Anyone recognise this book?

[WhamBamThankU]

Hi all,

I read a book about 20 years ago that I borrowed from my aunt so have no idea how old it was. I only have a vague recollection of it but have googled and googled so hoping someone on Mumsnet might have read it!!

It was set around the Jack the Ripper murders, I think there was royal family involved or at least aristocracy. The stars/constellations were heavily involved in the book, I feel like there was an opium addicted investigator or something involved.

I'm aware it's not likely, but if anyone has any ideas I'd be so very grateful!

Sounds like the comic "From Hell" by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell. I think the opium addiction was added in the awful film version, though.

Thanks but it's not a comic or film. The book had a telescope aim the front I think.

Have you tripped over the wikipedia entry for Jack the Ripper in fiction during your searching? Quite a good list to work through there if not.

Thank you I'll have a look! From what I remember the implication was that a mentally ill royal was Jack the Ripper.

This is sounding familiar to me too so now I need to know....

The front of the book was brown and bronze/gold with something astronomy related. I so wish I remembered more 😩

Maybe the Patricia Cornwell book?

I had a Google "Novels about Jack the Ripper" and the only one I recognised as having read was one by Jennifer Donnelly. But the plot synopsis doesn't seem quite right 🤔

Ooh this sounds really familiar!

Following with interest. I love Ripper stuff. The Patricia Cornwell book doesn't fit your description ( it's a bloody good read though )

It sounds like something influenced by Stephen Knight's theory. If you scroll down to 'influence' on this, it gives some novels which have used the plot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper:_The_Final_Solution#Influence

Is it the one that had Michael Caine and Lewis Collins in the tv adaptation?

With Inspector Abberline?

The Michael Caine TV version copied the idea of Knight's book, although it wasn't an adaptation. Lots of people ripped off the royal theory.

Sounds like a book version of the movie From Hell. Which weirdly I watched just last week

I've looked at the suggestions above and couldn't find it. It wasn't adapted for film or tv as far as I'm aware, but as it's so long ago I can't be sure! I really think the astronomy was a major part and the mentally ill royal was a background thing

I remember the lenses for telescopes being particularly precious

Possibly secret codes to do with astronomy? Sorry, I'm writing as I remember!

@WhamBamThankU total long shot.....
Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman.
I remember opium dens and one of the characters is a photographer......

@Needmorelego Thank you but it's not that. The main character was definitely a man.

@WhamBamThankU I hope someone figures this out..... because it really does sound familiar.

@WhamBamThankU it's not a Sherlock Holmes is it? He did like his opium 🤔

@Needmorelego

No nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes. I can't remember if it turned out to be a female member of the royal family who was involved in the killings? That could be way off though.

I wonder if it might be Elizabeth Redfern's The Music of the Spheres?

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/393654

It's not Jack the Ripper as 18th rather than 19th century, but definitely inspired, I'd say. I remember buying this in an airport on the way back from Italy in 2001! I never actually finished it, but might dig it out and revisit it!

I have no idea, but I also have vague recollections of reading it.