I thought that I was done with stories about boarding schools, ghosts, and/or secret societies. But it turns out that all I needed was the expert hands of a talented author. THE NAME OF THE STAR introduces a freakishly delicious creepfest of a new series that had me gasping, shuddering, and turning pages almost faster than I could read them.

At first glance it seems like THE NAME OF THE STAR has the odds stacked against it. Rorys a decent protagonist, though she doesnt quite stand out; the plot doesnt drag, but it does move languidly; and secondary characters can feel a little, well, secondary. But its a testament to Maureen Johnsons skill that she can take all of these average-sounding elements and spin them together into a tight and suspenseful story.

Ill be the first person to admit that Im not much of a horror fan. But THE NAME OF THE STAR is just so creepy in its deliberate slowness that I found myself simultaneously wanting to squeeze my eyes shut and devour the book in one sitting. The person behind the murders is a true villain, very, very scary. I was biting my nails through the last two-thirds of this novel, and couldnt even relax when Rory and her friends discovered the killers identity, thats how dangerous this killer is.

If youre a fan of horror, this is a must-read. If you enjoy Maureen Johnsons novels, this is a must-read. Dont miss out on this creepiest of creepy reads this fall.

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The first half of Name of the Star is sort of slow (although Johnson's characteristic sense of humor keeps it fun as the plot gestates) but knowing that this is meant to be the first book of a trilogy explains the necessary background-building.

The second half definitely makes up for lost time and made me love this book. I've heard people say that it has a Torchwood/Doctor Who feel, and I agree for the most part. Additionally, THAT ENDING. The sequel can't come fast enough!

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I enjoyed this book much more than I expected! There are some genuinely creepy and intense page-turning parts! Our protagonist, Rory, being from a small town in Louisiana is understandably excited about the experience of attending boarding school in London. What she actually experiences she could never have imagined and, at times, she does not handle it well. The story and characters are unique and well written. I look forward to the second book and where it may take us!

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What a fantastic Read!!! Another "unputdownable" book. "Unputdownable" books get 5 stars from me. This is book one in a trilogy and I simply must continue on with book 2.

The storyline was VERY unique. I loved the idea of bringing Jack the Ripper back to life in any novel, as long as it's tastefully and uniquely done. This review contains small spoilers.

In the story we have a college age girl, "Rory" from the swamps of Louisiana, who decides to pursue her college career in the United Kingdom. You have your typical 18 year olds living on campus, hanging out, doing what they do. Rory has a fun time learning the lingo, the British slang and just hanging with people, making new friends. Everything changes from normal to batty when she chokes on a piece of food in the cafeteria. She dies but is saved. This introduces to her and to others who have died and come back a "Shining" of sorts. Though basically she can see dead people, ghosts. These ghosts can see and hear her. Time holds no boundaries, thus she comes face to face with Jack the Ripper, cough(Francis Tumbeldy)cough, I didnt say that lol(If you know anything about the real case then youll know what I mean by that name...

Rory, our "I see dead people gal" also has the typical girl experiences, a love interest, a new best friend, letters from home, and dealing with her college classes (though due to her ability to see ghosts, she has a new "ghost" friend who can help on her tougher assignments).

I am gonna stop there with the basic synopsis.
This book should grab anybody who loves Paranormal/Romance/Mystery/Horror/Fantasy type books. This book one has 2 covers. There is the softcover version of Jack and a victim. The other is hardcover with the Title in blue, and people walking ect...

I give this book 5 stars because its right up my alley in everything I look for in a book. Spook factor, Unique story line, historical characters myth or not, and a setting in the United Kingdom ect...Now let us go read book two!

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