The Name of the Star

Maureen Johnson

8 / 10

From the blurb: 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.
When the main character, a charismatic girl named Rory, met a broody blonde and a brunette boy, I thought this book was going to be predictable. I was wrong. The author manages to breathe new life into the elements of her story which are becoming tired in YA fiction: a new girl at boarding school, her conservative roommate, and the cute, funny love interest – while neatly sidestepping any need for a love triangle.
 
This book manages to be lighthearted when it needs to be, but for the most part the beautifully chilling writing had me so tense that I couldn’t put it down. The plot cleverly updates the story of Jack the Ripper as a paranormal copycat draws a bloody trail through London in the media. I worried at first that there would be parts I wouldn’t understand because I don’t know much about London or Jack the Ripper, but thanks to Rory’s narration everything was explained. What’s more, because Rory is American, the explanations weren’t patronising or clunky, they just slotted easily into the story. It’s a great reveal when we find out who’s been murdering people, and the supernatural elements are kept simple and easy to understand, yet intriguing.

The characters are interesting, but I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see much of their personalities. In particular Jerome, the mischievous prefect, was introduced, but then kind of fell by the wayside. He was inquisitive with a fantastic sense of humour – and totally crushworthy – yet he seemed to be a plot device more than a person. Also, while Rory is in London along with the Ripper copycat, her parents are in Bristol. Though they only try once, very half-heartedly, to get her to go stay with them. Personally, my parents would have come to the school and dragged me away if that’s what it took.

Overall, ‘The Name of the Star’ is fantastic. It has a fast pace, gripping storyline, and a heart-stopping conclusion. Furthermore, it doesn’t fall into the trap of having a horrifying cliffhanger at the end; the way the story is left makes me want to read on without being annoyed by countless loose ends, and nobody’s fate hangs in the balance. It’s clever, filled with fascinating facts, and has a tone which is sophisticated without sounding forced.

Teaser quote: I looked at the stained glass image of the lamb in the window above me, but that only reminded me that lambs are famous for being led into slaughter, or sometimes hanging around with lions in ill-advised relationships.

Try this book if you liked 'Hereafter' by Tara Hudson, or 'Ultraviolet' by R. J. Anderson. 

Shades of London book 2, 'The Madness Underneath', is due for publication in January 2013.