A review by readwithmekt
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

Stevie believes that she has solved the case of the missing Alice Ellingham. The only problem is just because she has it figured out in her mind does not mean that she has any concrete proof. Being back at Ellingham is also beginning to make Stevie wonder if the other accidents that have been happening in the last year are actually accidents or is it all connected to the Elligham case? With one too many accidents happening at Ellingham it now seems that the school is going to be forced to close down for an undetermined amount of time. Will Stevie be able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together before it is too late?

I really enjoyed what appears to be the end of the focus of the Ellingham family investigation. I loved how Maureen Johnson through telling the story through the past and the present was able to present all the information for the case to be solved. I have read many murder mysteries and I can honestly say that I have not read many books like this one and I enjoyed it that much more because it was different from all the rest. 

Stevie continues to be the person that the book follows the most. It was fun to see a slightly different side of Stevie in this book and how she was slightly more emotional. It was fun to see her coming to terms with both sides of herself and realizing that she needs to embrace both parts. 

I continued to love the setting on the mountain in Vermont. I felt that throughout all the books but mostly in this one that the setting is a character itself. Through the writing and storytelling Ellingham Academy and the mountain it sits on plays as much a role in everything as the characters do. 

Without giving away the ending, I loved how everything was revealed. I loved that it took on the setting of older mystery movies and books. I also loved the twists and turns and that as the reader there were still certain things that I was left in the dark about and learned as the characters did during the reveal. The pace of this book was fast to medium and I loved that the story progressed through all the books in the same manner. I am curious to see how the next book will go because it seems that the Truly Deviously part was wrapped up by the end of this book. 

Have you read Hand on the Wall? What did you think?