The Five
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Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane—five women whose names are often overshadowed by the infamous figure who murdered them in 1888. They came from different corners of Britain and beyond, from wealthy estates and workhouses, coffeehouses and printing presses. Some were mothers, artists, workers, or survivors of trafficking. None of them knew each other, yet all were bound together by a single tragedy.
For over a century, their killer has taken center stage, becoming a mythologized villain. But in The Five, historian Hallie Rubenhold turns the narrative around, reclaiming the voices and stories of the women lost to history. Through meticulous research and compassionate storytelling, she restores their humanity and reminds us that they were far more than victims—they were women who lived.
This title carries the Raven’s Seal of Approval, reserved for tales that haunt and linger.