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ruthypoo2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.5
This is a solid YA mystery with dual timelines, one revolving around a current-day murder and the other recounting a kidnapping and related murders that took place in the 30s.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
sandwiiche's review against another edition
i could not get into this book at all. it was so boring. i know it's a mystery and it'll probably pick up in the second half, but i just couldn't do it. maybe one day ill revisit this book and give it another shot, but for now this book will be dnfed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
kylieslittlelibrary's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder
itsheyfay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Stalking
Minor: Gaslighting, Transphobia, and Infidelity
angelina246810's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Murder, and Kidnapping
rylin_marie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
oh. my. goodness.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I’ve heard so many great things about Truly Devious, and I am glad to say it did not disappoint!
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
m4rtt4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
A good start for the series, though it was very obvious from the text that it's a part of something bigger and doesn't really work as a standalone. The characters felt pretty shallow and stereotypically one-dimensional, but I could brush that off as the book's focus was more on the murders and the atmosphere really managed to creep me out at times — also the surroundings of the boarding school were well created and described. I'm excited to read the sequel, but I seriously hope it's got some more depth and action in it🤞🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Child death
honestlyyours77's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Murder
emkaho's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Mental illness