Jack the Ripper?

Readers are transported to Victorian London and introduced to Inspector Doyle, a modern-day detective with eternal life, who discovers that he has been wrongly named as ‘Jack the Ripper’, the Victorian serial killer. Nobody wants that label at any time in history, so with the aid of time travel he returns to the year 1888 in an attempt to clear his name.

Another complication for Inspector Doyle is that his modern-day daughter, Flora, who he has left behind to travel back several centuries, is becoming increasingly suspicious of her father’s identity. This is after making her way into his Shrewsbury study, that she is forbidden to enter.

The only good thing about returning to 1888 is that Inspector Doyle is able to rekindle his relationship with daughter Alice and wife Eleanor, who he had to leave behind all those centuries ago. Alice can then only but marvel at her father’s abilities to answer a question that only he knows the answer to, because he has travelled into the future and back.

The story references many Victorian objects that have been meticulously researched and then used to tell a story that is only possible through time travel and a rather clever inventor who may or may not be still alive. Many elements of the original Jack the Ripper case are also detailed as are the horrors of Whitechapel.

Find out whether Inspector Doyle manages to clear his name by discovering who the real Jack the Ripper is, and expect a twist at the end that involves both daughters and a Victorian book that, unlike the rest of Inspector Doyle’s objects, is unable to exist in parallel between the two time zones.

Jack's Story

Meet Jack – the first character in the KETCH series.

Jack is like all other boys his age; he gets up every morning, brushes his teeth, has breakfast and goes to school.

Jack’s daily routine, however, is slightly different because he has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His morning routine may be slightly different to yours. The shoes he wears may differ to yours and the emotions he feels during the day may not be the emotions you feel at school. We are all different and have unique qualities. Let’s embrace what makes us who we are.

Follow a day in the life of Jack and explore how you can show KETCH to your friends and family.

KETCH

Kindness         

Empathy         

Tolerance       

Care   

Happiness

Jack, the Pirate with a Secret

This is a fun, action-packed story with a twist at the end to allow for discussion between reader and listener. This could be used as a focus for discussion in PSHE lessons or as a one-to-one chat between the child and parent/carer.

Jack, the main character, is a very likeable and charming pirate. He appears to be extremely courageous. Throughout the story, he is portrayed as a very brave character who steers and leads his ship, The Mucky Duck, through a storm to a place of safety. Clearly, his crew look up to him for inspiration and guidance at a time when they are very afraid, but Jack performs his duties without hesitation. The story frequently reminds the reader/audience that although Jack appears to be brave, he has a secret! The story ends with the crew and The Mucky Duck reaching an idyllic cove where everyone is safe and happy!

A land filled with:

‘Treasure and gold and jewels,

palm trees and coconuts!’

All that Jack wants to do is to go to sleep in his cosy bunk in his cosy little cabin and dream of his adventures all over again!

Jake and the Magic Handle

Jake was bored. He’d had a dull day at school and was walking home. His dog, Jack, had just squeezed through a gap in the hedge and was barking for Jake to join him. Jake didn’t want to but Jack just wouldn’t stop barking. So Jake grumpily crawled through the hedge determined to grab Jack and go home for his tea. He went to grab Jack and as he did so saw something on the ground that changed his life. Find out what Jake and Jack found – it might change your life too!

Jake the Crocodile

In today's society it is easy for adults and children alike to get swept up in social media expectations around what somebody should look like. It is also incredibly easy to jump to conclusions and make judgements about others.

Jake the Crocodile is about taking a step back to not only look at the outside of a person (or crocodile!) but what is on the inside.

It is more important than ever to teach our children to be empathic and Jake will form a special place in your child's heart so they stop and think about their judgements of other people and take the opportunity to see past external appearances to open a whole new world of opportunity for friendship.

Imagine a world where we didn't judge and people were valued for their individual characteristics. Jake will help your child see that there is beauty in everyone, if you just take the time to look.

