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James G. Robertson
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The Ripper: Earth's Aberrant Torchbearer (Next Life Book 2) Kindle Edition

by James G. Robertson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

John Pepo, an Irish immigrant in England, led an ordinary life with ordinary dreams—until the nightmares began. At first, they came as whispers: blurry and unmemorable, slipping through his mind like fleeting shadows. But soon, they grew sharper, filled with haunting images—a young man wreathed in lightning, a tattooed girl, a figure marked with a dreaded VI, and most unsettling of all? An unquenchable fire and sinister laughter.

After his family’s tragic death, John is summoned to London, where fate leads him to Whitechapel’s twisted streets. In a darkened alley, he meets a figure who claims to be none other than Jack the Ripper. Jack has been watching him, waiting for this day foretold by the gods—the day for when together, they might rid the blight infecting England's soul.

Bound by destiny and pursued by the unknown, John is thrust into a chilling alliance with London’s most notorious killer. As Jack carves his legacy through the fog-laden streets, John is drawn into a shadowy world of demons, witches, and souls caught between life and damnation. With each strike and every life touched, John must navigate a game of malevolent forces—one orchestrated by a stingy puppeteer known only as Old Nick.

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  1. Book 2 of 2
    Next Life
  2. Print length
    246 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 15, 2021
  5. File size
    4.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An enthralling dark fantasy with a cleverly crafted plot."

- The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

From the Author

This can be read as a standalone novel, or as a second in series. If you read it as a standalone you can stop at the conclusion. If you wish to read it as part of the series please read through the Epilogue.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08K3NHYTV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Next Life Publishing LLC; 5th edition (January 15, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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James G. Robertson

James G. Robertson

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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. 

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
16 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • josh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, creative read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The story is well crafted, well explained, and is fun to read. It provides an interesting twist on Jack the Ripper, and draws the reader in with the attention to detail. The writing style was creative, and added to the characters. I would definitely recommend.
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  • Dawn H
    4.0 out of 5 stars A new look at Jack the Ripper
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2023
    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!
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  • Cherokee
    2.0 out of 5 stars A different theory
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2025
    The riveting quest of Jack and his most beloved friend John is now shown to all as the tales of those they damned at the request of the goddess Fate, and those they saved at no one’s behest, comes 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.

    Had a hard time finishing this. The writing was well done but as a person interested in the entire Ripper saga, the idea of devils and demons and curses that forced Jack to commit these horrible crimes is hard for me to digest. But to each his own.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this take on Jack The Ripper
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2023
    All over Whitechapel, dead prostitutes keep showing up. People are panicking and The Ripper is making a name for himself. Meanwhile John Pepo is just an ordinary man trying to make a meager living at a local newspaper to support himself and his wife. Following the bizarre and tragic death of John’s wife, he finds himself unable to carry on with his life and tries to join her in the afterlife. When John comes to, he discovers that not only is he still alive, his soul has been merged with none other than The Ripper and that they will carry out his deeds together.
    In this loose re-telling of Jack The Ripper, you will be whisked away to poor life during the late eighteen hundreds in London, England. No one knows the true origins of these world famous murders, so there is plenty of room for imagination. The scenes are grotesque and gory, vividly painting the pictures in your mind of what these poor souls endured. With an added twist, there’s also magic, witches, and secret meetings- all tying in to the other books in the series. This was my first introduction to a full cast audio book and I was not disappointed. The cast really added an extra edge to the story and brought it to life. I look forward to reading or listening to the rest of the books to come in this series.
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  • Christina Frøkjær
    4.0 out of 5 stars graphic but good
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2023
    I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy through StoryOrigin. All of the opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

    There is no doubt, that this author has a very creative mind. The myth of Jack the Ripper is deep, and this one only adds to it.

    I listened to the new edition, where chapter 3 has been moved and although I didn't care for the introduction from the author, I wasn't confused like many former readers were.

    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. I'm not always a fan of full-cast audiobooks, but this one did a great job.

    This is a good listen if you’re looking for something different and enjoy graphic horror!
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  • SEAC
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023
    I cannot stress this enough; this book should be listened to in audio form! It was bloody brilliant. Almost like listening to a movie. I am not exaggerating when I say that the last 15 minutes (or so) of the book is naming the cast characters and sound/production/background recording staff. Every character was voiced by their own person. If they were in a bar, you could hear the piano playing, small crowd murmuring in the background. If they were in a carriage, you could hear the horse's hooves. And the music in the background gave it an eerie feeling. I cannot put this into words. By far the best audio version book I've ever heard.

    The story. Jack the Ripper. Everyone knows it's a topic that's been done and done until it's overdone. This story gave it a new life, a new aspect to Jack the Ripper. Don't want to say too much without giving it away.
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  • S. Mahaffey
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022
    In 1888, women are being killed and mutilated in Whitechapel. Jack the Ripper has taken over his best friend’s body. There are two personalities in one body. Jack the Ripper has been instructed by the gods to kill the “dark”as London is more “dark” than light. Someone named Nick is having his witches collect souls. Why? Jack/John speaks to the good witch clans to have them help find Nick so Jack/John can kill him. Meanwhile they search for the witches that Nick has to stop them collecting souls. Will they be successful?

    This is at times a bloody novel. It’s not as bad as I thought it might be. It was a book that at first I found to be a slow book but as you get further into the book it isn’t so slow. I liked the different story of Jack the Ripper. It made it quite interesting. As I understand, this book is a prequel that needs to be read before the first volume. The combination of Jack/John was quite fascinating to me.

    Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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