track down Jack the Ripper, who he believes is a
sorcerer who murders his victims as part of a sacri-
fice to appease evil powers that grant him immor-
tality in exchange. He consults the psychiatrist
John Carmody, who initially doubts his sanity, be-
cause he believes that Carmody can provide an in-
troduction into that milieu of Chicago society
where the Ripper is most likely to conceal himself.
Hollis has analyzed scores of killings in various lo-
cations and is convinced that the next Ripper mur-
der will take place within two days somewhere in
the city of Chicago.
Carmody reluctantly agrees, and the two at-
tend a party where Hollis announces his intentions
and invites the Ripper to kill him during a brief pe-
riod when the lights are all turned off. There is no
response, and Hollis grows increasingly concerned
that he is wasting his time and will be too late to
prevent another death. He and Carmody begin to
drink, and Hollis reveals that he is descended from
one of the Ripper’s victims and that he will not be
dissuaded from his goal. It is only then that Car-
mody realizes that Hollis will never become so dis-
couraged that he will abandon his quest, so he kills
him, revealing that he is, in fact, the Ripper and
that the theory that he has been granted extended
life is true. Perceptive readers might well have an-
ticipated the ending despite some clever red her-
rings, but even having done so, the neat way in
which Bloch ties everything together is impressive.398 “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”