the women of the night who sold themselves. Why even the young flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to the dread of being singled out by the Ripper even though she is more concerned with the strange feelings and dreams that seem to haunt her sanity.

During all this hullabaloo over Jack - clairvoyants were coming out of the walls claiming to have been contacted by the victims. Constance’s mother is certain they’re real and wants to contact her dead husband in a seance. Constance herself is beginning to think that she herself is having these powers. Her dreams seem to be coming true, and she longs for her teacher and friend Miss Emily Tindall, but to all intents and purposes Miss Tindall seems to have disappeared.

*** Set in that turbulent time as Jack the Ripper roamed the streets of London, the author tells the tale of the mood and terror the East Enders lived in while Jack roamed the streets, committing horrendous and brutally depicted slayings of the prostitutes that lived during that period. However it brings to mind that possibly not all the grotesque murders were committed by Jack.

Told thru the eyes of Emily Tindall, and musings of others we examine the changes that were coming to life in Constance, who wasn’t quite able to understand the changes she was going through but was given glimpses of things that she knew she was meant to look into. Not until a lady of means came to Constance asking her to help her find her missing sister did the messages Constance was receiving begin to make sense.

Bottom Line: The mystery was actually quite good and even as I rather guessed at what was going on, I still had to read on to make sure my guesses were correct. However, if the reader is expecting to discover the identity of Jack - this is not going to happen - that is still the mystery for the ages.

Marilyn Rondeau

Whitechapel 1888 and the story of the murders that occur is told from the viewpoint of two females Kensington, a flower girl from the area and Emily Tindall, a teacher. Does Constance suddenly become possessed of second sight, and if not how is she guided to Miss Pauline Beaufroy who is looking for her lost sister.
An easy writing style, makes for an interesting read with likeable characters which hopefully will appear in the next book in the series.

Fans of fiction set in Victorian London will like this one- it's atmospheric and hits a lot of the sweet spots such as Jack the Ripper and the fascination with clairvoyance. Constance is a fully realized character, which made reading this more interesting than it might have otherwise have been because some of the plot was predictable. That said, it's an entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

the sixth victim is a paranormal historical mystery set during the jack the ripper murders in victorian england. harper has clearly done a lot of research in order to bring this particular moment in british history to life.

the story is told from the point of view of constance piper, a flower girl in whitechapel. and miss emily tinsdale, a mysterious missionary whose whereabouts aren't made crystal clear at the beginning of the novel. eventually you figure out that something not quite worldly is happening, because the way emily has access to certain moments and how she responds to them make it clear that she might be a supernatural being.

the thing is, i never felt the urgency in this story. there is a lot of historical detail and we see things from both character's perspectives, but it's not quite clear why these moments are being shared. yes, the plot and the scenes we witness are brought together by the end. but even with the threat of the ripper hanging over the character's heads i just never felt that concerned about that. and this felt wrong. i should care more, but as it is, i don't have much interest in learning more about constance. and don't even get me started on emily.

this wasn't for me. in the end, it isn't my cup of tea.

I have never really read novels set in this era but the subject of this book intrigued me. I was captivated from the first chapter!

Set in 1888 as Jack the ripper has just begun his reign of terror the story is told from two perspectives, Constance and Emily's. The story alternates between the two.

Constance is a flower girl and comes from a poor family, she and her sister make money by stealing from the rich, whilst Constance sells the flowers, Flo pickpockets the customers. She lives in Whitechapel, one of the poorest parts of London and the place where the Jack the ripper murders are taking place.

Emily Tindall is from a good background, she is a Sunday school teacher and has taken Constance under her wing, teaching her to read and showing her a life far removed from her own.

The sixth victim is one of those amazing books that pulls you into the pages, I connected with the characters and couldn't wait to follow the twists and turns of the story. Very early on you find that Emily isn't quite what you believe. I don't want to spoil the book for you, but when you discover the 'secret' it makes you see the story in a whole different light.

The book runs alongside the murders of Jack the ripper but they are very much in the background, the main story is Constance's search for Emily who seems to have gone missing and how her psychic abilities slowly, to her amazement grow. Constance is also approached by a lady from the upper classes who fears her sister has been victim to Jack the ripper. The lady asks for Constance's help to solve the mystery.

I loved the way the stories entwined and developed, how characters ended up linking. The way Tessa portrays Emily's story is beautiful, it is as if Emily is talking to the reader directly, here is a snippet of a piece of Emily's story hat shows this perfectly;

''Constance does sleep, albeit fitfully, so we shall leave her to return to my own story. For now, it is time to take you on a terrifying journey''

This is the first in 'Constance Piper Mystery' series, I'm waiting with baited breath for the second installment which Tessa tells me will be out in 2018.

