by Aiden James
His almost seven foot height intimidated most, including Albert, who refused to admit it and, was not weakened even by the sight of his cane. Forever the cynical joker, he decided to feign a leg injury taking too long to heal. The severity of his shuffle depending on whose company he found himself in, he played it beautifully and, fooling everyone.
In the meantime, I followed the Ripper case closely, devouring every newspaper I could lay my hands on, staying in close contact with Albert.
But it was proving very complicated as I had become far too ensconced in my business and social activities. Roderick thought me a snob, an upper class over-indulged so called English gentleman. I stood for everything he despised; his protest was to complain constantly about the weather and the formalities of the Victorian stiff upper class, and to speak Gaelic at every inappropriate moment.
I reminded him constantly that my friends and associates were unimpressed and, due to their lack of understanding, did not take kindly to his using the language. Roderick’s response was to ignore me and continue to use it regardless.
Albert put aside his distaste for Roderick to urge me, once and for all, not be so distracted by women and revelry. I was to be serious in my quest to take on the Leather Man.
“All your stories of battles drawn and won, surely a lone figure like him will be easy pickings. That is, if you are the fighter you claim to be,” he said. Often mindful of Albert’s uncertainty, never sure if he thought me insane or just plain deluded, I reassured him of my intentions.
It was time to take my leave as he had become slightly intoxicated and annoying, his belly full of steak and a head full of ale. Like so many of London’s newspaper men, his lifestyle consisted of a walk between his office and the closest Inn. The excuse? He would pick up on the idle chatter circulating. Somewhere in there could be a snippet of news that turned into a story or two.
Jack the Ripper. The Whitechapel murderer began his killing spree early in April of this year and picked the perfect location. London’s east-end had become swollen with the impoverished. Living conditions were abominable. With my own eyes, I had seen rats in the gutters where raw sewage ran with velocity. In less than fifty years, the entire area had disintegrated, crime was rife, robbery being most commonplace, with roughly distilled gin consumed like water. The deprivation brought an alarming increase in prostitution and the current murders only added to the area being labeled as ‘riddled with vice and danger.’ Few outsiders ventured there. There were rumors circulating that men of high social standing and, members of royalty, did slip unobtrusively in and out of Whitechapel for a quick rendezvous with a woman of dubious means. For me, prostitutes were to be avoided at all costs, but my sympathies were with the victims, who did not deserve to be killed in such a brutal fashion.
My first chore would be to contact Roderick by telegram at the office, though I knew what his response would be. One of, ‘Not that dreaded Ripper fellow again, leave me out of it.’
Purchase The Judas Reflections: Murder in Whitechapel, by Aiden James & Michelle Wright wherever books are sold.
I began writing stories roughly fourteen years ago, after pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter in Denver and later in Nashville. My writing career could’ve been a brief one, as it started one night when it was my turn to read a bedtime story to my two young sons. Rather than read the ‘Mouse birthday book’ for the umpteenth time, I began a ramble about a mystical world parallel to our own, a world where sinister creatures sought to take a little boy into their hidden lair… forever.
My first critical reviews from my young audience were mixed. My youngest child, Tyler, was enthralled about the magical place I created, and eagerly awaited more. However, my oldest, Christopher, thought it was the dumbest tale he had ever heard! Luckily, my wife, Fiona, listened nearby. She thought the idea had potential, although she kept that fact a secret until the following spring, 1997. When she suggested I create a fuller blown version of this story, it marked the beginning of my love affair with writing stories.
I wish I could tell you that the experience has always been a glorious progression, where crafting characters, incredible landscapes with captivating plots, and surprising twists was easy. Far from it. It took nearly three years for me to complete my first novel–based on the bedtime story to my boys who by then were young teenagers—and another two years to decide if I liked it enough to show it to anyone else.
Since then, I have written fourteen more novels, and presently have five established book series out there, with a brand new sixth series set to start in the fall with Curiosity Quills Press. The first installment of this new series is entitled “The Serendipitous Curse of Solomon Brandt”, and will be a serialized project before it is released as a full book in early 2013. After this series, which explores the true nature of good and evil, who knows what will be on the menu next? Something dark and creepy… Or, perhaps something light and fun?
Definitely, I intend for it to be something well worth your time to check out—Just wait n’ see!
