Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for this. A must-read for true crime fans, a great insight into the trial and how Sutcliffe behaved throughout. Glad I had the chance to read this and would definitely recommend.

Have you ever heard of the Yorkshire Ripper? Well, you should have if you are a true crime fan. He carved a path of victims in Yorkshire, England that has grabbed many comparisons with the Infamous Jack the Ripper. He left many bodies in his wake and we may never know exactly how many people he killed. While his life was claimed in a relatively quite manner (he died of Covid in 2020), that is not how he killed. This is the story of how he was finally convicted. and put behind bars.

I think I may be in the minority, but I read this book knowing very little of the Yorkshire Ripper. I think I listen to a podcast a few years back, but remembered little of it.
So I was really excited to get into this book. It was full of details and lots of information. I learned so much and it was a quick read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves true crime.
Thank you!

What a read! This one kept me on the edge of my seat. This gives so much insight into this case. Very well written.

Actually much better than I was expected!!! I often find non-fiction pieces of work can be a little bit dry and dull but the author manages to keep this fascinating despite being full of facts about the lead up to Sutcliffe’s conviction and sentencing. The court bits at times became a little bit fascinating but it was still fascinating. I would have also enjoyed a little more about his life at Broadmoor hospital and onwards. Overall really interesting and an ‘enjoyable’ read so to speak.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review.

This is the third book that I have read by this author and the second about the Yorkshire Ripper. The book itself is very well researched, and is very readable. I have read lots of true crime books, including some about the Yorkshire Ripper but this and the previous book on the subject both have more to offer. This book focused more on the court case and the sentencing as well as the debate about Sutcliffe's mental health. I like the fact that the author takes the time to explain processes and language for the lay reader and this makes it more accessible. I would certain recommend the author and both of the books to lovers of true crime. I am excited to see what else this author has to offer.

Peter Sutcliffe was dubbed the Yorkshire ripper, and between the years of 1975 and 1980 Sutcliffe goes from York to Manchester terrorizing mainly prostitutes but then Sutcliffe targets any women out alone at night. Sutcliffe picks up rape's tortures and murders 13 women and attempts to murder seven more over a five-year period. Sutcliffe was a married man and usually committed his murders whilst his wife was working nights on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sutcliffe had an extreme hate for prostitutes and his main weapon of choice is to hit them from behind with a hammer over the head before cutting and defiling his victims in the most horrific ways.
It is a truly chilling book which is very graphic and realistic. Sadly, despite numerous opportunities to catch this man, the police continued to let Sutcliffe slip through their fingers. Sutcliffe obviously fed on not getting caught but sadly Nothing changed Sutcliffe’s predatory and ultimately murderous intent.

I have read many books on The Yorkshire Ripper, and I found this to be a fascinating well researched book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. This book had brought both new and unanswered questions which you will read exclusively and delves into the two weeks that stunned the public when Sutcliffe entered his plea of diminished responsibility after originally pleading guilty.

In this case, the burden was on the defense to prove that Sutcliffe suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the times of his crimes. The prosecution told the jury they have the responsibility to test this medical evidence, not in a hostile way, but to assist the jury and rebuff the medical examiners.

The psychology behind the minds behind one of the world’s deadliest Serial killers is amazing. It is fascinating book to read, and I am now even more interested and intrigued on the human behavior of serial killers after reading this book and gaining more insight into Sutcliffe’s behavior. It is extremely professionally researched and written by Richard Charles Cobb
I found a lot of answers to a lot of questions I have asked myself over the years, so I feel I now have a clearer understanding about this dangerous dark evil being after reading this book. Remember to never forget their victims and families as they are the true victims as their suffering never ends. A truly sadistic and calculating killer,

As we progress and move forward with technology and improved DNA, and the good versus evil against violent crimes will numbers go down or will the psychopath’s, sociopaths, and narcistic ways just learn more different cunning ways to escape justice and bring mayhem to our city’s, and towns all over the world.
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily

The Ripper tapes were my first introduction to True Crime as I listened on my transistor radio as a 10 year old! This left a lasting impression and a lifelong thirst for knowledge about those who take the lives of others.

Of course the real 'Yorkshire Ripper' was an entirely different beast to the hoaxer and this book looks in close detail to his trial at the Old Bailey. The book concentrates on the previous agreement between prosecution and defence that Peter Sutcliffe was guilty only of manslaughter due to 'diminished responsibility'

The matter of fact details were at odds with the sensationalist journalism that has followed these killings, and all the more chilling for that. However, I did struggle with the seemingly endless details of violence at times.

A good addition to anyone truly interested in what changed the way crimes are detected and how trials are conducted.

