John Pepo, an Irishman who emigrated with his family into England, lived an ordinary life with ordinary dreams; but then, everything changed. Shortly before the tragic death of his family, John began having other dreams. He dreamed of a young man covered in lightning, a girl with tattoos, and of a man marked with VI from another world. However, what John dreamed about most of all was of fire, and of laughter.

After being summoned to London, John finds himself in Whitechapel. There, in the impoverished district known for its whores and beggars, he’s met by a strange being in a dark alley who declares himself to be Jack the Ripper. Jack tells him he’s been watching him; that he’s been waiting for this day, a day foretold by the gods so that together they can fix a great aberration blighting the city.

Thus begins the riveting quest of the infamous Jack the Ripper and his most beloved friend, John. As the devilish Jack haunts the streets like a spectre while mutilating his victims, the tales of those they damned and those they saved come to light. This is a story of loss, demons, witches, and the torment of one man by the puppeteering hands of a very stingy individual named Old Nick.

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy through LibraryThing. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

There are many fictional and speculative stories about Jack the Ripper, but this is the strangest one I have read. It definitely is in a category all its own when it comes to the serial killer. The author is very creative!

I was a little confused at the beginning of the story until chapter 3 when everything was explained. From there, it was a story of Jack the Ripper, witches, demons, and John, a tormented man who seems to be at the center of it all. It is good vs. evil in a strange way. That’s all I can say…no spoilers.

I have listened to several full cast audiobooks, and most of them didn’t work for me. I remember the first one I listened to, which was amazing, and I’ve been hoping to come across more like it. Finally, I have found one! The sounds (although graphic at times) and the different voices are great. It’s not for the squeamish though. Jack’s voice can be a little annoying at times, but it adds to the tale.

If you’re looking for something different and enjoy graphic horror, this is a good listen!

About the Author

Born in 1990, James G. Robertson grew up in the small town of Pratt, Kansas. He’s also lived in Texas, Missouri, and in New York where he graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2019, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in political science with a theatre minor. James began writing his first book, Afterworld, in 2010. After a long hiatus, he finished Afterworld and had it published April 14th, 2020.

James plans to continue writing while working in education. He has big ambitions and plans for his series to end with over 30 publications.