Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Truly, Devious

Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

131 reviews

readerette's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

So I'll read the next in the series to see if this plot can keep its footing, because it has potential. Stevie is relatable in her anxiety and hobbies. Her friends and schoolmates are not always relatable, but certainly intriguing (in a mystery book sort of way, since we see them through Stevie's true-crime-loving eyes). Harry Potter vibes without the magic, original Nancy Drew vibes including the recklessness of the heroine, and Agatha Christie vibes with just a little off-kilter application of drama (too much at the wrong times).

The characters are not excessively whiny or inept, which is a pleasant change for me in my experience with YA. However, the relationship between David and Stevie is borderline alarmingly toxic for a YA novel. It's not abusive or anything, but as you find out more about him it can't really be a healthy relationship.

I don't think this needed to be a multi-book series, and if the author had kept it to only one or two books, I imagine I would have been more inclined to rate at a 5 because it would have been more concise and well-paced without so much meandering in the plot or in Stevie's mind and relationships. Instead this is going to be drawn out, and I can only hope Stevie remains believable and that this doesn't become a case of drawing out a plot for the sake of book sales.

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blank_space_forever's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

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parkerbehnke's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

It was… okay? Maybe it was because I listened on audio book and there are a lot of characters so I couldn’t always tell what was going on. Not sure if I want to read the others. Ends on a cliff hanger but I don’t really feel intrigued to read more…

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