The Name of the Star (Shades of London Series #1)

A witty tale of intrigue and adventure

Take an American girl from Bénouville, Louisiana. Relocate her to a boarding school in London. Throw in a couple of ghosts, a dallop of mystery and a dash of romance and you've got the page-turning, spine-tingling, keeps-you-up-at-night-to-finish-reading-it novel that is The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.

Rory, has a witty and spunky voice - which I found to be similar to Maureen's Twitter-chatter style. The story opens up with Rory giving the reader a very brief background of her family and home, the reason she decided to go to Wexford, and her arrival at her new school. We meet Claudia, the house mistress, and Charlotte, the head girl - for some reason I blended the two characters in my head and had a bit of trouble sorting them out in the end, however, this isn't pertinent to the tale. We are introduced to Jazza (Rory's cautious roommate), and Jerome (Rory's Ripper-addicted interest, of sorts); both were such fun characters to read that I found myself looking forward to seeing more of them.

The main plot is the ghost story/mystery that is weaved throughout. There is a killer on the loose, one who is copying the Jack the Ripper slayings. Yet, in a city with CCTVs everywhere, the killer seems to be invisible to the police; that is, until Rory thinks she spotted someone out and about, near the site of one of the killings. Once she tells the police her story, the plot picks up pace and takes you on a whirlwind adventure with eccentric roommates, mysterious strangers, and so much Jack the Ripper information that you come away feeling well versed on the topic - and a somewhat creepier for it.

I love reading Maureen's novels because she is very descriptive about places and situations, so much so that you feel as though you're walking next to the characters - The Name of the Star is written in this fashion. I also enjoyed the bits of family information that Rory litters throughout her narrative; funny little anecdotes to help describe the way she's feeling. One thing that I appreciated about the story is that, compared to other protagonists who have supernatural abilities thrusted upon them, Rory reacts in a very normal and completely expected way. She experiences denial and disbelief in a believable way.

The Name of the Star is the first in a trilogy, and while this story ties up a lot of loose-ends, the ending leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and curiosity as to what will happen next.

I utterly enjoyed reading it, and highly recommend this to anyone who is a mystery fan.

PS - there are no vampires.

15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

I can't begin to express how much I love it when an author takes a classic story and makes it into something I never thought of before. I have also been a big fan of Jack the Ripper. The stories itself have always intrigued me in who this man is. And why he committed the murders he committed? What was the purpose? With Ms. Johnson amazing writing style, I, the reader, am taken back to a place I have never been before, and see things new.

I really enjoyed the plot. If anything the plot grabs you and pulls you in. The re-taling of Jack the Ripper gave you goosebumps all over your body! The reason the plot is so amazing is the the flow of it. I like how the reader is slowly introduce to the Jack the Ripper tales and how it weaves itself into Rory's life like a weed. You see it slowly take over her life, and you can't help but hold your breath.

The love story in this book totally caught me off guard. While I was caught up with the Jack the Ripper and the murders, I had no idea that a romance had sprung up. I was quite surprised but loved that in the mist of murder and mayhem, that their could be a love after all.

If you love a dark, edgy, amazingly written story, read this book. I think Ms. Johnson did an fantastic job on bringing back such a classic tale and putting something new in it. Her characters/plot caught in a way a book has never caught me before. Drowned in a great mystery, The Name of the Star is a book you must read!

12 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

YES! YES! YES!!!

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet: this book was AMAZING!!!! It had me laughing and wanting to learn more about Jack the Ripper. Although it's a bit gruesome, it wasn't gruesome enough to stop reading the book or lose my apetite! Now please reward yourself with the possesion of this book! Get it and read it!!!!!

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

A disappointing read with a promising sequel.

The cover:

I like this one. It does represent Rory and some place of London.

The storyline:

Well, well. This was an interesting read. The story begins when Rory, the main character, goes to a boarding school in London, she settles there and meets new friends. Then, while she’s settling, a murder happens, what’s so special about it is that it has the same characteristics of the victims of the infamous Jack the Ripper. She starts to fall in love with this boy, Jerome, she met while the murders go on.