Soooo good…. Finally for the first time in over 40 years, the shocking true story behind the trial of most infamous serial killer in British criminal history comes to light.
In the mid-1970s, Peter Sutcliffe, aka The Yorkshire Ripper began a reign of terror across the North of England lasting five years, with 13 women brutally murdered and resulting in the largest criminal manhunt in British history. Very interesting and covered the trial so well.

This behind-the-scenes book delves into the murders, the ineffectual investigation, and the trial of Peter Sutcliffe. Between the years of 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe—given the moniker of the Yorkshire Ripper due to his similarities to Jack the Ripper—murdered 13 women, and attempted to murder seven more (he is suspected in other murders and attacks). After being caught, he eventually confessed to the above crimes. However, when his trial began, he changed his plea from guilty to one of insanity; that God told him he had a mission to kill prostitutes. What follows is a fascinating look into the legal task of proving if someone is a sadistic and calculating killer, or is suffering from diminished capacity (in this case, paranoid schizophrenia).

Sir. Michael Havers—the attorney general who led the prosecution—told the jury what I think is the role of a prosecutor: “I have the responsibility to test this medical evidence, not in a hostile way, but to assist you.” In this case, the burden was on the defense to prove that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the times of his crimes.

This is a well-researched book. It is the best of non-fiction: except for a few “author notes” to give insight and clarification, no insertion of the author opinions or creative invention clouded the prose. It was just the facts put in a way that kept me riveted.

I highly recommend this book. If one is interested to read more, the author has another book: On the Trail of the Yorkshire Ripper: His Final Secrets Revealed (I have not read this book as of yet).

I would like to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword True Crime for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

I liked the raw truth of this book it felt very factual with little opinion and for a truly disturbing topic I feel the detail was just right, I think true crime fans would thoroughly enjoy this. I think this book showed the Yorkshire Ripper as exactly what he was, as a coward who killed young women who were simply trying to live and make a living and the attempt for the insanity plea.

I thought to myself another Ripper book. Okay let's give it go and see if I learn anything new. Boy did I!!!!!
This is the two weeks in court when Peter Sutcliffe stunned the public when he entered the plea of diminished responsibility. He was a serial killer of women end of story. But this book delves into those two weeks when the prosecution and the eye witnesses, the psychiatrists who has been studying this man's behaviour verbally fought amongst themselves. To answer and prove that their client was insane.
Personally I have always been a sceptic when diminished responsibility is brought up in a murder case. For me it was a cop out. But this book had me wavering. A compelling and thought provoking read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

When I say I recommend this book to readers, what I mean is I recommend it to people who are interested in the machinations of murder trials and how one judge's decision can pivot the direction and nature of sentencing. This is a good account of the trial of Peter Sutcliffe and the social, political and cultural conventions which marred the investigations, resulting in the deaths of more women and uninvestigated attacks on many more.

There are formatting and grammatical issues with my digital copy.

I am fascinated by the whole Yorkshire Ripper case. As a small child it seemed to be on the local news every week that he had killed someone else, clearly this wasn't the case but it seemed it to a 7 or 8 year old. I was worried about this bad man that they couldn't catch but a little more relieved to know that Leeds, Bradford and so on were quite some way from where I was growing up. Fast forward to adulthood and I have read many books about him and his reign of terror, one of the best being a huge book about the bungled investigation.
This book is about his trial and I was shocked to find the defense and prosecution had agreed to manslaughter on diminished responsibility....thank goodness for the judge. It was interesting to hear Sutcliffe's own words rather than just those of an author.
A really good book, polished off quickly but I do hope something is done about the plethora of missing punctuation and other errors before this is released. Many, many missing capital letters for both proper nouns and the start of sentences, at least 2 'were' which should have been "where" and a mention of being cool and CLAM!!!!
This did become rather annoying but then I am a teacher!

I received a free copy of Convicting the Yorkshire Ripper, by Richard Charles Cobb, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Yorkshire Ripper is one of the worst serial killers of our time. His innocent victim and their poor families. He had a lucky women with him when he was arrested, she got to live. The Yorkshire Ripper is a horrible demon. This is a well written book about him.

Such a good read with information that hasn’t been covered in many a documentary that are available to view online. It’s very in depth and the respect paid to the victims is shown so clearly in this book from the author.
Having read several books on the the murders this, I found was the best one. Having the reports from the trail was a really interesting read, and even though you know how it ends the defence and prosecution team with the questions transcript in the book made it even more informative. I would recommend anyone that is interested in the subject to read this book.

Enjoyed learning about 1970s serial killer than reminded people jack the ripper. Which means it had to be pretty bad.

Thank you for this book which i found interesting and rather good for a true crime book
Would recommend this to any true crime fan

In depth, thorough analysis of the case right through to what happened to key people after the trial. Really interesting and detailed account of a high profile case, offering verbatim reports from the trial itself. This is up there with the best true crime accounts in that it offers facts and context while never losing sight of the victims and always offering respect to their memories.