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Sunday, February 02, 2014

Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson


Title: The Name of the Star
Series: Shades of London #1
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: September 2011 by Harper Collins

Blurb:
Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux flies to London for the start of a new life at boarding school. But her arrival is overshadowed by a sudden outbreak of brutal murders, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific work of Jack the Ripper.  
'Rippermania' grabs hold of London, and the police are stumped with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory has seen their prime suspect on the school grounds. But her friend Jazza didn't see anyone.
So why could Rory see him? And what is he planning to do next?
In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense and romance, Rory discovers the secrets of London and the truth about her shocking abilities, as Jack the Ripper returns...


Review:

Jack the Ripper has always been a topic of interest of mine. So this book especially piqued my interest. Reading The Name of the Star was a thrilling and suspenseful adventure, and one that I enjoyed.

Rory moves from Louisiana to London starting fresh at Wexford boarding school. But on the day she arrives, a grotesque murder has occurred, similar to ones by Jack the Ripper. A chain of murders continues, all occurring on the same dates Jack the Ripper had struck on many years ago.

These murders do not affect Rory much. That is, until before the fourth murder, she sees a man that no one else can see. He becomes the prime suspect of the murders. But now the man won't leave her alone. Something eerie was happening. Something very, very dangerous.

The plot of the book was quite interesting. I was gripped and couldn't stop reading. However, there were some scenes in the middle that seemed unnecessary and boring. They sort of slowed down the pace of the book. The rest of the book was of high standard.

I completely loved the setting of the book. If there was something the author did flawlessly, it would have to be the atmosphere. It was perfectly sinister. At points of the book, I was honestly worried and scared for the characters. The sections of the book not written from Rory's point of view contributed greatly towards the atmosphere of the book.

The characters were not as perfect. They did have their personalities, but some of the were a bit dull. I liked Rory,Jazza and Boo. They had distinct personalities. But, for example, Charlotte was a bit stereotypical. The idea of head girl being the main characters most hated person was a bit cliche. 

I didn't particularly like the romance between Jerome and Rory. It seemed too sudden, and didn't seem real. They only met for a few days and they started dating. It also didn't seem like Rory actually loved him.

The Ripper's character wasn't bad, but he was lacking in one aspect. What was his aim? Why was he killing all these people? I hate how the book never told me.

Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed this book. The plot was compelling and the setting brilliantly written. The Name of the Star is an uncanny read and despite its flaws, is worth reading.

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