When I was in London a few years back, I went on the Jack the Ripper walking tour/pub crawl. Mike Resnick's "Redchapel" masterfully evokes that murky, foggy spring night spent stumbling around London's East End. "Redchapel" is another in a series of Teddy Roosevelt "what if" tales, as in: What if a young Teddy Roosevelt was asked to apply his intellect and American ingenuity to solving the mystery of who was killing off the prostitutes in the Whitechapel area. In fact, as the police inspector tells him upfront, there have been so many deaths, that people are referring to the area as "redchapel." Resnick has Teddy tackle the problem with the kind of energy and innovation for which the first famous Roosevelt president was renowned. Not content with the usual police methods, Teddy takes up residence in "redchapel" and develops an intimate familiarity with it by prowling the streets and pubs. Resnick brings Teddy face to face with the Ripper and resolves the dilemma in an innovative manner. Rightly nominated for a Hugo Award this year, "Redchapel" is much more authentic and believable "Bully!", another of Resnick's Teddy Roosevelt stories I read earlier in the year. Recommended for all science fiction fans, although the crime descriptions can be rather graphic. -Paul Walker, Fictionwise Recommender
Jack the Ripper with a BIG twist. Mr. Resnick's solution to the Whitechapel murders is unique. That Teddy Roosevelt was the one to accomplish this is secondary to the story. If you have any interest in this case, be sure and read Redchapel. As Teddy would have said, "Bully for you Mr. Resnick." -luana frazee, Fictionwise Recommender
"Every family's got its black sheep," said Roosevelt with a shrug.
Hughes stared at him, aghast. "Don't you understand what I'm telling you?"
"You think royalty can't go berserk just as easily as common men?"
"It's unthinkable!" snapped Hughes. He quickly glanced around the room and lowered his voice again. "This is not Rome, and our Royals are not Caligula and Nero." He struggled to regain his composure. "You simply do not comprehend the gravity of what I am confiding in you. If even a hint that we were investigating this slander were to get out, the government would collapse overnight."
"Do you really think so?" asked Roosevelt.
"Absolutely." The small, dapper policeman stared at Roosevelt. "I would like to enlist your aid in uncovering the real murderer before these vile rumors reach a member of the force who cannot keep his mouth shut."
"I don't believe you were listening to me," said Roosevelt. "My ship leaves on Friday morning."
"Without you, I'm afraid."
Roosevelt frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Hughes handed the envelope he'd been given across the table to Roosevelt.
"What is this?" demanded Roosevelt, reaching for his glasses.
"A telegram from your President Cleveland, offering us your services in the hunt for the madman."
Roosevelt read the telegram twice, then crumpled it up in a powerful fist and hurled it to the floor.
"Grover Cleveland doesn't give a tinker's damn about your murderer!" he exploded.
Hughes looked nervously around the room, and gestured the American to keep his voice down.
"He just wants to keep me from campaigning for his Republican opponent!"
"Surely you will not disobey the request of your president!"
"I can if I choose to!" thundered Roosevelt. "He's my president, not my king, a difference that I gather was lost on you when you manipulated him into sending this!" He glowered at the telegram that lay on the floor. "I knew he was worried about Harrison, but this is beyond the pale!"
"I apologize," said Hughes. "I wanted a fresh outlook so badly, I seem to have overstepped my..."
"Oh, be quiet," Roosevelt interrupted him. "I'm staying."
"But I thought you said--"
"Americans rise to challenges. I'll rise to this one. I'm just annoyed at the way you went about securing my services." He frowned again. "I'll show that corrupt fool in the White House! I'll solve your murder and get back to the States in time to help Ben Harrison defeat him in the election!"
"You'll stay?" said Hughes. "I can't tell you what this means! And of course, I'll help you in any way I can."
)
While visiting England in the fall of 1888, a young Theodore Roosevelt assists Scotland Yard in the effort to capture Jack the Ripper. As the streets of Whitechapel become bloodier with each murder, Teddy's American brand of investigative consultancy shines light into the darkness of the world's most famous unsolved mystery.
