真相　（下）―“切り裂きジャック”は誰なのか？ [文庫]

切り裂きジャックは誰なのか？真相に迫る！猟奇的な連続殺人犯「切り裂きジャック」。コーンウェルが推理作家らしい大胆な推論と、スカーペッタを思わせる冷静で緻密な調査にもとづいて真犯人に迫る！

猟奇的な連続殺人犯「切り裂きジャック」。残忍な犯行はロンドンばかりでなく、郊外やフランスにも及んでいたのか!?コーンウェルが推理作家ならではの大胆な推理と、スカーペッタさながらの冷静で細心の調査にもとづいて、真犯人を追い詰めていく。すさまじい情熱を傾けた、著者渾身のノンフィクション。

Few books receive the kind of pre-publicity that Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed generated. Some of it was good, some of it not so good, but all was calculated to get reader interest running at fever pitch. In fact, Patricia Cornwell's actions in trying to solve the world's most famous serial-killer mystery (just who was Jack the Ripper?) have been highly controversial, but since when has controversy undercut interest in a book? And who better than a writer whose name is synonymous with the scientific solving of crime to tackle London's legendary mass murderer?

Using the methods of her character Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell's forensic investigation has pointed the bloody finger of guilt at a figure who has long figured prominently in the Ripper files. The investigation here is an intriguing mix of the personal and the professional: as well as orchestrating a Scarpetta-like search for the identity of the Ripper, Cornwell involves several very personal connections with the task she has set herself, and this is no dry thesis. Needless to say, the more gruesome aspects of this famously grisly case give no pause to a woman who has taken us into the grimmer aspects of forensics with her unsqueamish protagonist, and we are spared no details here (but who would purchase Portrait of a Killer if they had delicate sensibilities?). The arguments here are intelligently marshalled, and laid out with the precision and attention to detail of Cornwell's novels.

In order to prove her thesis, Cornwell purchased (and made tests on) some great works of art, but the tale of how she arrived at her highly contentious conclusions is quite as fascinating as one of the Scarpetta books. You may not agree with her, but you will not put this book down. --Barry Forshaw --このテキストは、 ハードカバー 版に関連付けられています。

"I knew the identity of a murderer and couldn't possibly avert my gaze," declares bestselling author and Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine chairman of the board Cornwell (The Last Precinct). Claiming to have cracked the unsolved case of Jack the Ripper, the author, combining superb investigative skills and meticulous research with modern technology, presents strong, albeit largely circumstantial, evidence as to the true culprit in this uncharacteristic work of nonfiction. Cornwell's man is the handsome, educated actor-cum-artist Walter Richard Sickert, and she delves into his life, probing the psychological pain and sexual deformity which led to his "impotent fury." Screen, stage and TV actress Burton's splendid, professional narration deserves much of the credit for the book's smooth translation to abridged audio format. Transporting listeners to 19th century England, Burton easily transitions between American and English accents, bringing an authentic, resonating flavor to the era and to the desperate lives of London's "unfortunates" who became the killer's prey. Despite some tedious and over-detailed readings of medical records, laws and police reports, as well as descriptive accounts of Cornwell's experiences re-opening the case, this audiobook turns potentially dry material into an enthralling exploration.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。

America's top crime writer solves the infamous case that has baffled experts for more than a century.

Abridged, five CDs, 6 hours
--このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。

'An excellent criminal case-study and a fine account of Victorian life.' Big Issue 'She has brought so much circumstantial evidence to bear that only a genuine posthumous confession by someone else will now be enough to clear Sickert's name.' Daily Mail 'The resultant book is absorbing ... Cornwell has written a great account of the Ripper era.' Time Out --このテキストは、 ペーパーバック 版に関連付けられています。

Patricia Cornwell, Abridged by Kati Nicholl, Read by Lorelei King

コーンウェル,パトリシア
マイアミ生まれ。警察記者、検屍局のコンピューター・アナリストを経て、1990年『検屍官』で小説デビュー。MWA・CWA最優秀処女長編賞を受賞して、一躍人気作家に。バージニア州検屍局長ケイ・スカーペッタが主人公の検屍官シリーズはDNA鑑定、コンピューター犯罪など時代の最先端の素材を扱い読者を魅了、1990年代ミステリー界最大のベストセラー作品となった

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東京都生まれ。慶応義塾大学文学部卒業(本データはこの書籍が刊行された当時に掲載されていたものです)