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Truly Devious | Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Let me just start out this post by saying that I thought I wasn't a mystery person. Oh boy was I wrong. Truly Devious follows main character Stevie through her journey to Ellingham Academy, a unique and mysterious school in the mountain hiding a dark history. Stevie joins Ellingham for one reason and one reason only, to solve the kidnapping and murder of wife and daughter of the Ellingham family and previous student Dottie. During Stevie's attendance at the school, an "accident" occurs with one of the Minerva house members. The most enjoyable part of the story was Maureen Johnson's incredible knack for creating vividly interesting characters. All there for a different reason and field of study, many of the students are connected to the murder in different ways, creating a massive web of secrets that Stevie must work to solve. Ending on a cliffhanger, the book quickly gained speed in the second half of the book before coming to a halting stop when we discover something about David, Stevie's more-than-friend. Throughout the novel, we get flashbacks to 1936 to learn more about the first murder. If I could critique one section of the book, it would be these sections. The 1936 storyline wasn't exciting enough, and in my opinion, the characters in these chapters fell flat and boring. However, I am extremely pleased to discover that Truly Devious is the first in Johnson's coming trilogy, and I can't wait to read more of her work.

Comments

  1. KatyaJanuary 8, 2019 at 6:58 PM

    Coincidentally, I am reading the same book as well! Personally, I like the snipits of the past. It's good context. Also, it gives us, the readers, a chance to solve the murder before Stevie does.
    Keep up the good work!
    Katya
    PS. you stopped reading Dessen, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2019 at 7:14 AM

      That's awesome! Let me know what you think of the book when you finish it! I have stopped Dessen for the moment, but I actually got another one of her books for Christmas, so you aren't rid of her yet.

      Delete

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