Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

129 reviews

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I found this book very slow in its pacing and wasn't a fan of the sharp cuts back and forth from the 1930s to the present, I felt that there wasn't enough done in the modern day plot to justify linking it back to the past.

I found the main character Stevie pretty insufferable, which wouldn't have been such an issue if any of the other characters were well-rounded and likeable.

As the book was a quick read and ended on a cliffhanger (and I already downloaded the sequels) I will keep reading, hopefully the pacing and characters evolve from here.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

theespressoedition's review

dark informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

thebookpaiges's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping

manonschuur's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Ik had best wel hoge verwachtingen van dit boek maar ik weet niet zo goed wat ik hiervan vinden moet. De eerste 200 ish paginas waren best wel boring en ik kwam niet echt lekker in het verhaal en dat laaste had ik tot op het einde nog steeds. Echter werd het op het einde wel wat spannender en leuker, maar vind alles nog steeds een beetje vaag en ik snap dr nie zo veel van. Er zijn nog meer delen en ik wil het eigenlijk wel doorlezen omdat ik weten wil hoe het verdergaat, maar ben niet echt thrilled. So 3/3.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder

whewtaewoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Sexism

widgetknits's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

rissaandherbooks's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I legitimately love everything about this series. So, so good, and an absolute MUST READ for mystery lovers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When Stevie Bell is accepted into Ellingham Academy, a school for gifted students, she thinks it's the chance of a lifetime to solve the 'Truly Devious' murders. What she doesn't anticipate is a classmate turning up dead. Was it an accident, or has there been another murder on the property all these years later?

I ate up the setting of this book. Ellingham Academy would have been my dream school at this age and I loved all of the different personalities of the characters. It could be over the top at times, but that's to be expected in a YA book. That was part of the fun, too. It's also the definition of a page-turner. As soon as I got to the end I had to start The Vanishing Stair.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

laurenevlyn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

I enjoyed this book reasonably well. It was very slow to pick up and I did manage to predict a good amount of the twists. Nevertheless, I’m excited to see what happens in the rest of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism

leahrnorris's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder