Info
Written By: Tony McMahon.
Published By: Troubadour.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and the Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to this tour.
Overview
Astonishing new evidence reveals that an Irish-American Francis Tumblety, suspected of being Jack the Ripper in 1888, was also implicated as a plotter involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
The evidence from contemporary newspapers, police, and court records is overwhelming. Pause for a moment to consider this...Jack the Ripper was involved in killing President Lincoln.
TV historian and former BBC News producer Tony McMahon has investigated this celebrity doctor, well known across North America in the 19th century as a roguish and flamboyant figure with a very dark secret. Fascinating that Tumblety was an openly gay man, harassed by law enforcement throughout his life, while also notoriously misogynist and owning a collection of uteruses in a cabinet of curiosities exhibited to shocked dinner party guests. An entirely overlooked eye-witness account proving that Tumblety was on "intimate" terms with Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth, introduced him to co-plotter Mary Surratt, and employed yet another of Booth's gang, David Herold.
The book explains how Tumblety came to be in Whitechapel in 1888, far from his usual base of operation in North American cities like New York, St Louis, and Cincinnati. His arrest and flight from justice and why the United States failed to extradite him back to London and the clutches of Scotland Yard. The reader will get a whole new thrilling perspective on the so-called Gilded Age – revealing the dark underbelly of society in both America and Britain. The book offers the reader a series of stunning revelations – the main protagonist is a constant source of wonder and disgust. This life story is a page turner taking the reader through two of the greatest crimes of the 19th century linked by one man.
Overview taken from the official book press release.
Review
I'm quite interested in history and in particular criminal history and one of the most famous criminal legends of history is that of Jack The Ripper. This is the first time I have come across the name of Francis Tumblety but it will definitely not be a name that I will forget.
You can tell from the book that Tony McMahon is definitely in the field that he loves and the knowledge he goes into builds a unique picture of this country's worst serial killers but I never once thought that this devilish figure could also be connected to the death of one of the best known American presidents Abraham Lincoln as the book goes on the two sides of the story get further and further entwined with mind blowing facts that will definitely raise a few eyebrows.
To me the book reads in a relaxed format it's almost as though I am sat with Tony in a pub enjoying a beer and discussing all things history (by the way this I would definitely love to do)
For years I have read countless stories about this shadowy figure and although there still is no concrete answers this book definitely gives you the knowledge of what could actually be and it's definitely given me a hunger to explore more.
The book definitely deserves more as in a TV series or something along those lines as the content in the book is vast and full of facts that paint a very dark picture of two of the biggest events in history. The book covers the dark details well but also shows what it was like for Tumblety to be living as an openly gay man in those times which was a fascinating tale in itself showing the struggles and potentially the motives behind the darkness.
Summary
Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book it gave me everything I wanted and indeed more I learnt more about the Jack The Ripper lore and an interesting insight into the Abraham Lincoln connection which I would've never have thought of. If you are a history buff especially into crime history then definitely pick this one up.
Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
GOOD
I give Jack The Ripper and Abraham Lincoln a good score of 4 ⭐ an interesting look into a story that you may have thought you already knew but this will definitely change your outlook. I enjoyed the writing style of Tony McMahon and can't wait to see more. A definite recommendation from me.
Jack The Ripper and Abraham Lincoln is available now wherever books are sold.
Note on the author
Tony McMahon is an award short-listed author and broadcaster. He co-authored the biographies of two black British figures of the 1980s - Neville Staple, lead vocalist in legendary ska and 2Tone band The Specials, and Errol Christie, a boxing hero. Tony is also an on-screen talent appearing in history and science documentaries on History, Discovery, NatGeo, Channel 5, Smithsonian, etc. He is also a history blogger and writer.
This review was part of the Random Things Blog Tour please check out the others on the tour
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