Portrait of a Killer
Jack the Ripper Case Closed
By  Patricia Cornwell 

     I began reading this dark book with an open mind, and a convince-me type attitude. I love history, and I love reading and learning about unsolved crimes, or mysteries. I'm intrigued with the unknown, and admire anyone who tries to tackle an unsolved case from all of our pasts.

     Although the book is dark, and has no "feel-good" attributes, don't expect to want to lay it aside. Cornwell's combined writing abilities and forensic knowledge will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.

      Will you be convinced that world-famous artist Walker Sickert was Jack the Ripper? Only you can answer that. Myself? Once I began to read Cornwell's insightful expose', I found myself truly believing it had to be him.

     Cornwell's in-depth analysis of his psyche, as well as his paintings, offer evidence that if he wasn't Jack the Ripper, Sickert was at least capable of being him. Walter Sickert painted what he saw, and he painted death, murder, and mutilation.

     An avid Cornwell fan, I wondered how or if her writing style would be different. I found this book, although deep and complex, to flow page after page. I highly recommend Portrait of a Killer. You will think about this dark time in history for weeks to come.