Cornwell Resolute Over Jack The Ripper Identity
Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell has reiterated to Sky News her claim to know the true identity of Jack the Ripper.
The best-selling author has long had a fascination with the notorious Victorian killer and has spent over 11 years researching her theory that Jack the Ripper was a painter, publishing her findings in a book.
She told Sky News' Entertainment Week: "It is without doubt the most interesting criminal case, unsolved one, in the history of crime and I think that will always be true.
"I believe I am at the bottom of it. I do think it is Walter Sickert.
"But we still won't be convinced because we can't place him at the crime scene and by now the legend is far bigger than the case itself."
Cornwell's latest book Flesh And Blood is the 22nd instalment in the series about forensic sleuth Kay Scarpetta.
First published over 25 years ago, the books and how they depicted the laboratories and autopsy rooms of forensic teams helped inspire TV dramas such as CSI.
Cornwell said: "What the Scarpetta series did is it really made forensics accessible to the entertainment industry.
"She [Kay Scarpetta] was the Rosetta Stone that translated all these mysteries into something that is now extremely popular in television and movies and also in other books."
Despite writing so many books about the same character, Cornwell said she never gets "bored" with the Scarpetta character although she is careful not to stifle her.
"I think they are like children. You have a lot of say so on how they live and dress and even how they eat but if you try to over control characters you will squeeze the life out of them.
"Scarpetta is flesh and blood and an individual and not just a reflection of myself."
Cornwell, who has sold over 100 million books, says she is not worried about the publishing industry going into decline, claiming it will "survive".
"I'm not going to say I am happy with it because ever since I started there were so many squabbles going on with various publishing entities. Now we are dealing with technology which has radicalised things.
"But we need storytelling and we need words and I don't believe that is ever going to go away."
: Also on Entertainment Week, Wretch 32 talks about the frustrations he has over rap music getting a bad reputation, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth on approaching the end of the Hunger Games and we review the latest film releases, including The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 and James Brown biopic Get On Up.
: Entertainment Week airs Saturdays at 3.30pm and 8.30pm and is available anytime on Catch Up.
