Jack The Ripper walk with Maureen Johnson and the name of the star Giveaway

One of London's Old Streets

A few weeks ago I saw an amazing competition to get to go on a Jack The Ripper walk with the fantastic Maureen Johnson, who just happens to have written a book with a Ripper'ish twist.  I never imagined I could be one of the winners, so kind of put it out of my mind.  Then last week I got the email - OMG I did the biggest geekgirl dance you have ever seen!!  I think you could say I was excited!!!

I was told I could bring a guest, so brought my Mum along again.  She was just as excited and also did a bit of a geeky dance!!

St Butolphs Church

Thursday arrived and we made our way to Tower Hill station.  Directly outside the station we were greeted by Sarah from Harper Collins.  She immediately gave us our copies of the book & a beautiful postcard.  We were early again, so waited for the other winners, the guide & of course Maureen to arrive.  It took no time at all and was a great opportunity to get to chat with some of the other winners.

The cobbles of Mitre Square

We were led to a slightly quieter area and got introduced to our guide.  He gave us a bit of a run down on the route we'd be taking and told us some of the history of "Jack"  I'm not going to really attempt to retell the story as I am sure to get my facts wrong and that would be no good at all.

Me next to the scary bench

We were led all round London, making stops in various locations either where or very close to where the murders occurred.  At each stop the guide told us the next part of the rather gruesome story, not sparing at all on the details.  We walked past a stunning church "St Butolphs" where the prostitutes of the time frequented.  Very close by we arrived at Mitre Square where one of the murders occurred.  I sat next to the bench there, not realising this was the approximate location of the murder eeeeek!!

We were led on to more locations, walking through very quaint London streets, where there is no traffic and even still have gas style street lamps.  It made it very easy to get into the feel of what things may have been like.  Eerie would be a correct sum up.  We arrived at another quite location, next to a huge building which were told is the actual location of the School in the book.  As soon as I saw the building I thought of the story - shows Maureen's great story telling.  It was here we were told about the last and most horrific murder.

Inspiration for the school in the book

The Ten Bells Pub

Next we were taken along to 'The Ten Bells' Pub.  This was famously the last known place that one of the victims visited.  It is such a gorgeous & kind of scary looking building.  This still has all the features that would have been there back in the 1800's.  Next time I really must go in there for a drink!!

Maureen & Me

We were led round to Hanbury Street, where there isn't a great deal to be seen but it is where the second murder victim was found.  We had a group debate as to which side of the road was the right one, I still left uncertain, but we believe it to be the now site of a large building.

To finish off the tour we were taken back to a small alley near The Ten Bells pub.  Here we parted ways with our fantastic guide and got to get our books signed by Maureen.  She even posed for a picture with me - so cool!!!

The lovely people at Harper Collins, gave me another copy of the book to give away!!  I even got it signed for one of you lucky lot, all you have to do is fill out the form below!!

In My Mailbox (34)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

Book links will take you to Amazon

I've had another great bookish week.  Firstly got to meet the lovely Jana Oliver last Sunday & then got to go on a Jack The Ripper walk with Maureen Johnson!!  I've also got some amazing books this week here they are.....

Won

 Lola And The Boy Next Door By Stephanie Perkins

I won this from the fabulous Tara over at Hobbitsies a while ago, but we've had to wait for it to be released and then shipped to the UK.  It is Stunning!!

Review

 Fins Are Forever By Tara Lynn Childs

I'm still to read the first of this series, but it is high on my TBR pile

India Dark By Kirsty Murray

This sounds quite different for me, but I'm eager to give it a go

Arcadia awakens By Kai Meyer

This sounds right up my street, looking forward to starting it

Angel Fire By L A Weatherly

I'm currently reading Angel (AKA Angel Burn) and am really enjoying it.  This next book is MASSIVE!!

Given

The Name Of The Star By Maureen Johnson

I was given this whilst on the Jack The Ripper walk.  Maureen kindly signed it too!!

Myself and the lovely Laura at SisterSpooky: Bookfangirl had a geek day in London, finishing with meeting the awesome Jana Oliver at an informal signing.  Had an amazing time with her & she gave us all so great bits, like A T Shirt, Sticker, Iron on Patch & temporary tattoos.

I did buy a copy of Forbidden whilst we were there and got that signed

Borrowed

15 Days Without A Head By Dave Cousins

This I borrowed from Laura, sounds like a great read!!

Bought

Hexbound By Chloe Neill

This sounds really cool

Vampire Academy: Graphic Novel By Richelle Mead

I've been meaning to get this for a while & I am thrilled to finally have it!!!

What did you get this week??

Leanne 

xoxo

Review - Name Of The Star: Shades of London By Maureen Johnson

"Thrilling ghost-hunting teen mystery as modern-day London is plagued by a sudden outbreak of brutal murders that mimic the horrific crimes of Jack the Ripper.
Sixteen-year-old American girl Rory has just arrived at boarding school in London when a Jack the Ripper copycat-killer begins terrorising the city. All the hallmarks of his infamous murders are frighteningly present, but there are few clues to the killer’s identity.

“Rippermania” grabs hold of modern-day London, and the police are stumped with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. In an unknown city with few friends to turn to, Rory makes a chilling discovery…
Could the copycat murderer really be Jack the Ripper back from the grave?"

UK Cover

This has been on my To Be Read pile for a while now, thanks to the lovely Jenny at Wondrous Reads giving me an ARC copy.  I've been dying to get round to and finally did - I was not disappointed!!!

I ADORE the UK cover.  The girls face is half hidden behind her hair and she has a very antique style face.  You can feel the sadness in her eyes.  And then with the old style London scene beneath it just sets you up for the story ahead.
The US cover is also very fitting and unique.  But to me it just doesn't have the same wow factor!!

US Cover

The story starts off with a gruesome discovery and the setting of a rather disturbing London.  The story then quickly shifts to the story of Rory, an American girl who is moving to the UK with her parents.  She's being sent to a boarding school in the London, whilst her parents will be living in Bristol.  I practically forgot about the discovery at the beginning of the book & found it an enthralling story about this girls life.  I felt all the isolation she was feeling and the anxieties of making new friends.  I could easily have read a book about this girls day to day normal life.  But then things started getting more paranormal and sinister, I do love that style so this was rather thrilling.  More gruesome things happen and you really end up in a spin wondering what is going on.

Reading this you really can feel how much affection Maureen feels for England.  She must have absorbed every aspect of our culture and put it in this book.  The humour in the book is quite black too, its so English!!!

I enjoyed this so much, its actually the quickest I have read a book in quite some time.  I really hope there is plenty more of this series to come!!

Rating 4 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By HarperCollins Childrens

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at good book retailers

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (7) The Name Of The Star By Maureen Johnson

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine 


Name Of The Star (shades of London book) By Maureen Johnson
Due For Release In The UK On 29th September 2011
Published In The UK By HarperCollins Childrens Books
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK

"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"

So I must kind of admit I've always had a somewhat morbid interest in the whole Jack The Ripper story.  It still shocks me that someone could think to do such horrid things, let alone back in a time when a lot of innocence was still around.  They really couldn't blame his actions on what he saw on TV or heard in music!! 
 So a modern take on the story with ghostly twists sounds amazing.  Can't wait to give this one a read!!