Author: Maureen Johnson

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books (29th September 2011)

Pages: 370

ISBN: 978-0007398638

From Amazon
Thrilling ghost-hunting teen mystery as modern-day London is plagued by a sudden outbreak of brutal murders that mimic the horrific crimes of Jack the Ripper.

“A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller. The streets of London have never been so sinister or so romantic.” Cassandra Clare, author of THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS

Sixteen-year-old American girl Rory has just arrived at boarding school in London when a Jack the Ripper copycat-killer begins terrorising the city. All the hallmarks of his infamous murders are frighteningly present, but there are few clues to the killer’s identity.

“Rippermania” grabs hold of modern-day London, and the police are stumped with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. In an unknown city with few friends to turn to, Rory makes a chilling discovery…

Could the copycat murderer really be Jack the Ripper back from the grave?

Review
“A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller” – Cassandra Clare. I couldn’t agree more!

The Name of the Star puts London on high alert as a murderer is around and he or she is doing what murderers do typically – murder people (be a bit of a strange name to give them otherwise!) but what makes this killer arouse more interest than any other? The killer is murdering according to the pattern established by Jack the Ripper and as you would expect it sets London’s media ablaze with speculation about what might happen next.

The story centres around Rory whose come to live in the UK following her parents who have secured jobs at Bristol University (at this point I have to interject and say Bristol Uni? – why not UWE, Bristol, but that’s not really important!). Rory gets the choice about where she wants to stay and as London isn’t far away from (the lovely) Bristol she chooses to go there… just as the first murder is committed – great timing there!

The Name of the Star isn’t a fast paced read and to be honest I wouldn’t want it to be – there would be no fun in trying to work out what was going on if the story was full of non-stop action and the pacing allows us time to explore the world that Maureen has created in intricate detail and makes it possible for the feeling of unease about what’s happening to settle in.

But what’s really happening is a scarier idea than I would have thought possible in a story which features a number of twists which take the story in directions and brings Rory into contact with secret agencies and introduce her to Boo.

Boo was like a breath of fresh air about half way through, she brought something completely different to the story and took it up to the next level, unfortunately her appearance did mean that Rory’s closest friend in London, Jazza seemed to be sidelined for a bit which was a bit of a shame but something that I’m going to kick a fuss about.

Overall this beautifully written book is a fantastic start to the Shades of London series, I’ve no idea where it’s going to go next and I can’t wait to find out.

Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s Books for sending me a copy to review