A story about the women killed from one of the world's most notorious serial killers but a tale of their lives that bring light to their lives, their hardships, showcases their personalities and friendships and gives them back the dignity that the fame of their killer has erased.

"They are worth more to us than empty human shells we have taken them for: they were children who cried for their mothers; they were young women who fell in love; they endured childbirth and the deaths of parents; they laughed and celebrated Christmas. They argued with their siblings, they wept, they dreamed, they hurt, they enjoyed small triumphs."

I really loved this book, and getting a glimpse into not only the lives of the women who became famous for being slain but also just the way of life at the time in 1880s London. There are times I think about if I could time travel what era would I love to visit, and while this time might be nice for a day to walk the streets and see the hustle and bustle of an age-old London - it certainly would not be somewhere to stay as life seemed so, so hard.

The research that went into this book as well must have been so immense, I was just taken aback by all the detail that Hallie included in each story. I never found it too much or any parts tedious to be honest, I wanted to learn it all.

I think this book is a great one too for anyone with limited or a lot of knowledge of London. It was weirdly exciting for me, who has only ever been a tourist in London, to recognise places so I say if you live or know London well it must be even more fascinating to know what kind of things certain places were known for in the 1880s.

The way the author is easily able to refute the belief that all the women were prostitutes (and somehow it feels people aren't hit so hard by their brutal end) was just so well done, and she really brought who these women were to the fore, and the people they still had in their lives who loved and missed them, and grieved for them. They were not just names to be remembered because of something horrible but lives who had experienced lovely memories of love and laughter as well as tough ones of addiction and poverty.

"We have grown so comfortable with the notion of 'Jack the Ripper', the unfathomable, invincible male killer, that we have failed to recognise that he continues to walk among us."

This book is desperately sad and one of the main things i got out of it was the cruelty and danger of addiction. All of the women were alcoholics and for most of them this is what ultimately led to the point in their lives where they were vulnerable enough to be victims of a serial killer.

"By embracing him, we embrace the set of values that surrounded him in 1888 which teaches women that they are of a lesser value and can expect to be dishonoured and abused."

I really enjoyed reading this book, and learning about these women who were just flattened by life and unfortunately did not get the happy ending everyone deserves. I 100% think Hallie Rubenhold did her job right and gave these women back their lives in someway.

This book reminded me a bit as well of The Radium Girls by Kate Moore in that these women were brought to life on page, and they were given the room for their likes and dislikes, the intricacies of who they were to be explored in a way that was respectful to them.