London, 1888 and Martha Turner, friend of Esther Jacobs seamstress, is found dead, mutilated. With the help of a police officer, Jack Enright, Esther is determined to help find her killer. Then another body is found. Is there a connection, and who is this person calling himself Jack the Ripper.
I enjoyed this mystery and the main characters are a likeable pair. Definitely a decent start to a new historical mystery series., ( )

This story offers an alternative solution to the question of the identity of Jack the Ripper. Prostitutes are being murdered and their ravaged bodies left on the streets of London. The timeline of the events in the novel follows the records we have, although the solution takes place in the months after the last death.

It is set against the background of a budding romance between a young police detective and a seamstress.

According to Amazon, this is the first of a series of 8 novels, a new detective partnership. ( )

historical-places-events, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-research -----
Excellent! Obviously much care was given to research of policing and coroner's inquest in the late 1880s. The plot holds the reader's interest with suspense as the murders pile up, and there is the sideline romance as well. The characters are interesting and well drawn as is the life and atmosphere of the target area. I'm glad that I didn't know prior to reading that it was a version of the Whitechapel murders because that allowed me to enjoy without any preconceived notions. Well worth the price even though I got it on sale! ( )

The Gaslight Stalker is author David Field’s take on the Jack the Ripper case, crossing fact and fiction to give the reader an eerie tale set in the back alleys and dingy pubs of 1880’s London.
The Gaslight Stalker is the first in a series featuring Esther Jacobs and Jack Enright.
In book one the Ripper is on the loose and a friend of Esther’s is murdered. Constable Jack Enright arrives to interview Esther. Esther considers herself a bit of a sleuth and her keen observation skills are a welcome help with the case. Jack becomes smitten with Esther and a romance ensues.

I’m not well versed on the Jack the Ripper case so cannot comment on any authenticity of the murder element, although it has the feel of a well researched story with excellent characterization and sense of place.

At times the story jumped from one scene to another without a break and I found this confusing.

The mystery was good and although predictable it didn’t spoil my reading pleasure.

Jack and Esther’s romance was sweet and had plenty of ups and downs which elicited sympathy from this reader.

The Gaslight Stalker is a superb start to a new series.

With thanks to Sapere Books for my copy.

Content: coarse language, sexual references, descriptive murder scenes. ( )