People of Abandoned Character is a A Hair-Raising Historical Thriller from Clare Whitfield

Your husband stayed out late again. Another woman is found dead. How will you survive?

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’s 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 a coincidence? Or is her husband the man they call Jack the Ripper?

Almost every morning on my way to work, you’ll find me listening to true-crime podcasts. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine that always has me guessing and craving more of these thrilling stories, and the Whitechapel murders are one of my all-time favourites.

When I finished Clare Whitfield’s debut novel, People of Abandoned Character, I was hungry for more. Whitfield’s dreary, dismal and meticulously researched 19^th century London setting is vividly brought to life here, while a foreboding atmosphere and chilling psychological tension looms large over the story. The exploration of this time period is immersive, reflecting the large amount of time Whitfield spent crafting her novel.

From the heartbreaking downfall of Susannah and Thomas’s marriage to the constant suspicion of Thomas’s late-night whereabouts, Clare has brought her version of the Whitechapel Murders to life with plenty of twists and intrigue to keep you hooked to the very last page.

People of Abandoned Character is a fascinating debut that takes the hair-raising tale of Jack the Ripper and blends it with an electrifying psychological drama of a relationship on the brink. With the richly imagined 19^th century backdrop and the enigmatic cast of characters, this is a modern classic that you won’t want to miss. I can’t wait to see what Clare Whitfield delivers next.

Synopsis

What would you do if you thought your husband was Jack the Ripper? A dark historical crime novel.He is my husband. To honour and obey. Until murder do us part. 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. His behaviour becomes increasingly volatile and violent. He stays out all night, returning home bloodied and full of secrets. Lonely and frustrated, Susannah starts following the gruesome reports of a spate of murders in Whitechapel. But as the killings continue, her mind takes her down the darkest path imaginable. Every time her husband stays out late, another victim is found dead. Is it coincidence? Or is he the man they call Jack the Ripper?

Clare Whitfield

Clare Whitfield is a UK-based writer living in a suburb where the main cultural landmark is a home store/Starbucks combo. She is the wife of a tattoo artist, mother of a small benign dictator and relies on a black Labrador for emotional stability. She has been a dancer, copywriter, amateur fire breather, buyer and mediocre weight lifter. This is her first novel.