booklover26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book overall, but the first half was slow. The present was boring, while the past was interesting. But after Hayes died, things started to ramp up and get interesting. I read the majority of the second half in one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Alcohol
samchase112's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm not a mystery girl, but I figured I'd give this one a try after a recommendation from a coworker — and the season, of course! It was definitely fun, and I enjoyed the mysterious world it set up for sure. The characters were diverse and interesting, and there's a lot going on that I did enjoy. The only reason I'm not continuing the series is because I've heard the ending is disappointing, and I'm not interested in getting into another How I Met Your Mother situation — you know. A fun foray into YA mystery that I don't regret!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: Classism and Racism
blewballoon's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wasn't sure quite what to expect from this, I knew it was a popular YA thriller and I had been a little disappointed with The Inheritance Games and I thought this might be a little closer to what I wanted from that. I do think that's the case. Stevie is an interesting, flawed protagonist that is still charming and even funny. The cast of surrounding characters at the school provides camaraderie and intrigue. I enjoyed the chapters from the past about the original disappearances at the school as well. The romance felt a little strange and forced, but that's not unusual for YA. The cliffhanger ending was frustrating, but I did know this was a series so I wasn't entirely unprepared for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Child death
Minor: Alcohol
rylin_marie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
oh. my. goodness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Murder, Cursing, Torture, Alcohol, Child death, Stalking, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, and Gun violence
booksawyer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I’ve heard so many great things about Truly Devious, and I am glad to say it did not disappoint!
Truly Devious follows Stevie Bell, a true crime and mystery novel enthusiast, as she begins her first year at Ellingham Academy, a private school for gifted students known for a series of murders that occurred in the 1930s. Stevie arrives at the school, determined to finally solve the case, but does not expect that another crime may take place right in front of her.
This mystery is solved over the course of a trilogy, so the pacing of this book is slower than standalone mysteries I have read. Although I typically don’t enjoy slower placed books, I actually really loved this choice! It was really great to get to know Stevie, her peers, and the school as a whole.
This novel kept me engaged the whole way through, and I am so happy the sequel is out so I can read it very soon!
Truly Devious follows Stevie Bell, a true crime and mystery novel enthusiast, as she begins her first year at Ellingham Academy, a private school for gifted students known for a series of murders that occurred in the 1930s. Stevie arrives at the school, determined to finally solve the case, but does not expect that another crime may take place right in front of her.
This mystery is solved over the course of a trilogy, so the pacing of this book is slower than standalone mysteries I have read. Although I typically don’t enjoy slower placed books, I actually really loved this choice! It was really great to get to know Stevie, her peers, and the school as a whole.
This novel kept me engaged the whole way through, and I am so happy the sequel is out so I can read it very soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
m4rtt4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A good start for the series, though it was very obvious from the text that it's a part of something bigger and doesn't really work as a standalone. The characters felt pretty shallow and stereotypically one-dimensional, but I could brush that off as the book's focus was more on the murders and the atmosphere really managed to creep me out at times — also the surroundings of the boarding school were well created and described. I'm excited to read the sequel, but I seriously hope it's got some more depth and action in it🤞🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Child death
themoodreader's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death, Kidnapping, Blood, and Alcohol
awebofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Grade: A (subject to change upon completion of the trilogy)
My daughter has expressed interest in reading Agatha Christie and loves watching television adaptations. When I heard about this series (on the All About Agatha podcast), I immediately purchased the boxed trilogy and the following 4th book for her for Christmas.
And she still hasn't read it.
However, my interest was piqued. I asked to borrow her books, and she handed over the still shrink-wrapped trilogy, promising that she would start it once summer break arrived. I went into this book as an opportunity to discuss something with my daughter, but I ended up enjoying it on its own merits.
We meet Stevie, a student at an eccentric and exclusive Vermont Boarding school with a dark history. In fact, it was the dark history that attracted Stevie to the school. You see, Stevie wants to be the next iteration of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple, and she is determined to solve the mystery at the center of the school's history.
Stevie is a wonderful character. She's a believable teen dealing with many of the problems teens face today. She also suffers from severe Anxiety. If I could only choose one thing to praise in this book, it would be Johnson's depiction of Stevie's anxiety and how she works it into the story. This is probably the best depiction of it that I have read anywhere.
I loved the world of this book. Yes, the basis of the school is a little ridiculous if you spend too much time thinking about it, but it works perfectly here. I wish I could have attended this school, or one like it, without all the murder. I can't wait to come back to Ellingham Academy.
The one thing about this book is that it is the first in a trilogy, and readers need to incorporate that into their expectations. While I gave this book a grade based on my enjoyment, I reserve the right to change that once I finish the trilogy. (To clarify, the first 3 books work as a trilogy. After that, books are more or less series novels).
