- Hardcover: 512 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st Edition edition (3 Feb 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007100868
- ISBN-13: 978-0007100866
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 16.2 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 65,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Evening Standard, 24 February, 2003
'the author is admirably fair...a fine achievement'
Time Out, March 2003
'exceptional account...a masterpiece that reads as well as any thriller.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Michael Bilton has, in my view, produced the best book yet on the Yorkshire Ripper. Bilton takes you through the entire case and each murder individually, highlighting the evidence and events without sensationalising them at all. He does not just accept the recorded version of events but examines thoroughly any errors or discrepancies he sees before coming to a conclusion about the reality of events. For example, he looks into the possibility that one of the Ripper's victims in Manchester may in fact not have been killed by him at all, and comes up with some pretty convincing arguments. He backs all of this up with detail of Yorkshire life and policing, and portraits of the officers involved in the case to provide a thorough study of how events unfolded.
The book could have been improved by some interview with the Ripper himself. I can understand why Bilton did not want to do this, but I cannot concur that the Ripper could not tell him anything about the crime of use. It is essential that we try to understand these people and their motivations. Unfortunatly this means given them the attention some of them crave, but it is a worthwhile sacrifice if it assists our understanding of such evil people.
Bilton focuses also on the victims and their lives, rather than glossing over them and focusing on the criminal alone as many books of this genre too. He provides a good insight into how the lives of the families and the police officers involved were affected. Whilst undoubtedly the police made mistakes, they are too often turned into the enemy, with little understanding as to the pressure they were under. Bilton looks closely at methods of investigation at the time and the problems this caused in such a massive investigation. A small criticism is that he does tend to be slightly biased towards the police and give them a bit too much benefit of the doubt over their mistakes, which really were far too many whatever the pressure of the investigation.
The book is a very thorough study of the case but one aspect I would have liked a bit more of an examination into is the Wearside Jack issue - who the hoaxer might have been and his motivations. This was a crucial part of the investigation and I felt a bit more detail on this would have been useful to put the hoaxer issue into context. However, overall this really is an excellent and important book and well worth a read for anyone with an interest in true crime.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book had me on the edge of my seat and I simply could not put it down! With every single page read, you can feel the tension mounting as police seemed so close and yet so far to catching this maniacal, hammer wielding, serial killer. The book is easy to read and provides an objective, non-biased account of The Yorkshire Ripper case. The author details the facts of the investigation well, including drawing attention to the missed opportunities on the part of the police, but in a non-accusatory way. The author has clearly sought to find his readers answers to the apparent lack of 'police integrity' at the time and his research on the matter enables the reader to sympathize with the CID and understand how primitive their resources still were, even in the 1970s/80s. A well-researched, objective true crime piece, which I'd highly recommend.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book. It tells the story of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, aka Peter Sutcliffe, in a gripping, objective and very real way.
With hindsight the ripper should have been caught several years before he was, and the book highlights in great detail the flaws in the investigation, the various blind alleys that were followed to no avail and most of all how back in the 1970's the lack of the scientific and technologocial processes (DNA and Computers) we take for granted, made this extraordianry manhunt such an onerous endeavour. That being said, some of the decisions made by detectives and the powers that be were woeful and the fact that peter Sutcliffe was actually interviewed 9 times! over the course of his 6 year reign of terror, but nothing was done, beggars belief and highlights the communication flaws and general narrow mindedness/clutching at straws mentality that plagued the investigation.
Although I knew what the outcome was, the book raced through at an exciting pace and left me feeling excited, frightened, appalled, angry and stupified simultaneously.
Not for the faint hearted, but a terrific read all the same.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
BEYOND BELIEF
WICKED BEYOND BELIEF IS EXCELLENT FROM A POINT OF VIEW IN DETAILING EXACTLY WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE HUNT FOR PETER SUTCLIFFE. Read more
Published 3 months ago by sky
A magnificent read...
Hat's off to Mr Bilton, this really is a remarkable book. If you are genuinely interested in Peter Sutcliffe and the reign of terror he held over the north of England for 5 years... Read more
Published 5 months ago by M.T.W
The best book of its type.
I've read this book a couple of times and I always found myself unable to put it down. It is very well written, it is very well structured and takes you though the case in a... Read more
Published 5 months ago by teepeegb
HINDSIGHT A BEAUTIFUL THING
Wicked Beyond Belief is an exceptionally written account of the hideously flawed investigation into the hunt for Peter Sutcliffe a complete and utter evil monster who should have... Read more
Published 8 months ago by mister joe
Very disappointing
This book is long winded and full of details not needed. It is not relevant to know what a detective's grandparent did for a living. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A reader
Not recommended for ghouls
If you buy books about serial or famous killers to wallow over the gruesome details of what they did, you will not enjoy this book. Read more
Published 9 months ago by schlockhorror
Excellent Book
Such a brilliant, well researched and informative book on an awful subject. Has so many facts and information i have not previously known. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Shoegirl03
A Fantastic piece of work
This is an excellent account of the Yorkshire Ripper, the detectives and most importantly the families of the victims. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Rob
Excellent case study
An in depth and well researched account of the Ripper's long reign of terror and the Police's massive manhunt designed to catch him. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Matt the Reader
Excellent study of an horrendous serial killer
Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper is a chilling and well written study of Peter Sutcliffe's horrific crimes in the North of England in the 1970s. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Craig Henderson
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