Book Review - Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Review by bookswithashlyn

Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller

Page Count: 448

                

Summary:

    This book follows two different story lines, in two different time periods. First, we have the story of the Ellingham family in 1936. An unsolved kidnapping and murder that took place at Ellingham Academy. Second, we have the present day, where we follow the protagonist Stevie as she attends this academy and tries to find out the truth about this crime. Stevie is a crime enthusiast and very determined to find out what happened. Along with this crime, she ends up learning and uncovered current secrets and mysteries as well.

My Thoughts:

    This was the first book I have ever read by Maureen Johnson, and it did not disappoint me at all. I was intrigued when I first read the synopsis and the first chapter pulled me in right away.

    Once Sherlock Holmes was mentioned the first time, I knew I would be hooked. I had just recently read A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson and this book reminded me of them both. The amateur detective character trope is one that I love reading about, Stevie was a great addition to this.

    To be fair, Stevie did creep me out a bit at the beginning. All her talk about wanting to see a dead body and solve the murder gave me bad vibes. However, she did grow on me and remind me a lot of myself. I am a huge fan of true crime and everything to do with it, I do not think I would ever get on Stevie’s level though.

    As for all the other characters, I enjoyed learning about everyone. From Nate to David to Ellie, even Hayes, everyone interested me in some way. Two of the slow suspense builders I really loved were the slow reveals and discoveries about Hayes and David. They are both immediately seen to be hiding things and it left me guessing until the very end.

    I think that the back and forth between the two story lines was very well done. There was a few times where I found the story about the Ellingham’s to be less interesting than Stevie’s story, however, I know this was just as important as a story to tell. The interviews and letters were a good way to keep the story interesting and feel as if I was really in the book.

    I found that this story flowed very well, and I never really had a time where I was bored. I read it mostly in one sitting. The one thing I did not love was the ending.  I went into this book knowing it was part of a series, but I was not expecting so much of a cliff hanger. I wanted the story to be tied up by the end and it was not. I am going to read the second novel as soon as I can and hopefully, I enjoy it as much as I did this one.

Overall, I did enjoy this book a lot and it kept me thinking. I like when books take me by surprised and are not predictable. This story was just that for me.