About the Book
London. 1910. A procession of well-attired gentlemen and ladies are clearly out of place among the stalls and pushcarts of the Whitechapel District. As the group makes its way through the crowded streets, the tour guide stops now and then to point out various places where the mutilated bodies of the women had been found. Although the murders occurred twenty-two years prior, the man leading the group seems to know every detail and aspect of each slaying. Of those things he does not know, he offers freely his own insightful conjecture. This is, however, no average tour of brutal acts. It is a close look at infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper's trail of blood. And the man leading the group is none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle--famous creator of fictional character Sherlock Holmes, the world's greatest detective. In The Strange Case of Dr. Doyle, we learn what draws one famous Englishman to another in ways that are as fascinating as they are shocking. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle actually led a tour group to the sites of the Whitechapel Murders in the year 1905. While we do not have an existing description of that tour, authors Daniel Friedman, MD, and Eugene Friedman, MD, have meticulously pieced together Doyle's own words to create a riveting account of his publicly stated beliefs on each of these horrific murders. As Doyle takes the group on his tour, the reader learns about the victims and the way each died. The authors have also included new pieces of evidence to understand better the murderer known to history only as Jack the Ripper.
Interspersed throughout the tour is the Friedmans' unique and well-researched account of the life of the young Conan Doyle, which was shrouded in more mystery than any of his own works of fiction. The authors have uncovered facts about which few, if any, Doyle biographers have ever been aware. Doyle was able to reinvent himself so fully through his own writings that few recognized the more disturbing elements that were cut out of his own life story. What these two authors have uncovered in their investigation of Jack the Ripper and Sir Arthur will no doubt spark passion and debate among Sherlockian fans for years to come. TheStrange Case of Dr. Doyle proves once again that truth--elementary as it may be--is always stranger than fiction.
About the Author :
Daniel L. Friedman, MD, received his BA from Stony Brook University, andhis medical degree from St. George's School of Medicine. He is currently apracticing pediatrician in Floral Park, New York, and is also an active memberof the Cohen Children's Medical Center, where he sits on the voluntary staffadvisory committee. Dr. Friedman's prize-winning articles on Doyle and Holmeshave appeared in numerous national and international journals. He and Dr.Eugene Friedman are also the authors of the book, The Strange Case of Doctor Doyle. Dr. Friedman resides in LongIsland, New York with his wife, Elena, and their three children. Eugene Friedman, MD, received his BA from New York University, and hismedical degree from New York Medical College. He was Chief Resident inPediatrics at New York Medical College and later served as Assistant Chief ofPediatrics at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dr. Friedman hasbeen in private practice with his son, Daniel, for over twenty years.. He hasheld multiple leadership positions in organized medicine and has devotedhimself to the education of future physicians. He and his wife, Sheryl, live inLong Island, New York and have five children and fifteen grandchildren.
Review :
"[A]ccurate and well researched. . . . [A]n engaging examination . . . the Friedmans' conclusion about Jack and Doyle will raise eyebrows. . . . [B]ound to be read by fans of Victorian murder real and invented."-- "Library Journal"
"[T]his book is a very good recounting of the five 'canonical' Jack the Ripper killings, intermingled with an equally good biography of Arthur Conan Doyle in his early years (before he became a famous writer) . . . a significant contribution to the field of 'Ripperology" . . . a welcome read for any Doyle fan."-- "PureBlather.com"
"A gripping and fascinating read. Give the authors a chance and, well, you may start to look at Sherlock Holmes in an altogether different light . . . [the authors'] annotated bibliography is the best I have seen . . . The Friedmans certainly raise some interesting, not to say chilling, questions."--Paul Begg, world-renowned Jack the Ripper expert "Ripperologist Magazine (UK)"
"Compelling . . . paints a vivid picture of [Doyle's] background and history . . . An intriguing read, not without its merits, and even though I am unconvinced by the argument, I was entertained by it."-- ""I Am An Omnivorous Reader" (book review quarterly publication)"
"Exposes the similarities of two very strange men, Jack the Ripper and Arthur Conan Doyle . . . interesting, as the authors expose the man with a titanic ego who always had a good excuse for his failures . . . the book goes on to raise intriguing questions and possibilities for fans of both men."-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"It's a fascinating tale, and points a guilty eye upon the least suspecting [sic] person we would think capable of the gruesome deed . . . extremely insightful, and well researched . . . illuminating. Highly recommended."--Tom Johnson "Detective Mystery Stories"
"The authors, long-time fans of the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, have turned the tables on this great author, using techniques that the great Sherlock Holmes and his creator would have applauded."--Ted Odenwald "The Oakland Journal"
"[The book's] theory as to the identity of Jack the Ripper is really interesting! Definitely a must for those who like Sherlock Holmes!" --New York Times' bestselling author Ben Mezrich
"A father-and-son writing team explore Arthur Conan Doyle's fascination with the Jack the Ripper case . . . the book offers us an opportunity to see how Conan Doyle might have approached the Ripper investigation, had he been involved with it, and, in a larger sense, how Conan Doyle's keen analytic mind mirrored, in many ways, that of his most famous creation . . . [The Strange Case of Dr Doyle has] many virtues, including, most of all, the way it allows us to peek inside the mind of Arthur Conan Doyle. An annotated bibliography of sources is appended."-- "Booklist (ALA)"
"Life is full of surprises, and The Strange Case of Dr. Doyle--written by a father-and-son pair of physicians and published by Square One Publishers, a small, indie book publisher in a town of 8,000 on Long Island, New York--is one of this year's big literary amazements. This is a spectacular undertaking by Drs. Daniel and Eugene Friedman, who must be very good physicians if they can be judged by their passion, exhaustive research and absolutely flawless writing."--"Murder Ink" columnist Jeff Mannix "The Durango Herald"