Then, on the fourth murder, she suddenly becomes the only witness the police has. After interrogating her, she thinks something weird is happening and that’s when she realizes that she’s seeing the ghost of the ripper, because the ripper is a ghost.

That’s when she gets a new roommate whose later found to be a police woman protecting Rory. They become friends along with other two guys who explain things to her and tell her that she has a special gift.

The ripper shows up again and this time he wants Rory. He goes on threating her and the other two guys until she gives up and go with him. Later on, Boo (the new roommate) sends her “ghost” friend to save Rory. She saves Rory but ends up dead too.

At the end, Rory discovers something new and interesting about herself.

What I liked:

The story has some sense in it. I did like how Maureen included Jack the Ripper in this book and how she described every murder very vividly.
The main protagonist, Rory, was brave. And very smart at the beginning.
The writing style was good. Not great but good.
The characters were good.
What I disliked:

The pace in the story was killing me. At the beginning, I got very intrigued by the concept of the book, then the flow of the events was going slowly for me.
I hated how everything seemed easy to happen or to do in this story.
I hated seeing Rory becoming naïve.
The ending wasn’t good at all. I expected more in it and thought maybe what didn’t please me in the beginning and the middle of the book will do at the end, I was disappointed.
I was disappointed not to find the story horrifying. I was expecting it to scare me to death, unfortunately, it didn’t :(.
Why I went for the audiobook eventually:

I started reading the e-book first, but when things started to bore me, I decided to get the audiobook, but guess what? Even the amazing English accents didn’t cheer me up :s. So, thanks to the audiobook, I devoured the story whole even though I was going to stop reading it.

The characters:

Rory is the main protagonist. She’s from the US but goes to a boarding school in England. She’s smart and brave as well as loving and kind.

Jerome is the nice guy. He’s been mostly kept out of story because he had no idea what was going on.

Jazza is Rory’s first roommate and later best friend. She’s kind, nice and smart too. That’s probably why she and Rory became friends in the first place ^_^.

Boo is super cool. She has this funny and cool British accent that I love. She’s been mysterious but later we found out that she’s as nice and cool as Jazza, almost.

The other worth mentioning characters are: Stephen and Callum.

Conclusion:

This could’ve been a great book with the writing style and the characters. Unfortunately, it disappointed me a lot.

Will I be reading the sequel?

Definitely. The sequel has the potential to be way better and I’m having great expectations about it. Let’s hope I won’t be disappointed agai

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Mysterious and kept me guessing!

Rippermania. That's all I have to say! I mean - doesn't that draw you in already? This is why I was so excited to start The Name of the Star and I gotta tell ya.it was pretty awesome! I couldn't learn enough about these murders and the ghostly happenings around Rory's school.

I loved Rory's character. She was the subtly-strong type and getting to know her was a breeze, which allowed me to enjoy her story more! She was normal.besides the fact that she can see people who aren't really there.or are they?! I really enjoyed that this book had a wide spectrum of friends and foe. There was never a dull moment!

Maureen Johnson has fun with her writing, but knows when to get serious. I absolutely loved that she wasn't afraid to write about the Ripper murders and even recreate them - in a way - but still leave out the gory details. Very tastefully done and I appreciate that.believe me I do! Johnson also knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seats. I was about the pull my own hair out trying to figure out what the heck was going on!!

One let down for me was the no-closure-relationship between Rory and Jerome. I loved the light romance, don't get me wrong, but I would've liked to read more or even get some closure. Then again, the series isn't over!!

The Name of the Star is a must read for those who love suspense and mystery.oh and a bit of supernatural-ness! ;) It really was a pleasant and refreshing read. Definitely a book that should be nudged up to the top of your reading piles!

Review based on ARC

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

good read

I enjoyed reading the name of the star. very hard to put down and intriguing.

