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johnsonhm2's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I’m interested enough to read the sequel but only through the library. It really picked up at the end so I’m hoping it’s a slow starting series.
avetee98's review against another edition
2.0
It was good. Really slow in the middle but much better towards the end.
the_gae_witch_in_the_woods's review against another edition
3.0
Very good but is also giving "Oh yeah, the plot."
karenblu's review against another edition
4.0
hmm i expected more of a complete conclusion but the plot is solid
i just dont have the motivation to finish the other 3 books haha
i just dont have the motivation to finish the other 3 books haha
rachaeldux's review against another edition
4.0
Overall enjoyable! Looking forward to how this story continues in the next one!
mynameismarines's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I checked this out because the hype is real, and I have to say that I get it.
The Good: It's incredibly readable and highly atmospheric. I had issues with the set-up (see below) but once I was in it, I enjoyed the boarding school on the side of the mountain with a bunch of smart, artsy kids running around. Also, the mystery is layered and gripping. I was immediately invested in the cold case and then equally as much when it caught up to the present. I liked Stevie. She gave me Veronica Mars vibes, so even when I didn't agree with her, I understood her.
The bad: I found the beginning rather repetitive. The setting and world building settles, but at the very beginning, it did too much to establish Ellingham as a place and Stevie as a character (she likes to investigate, did you hear?). The introduction to the quirky teens was too much as well, for me personally. I don't mind John Green teens, honestly, and I am not one to say that characters in fiction couldn't exist irl. The character introductions just sucked. Johnson shoves them in our face, quirks and all, so that it felt a little unnatural. Also, while the romance isn't the main attraction, this features a love interest that is slightly antagonistic to the main character. It wasn't anything that felt problematic, but that read rather confusing to me. The way the author described him made me wonder if he was a suspect or a murderer, and suddenly the characters were kissing and I was like "wait, so he didn't murder anyone?"
The truly worst part of it, however, is that this is no way a contained story. I would've been fine with the overarching mystery being solved in 3 books if it felt like we had any solid answers in this book. We kind of get a piece of the mystery solved, only for the book to swerve and gives us more question marks before ultimately ending in a cliffhanger. I'm a big believer in the fact that even in series, single books should feel whole, and I don't think this one did.
Thankfully, all the books are out now, and I will keep reading. Recommended for anyone who feels they would enjoy binging an atmospheric YA mystery.
I checked this out because the hype is real, and I have to say that I get it.
The Good: It's incredibly readable and highly atmospheric. I had issues with the set-up (see below) but once I was in it, I enjoyed the boarding school on the side of the mountain with a bunch of smart, artsy kids running around. Also, the mystery is layered and gripping. I was immediately invested in the cold case and then equally as much when it caught up to the present. I liked Stevie. She gave me Veronica Mars vibes, so even when I didn't agree with her, I understood her.
The bad: I found the beginning rather repetitive. The setting and world building settles, but at the very beginning, it did too much to establish Ellingham as a place and Stevie as a character (she likes to investigate, did you hear?). The introduction to the quirky teens was too much as well, for me personally. I don't mind John Green teens, honestly, and I am not one to say that characters in fiction couldn't exist irl. The character introductions just sucked. Johnson shoves them in our face, quirks and all, so that it felt a little unnatural. Also, while the romance isn't the main attraction, this features a love interest that is slightly antagonistic to the main character. It wasn't anything that felt problematic, but that read rather confusing to me. The way the author described him made me wonder if he was a suspect or a murderer, and suddenly the characters were kissing and I was like "wait, so he didn't murder anyone?"
The truly worst part of it, however, is that this is no way a contained story. I would've been fine with the overarching mystery being solved in 3 books if it felt like we had any solid answers in this book. We kind of get a piece of the mystery solved, only for the book to swerve and gives us more question marks before ultimately ending in a cliffhanger. I'm a big believer in the fact that even in series, single books should feel whole, and I don't think this one did.
Thankfully, all the books are out now, and I will keep reading. Recommended for anyone who feels they would enjoy binging an atmospheric YA mystery.
dennisfischman's review against another edition
3.0
I would have "really liked it" based on the characters, the homages to classic English mansion murder mysteries, and the mix of teen angst and genius. But seriously, none of these wonks makes a comment on the fact that "Truly" is a complimentary closing and "Devious" is the signature? It's not the nom de plume of the murdered!
One star taken away because when you have a book with a murder mystery in the past and another in the present and you're not playing fair with the reader. I will read the next in the series, but I feel manipulated.
One star taken away because when you have a book with a murder mystery in the past and another in the present and
Spoiler
you end it with neither one of them close to being solved,paytonbull's review against another edition
2.0
I’m confused I did not know I was signing up for a book that was gonna end in a to be continued with no real ending
bluecheesereads's review against another edition
5.0
By far one of my favorite 2021 reads. This book had everything I wanted and more, from lgbtq representation, to a good murder mystery, romance (and a possible love triangle if you ask me), and multiple perspectives from different eras. Like are you kidding, seriously though what more could you want?