Aurora, who will only respond to the name Rory, leaves her home of Louisiana to spend a year studying in London at an elite boarding school, Wexford. As Rory arrives in London, a series of murders takes place that mimic the brutal crimes of Jack the Ripper. When a murder happens in her own backyard, Rory appears to be the only one who saw the suspect. And, now it seems as though the murderer is after her. This book is both haunting and humorous, and will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Like it? It's the first in The Shades of London series, so stay tuned!Johnson builds the first half of this book around humour and slowly eases the reader into a dark world of grisly murders and paranormal activity. The book starts off slow, with the plot revolving around Rory getting settled, making new friends in London, and embarrassing herself time and time again. But, as the murders continue, the story begins to darken and the pace picks up. The humour, even in the darkest scenes makes this book stand out amongst its competition, but still has similar themes and undertones to its predecessors.
Rory is a quirky and strongly developed character, and her attitude and humour keep the story light considering the menacing backdrop. Johnson strays from her normal and solely chick-lit genre, into fantasy/supernatural/mystery, but does so effortlessly as she keeps Rory similar to characters in her other books. As a reader, it's easy to identify with Rory and her quirks.
Similar Reads:
Sorcery and Cecilia, or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
