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alli_maj's review against another edition
5.0
maureen johnson’s “nine liars” is the fifth installment in the truly devious series, a YA murder mystery detective series. i loved the first three books, accepted the lackluster vibe in the fourth book and felt the need to give this new one a try. i’m glad i did.
once again stevie, a young, awkward and loving girl, finds herself tasked with solving another murder. as she thinks through life’s next steps, growing into womanhood, and possibly losing touch with the friends she loves the most — she is enlisted in solving a decades old crime that has resurfaced past tensions. and the drama ensues.
i tend to recommend the truly devious series because it doesn’t read YA. maureen johnson allows stevie and her friends to deal with the weight of murder and crime, in a tangible manner. they’re not solving cases about missing bikes or someone stealing the principal’s car — they’re solving actual crimes using logic, observations, and insight from friends. the series feels fresh and purposeful, and fits in with our society’s rekindled obsession with true crime; especially amongst gen z tweens and teens.
this book is what the “velma” tv series should have been; funny, endearing, and riddled questions. it’s what the “nancy drew” and “hardy boys” series needed to be; unique, thought provoking and interesting.
if you haven’t already, give the series a try. it’s great if you love YA, murder mystery, and grew up awkward and obsessed with true crime.
i give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
once again stevie, a young, awkward and loving girl, finds herself tasked with solving another murder. as she thinks through life’s next steps, growing into womanhood, and possibly losing touch with the friends she loves the most — she is enlisted in solving a decades old crime that has resurfaced past tensions. and the drama ensues.
i tend to recommend the truly devious series because it doesn’t read YA. maureen johnson allows stevie and her friends to deal with the weight of murder and crime, in a tangible manner. they’re not solving cases about missing bikes or someone stealing the principal’s car — they’re solving actual crimes using logic, observations, and insight from friends. the series feels fresh and purposeful, and fits in with our society’s rekindled obsession with true crime; especially amongst gen z tweens and teens.
this book is what the “velma” tv series should have been; funny, endearing, and riddled questions. it’s what the “nancy drew” and “hardy boys” series needed to be; unique, thought provoking and interesting.
if you haven’t already, give the series a try. it’s great if you love YA, murder mystery, and grew up awkward and obsessed with true crime.
i give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
chelseatheting's review against another edition
5.0
Aaaaahhhhhh. How am I going to wait at least 6 months for the next one? This series is so cute and fun and Stevie is one of the best characters.
heyjude2017's review against another edition
4.0
Listen, I normally hate YA mystery/thrillers because they don't pay off for me like adult ones do. I will say that the payoff of the mystery on this was not particularly good. However, this series has a cast of characters with lives I actually care about and this just ended on a cliffhanger about two of the characters. Therefore, I must read the next one whenever that comes out.
madaubosh's review against another edition
I feel like if I tried to talk about the ending of this book it would just come out as incoherent screeching.
nico_29's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
typicalsynopsis's review
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? Yes
5.0
astanford0316's review
dark
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? No
3.5
literarylily's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
imissbookit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the idea of a murder mystery that is treated as a locked room situation but is sprawled over an old English manse and involves a group of nine very close friends. It’s the kind of tight-knit social group many people wish they’d had in college… until it isn’t.
As an American who has been to London to study abroad, I found some aspects of the Ellingham Academy students’ experiences there relatable. I did, however hate the direction some of the interpersonal relationships within that group (both friend-wise and romance-wise) took. That part was incredibly sad, to me.
As someone who identified as Ace for over a decade, and is still on the Ace spectrum, I absolutely loved the representation in this book. Maureen Johnson pretty much always does rep well, and I think she’s very careful about how she uses it in her books. The care and love with which she writes those parts is incredibly evident.
As an American who has been to London to study abroad, I found some aspects of the Ellingham Academy students’ experiences there relatable. I did, however hate the direction some of the interpersonal relationships within that group (both friend-wise and romance-wise) took. That part was incredibly sad, to me.
As someone who identified as Ace for over a decade, and is still on the Ace spectrum, I absolutely loved the representation in this book. Maureen Johnson pretty much always does rep well, and I think she’s very careful about how she uses it in her books. The care and love with which she writes those parts is incredibly evident.
iduska's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0