My only complaint about this book is that I had trouble keeping some secondary characters straight. Set in a school, there is necessarily a not-small cast here. One of the things that I respect most about the book's strongest influence, Agatha Christie, is that she could create a distinct cast. Here, some of the students melted into each other, and I sometimes had trouble keeping track of who was who.
Other than that, this book was a great success for me. I'm excited not only to read the next book but also for my daughter to start this series, as I know that she will enjoy it.
My daughter has expressed interest in reading Agatha Christie and loves watching television adaptations. When I heard about this series (on the All About Agatha podcast), I immediately purchased the boxed trilogy and the following 4th book for her for Christmas.
And she still hasn't read it.
However, my interest was piqued. I asked to borrow her books, and she handed over the still shrink-wrapped trilogy, promising that she would start it once summer break arrived. I went into this book as an opportunity to discuss something with my daughter, but I ended up enjoying it on its own merits.
We meet Stevie, a student at an eccentric and exclusive Vermont Boarding school with a dark history. In fact, it was the dark history that attracted Stevie to the school. You see, Stevie wants to be the next iteration of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple, and she is determined to solve the mystery at the center of the school's history.
Stevie is a wonderful character. She's a believable teen dealing with many of the problems teens face today. She also suffers from severe Anxiety. If I could only choose one thing to praise in this book, it would be Johnson's depiction of Stevie's anxiety and how she works it into the story. This is probably the best depiction of it that I have read anywhere.
I loved the world of this book. Yes, the basis of the school is a little ridiculous if you spend too much time thinking about it, but it works perfectly here. I wish I could have attended this school, or one like it, without all the murder. I can't wait to come back to Ellingham Academy.
The one thing about this book is that it is the first in a trilogy, and readers need to incorporate that into their expectations. While I gave this book a grade based on my enjoyment, I reserve the right to change that once I finish the trilogy. (To clarify, the first 3 books work as a trilogy. After that, books are more or less series novels).
My only complaint about this book is that I had trouble keeping some secondary characters straight. Set in a school, there is necessarily a not-small cast here. One of the things that I respect most about the book's strongest influence, Agatha Christie, is that she could create a distinct cast. Here, some of the students melted into each other, and I sometimes had trouble keeping track of who was who.
Other than that, this book was a great success for me. I'm excited not only to read the next book but also for my daughter to start this series, as I know that she will enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, and Child death
lily1304's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
The thing that kept me off guard was the utter lack of concern about the police in this book? All these kids talking to police left and right without their parents present, let alone lawyers? Is that not very obviously a bad idea?? Every single character is like "yeah of course these teens should talk to the police, alone, immediately" literally WHAT
I get that the main character is really into true crime, but it seems like she never took a second to think about the negatives of true crime? You'd think if it's something you've dedicated your life to, even if you're a teenager, you'd read the Wikipedia section called "Criticisms" and think about the glorification of police and the distraction from the everyday, un-podcast-worthy violence that kills many more people than serial killers ever did? A character name-checks J Edgar Hoover! Was that supposed to be ironic??
In the same vein, "anarchists" are this vague shadowy group that operates in the 1930s murder the main character is investigating. The book is clear that the anarchists likely aren't actually responsible, but it's weird they're thrown in there as a Boogeyman without ever examining why they might have had beef with Mr. Rich who founded the school. "He was a philanthropist! A good guy! He funded the town's schools and fire departments and police officers!" HMMM.
That said... I mean, I did stay up late to finish it and i immediately put a hold on the sequel. There's a chance that the series is self aware about these things and will develop some more complex ideas about crime and justice in the later books. I'm genuinely very curious where the story is going.
I get that the main character is really into true crime, but it seems like she never took a second to think about the negatives of true crime? You'd think if it's something you've dedicated your life to, even if you're a teenager, you'd read the Wikipedia section called "Criticisms" and think about the glorification of police and the distraction from the everyday, un-podcast-worthy violence that kills many more people than serial killers ever did? A character name-checks J Edgar Hoover! Was that supposed to be ironic??
In the same vein, "anarchists" are this vague shadowy group that operates in the 1930s murder the main character is investigating. The book is clear that the anarchists likely aren't actually responsible, but it's weird they're thrown in there as a Boogeyman without ever examining why they might have had beef with Mr. Rich who founded the school. "He was a philanthropist! A good guy! He funded the town's schools and fire departments and police officers!" HMMM.
That said... I mean, I did stay up late to finish it and i immediately put a hold on the sequel. There's a chance that the series is self aware about these things and will develop some more complex ideas about crime and justice in the later books. I'm genuinely very curious where the story is going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
karly_ackley's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping