YA Book Review: The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

The Shadow Cabinet
Author: Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London (Book 3)
Publication: Speak; Reprint edition (February 2, 2016)

Description: The thrilling third installment to the Edgar-nominated, bestselling series

Rory and her friends are reeling from a series of sudden and tragic events. While racked with grief, Rory tries to determine if she acted in time to save a member of the squad. If she did, how do you find a ghost? Also, Rory’s classmate Charlotte has been kidnapped by Jane and her nefarious organization. Evidence is uncovered of a forty-year-old cult, ten missing teenagers, and a likely mass murder. Everything indicates that Charlotte’s in danger, and it seems that something much bigger and much more terrible is coming.

Time is running out as Rory fights to find her friends and the ghost squad struggles to stop Jane from unleashing her spectral nightmare on the entire city. In the process, they’ll discover the existence of an organization that underpins London itself—and Rory will learn that someone she trusts has been keeping a tremendous secret.

My Thoughts: The finale of the Shades of London trilogy was filled with action and excitement. Jane and the other members of her forty year old cult haven't stopped hunting for Rory so that she can go to the other world and bring back Sid and Sadie. Jane has had that as her goal since a failed ritual in 1973 left them in a half-alive state. To further her aims, she snatches the body of Stephen who is in the same state.

A new character named Freddie makes her appearance as someone who has the sight and who has been studying the same mysterious things that Stephen studied. Stephen was getting ready to recruit her to the ghost squad when he has his accident while rescuing Rory.

I liked the worldbuilding which made London a nexus for ghosts. I liked the idea of the Shadow Cabinet as a secret organization designed to protect the living from a ghostly invasion. I loved Rory's character and her voice. She makes a wonderful narrator.

I think that there are still stories to be told in this world and hope that the author does revisit it at some time.

Favorite Quote:

There was no pan flute music, no burbling table fountains that made you want to pee all the time, no statues of the Buddha that seemed to have no relation to actual Buddhists being present. There wasn't so much breathable air as there was incense and dust, punctuated by the occasional oxygen molecule that must have gotten lost on its way somewhere else.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.