'There be Monsters' by Rob Lofthouse

Having completed a fair run of World War Two based novels, I was looking for something else to peak my interest. The inspiration for this Victorian London Crime story actually came from reading an article about the more recent Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.

The attacker, known to the Intelligence services, detonated himself amongst the Grande fans, causing many deaths and life changing injuries.

In the run up to the event, Counter Terrorist chiefs pressed hard on the Home Secretary to support their petition with the Treasury for more funds to counter the hybrid serpent that is radicalisation growing within the United Kingdom, and it was not until the arena attack was carried out, did they finally secure the funding required to meet said threat.

It was whilst reading this article, the spectre of the Whitechapel killings of 1888 came to mind.

The Metropolitan Police at that time was in dire straits. Poorly paid, under manned, beats too big, and reeling from a rather devastating Summer bombing campaign by Irish militants. The last thing they needed was a serial killer calling themselves 'Jack' running amok in the City of London, Spitalfields and Whitechapel.

Let us flirt with conspiracy, for the Ripper case of 1888 went unresolved and there have been numerous theories as to why Detective Inspector Frederick Abberline and many other capable Policemen were unable to snare this beast. So here's another...

Sir Charles Warren, the out going Metropolitan Police Commissioner had 'Jack' in custody, but eliminated him quietly and had Abberline and his colleagues exhaust their investigations, thereby presenting a business case to both the Home Secretary and HM Treasury to release funds to allow the Met to be bolstered with what they needed.

This conspiracy, for that is what it is, I feel holds water because after 'Jack' went to ground, conditions and pay for the Metropolitan Police increased considerably. This cycle is evident in much of what we read about in these modern times. The agency in question have an urgent need that must be fulfilled, and in order to prove their point, they let in the odd goal.

Pawns are sacrificed to check the King.

There be Monsters by Rob Lofthouse.

Available on Amazon in Paperback and E-Book.

Go to Amazon ACX if you wish to audition to be the narrator for the Audible version.

https://amzn.eu/d/9PVSRn8