Keith Skinner Books

All the files on the greatest unsolved murder case in history, including Scotland Yard reports, witness statements, lost files and rare photographs.

Compiled in encyclopaedic format, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the Jack the Ripper mystery.

The legendary Jack the Ripper terrorized London’s prostitutes in 1888, and horrified the world with his cruelty. These horrific unsolved murders and stories of the terrifying desecration of his victim’s bodies still captivate the world 100 years later. Police reports, newspaper articles, photographs, commentary, illustrations and much more, this is the ultimate resource for any researcher or follower of Ripper lore.

As the ingenuity of criminals has developed over time, so have the techniques for catching them. The murderer Dr. Crippen's attempted getaway was foiled by the first use of radio at sea, and fingerprint evidence first secured a conviction as far back as 1902. Keith Skinner, a leading crime historian, and Alan Moss, a former Chief Superintendent, have trawled through the archives and selected twelve such fascinating 'firsts' from the history of the world-famous Scotland Yard - including the first 'wanted' picture in the press, the first successful use of identification parades, and the first conviction based on ballistics evidence. A lively narrative is supported by many previously unpublished images and documents from the Scotland Yard files at London's National Archives.