Behind Closed Doors

Autumn, 1888. The population of London is transfixed and horrified by
the atrocious and horrific murder spree being conducted by Jack the
Ripper. The newspapers are full of the details of the mutilations
perpetrated by the killer and the apparent inability of the police to
apprehend the unknown assailant. As Metropolitan Police Commissioner,
Sir Charles Warren throws the bulk of his investigative resources into
the search for The Ripper, and the tabloid press scream of the crimes in
banner headlines on a daily basis; on the new, ultra modern Underground
Railway that has revolutionized travel around the great metropolis for
the working man, another, less well publicized killer is at large.

Tucked away on the inner pages of the daily press, hardly enough to
raise an eyebrow among discerning readers, one may have found a few,
short articles which told of the strange and also, so far unsolved
murders which are taking place on board the carriages of the new-fangled
and much heralded transport system. Each murder takes place the day
after one of the ripper killings, as the murderer appears to be taking
advantage of the lack of police resources to tackle not one, but two,
major investigations simultaneously.

Inspector Albert Norris is charged with bringing the railway killer to
justice, but, as with case of Jack the Ripper, clues are few, the
killer's motive unclear, and he is forced to carry out his
investigations 'quietly and without causing a public panic' as the
authorities seek to prevent a loss of confidence in the safety of the
underground railway system. The press are being told even less, hence
the minimal coverage, and Norris can count on little help from above as
he attempts to solve the inexplicable series of murders.

Every paperback copy of Behind Closed Doors sold carries a donation of $1 from the publisher to The Mayflower Animal Sanctuary in Yorkshire, UK.