The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson [Book Review]
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
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Novel: The Name of the Star Shades of London, Book One - By Maureen Johnson.
Published: September 29, 2011
Stand Alone or Series: Series - This is the first book in the 'Shades of London' series.
How I Got it: I bought it.
What made me want to read it: I've been wanting to read Maureen Johnson for the longest time. When I read Cassandra Clare's praise, “A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller. The streets of London have never been so sinister or so romantic.” - I decided I'd start here, instead of with an earlier work.
What I thought...
The Name of the Star has a great MC (main character) in the form of Rory Deveaux. I liked her immediately. She's an American teenager from Louisiana who moves to London to go to boarding school for her senior year of high school. Everything would have been hunky-dory except her arrival happens to coincide with some gruesome murders that have quite a bit of similarities to the famous (and never apprehended) Jack the Ripper! "Rippermania" ensues as it only could in modern times complete with t-shirts, round the clock news, and the web. Unfortunately for Rory she finds herself right in the middle of it all and no, she's not going crazy (but the stories about her family and home town sure are!) Lucky for her she befriends some cool London police officers who aren't exactly your typical "bobbies"!
The Name of the Star is a cool paranormal-esque book that will bring two worlds together to solve this murder mystery. There is a bit of romance but it's not the main focus which is very refreshing in a YA novel.
This is the first Maureen Johnson novel I've read and I can't wait to perch my nose in the middle of her other works. It was very well written and her characters are so believable and the pace is just perfect. I'll definitely read the sequel.
You can read a bit of The Name of The Star on Maureen Johnson's website.If you'd like to see some other photos I took of this gorgeous book -Check out my flickr set Books and Writers and thingslove & books,nicōle