Sweeny Todd

The next book which I am going to read is Sweeny Todd by Peter Haining, we all know about the legendry barbershop killer so hopefully this will be a good read.

Zodiac Killer

So who do you think is the killer?

zodiac Overall Review

The Zodiac was an interesting book to read, the book lacked spark or something to keep you excited. The way the author wrote the book I felt like it needed some enthusiasm or “ummth” to it. It was a good book and kept you informed about the serial killer and unlike Jack the Ripper book it did not go on about certain stuff.

From reading the book I could tell that the killer was very intelligent, what surprised me was how the killer wasn’t caught, if he did kill around 100 people around in that era you would expect someone of that caliber to be caught. What I did get a feeling was that the police force was somewhat stupid especially as the public solved piece evidence which they couldn’t.

Hopefully one day they will find out who the killer was, from reading the book I do not feel I could say who the killer was but my closest feeling would have to been Starr.

Zodiac Chapters 16 -20

Chapter 16
A phone call had been received stating that the killer was Don Andrews so an investigation was lead on Don to see if he is the Zodiac killer.

Chapter 17
After more Investigation it seemed like the Zodiac used Astrology for his killing pattern. The way his killings might have been done was by horoscopes and moon positions, if this case was true the Zodiac may have killed 103 people.

Chapter 18
Robert “Bob” Hall Starr another suspect as the zodiac killer. He was believe to be the killer by his family whom told the police, where they lead further investigations. Maybe he is the Zodiac after so many similarities.

Chapter 19
Things were getting hard for the police still no killer was found and more people got anxious. The only big suspect they had was Starr who they didn’t have any hardcore evidence to prove it was him.

Chapter 20
The final chapter all questions were asked but nothing was answered still no suspect for the Zodiac.

Zodiac Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11
The Zodiacs next victim was Cheri who decided to go to the library on her own as her friend didn’t want to go. She was found with several stab wounds; here also the Zodiac had left some evidence.

Chapter 12
This chapter stated further crimes which may have been related to the Zodiac, it was now four years since the Zodiac thing had started and no one had heard anything from him yet. The police knew he was still alive as he was spotted killing a lady.

Chapter 13
This chapter was about a suspect for the serial killer the Zodiac. Being a strong suspect the police started to raid his place to find anything related to the zodiac. From the search they found nothing to relate him to such murders, also showing his image to his victims they said he was too old.

Chapter 14
Still no alleged name for the killer, Armstrong decided to quit the investigation due to the stress. It still was hard to point to anyone so the polices relooked at old investigations on the zodiac.

Chapter 15
After four more years a letter was received, this excited the police as they thought maybe this is the one where they can catch him. Due to the letter, speculations started flying around and head of the investigation was transferred to another dep.

Chapters 8-10

Chapter 8
This was chapter was about a psychic who believed that the zodiac was unable to control himself and that he wanted to hand himself in, for the things that he has done.

Chapter 9
Kathleen Johns a mother who decided to visit her ill mum, left her house at 7pm as it was easier while her child slept. While she was driving she realised that a car was following her who started to flash and horn at her, so she decided to find a safe spot later to stop. On the side of the motor way a man asked if he could help her, after what she believing her car was fixed, it suddenly broke down. The gentleman who helped her decided to give a lift to the gas station. What she didn’t realise is that this man was the Zodiac who was trying to kill her. After she had realised that she is going to die, she ran out the car with her child and hide where she was found and taken to the police.

Chapter 10
More letters had been received stating the murders and events that had taken place. The police was getting no closer to whom the killer might be, so they relooked at past evidence, as they might have missed something.

Zodiac Chapters 4- 7

Chapter 4
The murder on Cecelia, her and another student decided to make it a day and visit one of the student’s memorable spots. A man was spotted by Cecelia in the distance he then came at them tying them up and tormenting them. Cecelia died at hospital as they were not found in time.

Chapter 5
A cab driver picked up a strange man who asked to be dropped at a respectable neighbourhood. Before reaching the location the cab drivers was threatened to stop where he was killed. The killer was seen by teenagers at a party who ended up calling the police.

Chapter 6
Another letter had been received by the zodiac this time it was stating that he had murdered the taxi driver. This chapter was interesting to read and see as it showed several evidence they had on the killer. What was really shocking is that when you imagine a killer it always turns out that the killers have loads of similarities.

Chapter 7
A hoax was done by a mental person who claimed to be the zodiac and asked for a person to show up on live television so he can be helped with his problems, pretending to be the zodiac while making this call live on television. This chapter also had two more letters which had been received by the zodiac, stating that he has made a bomb, playing more with the police.

