Teenager Rory Deveaux has just arrived in London from Louisiana in Maureen Johnson's novel, the first in a projected series. Rory is excited about beginning boarding school but the day that she reaches London is also the day that a mysterious murderer begins his reign of terror over the city. The crimes are similar to those of the notorious Jack the Ripper and capture the public's imagination, starting a hunt for suspects. Rory thinks she saw the most likely suspect, but no one else seems to be able to spot him – and when he realizes what Rory saw, he may have chosen his next victim.