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

readers will enjoy Rory vs. the neo Ripper in the enjoyable opening Shades of London

Excited teenager Rory Deveaux leaves Benouville, Louisiana bayou to attend the Wexford boarding school in London for a year while her parents Tulane professors on sabbatical are in Britain. However, she finds much of the city is in fear as Rippermania terrorizes the city with what the cops know is a copy cat serial killer. This psychopath has mutilated and murdered several people, but never appears on the security cameras that are in the city.

As she struggles with the social customs of the school, Rory meets Jerome and her roommate Jazza. Rory and Jazza are walking together when the Louisiana native notices the killer; her new friend fails to see anything. Rory realizes she sees ghosts that other people and the cameras fail to notice. She tells the police who assume she is a typical American teen. However, the killer notices Rory as a threat and plans to bury her.

The key to this young adult paranormal serial killer thriller is the cast, whether they are sightless norms or those who see ghosts, every important player seem genuine. The suspenseful story line is somewhat gory, but jocularity lightens the impact. With satirical asides on the security of the London surveillance network and the new age vamps and weres, readers will enjoy Rory vs. the neo Ripper in the enjoyable opening Shades of London.

Harriet Klausner

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Loved it

This is one of my fav books.A great read.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Johnson creates a tense mystery all her own

Rory Deveaux's parents decided a long time ago that it would be good for all of them to spend some time living outside of Louisiana which is how Rory finds herself arriving at a London boarding school the September of her senior year while her parents begin a teaching sabbatical in Bristol.

Rory isn't sure what to expect of England much less her English school--especially when she finds out she will be playing hockey every single day as part of her curriculum. Rory's expectations become unimportant soon enough when something strange happens.

Someone is killing London women and mimicking the gruesome crimes of Jack the Ripper--the notorious killer who terrorized London in the autumn of 1888 without ever being captured or even identified. The modern-day murders leave few leads. Nothing shows up on camera. No one sees anything. Still the murders continue as "Rippermania" grips the city.

In the midst of the murders something even stranger happens to Rory. She sees a man the night before a body is found on school grounds. Rory knows what she saw. But her roommate was with her and saw nothing. It can't be coincidence. But can it really be the New Ripper?

An outsider in every way, Rory soon finds herself at center of the investigation of the Ripper murders. As she learns more about the crimes and the suspect, Rory learns she is also at the center of something else--something stranger and possibly much more dangerous in The Name of the Star (2011) by Maureen Johnson.

The Name of the Star is the first book in Johnson's Shades of London series.

Starting with details from the original Ripper murders, Johnson creates a tense mystery all her own in The Name of the Star. Suspense blends with the supernatural as Rory learns more about the Ripper (new and old) and also about her own strange connection to the investigation.

Rory is a completely likable, authentic heroine. Her take on London and English boarding school, colored by her Southern sensibilities, adds much needed wit and humor to what could have been an otherwise horribly grim story.By the middle of the novel Johnson turns everything upside down taking the story in a surprising direction and introducing many of my favorite characters.*

In addition to her usual humor, Johnson keeps the writing her tense building suspense to nearly unbearable levels by the last quarter of the novel.

In addition to being a mystery with a unique setting, The Name of the Star is filled with twists and not a few surprises that will keep readers guessing well past the last page--not to mention leaving readers extremely eager for the next Shades of London book.

The Name of the Star is an exceptional start to what I fully expect to be a brilliant series.

*Team Stephen forever! In all seriousness though, I think the latter half of the novel is more indicative of the direction the series will take in the next book and I'm really excited to see if I'm right. Reading more about Stephen is just an added bonus.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN

It was ahmazing believe me first of all im moving to london after i read the book to fight ghost and completly fall in love with stephen because he just needs somebody to love and rory eh she was ahdorable but the true killer at the end of the book stole the whole story and kept me on the edge of my seat

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book! It had just a hint of sass and teenage humor(

I loved this book! It had just a hint of sass and teenage humor(Example: "You told him I had Period Fever!") but I have to be honest and say that the cover was what first caught my eye.
It was a modern twist on a classic tale that anyone who enjoys humor, mystery, teenage romance, and a slight bit of horror.