Jake's Lunchbox Surprise

“JAAAAKE!” Harriet shouted upstairs to Jake, “I’m packing your lunch this week, it’s delicious!” But will Jake’s lunch be delicious..?

Jake is a mischievous older brother and Harriet is his unwitting little sister. Jake loves to see his sister squirm and is enjoying every minute of it. However, Harriet has had enough of Jake’s constant pranks. Can she pull off the biggest surprise yet and teach Jake a real lesson?

Jam Tomorrow

Jam Tomorrow is a light, and sometimes irreverent, account of starting and growing a business. In his ‘tell it like it is' style, author Wayne Palmer shares with us his experience of the challenges, pitfalls and triumphs through a 20-year journey in development, manufacturing and design. Wayne’s company, Thinking Space, started in a dining room and is now a major player in its sector, exporting internationally.

For anyone thinking about starting or growing a business or just curious to know what it’s like, this book provides a straightforward insight into Wayne’s first hand experiences.

Busting some myths and sharing some gems, this book is not about business theory – it’s about business reality. 

Jamieson

What would you do if you were offered the chance of a new life?

I struggled with the decision – leave my home completely – running away from my family was the first step, the other side of the world couldn’t hurt?

A chance to finally be yourself.

I could finally move out of the shadows and see what I could do.

To be accepted for who, not what you are.

Ever since the wings had grown, all I was seen as was a monster. Maybe now they would be able to see past them, to who I really am.

I suppose all I could do was wait and see.

Jasmine and the Wisdom of Trees

Just imagine that we can find all the answers to our questions in Mother Nature.

Jasmine is looking for her dog, Woof, and does not know if she is wise and strong enough to find him. The trees in the forest are wise and tell her what she can do.

Jayne’s Secret Temptation

We all have a “moral compass”, learned either from parents, religious leaders, school teachers or peers. It is basically a set of rules we live our life by. Some of us are unwavering in our direction, others are more liberal in the interpretation of their core values.

This book attempts to explore what happens when these core values are challenged. It begs the question: “What would you do when confronted with huge risk or reward?” No matter what you say, it’s what you do that counts.

Jayne’s Secret Temptation introduces you to colourful characters with a novel and new approach with a degree of humour and realism.

It comes with a guaranteed surprise but is nonetheless a believable tale. You never know, it could actually happen!

Jessie and JoJo

Finding it hard to get to sleep?

Ever been afraid of the dark?

Meet Jessie, an eight-year-old girl who is very scared.

Alone in her room at bedtime, Jessie creates a unique way to cope with being frightened and lonely…

Finding a secret magical place, she explores ways to deal with her worries alongside an unusual furry friend.

Imagine that…

Wriggle down and join Jessie and her friend JoJo, as they meet the ‘bother-bugs’ and learn about true friendship.

Jester Challenge and Beyond

If you have ever dreamed of sailing a small boat a long distance on a low budget, then this is the book for you. Nor should age be a barrier, as 73-year-old Basil Panakis proves in his exciting voyages with the Jester Challenge, single-handed sailing event.

In this up-beat narrative, Basil explains how he chose his boat (which has to be under 30ft to qualify) and how he equipped her for deep-ocean passages. Starting from Plymouth in the UK, Basil’s Jester landfalls have included The Azores three times and beyond that, Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verde, Caribbean.

He talks about the equipment needed, all sourced on the tight budget of a pensioner and the simple upgrades he made to his 25ft fibreglass sloop Jaba. He also covers the weather routing and provisioning involved for a long-distance voyage and recounts the ideas and camaraderie he received from other Jester Challengers.

Ewen Southby-Tailyour, the organiser of the Jester Challenge, describes Basil as one of its leading lights:

“In his voyages, Basil encompasses all the finer virtues required of this most purist of small yacht endeavours. He tells his inspirational story in a readable, engrossing and uplifting manner, so perhaps you too will be encouraged to fulfil your dream.”