Cheers,
Aiden
Michelle Wright is the best selling author of “Ghost Hall” series 4 of the successful JR Rain, Scott Nicholson Ghost File series.
Born in London’s east-end into a family of psychic mediums, her passion for writing started young. By her early teens she had published stories in magazines and wrote scripts for school plays.
In later years becoming a psychotherapist and journalist in-between practicing her psychic skills she travelled extensively. Having lived in Spain and the US she is now residing in Belgium.
Books by Michelle: Cappuccino Heaven, Lost, Dead Dreams, and The Judas Reflections with Aiden James.
A Division of Whampa, LLC
P.O. Box 2540
Dulles, VA 20101
Tel/Fax: 800-998-2509
http://curiosityquills.com
© 2013 Michelle Wright & Aiden James
http://michellemariellewright.blogspot.com
http://aidenjamesfiction.com
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information about Subsidiary Rights, Bulk Purchases, Live Events, or any other questions - please contact Curiosity Quills Press at [email protected], or visit http://curiosityquills.com
ISBN: 978-1-62007-270-7 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-62007-271-4 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-62007-272-1 (hardcover)
Cappuccino Heaven, by Michelle Wright
(http://curiosityquills.com/cappuccino-heaven/)
“My name is Elizabeth Walker. I died at the ripe old age of thirty-eight, after a long battle with cancer. I loved cappuccinos, sunshine and life.”
A story of life and death shadowed by love and grief, light and dark, and hope for the future, Cappuccino Heaven is a paranormal fictional account of what could be beyond death when we cross over. The lessons of good and evil, karma and predestination, having to let go of loved ones and move on, and the possibility of reincarnation await.
Lost, by Michelle Wright
(http://curiosityquills.com/lost/)
Elizabeth Walker could never had imagined her loving reunion was to be crushed so cruelly by a twist of fate.
Her husband Mike’s forced entrapment in the dark, amongst the evil spirits of thieves, rapists and murderers was a daunting task for even the most skilled rescuer. Ignoring the dangers and determined to face her fears with unfaltering determination, she intends without fail to bring the man she loves into the light.
Nefertiti's Heart, by A.W. Exley
(http://curiosityquills.com/nefertitis-heart/)
Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.
London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father—sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight
inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.
In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, Cara must figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.
Automatic Woman, by Nathan L. Yocum
(http://curiosityquills.com/automatic-woman/)
There are no simple cases. Jacob “Jolly” Fellows knows this.
The London of 1888, the London of steam engines, Victorian intrigue, and horseless carriages is not a safe place nor simple place… but it’s his place. Jolly is a thief catcher, a door-crashing thug for the prestigious Bow Street Firm, assigned to track down a life sized automatic ballerina. But when theft turns to murder and murder turns to conspiracy, can Jolly keep his head above water? Can a thief catcher catch a killer?
Kiya: Hope of The Pharaoh, by Katie Hamstead
(http://curiosityquills.com/kiya/)
To save her younger sisters from being taken, Naomi steps in to be a wife of the erratic Pharaoh. As Naomi rises through the ranks of the wives, Queen Nefertiti seeks to destroy her. Naomi must play the deadly game carefully. She is in a silent battle of wills, and a struggle for who will one day inherit the crown.
To protect herself, Naomi charms the Pharaoh, who grows to love her. But when Naomi conceives his child, Nefertiti’s lust for blood is turned against her.
Echoes of Dark and Light, by Chris Shanley-Dillman
(http://curiosityquills.com/echoes-of-dark-and-light/)
Seventeen-year-old Bobby Rivers disguises herself as a young man in order to fight in the Civil War. She dares this mission for two reasons: first to fight for the country she loves, and second to find her older brother who came up missing in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Bobby joins up with the 27th Infantry of Michigan Volunteers, and the story follows their real life time line though many battles including The Crater and The Wilderness. On her quest, Bobby finds herself also battling issues within herself, like fear, trust, strength, morality, and falling in love.
Appetizer:
Book Cover
Title Page
Books by Aiden James
Books by Michelle Wright
Main Course:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Dessert:
Closing
A Taste of The Judas Reflections: Murder in Whitechapel, by Aiden James & Michelle Wright
About the Author: Aiden James
About the Author: Michelle Wright
Copyright & Publisher
More from Curiosity Quills Press