Not to mention I LOVE how Maureen Johnson wrote their accents! I was dying!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great read

Very interesting and entertaining take on Jack the Ripper. With the murderer following the same timeline as the in 1888, I was kept in suspence waiting to see what would happen just as the characters were. The dialogue and Rory's internal voice had me laughing at parts. For those who left comments about the story not being realistic, all I can say is, really?
I also liked that there was an end to this book. No huge cliff-hanger leaving a reader feeling unfulfilled, just the potential for more adventure. It is definitely worth reading and recommending to friends. I am excited to see Rory's story continuing with the next book due out in Feb!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Horrible book

I didnt like this book bc it was confusing, boring, and weird. I often found myself skimming the pages for dialogue.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson was a very.... weird rea

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson was a very.... weird read. I honestly thought it was going to be a mystery contemporary book, but I never expected it to have a paranormal twist. The main thing that annoyed me was how unrealistic the events were. I just couldn't understand how this was going to end or even get solved. Not only did I feel like the book was unbelievable, every chapter felt very similar as well. The pace was very slow, and not many exciting events occurred either.
Rory, the main protagonist, goes to a boarding school. I love books with a boarding school setting, so I had high hopes for this one. When Rory moves to London to attend her school, there is a murderer there whom they call "The Ripper". Apparently it's all over London, and the killings are horrid. The thing that totally annoyed me is that why couldn't Maureen Johnson just keep it a normal murder mystery that can at least seem realistic? Then the story just gets more confusing when Rory actually sees ghosts, and it turns into a paranormal story. I don't want to have any spoilers in this review, but I will say, I did not like the fact that it had a paranormal twist in it.
Overall the writing was good. I would get lost in some parts, but happens very often. The ending was okay, but I don't think i'll ever pick up the sequel to this book. I might not have enjoyed it, but do give it a try!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book was terrible. I kept reading to see if it would get be

This book was terrible. I kept reading to see if it would get better and it didnt. I got to page 200 and just stopped reading. While there is some mystery it doesn't start until really late in the book, and even then its only a little bit. I had such high hopes for this book and was very disappointed at what I found.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I dont know...

This book was good in the beggining but then it got a little far fetched/wierd. If you like ghosts and creepy stuff you will like this book,if you dont then this might not be the book for you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!!

At first I was afraid this was another one of those books where the girl gets conked in the head and she's magically taken back to Merry Olde England during the Jack the Ripper times. In fact its nothing of the sort and its a truly wonderful book about Rory and her life at a boarding school in London. I love how Ms. Johnson really makes you feel part of the setting. I found out so much more about how school are in England and what all goes on over there. I really like how she weaves in stories from the original Jack the Ripper murders in the 1800's in with the ones going on in modern day London. Rory is such a spunky, bright girl and I was laughing so much at her view on things. I think the romance is so nice between her and Jerome. I love how Ms Johnson's writing can make you get that giddy first love feel for him too. I really loved Rory's roommate Jezza. She's sweet and yet she will do anything for Rory.
This is a definite must-read for anyone who likes some history, mystery and a little romance all thrown into one roller coaster of 372 pages.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Light, yet engaging

Like an entertaining episode of Doctor Who. Swings a bit too hard from normal YA to paranormal sci-fi early on, but finds a sweet middle-ground. Light mystery enough to keep reader engaged and satisfied when connections are made. Recommended reading. Would suggest to friends.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Spooky fun!

The creepy Jack-the-Ripper story line drew me into this novel. It does not disappoint!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book is all I think about! I finished reading it in 2 days!

This book is all I think about! I finished reading it in 2 days! And told my friends what it was about and now everyone's reading it! It's really one of my favorite books ever and if you're unsure of buying you HAVE to buy it!
Stop reading this and buy it right now. You won't regret it, I promise it.
(In the recommendations I also add The Hunger Games series if anyone in the world hasn't already read it...)