Zodiac views so far

So far I am really getting into the book and liking how the author got straight into the murders and hasn’t beaten around the bush. The First two chapters it seemed like the murder was someone dim but after reading the third chapter and how the zodiacs cipher is hard to crack; you can tell that the author wants to show how intelligent the killer is.

Zodiac chapters 1-3

Chapter 1
Two teenagers on a date decided to go to a well known love spot, where an unknown car pulled next to them. The person in this car then shot the two leaving the female Betty dead.

Chapter 2
Darlene Ferrin a mother and wife who suspected that her husband had lost his love for her, as result she started seeing other men oblivious to her husband. Darlene and her husband decided to throw a party the day of her murder. Darlene said that she is going out to get fireworks for the party; however she met her friend Mike, where they both got in a car and then was followed leading a car pursuit. A mysterious car pulled into the car park where they were in and shot both leaving Darlene to Die.

Chapter3
The Killer Of the two murders Known as the Zodiac wrote to the papers with a letter that had a cipher, this cipher was sent to various specialist to solve this became hard to decode. A teacher and his wife later on discovered what the Cipher said.

Zodiac

The Next Book Which I have decided to read is “Zodiac by Robert Gray smith”. Another novel based on a great unsolved mystery about serial killer.

Jack the Ripper

SO WHO DO YOU THINK WAS JACK THE RIPPER?

Overall Views

So I have read “Jack the Ripper the Definitive History by Paul Begg” a book which covers all aspects of the historic Killer. The book brings you to understand how life was back in the 18^th century, just imagining how life must have been.

I found the book itself to be very interesting to read, but I did find in some chapters the author would go on and on. I got really interested in the murder chapters where you learn what happened, as it was good to learn more about the murders. The way that the author wrote the book you could imagine yourself being there watching what happened or even walking the streets.

Overall it is a good book but like I said before you would need an interest in Jack the ripper. Having some keen interest in crime makes you willing to read more.

Chapter 12-15

The last Chapters

Chapter 12
Throughout the investigation several hundreds of letters had been sent to the police and local press purporting to be written by the Whitechapel Murderer. Most of them were deemed to be fakes written by either newspaper or public trying to start a story. However a letter Know as “Dear Boss” some believed was written by Jack the Ripper.

Chapter 13
Mary Jane Kelly Was another prostitute who added to Jack the Rippers tally. She was found brutally murdered in her room; practically her organs had been placed all outside the body. This was such a brutal murder and had been one of the worse murders known that Jack the Ripper had committed.

Chapter 14
So who was the alleged Jack the Ripper? This whole chapter went through who may have been Jack the Ripper. One person who I thought could be the killer is Francis Tumblety, after reading the book and several more research, I feel that he would be the best person to fit Jack the Ripper’s Shoes

Chapter 15
After such murders which had been committed, with no one’s name to the murders people started speculating who may have been the killer. The Royal family was suspected, movies were made and stories had evolved to make money.

Chapters 5-11

So another week has gone and more reading has been done, so far I have read up to chapter 11. So far the book seems interesting especial when the further talks about the victims of Jack the Ripper. From what I can tell from this book is that if you don’t have a keen interest in the Jack the Ripper Murders, then book may not seem that interesting to you.

So I will quickly re-cap you on the chapters I’m up to so far;

Chapter 5
This chapter is about the police force and the role which they played in the 18^th century. This was a very long chapter, which went on about the Government security sector, like who was working under the Home Secretary.

Chapter 6
The death of Mary Ann Nichols another prostitute that Jack the Ripper killed. She was found with bruises and cuts to throat. The alleged Jack the ripper was believed to be someone called “Leather Aproan” from the polices investigation at this time.

Chapter 7
This chapter is about prostitution and the sexual activities and how it affected Britain. The population of Britain which prostitution had effected had become really bad that men started to get disease’s therefore started to have sex with underage prostitutes.

Chapter 8
This is about the economics of Britain and how many people became unemployed leading to a savage protest. It also mentioned one of the suspected whom may have been Jack the Ripper.

Chapter 9
This chapter is about the murder of Annie Chapman a prostitute; who had no money for her lodging, so she went out to earn some on the streets. Annie was spotted talking to a strange man; later on she was found dead.

Chapter 10
The murder of Elizabeth Stride the day which Jack the Ripper killed to victims in one night. This was not as brutal murders as the others, may be because he might have suspected someone was there.

Chapter 11
The second murder of the day was Catherine Eddowes, who had just been released by police do due her being very drunk. She was then later found dead believed to been murdered by Jack the Ripper.

The book to me so far is interesting but there are still some points where the Author still does drag on. The chapter that really did surprise me was the population of prostitutes and how much it affected people back then. I never did think back then there were that many prostitutes and specially a lot being forced abroad.