Books about Jack the Ripper really intrigue me, I tend to pick them up any chance I have! This one was just fine, the thing I love about Jack the Ripper is often the setting, which was removed in this case. Not the worst thing, but it did take away some of my enjoyment!

I enjoy books about The Ripper. Unsolved cases usually intrigue me. I found this one interesting since it follows the Ripper as he continues his rampage in NY. Most of the Ripper books I have read have been in London, not about his possible continuation in the US. That being said, I didn’t become attached to the main characters. So I doubt I would continue on with the series. This is why I only gave the book 3 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Letters From a Murderer continues the story of Jack the Ripper if he had moved on from London to New York City. I was intrigued by this synopsis as I am a sucker for anything Jack the Ripper. I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't for me. It was well written and the characters were well developed. There was nothing wrong with it, just wasn't a good fit of a book for me.

2,5 Stars rounded to 2 Stars.

I enjoy reading a story about Jack the Ripper, i feel curious about what kind of solutions the different authors imagine for this mystery. I didn't really have any expectations for this one, just curiosity and yet i was disappointed.
Some key points of the story and particularities of the main character, Finley Jameson, reminded me too much of the movie adaptation of From Hell, i am not sure how close it is to the book since i didn't read but many elements are annoyingly the same, mentioning them would be a spoiler eventually. After the turning events halfway through it (which came as no surprise), the story started to drag a bit for me, in a series of near-miss encounters with the ripper which ended in an unconvincing manner.

I really wanted to like the story, some of its parts were interesting which is the reason for the 2 stars, but i was annoyed by the parallel between it and the movie. The general idea of the ripper crossing the Atlantic and continuing with his gruesome murders to deliver a message was interesting, but i felt that its execution lacked originality.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Sapere Books and the author, John Matthews, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Letters From A Murderer in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
What an incredible read. I was addicted from the get-go.
The storyline was well thought out and written with well developed characters. The setting was well drawn and it wasn't very hard to imagine being alongside Jameson and Argenti as they hunted for their murderer.
Did Jack The Ripper cross the Atlantic? Was it possible? This author certainly spins an amazing " what if".
Well worth a read.

November 1891 New York and after a prostitute is found murdered there are concerns that Jack the Ripper has travelled from England. Or is it a copycat murder. One of the original surgeons/criminal analysts, Finley Jameson, is in New York and he teams up with Detective Joseph Argenti to investigate the case. But this is not the last body discovered.
A story and mystery that I enjoyed reading, with its cast of complicated characters. Hopefully this is the first of a new series. If so this is a very good solid start to it.

Letters from a Murder, an alternate history of Jack the Ripper--the unknown murder who has captivated authors and readers for generations, begins a new series featuring a London pathologist and a New York detective who are tasked with solving the murders of women in 1892 New York.

Pathologist Finley Jameson, part of a team investigating the Ripper murders in London, has moved to New York after inheriting a house from his aunt. Jameson is accompanied by Lawrence, his autistic assistant with the ability to remember everything he has read.

Murders are nothing new in certain areas of the city where crime flourishes, but the murder of a prostitute has all the trappings of a Ripper murder, and Joseph Argenti, a New York detective is assigned the case. Did the London murders stop because the murderer moved to New York?

A letter arrives addressed to Finley Jameson, a copy of which also goes to the NY Times, and it seems that New York is in for the same turbulent fear that London has experienced.

Jameson and Argenti must work together and overcome their many differences to find the murderer who enjoys taunting them through letters. This is a Ripper tale so be prepared for some pretty gruesome murders--which shouldn't surprise anyone. On the other hand, I'm not really sure who is worse--the Ripper or the New York gangster Tierney. Tierney is not as showy, but his body count is higher.

There are a number of things that just don't hang together well and areas that could be eliminated or drastically cut to keep the plot moving along, but this is an Advanced Reader Review copy and future editing may be in store.

Jameson and Argenti have promise as characters in future books and the descriptions of historical New York are vivid. I look forward to seeing the characters develop and would like the character of Lawrence enlarged.

NetGalley/Sapere Books
Historical Mystery. May 31, 2019. Print length: 404 pages.

On the whole I enjoyed the book, a twist on Jack the Ripper with a transatlantic connection, did he move to New York and carry on killing over there or was it a copycat.

Good characters with Finley Jameson, who moved to New York from the UK and worked on the Ripper case, and Argenti, who is deemed to be incorruptible, at a time when the New York Police was fighting corruption in every corner, which is also covered in the book.

It did sometimes feel we had crossed into My Fair lady territory when Finley bought dresses for a prostitute he met during the investigation, also started to teach her to read and took her to the opera etc, that bit didn't quite ring true and I thought was unnecessary to the book.

I did find an error at 80% in the book, Lawrence was sent to Ellis Island to check out immigration records because he has an eidetic memory, but sentence states 'while thorough, Jamieson noted the time it took Mayberry to check each page' it should be Lawrence.

I did enjoy the book and would recommend, I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an outstanding retelling of Ripper mythology. Or is it the real Ripper? That’s what the characters in this story are about to find out. Great character development and plotting. Plenty of twists, red herrings and thrills. One of the better mysteries I’ve read this year. I am hoping we can have more adventures with Finn and Joseph! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for review.

Letters from a Murderer is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. Set in New York City in 1891, the police are hunting for a Jack-The-Ripper-esque serial killer.
Or is he the real Jack, somehow traveled from England to the NY Shore?

It’s up to Det. Joseph Argenti and doctor Finley Jameson to figure out if the killings of prostitutes in NYC is being done by the same man or a copycat.

The twist? The killer is writing letters to Jameson, taunting him.

This book kept me up two nights because I had to finish it. John Matthews’ writing style is so easy to read, yet detail filled to perfection, that the pages simply flew by. Peppered with secondary plot line and characters so real they pop off the page, this is one good book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a sneak peak.