The Five

In “The Five,” Hallie Rubenhold takes a brilliant and compassionate approach to analyzing the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. Rather than sensationalizing the gruesome details as so many have done before, she shifts the focus onto restoring the humanity of the victims themselves - Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary Jane.

Through meticulous research, Rubenhold pieces together the lives of these five working class women in gritty, vivid detail. We learn their backgrounds, struggles, hopes and personalities. By giving them biographical narratives, she reclaims their identities beyond just being regarded as “prostitutes” and victims. This powerful act of reclaiming their stories is both fascinating and deeply moving.

Rubenhold's writing is engaging and transporting. You feel immersed in the tenement life, hardships and limited opportunities for women in 1880s London. The level of poverty and societal indifference to these women's plights is staggering. Their life stories, while tragic, shine a light on systemic issues of the era.

My only slight critique is that at times the narratives get slightly bogged down in excessive detail surrounding minor characters and events. But overall, Rubenhold's mission to honor these five lives is tremendously important and accomplished with compassion, thoroughness and skill.

For putting the victims at the forefront in such a thoughtful way, and making us see their full humanity, “The Five” is a captivating, moving, and successful work of historical resurrection. A powerful 4 out of 5 stars.