The Five

by Hallie Rubenhold
The Five cover
Good Books rating 4.62
History, Identity, Culture, Sociology
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Paperback • £10.99
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  • ID: 2245
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2026-02-22
  • ISBN: 9781473542266
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2019-02-28
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold is a multi-award-winning exploration of the lives of Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane, the women famously murdered in 1888. This narrative delves into their individual backgrounds, revealing their diverse origins and experiences, from writing ballads to escaping people-traffickers. Rubenhold's meticulous research challenges the prevailing Ripper myth, offering a poignant and eloquent voice to these often-overlooked women. This book is not just a retelling of their tragic ends but a celebration of their lives. It is a powerful call to reject the sensationalism that has long overshadowed their stories. The Five is a devastating yet necessary read, praised for its compelling and moving portrayal of these women's lives.

Reviews
Reddit - Recommended Books · 2026-02-16
intriguing 4.25

The Five is more women's social history than anything else, highlighting the victims' struggles long before they were murdered.

The Reddit review emphasizes that The Five is more about women's social history than the crimes themselves. The reviewer appreciates how the book shifts the focus to the victims' lives and the societal issues they faced. They highlight the book's ability to humanize the women and provide a deeper understanding of the context in which they lived and died.

Quick quotes

    The Five is more women's social history than it is anything else.

    All these women were victims of Victorian moral and social attitudes long before they were murdered.

    The book humanizes the women and provides a deeper understanding of their lives.

Dana Huff · Dana · 2023-04-08
devastating 5.00

The book is a devastating narrative that sets the record straight about the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. It reveals a world beyond the typical Dickensian portrayal.

Dana highlights that The Five is a devastating yet necessary narrative that finally sets the record straight about the lives of the five women killed by Jack the Ripper. They appreciate the book's ability to reveal a world beyond the typical Dickensian portrayal, providing a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of these women's lives. Dana notes that the book is meticulously researched and written with deep empathy, making it a powerful and important read that challenges the sensationalism often associated with the Jack the Ripper case.

Quick quotes

    Now, in this devastating narrative of five lives, Rubenhold finally sets the record straight.

    Revealing a world not just of Dickens and Queen Victoria.

    Hallie Rubenhold's rigorously researched and deeply compassionate book The Five systematically disproves.

Girl with her Head in a Book · 2020-11-28
nuanced 4.50

The reviewer finds the book disappointing for those seeking true crime details but appreciates its focus on the victims' lives. They acknowledge the book's strengths in historical research and narrative style.

The reviewer notes that this book may disappoint readers looking for sensational true crime details, as it deliberately avoids that angle to focus on the lives of the victims. They appreciate the author's clear and confident writing style, which makes the book read more like fiction than non-fiction. The reviewer also acknowledges the book's strengths in historical research and its ability to provide a nuanced understanding of the social and economic conditions that shaped these women's lives. They find the book to be a valuable contribution to women's history, even if it may not meet the expectations of true crime enthusiasts.

Quick quotes

    Anyone looking for salacious true crime will find The Five a disappointing read.

    From the outset, Rubenhold is explicit that this is not a book about the murders.

    The writing is very clear and confident, and reads much like fiction rather than non-fiction.

1 Girl 2 Many Books · 2020-11-11
excellent 4.75

This book is written so well and compellingly, making the lives of these women both interesting and poignant.

The reviewer from 1 Girl 2 Many Books praises the book for its excellent writing and compelling narrative. They found the lives of the women to be both interesting and poignant, highlighting how Rubenhold brings their stories to life in a way that is both engaging and respectful. The reviewer appreciates the depth of research and the emotional impact of the book.

Quick quotes

    This is an excellent book – I found it written so well, so compellingly.

    The lives of all these women were interesting to me but it's the way Rubenhold tells their stories that makes this book so compelling.

    The depth of research and the emotional impact of the book are truly remarkable.

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