Ever since a trip to London, staying in a hotel in Whitechapel and taking a cracking Ripper Tour, I have been a bit fascinated by Jack and his antics so I was more than interested in seeing what this author could do with this book. I am by no means an expert Riperologist but, to me, she has weaved her own story seamlessly into the setting. Incorporating fact (as we know it) with her fiction to produce a pretty good read.
Constance is trying to find her teacher Emily Tindall. She hasn't been seen in time and she is worried. She tries to follow her footsteps, she goes to her church, her place of work and gets fobbed off at every turn. Being only young and of dubious "employment" herself, Constance lucks out at every turn.
We also hear from a doctor, Terence Cutler, who we learn early on also has his own dubious working habits! His wife has also disappeared and, having avoided this situation for a fair while, is forced to confront it when her sister, Pauline, turns up asking after her.
Then a fortuitous meeting between Constance and Pauline has them combining forces to find out what has happened to both Pauline's sister and Miss Tindall. A meeting of minds who, together could get to the bottom of things, as the cases appear linked. Drawn to an unknown body, the sixth victim, that has been found and possibly not attributed to the Ripper, together they investigate.
The narrative is interspersed with Emily telling her own story. Why isn't she able to just tell someone what is happening? What evil is really happening in and around Whitechapel?
I simply devoured this book cover to cover. I got fully immersed in the place, the time, and the story as I devoutly followed all the characters as they tried to get to the truth. As this story merges with the Ripper story, there is quite a bit of gore described but not for shock, it is totally befitting the narrative. The other case in question is also a bit hard hitting so I guess what I am trying to say, without giving spoilers, is that this book is not for the faint-hearted.
Initially, I was a bit confused with the parts narrated by Emily herself. I couldn't get how she could be where she was, see what she saw, but couldn't do anything about it. Maybe she was in hiding, maybe she was scared. I would probably have been given what I found out later was happening but, as with all books that I am enjoying, I just held those thoughts and went with it all, trusting the author would come good eventually. And she did. Definitely. And it works. I have seen this sort of supernatural element bomb in some books, but here it was very effective.
Characterisation was also very good. I found that speech, mannerisms and behaviour were all congruent with the time and place setting, which made the characters come across as being totally believable. I was well able to connect with the majority almost instantly which really helped my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved the chalk and cheese combination of Constance and Pauline. They clicked so well together. And the dark characters were all deliciously evil and it oozed from the pages when they were around.
Pacing was darned near perfect. As the narration switches between the characters it in turn switches between the different elements of the book. This kept the narrative fresh for me which meant that it kept my interest and concentration throughout the book. I was not a fan of having to put it down and, when life made me, I got a bit grumpy, eager to get back to the wonderful world I was totally immersed in before.
All in all, a darned near perfect read for me combing all the elements I need from a book, including that satisfying feeling at the end. I read this book thinking it was a stand alone, on finishing it, I was very happy to find out that it is actually book one of a new series. One that I will be definitely putting on my watch list.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Hi Karen,
My next review is:-

"The Sixth Victim (A Constance Piper MysterY",written by Tessa Harris and published in hardcover ​by Kensington Publishing ​on 30 May 2017.304 pages​.ISBN-13: 978-1496706546

In 2012, I had the good fortune to read for review one of the authors previous books “The Anatomist’s Apprentice” an historical thriller set in 1780 which was about Dr Thomas Silkstone an American surgeon from Philadelphia who brings his skills from the US colonies to London. This was the first in a series of six books about Silkstone.

So having an appreciation of her enormous skill as a novelist I was very pleased to read her latest book which is also set in London

London's East End, 1888: When darkness falls, terror begins...
The foggy streets of London's Whitechapel district have become a nocturnal hunting ground for Jack the Ripper, and no woman is safe. Flower girl Constance Piper is not immune to dread, but she is more preoccupied with her own strange experiences of late.
Clairvoyants seem to be everywhere these days. Constance's mother has found comfort in contacting her late father in a seance. But are such powers real? And could Constance really be possessed of second sight? She longs for the wise counsel of her mentor and champion of the poor, Emily Tindall, but the kind missionary has gone missing.

Following the latest grisly discovery, Constance is contacted by a high-born lady of means who fears the victim may be her missing sister. She implores Constance to use her clairvoyance to help solve the crime, which the press is calling "the Whitechapel Mystery," attributing the murder to the Ripper.

As Constance becomes embroiled in intrigue far more sinister than she could have imagined, assistance comes in a startling manner that profoundly challenges her assumptions about the nature of reality. She'll need all the help she can get--because there may be more than one depraved killer out there...


The author has written another highly readable story which has an element of fantasy to entertain the reader and which makes it even more exciting. This was a story which I could not put down until the final conclusion. The author has done considerable detailed research to create a very believable impression of London of 1888, and I was very impressed with this but of course I remember her talent from previous books.

I found the story immensely gripping and fast moving and the pages just shot by in this extremely atmospheric story. Very strongly recommended.



Best wishes,

Terry
(To be published on eurocrime.co.uk)

I love anything to do with Jack the Ripper and the late 1800's in the East End of London. "The Sixth Victim" by Tessa Harris does a absolutely fantastic job of bringing this time period to life in a very realistic and vivid way.
A young flower girl named Constance Piper is trying to live her life as best she can in the East End while trying to come to terms with her apparent clairvoyant abilities and also the fear of walking the streets while Jack is on the loose. She is also searching for her missing teacher, Emily Tindall who taught her to read and speak correctly, and saw much promise in the very intelligent young girl. Then Constance is contacted by a high-born lady who worries that the latest victim attributed to Jack is her sister and wants Constance to use her clairvoyant powers to help her find out the truth.
Jack the Ripper's East End is brought to life so very well. I know I said it before but I was very impressed by Tessa Harris's ability to bring a long forgotten time period to life. I felt as if I were walking along with Constance in the East End and the West End. The characters were so well developed and the story flowed so well that I was reluctant to put the book down. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I love historical mysteries and this seems like it will be among the best.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.