Carol Ann Lee

Somebody’s Mother, Somebody’s Daughter

True Stories from Victims and Survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper

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Details

Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 10/12/2020

ISBN: 9781789293524

Subject: Non-Fiction

Category: Biographies

Binding: Paperback

Size: 198 x 129 mm

Extent: 336 pages

Illustration: 8pp b/w plate section

Territorial Rights: World (All Languages)

Edition Status: Out of Print

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Summary:

Much has been written about the brutal crimes of Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper. During the four decades of his imprisonment for the murder of thirteen women – before his death in November 2020 – scarcely a week went by without some mention of him in the British media. In any story featuring Sutcliffe, however, his victims are incidental, often reduced to a tableau of nameless faces. But each woman was much more than the manner of her death.

Based on previously unpublished material and fresh, first-hand interviews the book examines the Yorkshire Ripper story from a new perspective: focusing on the women and putting the reader in a similar position to those who lived through that time. By talking to survivors and their families, and to the relatives of the murdered women, Carol Ann Lee gets to the core truths of their lives and experiences, not only at the hands of Sutcliffe but also with the Yorkshire Police and their crass and appalling handling of the case, where the women were put into two categories: prostitutes and non-prostitutes. In this book they are, simply, women, and all have moving backstories.

Recent news stories have shown that women and girls who come forward to report serious crimes of a sexual nature are often judged as harshly – and often more so – than the men who have wronged them. The Rochdale sex abuse scandal, the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and the US President's deplorable comments about women are vivid reminders that those in positions of power regard women as second class citizens. Hard-hitting and wholly unique in approach, this timely book sheds new light on a case that still grips the nation.

Reviews:

Lynda La Plante's Book of the Year 2019

Big Issue

All too often we forget about the people who lost their lives... Carol Ann is passionate about putting victims at the heart of what she writes.

Woman's Hour, BBC R4

Gives voice to survivors of Sutcliffe and family members of those who were killed.

Yorkshire Post

Original, intelligent and thought-provoking, Carol Ann Lee's book sheds new light on to the human stories behind the headlines. A touching and timely insight into all of Sutcliffe's victims.

Roberta Kray

A new and strong perspective on the story, opening the gates for a fresh narrative.

Survivor Mo Lea

Sales points:

  • A compelling and detailed account of the women, their families and the cultural and political melting pot from which the crimes emerged

  • Based on first-hand research, including interviews with the women who survived the attacks and with the victims’ families

  • A wholly unique perspective on this horrific case – from the point of view of the women who were involved and their families

  • Carol Ann Lee is a best-selling author. She is a very experienced interviewee and will be available for PR

About the Author:

Carol Ann Lee

Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1969, Carol Ann Lee graduated from Manchester University. Three years later, her first book, Roses from the Earth: The Biography of Anne Frank was published to great acclaim, and has been published in fifteen countries to date. She went on to write several more best-selling books, including biographies and fiction, returning to non-fiction in 2010 with One of Your Own: The Life and Death of Myra Hindley, A Fine Day for a Hanging (2012) and The Murders at White House Farm (2015).