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mrsmishler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Xenophobia
bzliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Because we moved settings to a summer camp rather than the academy, I think some of the structure fell apart for me. It’s such an odd thing that happens in summer camp stories (and only in stories) where an adult in charge of the camp will tell one child they can bring their friends and that’s the way the author integrates known characters that form the support system around our main character. I don’t know why that bugs me so much but it’s so weird, especially for positions that interact with children. Like, you don’t want to vet these friends at all? Just one interview? They play a very small part in this anyway so I’m willing to overlook it.
I didn’t like the mystery as much in this book either. Like Stevie notes, it’s different when the people involved aren’t all dead and gone. There’s a greater discussion that can be had about the morality of true crime content, especially of recent events rather than very old cold cases. But Stevie doesn’t completely dive into that so I won’t either.
Over all I’d say this is a fun enough read if you’re looking for something with a mystery element but low danger. It is not necessary to read the previous three books before this one.
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Homophobia
tanvi45's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: Drug use and Homophobia
brandyoak311's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Drug use
hrh_victoria's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Murder
Minor: War and Mental illness
baksaydora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: War and Homophobia
simply_fran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, War, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This takes place at a summer camp which Stevie is recruited by the owner to join so that she and her friends (Janelle, Nate, David) can attempt to solve the 1978 murders of four camp counselors in the woods. They’re known as the “Box in the Woods” murders and had remained unsolved. I was expecting another few books to fully crack the case but Johnson provided a completely standalone mystery, which was equally shocking and impressive!
I can’t wait to continue on and read the next book. These books are cozy, funny, and sometimes extremely tense and stressful mysteries, and I love the anxiety representation in them too.
I highly recommend them, and it’d be cool if they adapted it into a movie series!
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Cursing, Blood, and War
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.25
I was mostly annoyed with how the mystery was executed, but as a cherry on top I couldn't care less about Stevie and David's relationship either — I don't see what they are supposed to see in each other, and in my opinion Stevie is perfectly capable of being a strong female YA protagonist without having a love interest.
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Slavery, War, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Medical content
kawaii_rose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Murder and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Cursing