• Author: Jack Harding
• Publisher: Blood Rites Horror (new publisher: Darklit Press)
• Publishing year: 2021
• Number of pages: 296
• Cover illustration: Joe Worral
• Interior illustrations: Tim Childs
• Back cover illustration: Nicola Spencer
• ISBN: 978-1-915272-05-8
• My rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

A darkly twisted feast of Gothic horror stories that will take you to the edge of darkness – and beyond…

Welcome to RIPPER COUNTRY.

A semi-alternate Victorian London where imagination runs wild and madness reigns supreme. Where the cobbled streets run red with the blood of the innocent, and unscrupulous fiends come out to play. Where the wicked stench coming off the old river pales in comparison to the foulness of the crimes that will forever haunt the annals of British history.

Where the man you know as Jack The Ripper is the least of Whitechapel’s worries.

Inside these pages, you will find stories of fear, madness, suspense and terror that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Enjoy this blood-soaked debut collection from Jack Harding, author of React and Driving in the Dark, a British horror author set to leave his own bloody legacy on this haunted land…

Review:

Welcome in Victorian London… welcome to Ripper Country!

‘Evil breeds evil’

Monsters come in all forms and all sizes. Sometimes they use knives and sometimes they poison you. Or even sometimes they just rip you apart. And once in a while monsters tend not to act on their impulses, but those are rare. And from monsters you cannot escape!

This is not another Jack the Ripper story. however this is a Victorian London story collection, where the fear for the Ripper runs high and where the Ripper inspires others to do monstrous deeds.

‘Ere, gimme yer hand and let me guide ya’

Every story in this collection is laced with the fear for an unknown, vicious killer. And other vile things come out at night, bloodied knives in their hand or they hide in underground stations. Children and grownups alike are afraid and stay indoors to avoid running into them.

Have yourself a little treat and find your way to this book! And tell me, can you find the many references to other books, movies and even songs?

Don’t run into the Cat Meat’s Man, beware of Funny Little Games, don’t go near The Beast in the Underground and choose your Barber wisely! And of course, Jack roams the streets as well, so give a wide berth to the Top-hatted man in the alleys!

‘Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste. I’ve been around for such a long, long years. Stole a million men’s soul and faith!’

A big hoorah as well to the illustrators that made the wonderful drawings in the book and for the cover! 👌