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violet_viper's review against another edition
What was happening in the past with Albert Ellingham was moving at a good pace, but Stevie investigating and what was happening in the present was moving so slowly.
I got to page 170 and still nothing much had happened to progress the plot or solve the mystery. It just felt like at least half of what I was reading was pointless to the plot.
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
The characters very much come across as the older teenagers they are. The main character, Stephanie (Stevie) Bell, is an eccentric young lady, obsessed with true crime. Stevie finds herself enrolled in the Ellingham Academy, a private school that will allow her to not only pursue elite studies, but focus some of those studies on solving a decades-old crime that involved the school’s wealthy founder but remains unsolved.
I found the old crime from the 1930s very interesting, but the modern day experiences of the teens a little tedious. Overall, Stevie is a unique character with true crime interests similar to mine, but as bright and pragmatic as she’s portrayed, she does a lot of stupid things that seem to happen only to create friction between her and her new school friends. It’s a good mystery for young adult readers and the relationships described will probably be something teens can relate to because they’re not overly complicated… yet still get messy.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator, Kate Rudd, did a very good job giving voice to Stevie. The other characters were also distinctive, but the portrayal of Stevie seemed especially on point.
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
samchase112's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: Classism and Racism
kawaii_rose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
kylieslittlelibrary'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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder
sadiaa's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Death and Murder
angelina246810's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Murder, and Kidnapping
rylin_marie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Murder, Cursing, Torture, Alcohol, Child death, Stalking, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, and Gun violence
booksawyer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Truly Devious follows Stevie Bell, a true crime and mystery novel enthusiast, as she begins her first year at Ellingham Academy, a private school for gifted students known for a series of murders that occurred in the 1930s. Stevie arrives at the school, determined to finally solve the case, but does not expect that another crime may take place right in front of her.
This mystery is solved over the course of a trilogy, so the pacing of this book is slower than standalone mysteries I have read. Although I typically don’t enjoy slower placed books, I actually really loved this choice! It was really great to get to know Stevie, her peers, and the school as a whole.
This novel kept me engaged the whole way through, and I am so happy the sequel is out so I can read it very soon!
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Child death