Review: "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper Case Closed" by Patricia Cornwell

This was a very intense, remarkable book by Patricia Cornwell, who is best known for her crime series novels showcasing Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In this nonfiction tome, Ms. Cornwell attempts to close the case of Jack the Ripper, the infamous murderer in London in the late 1800’s, a case that has never been solved. She methodically examines the evidence pointing to Walter Richard Sickert as the villain, giving rationales as to how it could be this man.

I found this book very captivating and page turning. It was written in such a way that you were compelled to keep reading to understand the mountain of evidence that was actually gathered against Walter Sickert. All the proof was laid out very methodically and I was definitely a believer in his guilt by the last page. This was definitely not an easy read though. The author got very technical at times, which to a layman such as myself, was very hard to follow and understand.

If you are interested in a book about the theories involving who Jack the Ripper really was, this is the book for you. Be aware though, that this isn’t a normal Patricia Cornwell novel and it doesn’t read like her other books. It is factual and technical, sometimes to the point of overwhelming the reader. If you understand this and are still interested, definitely pick it up. She paints a very compelling picture with the evidence that is available.