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dinipandareads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
WTF WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING?!
The second book needs to be read ASAP!
The second book needs to be read ASAP!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Kidnapping
slimepuppy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I'd heard great things about this book, so to say I came in with high expectations would be an understatement. However, even though it was a quick and flowy read, I could not ignore the many problems I had with it, despite knowing it was meant for an younger audience.
- main character, despite being an avid true crime fan, dreams to be a cop. cops, famously known among true crime fans to be useless, corrupt and uncaring of victims. Stevie doesn't even point this out, or make some bullshit statement about wanting to be "one of the good ones", the law enforcement is portrayed as being one hundred percent effective and great
- boring romance with a character that spends the majority of the book being annoying to Stevie for no good reason... and that's about it for his character. one moment they're fighting, the other they're rolling around on the floor making out. why? he hasn't shown a single redeeming quality other than being attractive
- no actual sleuthing or investigating is done by the main character for over HALF THE BOOK. even then, Stevie doesn't do any investigating about the Ellingham case, the main thing that made me want to read this book in the first place
- the main mystery is too old. none of the people affected by it are alive. we don't even hear about offspring or any descendant who might care about seeing the mystery be solved. who cares if Stevie cracks the case? everyone who could find peace from it being solved is long gone.
- the culprit of The main is mystery is painfully obvious from the moment he shows up on the page. I searched for some spoilers out of curiosity to know if my guess was right, and voilà, I even guessed the motive right. does this mean I'm a genius and I get to go to a fancy school in the middle of nowhere? no, it just means the mystery is predictable.
despite all this, the writing is well done, (most of) the characters are cute, and it be could a great read for someone younger as an introduction to mystery stories.
- main character, despite being an avid true crime fan, dreams to be a cop. cops, famously known among true crime fans to be useless, corrupt and uncaring of victims. Stevie doesn't even point this out, or make some bullshit statement about wanting to be "one of the good ones", the law enforcement is portrayed as being one hundred percent effective and great
- boring romance with a character that spends the majority of the book being annoying to Stevie for no good reason... and that's about it for his character. one moment they're fighting, the other they're rolling around on the floor making out. why? he hasn't shown a single redeeming quality other than being attractive
- no actual sleuthing or investigating is done by the main character for over HALF THE BOOK. even then, Stevie doesn't do any investigating about the Ellingham case, the main thing that made me want to read this book in the first place
- the main mystery is too old. none of the people affected by it are alive. we don't even hear about offspring or any descendant who might care about seeing the mystery be solved. who cares if Stevie cracks the case? everyone who could find peace from it being solved is long gone.
- the culprit of The main is mystery is painfully obvious from the moment he shows up on the page. I searched for some spoilers out of curiosity to know if my guess was right, and voilà, I even guessed the motive right. does this mean I'm a genius and I get to go to a fancy school in the middle of nowhere? no, it just means the mystery is predictable.
despite all this, the writing is well done, (most of) the characters are cute, and it be could a great read for someone younger as an introduction to mystery stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Murder
lqvekanej's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Blood
akirokis's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
verysillygoose's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
brookey8888's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I do have to say the mystery doesn’t happen really until almost 250 pages in. Which I don’t mind because I was enjoying the characters in the relationships forming I’m excited to see where this goes. I will be continuing. I also really like Stevie as a main character and
I related to her a lot.
I related to her a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
books4em's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Loved Truly Devious! Yet another young adult cozy mystery that twists and turns, keeps you guessing till the last page, and makes you somehow love and hate the characters. Mental health is touched on in the first book, and I’m hoping it might be further discussed in the series. There’s also some queer side characters, including one who uses they/them pronouns! The relationships between the characters are constantly changing and interesting to see the typical high school dynamics here even though they’re at this special school. I would’ve loved to see more focus on the Ellingham kidnappings/murders -that’s why I didn’t give it 5 stars. But it’s like a typical mystery novel, many subplots and tie-ins. Can’t wait to pick up the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
stormzx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.75
13+
more feet than there was murder
more feet than there was murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Truly Devious was a fun read, but I feel like it was more set-up for the series than its own story. In a mystery series I expect at least one mystery to get solved in each book, even if there are questions that run over into the next book. Here, there’s only a partial revelation at the end that just left me a bit disappointed. I am curious about the sequel(s) though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
alliemikennareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
A mystery in a quirky boarding school in the middle of the woods? Sign me UP. Truly Devious was a really fun mystery that had me hooked and kept me guessing until the cliffhanger of an ending. I never know if YA mysteries are going to blow me away or leave me super underwhelmed with extreme improbability. I’m happy to report that Truly Devious was perfectly balanced with believable crime solving. I love the format of past and present storylines - they’re done in a way that’s easy to follow yet drives the story along.
I immediately grabbed book 2 and 3 after finishing so I could continue the mystery. I definitely would recommend this to mystery fans!
I immediately grabbed book 2 and 3 after finishing so I could continue the mystery. I definitely would recommend this to mystery fans!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
Anxiety/ depression, Harry Potter reference