By Maureen Johnson
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 in the autumn of 1888.
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 the police now believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who
saw him. Even her roommate, who was 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.
So I was obsessed with ghost stories as a kid, and this book
was like going back to those times. I really enjoyed the tone and the story of
this novel, which can dip into the darker themes at time (it is a book about
Jack the Ripper). I appreciated the
history of Jack-the-Ripper with the map in the front with the area of White
Chapel, it helped ground me. Also, having the protagonist from the U.S. going
to London helped me get a feel for London in much the same way I would if I
went, being from the U.S. myself. I enjoyed Rory’s point of view of living in
London and the way people were the same and different from what she expected.
There were plenty of funny moments that lightened an otherwise potentially dark
book. I really enjoyed the mystery and the paranormal element and look forward
to the next book, hoping it will keep the same tone, light, fantastical, and a
little edgy.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5 but it’s really closer to 4!
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