Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper

I had previously read an older version of this in 2001, and thought then it was one of the most detailed and balanced accounts of a complex murder investigation I had come across. Reading the updated version confirms this about the earlier reading. The author goes in to considerable detail, without ever being tedious on the victims and the investigators. He continually highlights the information over load, and lack of a record keeping system that basically ruins this pre digital era investigation. He highlights some individual lines of enquiry of great professional ingenuity and thoroughness, that did highlight the killer, but amongst so much other badly coordinated information fell on stony ground. The writing style is clear, relatively fast paced, and on the face of it, non judgemental, although some of the errors made (as, always, clear with hindsight) are obvious, and the author excuses none of the investigators responsible for this mammoth, and never fully coordinated enquiry going stale or astray. It is one of the best examinations of what can go wrong in a huge major investigation, despite the experience, dedication, and in some instances brilliance of those involved. The updated version of the book in addition to highlighting the attempts to have Sutcliffe’s sentence changed, and spending perhaps a little too much time on the arrest of ‘Wearside Jack’, the hoaxer - the ( now with hindsight, seemingly merely stubborn) acceptance of the geninuine nature of the hoax letters and calls, possibly allowing the murderer to escape the net for a further 18 months; also highlights advances in DNA, other forensics, and the computer assistance that would now be used in such Major enquiries. It seems to lack a caution that with increased computer assistance the scope for the human operators to be even more overloaded is very real.A number of the reviews on the book cover claim that this book should be studied by every young detective. I think the real lesson is it should be studied by every ‘experienced’ detective too, many of the errors are in what appears to be ‘case management’ and ‘executive predetermination’, rather than inexperience - again with hindsight. This should be read as a fascinating, chilling study of how large endeavours can go wrong, it possibly helped shake police forces into a different approach - and the updated version contains more, subsequent to earlier versions, recently released information from the very purposeful Byford Report - a very professional response to the problems raised. It is still a pivotal case for many, policeman, but many others, of a certain generation. Regardless of ‘CSI’, HOLMES, coordinators, and all the recent developments, this book is still very relevant. I read an article on the BBC recently, in fact Bilton’s Book had already covered the possibility of Sutcliffe having killed abroad, but ‘the Ripper’ still fascinates. A woman, ‘and advisor the mayor of London on crime against Women’ was able to sum of the Ripper investigation as ’incompetent’. She may be a seasoned, professional investigator of some kind, and no doubt aided by advances in forensic science, in computer assisted record keeping, retrieval and analysis, she could no doubt do much better, and be held responsible for it. She may, of course, just be some diversity enabled, irrresponsible, ‘Common Purpose’ tissue deep, talking head. This book is a far better presentation of the investigation and its failures than some glib and completely irresponsible sound bite. Maybe she hasn’t read it! Read, even re-read, and consider.

In brief: If you were old enough in the late 1970s and early 1980s and watched the news on a regular basis, you will remember the fog of fear that descended on your living room whenever 9pm came round and Kenneth Kendall's grim expression told you instantly that another Yorkshire Ripper murder, or attack, had taken place. I'm from Lancashire but if you were from anywhere in the north of England the atmosphere at the time was cloying. For me Michael Bilton's book resuscitates the sensations of being an onlooker in that period, whilst giving what I believe will turn out to be an unparalleled insight into the mechanics of the police investigation and the pressures on, and emotions of, the detectives involved. It only concerns itself with Sutcliffe and his motives in the final chapters and does not seek to psychoanalyse him; this is to the benefit of the reader and to the credit of the author. I could not put the book down. However, if I have one criticism - and it is perhaps more that I have studied this area in the past – it's that the chapter on DNA and other forensic developments which came to the fore in the years after Wicked Beyond Belief was first published felt a little bit 'tacked on'. It read to me like a summary of the contents of several university lectures but will no doubt be of interest to others. Overall, though, a masterful work of non-fiction that, as has been written by others, reads like a thriller.

I have been researching the Yorkshire Ripper for several years, and have read numerous books, watched countless documentaries, and read endless internet articles. Without doubt the most informative record of the Rippers series of Brutal murders is recorded with Michael Bilton’s book. I have read and reread passages within the book so many times I split the spine, and needed to purchase a new copy. As far as I’m concerned it was money well spent.This is an in-depth analysis, and chronological account of a complex, and protracted investigation, which goes beyond crimes scene, but delves into the personalities, and politics of police investigations.

A truly excellent review of Peter Sutcliffe, The Yorkshire Ripper. It covers the police investigation or lack of it in detail. The many errors due to pig headed stupidity on behalf of the investigating officers. Several chances to arrest Sutcliffe were passed up and people paid with their lives. Just buy it.

brilliant book. I have read a few others about the Yorkshire ripper, this is by far the best, I took it to work everyday while waiting up to 3 hours in my `lorry-line` yes I am a truck driver - but that were the similarities end - I was engrossed. I cannot believe how Sutcliffe kept coming up in police enquiries...but they just seemed to ignore the clues ?