CELTICLADY'S REVIEWS: The Ripper's Wife by Brandy Purdy Review!

Publication Date: October 27, 2014
Kensington Books
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction

A suspenseful, spellbinding novel of love, jealousy, and murder, The Ripper’s Wife re-imagines the most notorious serial killer in history through the eyes of the woman who sealed his fate.

“Love makes sane men mad and can turn a gentle man into a fiend.”

It begins as a fairytale romance–a shipboard meeting in 1880 between vivacious Southern belle Florence Chandler and handsome English cotton broker James Maybrick. Courtship and a lavish wedding soon follow, and the couple settles into an affluent Liverpool suburb.

From the first, their marriage is doomed by lies. Florie, hardly the heiress her scheming mother portrayed, is treated as an outsider by fashionable English society. James’s secrets are infinitely darker–he has a mistress, an arsenic addiction, and a vicious temper. But Florie has no inkling of her husband’s depravity until she discovers his diary–and in it, a litany of bloody deeds…

Praise for the Novels of Brandy Purdy

“Recommended for readers who can’t get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory’s books.” —Library Journal on The Boleyn Wife

“Purdy wonderfully reimagines the behind-the-scenes lives of the two sisters.” —Historical Novel Reviews on The Tudor Throne

“I love Brandy Purdy’s books, she does thorough research into the lives of the people in the Tudor era and it shows in her writing style. Very descriptive, engaging characters makes The Queen’s Rivals a page turning novel. If you are a fan of the Tudor era like I am, then this book is a must.” -CelticLady’s Reviews on The Queen’s Rivals

“The writing is inviting, intense and flawless, rich with the flavor of English country life as well as court life. The political machinations, the tragedy to befall the Dudley family and the mystery surrounding Amy’s death were weaved to captivating detail and the end result is a mesmerizing work of historical fiction that puts Brandy Purdy on my “must read” list.” -Psychotic State Book Reviews on The Queen’s Pleasures

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About the Author

Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels. When she’s not writing, she’s either reading or watching classic movies. She currently lives in Beaumont, TX. Visit her website athttp://www.brandypurdy.com for more information about her books. You can also follow her via her blog at http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com/ where she posts updates about her work and reviews of what she has been reading.

My Thoughts

Jack the Ripper has been a topic of speculation over the years as to who the Ripper really was. There were numerous suspects, including Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, son of King Edward VII. This novel however, is about Florie and James Maybrick, loosely based on the Jack the Ripper Diary. Florence Chandler (Florie) met James Maybrick, a cotton broker, onboard ship and were married shortly after that. It appeared to be a fairytale marriage, but not is all as it appears. James was taking arsenic, strychnine and other chemicals at an alarming rate for his supposed illnesses. His personality changed and he became extremely violent to Florie, often beating her senseless. He was also unfaithful, having many mistress and five illegitimate children. Florie had purchased a diary for her new husband he started writing his 'crimes' against women and his dark and demented thoughts. Florie has an affair which even fuels James even more to commit and have a reason for his murderous nature.

Because of his drug use, he becomes very ill and asks that Florie help end his life which she does try to do but can't complete the request. A bit of arsenic is left in the water she gives him and he eventually dies. Florie is suspected, tried and convicted of the murder. She loses everything in her life including her children and place in society. There were many different motives as to why she may have killed him, but I like to think that she didn't do it and was unjustly punished. She spends 14 years in prison and is released. She returns to America where she does the lecture circuit proclaiming her innocence, she also writes a book about her life.

The Rippers Wife is a dark, sad story of a woman who only wants the love of her husband and to be a mother. With James and his addiction their life is anything but happy. I think that the author did an amazing job telling their story, infusing the acts of a murderer with demented and cruel thoughts and deeds. I personally don't think that Florie killed him, he had a lifetime of arsenic poisoning that ultimately ended his life but with people who did not like Florie, it was easy to convict her of murdering him. This is not a story that you can read in one sitting, Brandy's writing is very descriptive and compelling. I love her books and this one is no exception and I find it refreshing that she is able to write something besides the Tudors with such conviction. Be warned, this is a book that has a lot of colorful language and if you are offended by that this may not be the book for you but I feel that because the book is about Jack the Ripper, there can be no other way to tell the story without the vulgarity. I thoroughly enjoyed the book recommend it for anyone who is interested in Jack the Ripper and wants a different perspective to who he really was.