Early YA Review: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (Shades of London #2)


Egalley thanks to HarperCollins UK

Synopsis from Goodreads
After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. 

She soon finds out that the Shades—the city's secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.

In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.


Release date (UK): March 28th 2013.

Amazon  US/UK(£5.59) | Amazon kindle US/UK(£4.99) | The Book Depository US/UK | Fishpond

8.5/10

* * *
 You know I absolutely loved The Name of The Star, right? 

The Madness Underneath might not be as exciting, but it's darker, more bitter and mature. It's about a person who is dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy, and who is trying to cope.



After her parents take her to Bristol Rory feels adrift, she can't concentrate on anything, she can't study, she can't tell her therapist what really happened with her. So when the woman suggests she returns to London, she jumps at the chance and inevitably gets involved with the supernatural squad again.

No matter that she can't pick up her homework and is hopelessly behind on her studies, she only feels needed, useful and alive when she helps her friends deal with the ghosts. And they need her desperately. After Ripper destroyed the terminus, they've got no weapons and in danger of getting disbanded. However, Rory became a human terminus after the attack, and now can destroy the ghosts with a simple touch.

But it's really hard to deal with PTSD and it's even harder when your own squad thinks you are overly paranoid, so when a new therapist offers her help, Rory goes to her and spills the beans...

This is a book about humans and their treacherous nature, the ghosts merely provide the background. Beware of the ending, it came as a huge shock and broke my heart. I just. can't. Still feel upset thinking about it...

Utterly recommended as an excellent YA murder mystery.


* * *
Может вторая книга серии и не вышла такой сильной, как первая, но она всё-равно была хороша. Темнее, мрачнее и взрослее.

Это книга по большей части о человеческой натуре, призраки здесь служат всего лишь фоном. 

Рори, которую родители увезли в Бристол в конце первой книги, никак не может вернуться к нормальной жизни. Она не ходит в школу, посещает терапевта, которому не может рассказать всю правду о том, что произошло и борется с синдромом пост-травматического стресса.

Когда её терапевт советует родителям отправить её обратно в Лондон, Рори только этому рада. Ей нужно вернуться в паранормальный отряд, чтобы опять почувствовать себя нужной, и плевать ей на невозможность догнать своих одноклассников по предметам в школе.

Однако её отряду она нужна ещё больше. После того как Потрошитель уничожил последний терминус, у ребят не осталось средств для уничожения призраков и правительство подумывает о том, чтобы прекратить их финансирование. Однако Рори после схватки с Потрошителем превратилась в человеческого терминуса и теперь может уничожать призраков одним прикосновением.

Она рада вернуться к работе, но ребята чересчур с ней осторожничают и когда она подозревает, что череда убийств в Лондоне имеет паранормальные корни, они пытаются убедить Рори, что это просто её паранойа сказывается. И только странный новый терапевт девочки, которому она изливает душу заставляет её почувствовать себя лучше.

Концовка просто шокирует и разбивает сердце. Я до сих пор не могу о ней думать без огорчения, однако книгу очень советую как великолепный пример качественного детективного YA.

Comments

  1. Now I really can't wait to find out what happens in the ending.. I liked The name of the star and I like the idea of her being a weapon against ghosts. I like the fact that it's darker and more mature, so I can't wait to read it.

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  2. oh it sounds nice! It's funny each time I saw this cover is makes me think of one by Rachel Caine, it's maybe the police of the title.

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  3. Great review! Hearing that it's not as exciting as the first but still must read it myself! And hearing the ending is just shocking too!

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  4. Aww, sorry the ending broke your heart but it seems in a good way.
    PTSD is important subject to talk about because most people don't seem to really understand it.
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  5. Oh Mel, I can't wait to see what you'd think about the ending!

    D., no wonder! They use the same colours and the same typography in the header. At least in UK covers.

    Jessica, I am biting my nails for the third book now. It made me feel like a nervous wreck! :)

    Brandi, you are absolutely right. Most people don't know a first thing about PTSD, but don't understand how depression and anxiety work - and these are conditions that a lot of people have to deal with on a daily basis ;(

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  6. Whoa..i would love these, why haven't I read them? Hmm..maybe I will treat myself after I finish up the March challenge, a prize for them and a prize for me..bwahahaha!

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  7. The library has book 1...I really should read it

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  8. Huh. I had to go back and look at the first book and your thoughts. This sounds really interesting, and new to me. Thank you!

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  9. Kimba, haha, I'm pretty sure this is your type of read! ;)

    Blodeuedd, Melissa, you have my blessings :) I found it quite refreshing for YA lit.

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  10. I enjoyed your review—the ending broke my heart too, but I enjoyed what MJ did with Rory's character so much in this book the sadness wore off pretty quickly, so as long as I don't think too much about it...Nope, feels still hurt!

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