The Name Of The Star
By Maureen Johnson
Jack the Ripper returns in this stunningly written, chilling, romantic, British thriller. Not only is this novel full of twists and turns that are guaranteed to set your heart pounding and your thoughts racing but it fills your mind with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ that question your judgement on life and death.
Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux takes to London for the start of a new life at Wexford boarding school. However, her arrival is slightly overshadowed due to a sudden, horrific outbreak of brutal murders at the heart of the city that imitate the sickeningly violent work of Jack the Ripper.
London is gripped with fear and madness as the Ripper wisps around the city leaving no evidence, a trail of bodies and no witnesses… accept Rory. Rory has seen the Ripper on Wexford’s school grounds but her best friend and roommate, Jazza, who was with her at the time, saw nothing.
As life becomes less about school work and new roommates and more about the mystery behind Rory’s sightings of the prime suspect, she begins to question… why is it she can only see him? And what is the next step in his plans?
As the mysteries begin to unravel, Rory discovers the secret ghost police of London and the shocking truths behind her own ability as Jack the Ripper closes in on the police and his next victim…
When I picked up this book, I was not expecting a fast-paced thriller with the capacity to give you a sleepless night or two and I was also not expecting supernatural twists, clever switches between characters or links between today’s media and a murderer’s stardom. All I can say is: Read it.
Review By Daisy Bull