Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1)(93)
Facsimiles of the “Dear Boss” letter and the “Saucy Jack” postcard were actually printed on October 4 (in the Evening Standard), not October 1. Earlier printings of the letters were text only (on October 1 and 3, in the Star and Daily News), not picture copies of the actual letters.
The Barnum & Bailey circus didn’t come to London’s Olympia until November 1889 (the fall following this story), but since the queen was a fan of it, and hundreds of Victorian circuses traveled across Europe during this time period, I decided to include it. Poor Jumbo the elephant also passed away in 1885 and wouldn’t have been entertaining the crowds.
Clairvoyant and spiritualist Robert James Lees was an actual man who offered his assistance to police on several occasions for the Jack the Ripper killings. While spiritualism was still quite popular across the United States and Europe (even after some spiritualists and mediums were proven to be frauds), Scotland Yard did not accept his assistance. It has never been confirmed, but there are rumors he also communicated with Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and had even resided in the palace.
I also tried keeping all medical terminology and practices as close to the date they were used as possible. Books using the term forensic medicine or forensic science were really printed in the 1800s. And doctors/medical examiners used things such as body temperature to determine time of death, though they were also aware that blood loss and cold temperatures would affect the accuracy of their estimates. Joseph Lister developed the idea to sterilize instruments during surgeries in the 1860s using carbolic acid, and fingerprint identification was discovered in the early 1880s. Though they didn’t have all the tools we have now, police scoured a crime scene and collected evidence much the same way in the nineteenth century as they do today.
As stated on the New York State Troopers website (under “Crime Laboratory System: Forensic Science History”), the following practices were applied during the 1800s:
In the 1800s the field of forensic science saw substantial progress. The decade saw:
The first recorded use of questioned document analysis.
The development of tests for the presence of blood in a forensic context.
A bullet comparison used to catch a murderer.
The first use of toxicology (arsenic detection) in a jury trial.
The development of the first crystal test for hemoglobin using hemin crystals.
The development of a presumptive test for blood.
The first use of photography for the identification of criminals and documentation of evidence and crime scenes.
The first recorded use of fingerprints to solve a crime.
The development of the first microscope with a comparison bridge.
Forensic science was significantly applied in 1888, when doctors in London, England, were allowed to examine the victims of Jack the Ripper for wound patterns.
Any other historical inaccuracies not mentioned were artistic liberties I took to enrich the world of Stalking Jack the Ripper and better serve my characters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without the help of the fiercest agent warrior in the world, Barbara Poelle, these acknowledgments wouldn’t exist. Thank you for unleashing Godzilla Bunny for me, B. We did it! To the entire team at IGLA for being the best agency. To Heather Shapiro for getting my book into the hands of readers across the world.
Huge thanks to my whip-smart editor and fellow Victorian dress enthusiast, Jenny Bak, for expert precision with making Audrey Rose’s story come to life. My book’s so much stronger because of you. I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on me and a cadaver-wrangling girl. Excited to see what new adventures Audrey Rose and Thomas take us on next! To Sasha Henriques, for comments that always made me smile. (Gruesome and sexy!)
To James Patterson for the amazing foreword, and for making me and my novel feel right at home with your imprint. JIMMY Patterson Books means the absolute world to me, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. To Tracy Shaw, whose gorgeous cover caused a flurry of exclamation points and dancing GIFs. To Erinn McGrath, for the exquisite publicity plan. Ned Rust, Sabrina Benun, Peggy Freudenthal, Katie Tucker, and the entire team at JIMMY Patterson Books and Little, Brown and Company—your hard work and dedication are truly humbling. I’ve had the best debut experience because of you all.
Mom and Dad, thank you for always encouraging me to reach for the stars (or scalpel or paintbrush or pen) and never thinking something was unattainable because of my gender. I know the word “impossible” can be broken down into “I’m possible” because of you both. Kelli, you’re my favorite sister. (Not because you’re my only sister.) Thanks for styling me with Dogwood Lane Boutique clothing for every event and for being my best friend. I’m so very proud of your accomplishments. Love all of you!
I dedicated this to Grandma but need to add this: My entire world is built on books and she laid the foundation. I can only hope that she would have adored this story—and the strong female who solved one of the biggest whodunits in history—as much as I do.
To the Belascos, Cuthbertstons, Diakakises, and Loews—love you! Paula, Jeff, Mike, Matt, Daniel, Anna, Juliet, Katie, and Ben, thank you for all the laughter and shared food. I’m blessed to know each of you. Jacquie, Alyssa, Shannon, and Beth—BFFs, always. There’s no place like home. To fur babies Toby, Miss Libby, and Oliver for their names.
My mews, Bella, for constantly keeping Mommy on track with writing and giving me the belly, and Gage for being adorable.