Safe Return Doubtful

British Literature – Published 1897

Published in 1897 this was one of the first novels to be inspired by the Jack The Ripper murders (1888-1891).

The novel follows Aleck Severn, born in a prison and raised as an orphan after his parents, his mother an alcoholic and his father her murderer were forced to give him up. He inherits wealth from an aunt, and seems set for a successful life, popular in high society and soon married to a beautiful young woman.

Soon however he becomes bored and unsatisfied and locks himself away in an isolated house working on scientific ‘experiments’. Not long after the mutilated body of a young woman is found.
Valancourt have recently resurrected this, prior to that it had been a much sought after book by collectors. However, the story itself is predictable and brief. Until the last pages one gets the feeling it’s a story one has heard plenty of times before. It does have a sting in the tail though, a change of pace and a much needed twist.

My GoodReads score 3 / 5