The Name of the Star
The day that Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school is also the day a series of brutal murders breaks out over the city, killings mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper spree 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–the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target. But Rory has gained an ability in her time in London–and this ability will change the direction of her life and introduce her to London’s most secret police force.
Good Stuff
- Nominated for the Edgar Award
- IndieNext Winter 2012 list
Nice Things
“Johnson fearlessly takes readers from . . . a cool innocent-abroad-with-iPod story to supernatural thriller. The tension ramps up exquisitely among cups of tea, library visits and the London Underground. The explosive ending is genuinely terrifying but never loses the wit, verve and humor that Rory carries with her throughout.” – Kirkus
“There’s a Doctor Who-ish quality to the book – in both its technology and tone – that feels completely intentional and appealingly fresh to the YA genre, but Johnson’s biggest achievement is in having written a book that will appeal to fans of her earlier work, but also please SF/F readers.” – Locus Magazine
“Johnson uses a deft hand, applying the right amount of romance and teen snarkiness to relieve the story’s building tension. Departing from her previous works, she turns paranormal on its head, mocking vampires and werewolves while creating ghosts that are both realistic and creepy. A real page-turner.” – School Library Journal
“Readers looking for nonstop fun, action, and a little gore have come to the right place.” – Publishers Weekly