The Whitechapel Widow

I hadn't previously read anything by Emily Organ, so this was a good introduction to her writing.

The Whitechapel Widow is an historical mystery, and a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.

Having just wed four months previously, Emma Langley is looking forward to starting a new life with her husband William, in the Suffolk countryside. However, on the morning they are due to depart, William disappears. He is later found dead near Whitechapel. As she attempts to find out what William was doing in the East End, Emma realises she really didn't know her husband at all.

I loved this book, set as it is against the backdrop of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. There are several references to the Ripper, and the funeral of Mary Kelly is mentioned. This combination of real events alongside the fictional tale of Emma Langley, makes for an engaging read.

The story is fast paced and twisty, and there are a host of unsavoury characters. Emma Langley comes across as quite naive, but she proves to have hidden strengths.

If historical crime fiction is your cup of tea, I would recommend The Whitechapel Widow.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This title will be available on 27/03/2025.