HarperCollins
Truly Devious: A Mystery
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New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place," he said, "where learning is a game."
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly, Devious." It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.
True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester.
But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.
The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2018 * Junior Library Guild Selection * 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * 2019 ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2018 * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2018 * 2018 Nerdy Book Club Young Adult Winner * Seventeen Best YA Book of 2018 * Lincoln Award Nominee * 2020-2021 South Carolina Book Awards Nominee * 2020 Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Winner
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780062338051
EAN:
9780062338051
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
432
Authors:
Maureen Johnson
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Published Date: 2018-16-01
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This book has grabbed me by the balls. If I even had any. I had DREAMS about this book. I was putting together pieces like I WAS SOLVING THIS..and the ending…I’m getting the second book immediately. I’m obsessed. Thank you Maureen Johnson for completely taking hold of my life.
I loved this book! Tremendous character development. Murder mysteries are examined from two periods in time. I’ll definitely read the next books in the series.
I grabbed this because I wanted a fun mystery that wouldn’t feel like homework to finish. This was perfect. It’s fast-paced and actually kept my attention the whole time, which is saying something because I’m usually reading in short bursts while wrangling my kids.I really liked Stevie. She’s nosy, awkward, and smart in a way that makes you root for her. The boarding school setting is exactly the moody, creepy vibe I hoped for. I love the way the story switches back and forth between the old murder and what’s happening now. It’s easy to follow and makes you want to read just one more chapter… and then suddenly you’re done.Heads up though, it leaves you wanting more. It’s basically a setup for the next books so I already have book two waiting. No regrets.If you want something quick, a little twisty, and fun to read when you actually get five minutes to yourself, this is a good one. Loved it.
I enjoyed the series very much. It is young adult and I am in my 50s but it was fun to read and I got the rest of the series from the library. I would recommend.
I read this as part of my bookclub’s monthly book and it was pretty good! It definitely leaves you wanting to read the other books, so that you can find out who the killers are. I’m sure book two will also give us, the readers, a lot more clues to help us think of possible suspects.
