People of Abandoned Character

By: Clare Whitfield

Narrated by: Tuppence Middleton

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Marry in haste.... 

Murder at leisure?

London, 1888: Susannah rushes into marriage to a young and wealthy surgeon. After a passionate honeymoon, she returns home with her new husband wrapped around her little finger. But then everything changes.

Thomas' behaviour becomes increasingly volatile and violent. He stays out all night, returning home bloodied and full of secrets. The gentle caresses she enjoyed on her wedding night are now just a honeyed memory.

When the first woman is murdered in Whitechapel, Susannah's interest is piqued. But as she follows the reports of the ongoing hunt for the killer, her mind takes her down the darkest path imaginable. Every time Thomas stays out late, another victim is found dead.

Is it coincidence? Or is her husband the man they call Jack the Ripper?

©2020 Clare Whitfield (P)2020 W F Howes

Critic reviews

"Astonishing.... I'd be amazed if it isn't dominating the shortlists come next year's awards season." (M.W. Craven) 

Damn this was a great book

The narration! The story! The words!
Victorian England remains horrifying in my mind. What a great, imaginative spin on the Ripper story.

Absolutely shocking and amazing!!

I would read this over and over again! The story was fantastic and intriguing and do many twists and turn until the very end!!

what a ride

this book was not at all what I expected, bit as the drama unfolded, I was hooked. Awesome book!

Not what you think...

I was blown away to learn this is the author’s first book. It’s a great mystery with all too human characters. So many twists. It might offend some if you are sensitive. I can’t say what might give offense without giving too much away. Well done Clare Whitfield. I look forward to your next novel.

Good Solid Story

This was a good story my only problem is that I wish it had a trigger warning for victims of assault.

Minimal spoiler alert:
This author did a phenomenal job of telling a story that sounded true with true feelings without the need for explicit sexual stuff. I felt the author did so well, this could easily been mistaken for a non-fiction. She has such a great way of expressing torment, pain, fear, and despair of which I’m sure many people felt, all around the world in those times. I came to care a lot about the main character and her friends/acquaintances for what they all went through, and despise her tormentors. I’m most definitely keeping an eye on this author.

In addition to those who might want to know ahead of time, there are gay characters in this book. Just an fyi as I know I want to know what kind of characters I choose to read about, and feel that should be fully under people’s personal control. This book was NOT sexually graphic in any way (I honestly don’t like to read ‘unnecessary’ explicit sex scenes of ANY ANY kind in a thriller/mystery book… authors need to learn to write without the use of gratuitous explicit sex to sell their story without trying to be a 70’s/80’s horror movie!).

Wow! Great first novel! Really enjoyed it!

Although I thought it began a bit slowly (it didn't, I was just impatient) I just got sucked into the story. I read all Victorian noir/ Jack the Ripper fiction I can and this one kept me enthralled! Can not believe this is a first novel. Really enjoyed the story and the narrator was great! Wish I could find more books like this! What fun!

Just excellent

Fantastic book. Couldn’t stop listening! The story just keeps you intrigued and wanting more.

Definitely worth ordering.

Absolutely loved this

Quite dark and a little bit wicked but a fabulous listen. Well narrated with an excellent plot and well drawn characters. highly recommend

Really loved this book, the narrator was exceptional

I found this book difficult to stop listening to, it had me gripped. I loved the characters and the way the author wrote as if living in that century.
The narrator is fantastic, her accents are perfect
Really looking forward to the author’s second book

Unputdownable

I listen to this over three days. Very enjoyable, well narrated and a brilliant take on the Jack the Ripper mystery. Well worth a listen.

Original Idea

I enjoyed the originality of the story and the narration was excellent. I was able to put myself in 1888. Quite a dark tale, not one to seek out if you're looking for a mood booster. 😆
Not on the same level as Laura Purcell but heading in that direction.

Hooked from start to finish!

I flew through this book in one day, it had me hooked from start to finish!! Such an original take on the story of one of London’s most notorious killers. My favourite read of the year so far, for sure!

Up all night

Great story and super narration. Highly recommend this book - thrilling and scary and highly inventive.

Good premise; some poor research

The premise for the story was interesting and used in a way that didn’t come across as far-fetched. Character motivations seemed feasible and the author created real atmosphere. Even when there could have been more obvious ways to extricate herself from some situations, the use of coercive control as a motif did lend credence to the way the story played out.

That said, there were some (largely personal) irritations that jolted me out of being immersed in the tale.

Ch4 & ch 20- unctuous instead of, perhaps, oleaginous. Strictly, the usage was correct, but in the way that language evolves, its more usual sense is in something having richness and luxuriousness. As it was, perhaps oleaginous might have worked better and not distracted - distracted me at least!
Ch33 - the proof is no proof at all - the author does not understand simple genetics. Women are carriers of red/green colour-blindness and can pass on the condition to sons but cannot be sufferers from colour-blindness themselves. This undermines completely the deduction of the protagonist and shows poor research.
Ch 34 - Salvation Army non-conformist religions are diametrically opposed to the use of Roman Catholic icons such as rosaries. Jarring again.
Ch35 - precious ‘of’ his appearance. This is poor editing and grammar that sticks out badly.
Ch37 - Torturous-tortuous. I would question the usage here, which stood out for the wrong reasons. The former was used, but it’s implications of torture and pain were not consistent with the context as described.

The narration was strong without ever overpowering the listener; just as good narration should be.

Great story

this is a wonderful engaging story. It has easy to listen to narration and i can't recommend enough!

Wonderfully woven story

Finished this so quickly because it was such an interesting listen, there’s hardly any moments I can think of where it lulled, something was always happening. Would recommend!