published by: Putnam Juvenile
publish date: September 29, 2011
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.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up truly enjoying this book. Aurora "Rory" Deveaux was a really fun character. There were times I was laughing out loud because of things she said or did. Because of her, this is a series that I would definitely continue reading.
This is the second book I've read in the last couple of months that dealt with a copy cat Jack the Ripper. I found that a bit odd. Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton is somewhat similar. If you happen to be be a Rippermaniac, you might want to read these two books back to back.
The next book in the Shades of London Series is called The Madness Underneath, but I don't see anything about a release date. I will definitely be reading it when it comes out. If it's anything like The Name of the Star, I'm sure it will be a very entertaining book.
Interesting-I've read some reviews where they didn't like Rory and that detracted from their enjoyment. When I get around to reading this, I hope I agree with you as my opinion of the main character can greatly affect my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAlso glad to hear about the comedic elements-important to balance out the darker moments.
I've read a number of Jack the Ripper novels and this one sounds good. The time in history is also interesting.
ReplyDeleteMike
PS Just read one in the same vien that you might enjoy. Please check out my review of "The Technologists' by Pearl on Amazon.