Reviews - The Vanishing Stair

7.84k reviews for:

The Vanishing Stair

Maureen Johnson

4.12 AVERAGE

hygrpfrt's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

ebbonyjane's review against another edition

2.0

mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

meredithamadee's review

4.25

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Excited to see what happens next! The pacing felt a little weird in this one but overall a great continuation of the story. Already have the next book so I’m excited to finish! Again, definitely recommend if you enjoy mystery but don’t want a dark, psychological thriller.

ashlo26's review against another edition

4.0

The end had me shocked and i am so excited to listen to the next book. Again, get rid of the relationship. Stevie is a bit pick me but the mystery overcomes this

coley32's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

roosjansen11's review against another edition

3.75

mysterious

janetaknalis's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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: N/A

jtbolscher's review against another edition

3.0

it was good! on the whole i liked it more than the first one, although they are kinda different in many ways. i think, generally, it was better plotted than the first book, with things actually getting solved while still leaving the overarching mystery. the way it handles certain plot elements from the first book does really make me doubt why the hell they were in there, at least in that way. like she could have scrapped a ton of elements, focus on the current mystery and condense these three books into one, at least so far. plot-wise, it's not like too much has happened to fit into a single novel. anyways i did like the main mystery, and the ending was satisfying and compelling enough as to the why of it all. a solid middle entry into a trilogy whose ending i certainly want to read.

unfortunately i do have a growing distaste for the characters in the story. i'm sorry david, but my prediction fully came true. where he used to be this somewhat weird but ultimately fine guy, i now fully lack sympathy for this man. also the twist was, well, fairly obvious but there's still one final mystery to go. the fact that all of these things take place across what, two months? if that? is absolutely hilarious to me. these people seem far too comfortable with each other for that. also is maureen's shorthand for attractive guy just white, tall and blond? idk man. nate and janelle and vi, while fun, occasionally fall into pantomime (like they have one thing. and that's it. it was funny at first but now its kinda getting tiring). but, on the whole, i do think the group has a cute dynamic. also still seething at the ending of a certain character ! justice for my girl ! anyways.

in the end it's a quick, inoffensive read with a compelling mystery and cute characters. perhaps it leans a bit on its tropes without examining them, and i think there is certainly a better novel hidden within the pages of this series, but it's nonetheless a compulsive mystery in a very atmospheric world.