Reviews with content warning for Car accident - THE BOX IN THE WOODS

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THE BOX IN THE WOODS by Maureen Johnson

40 reviews

crunchycrystals's review against another edition

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mysterious

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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genny's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

One last mystery with Stevie, which I enjoyed very much! The comedic timing in this book was gold. I've heard this described as a "summer camp slasher" so I expected a lot more gore, but the violence is mostly contained to descriptions of dead bodies. The thrill is still there though, don't worry. 😅 The major twist is pretty out-there, but Johnson put in enough clues along the way that I could think back on them and go "oh, yeah, that makes sense". You can read this without reading the first three books, but there are references sprinkled throughout so you'd be spoiled on certain things.

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msjk427's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed the Truly Devious books, so was excited for this one. It was hard to put down and I basically read it in two huge chunks. Johnson does a good job of creating mystery with some spooky elements, and follows the classic style of the "big reveal" at the end. Based on the ending, I am wondering if we will see some more books potentially set in England. The only thing I don't like about these books is some of what I would call "wokeness." I've seen that more and more in YA and find it disappointing. Although, I can't necessarily fault the authors of inserting these elements into their books as they are at the whim of the hand that feeds them aka their publishers. So no stars removed, just a general observation. And more reason for me to stick with reading historical fiction and leave contemporary out of my arsenal.

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rorikae's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

'The Box in the Woods' by Maureen Johnson is a fun fourth installment in the Truly Devious series though it lacks the complexity of the original trilogy.
After solving the Ellingham mystery, Stevie Bell is now known more widely as a teenage sleuth and so it comes as not much of a surprise when she is contacted by a man who wants to solve a decades old mystery at a summer camp. In 1978, four teenagers were killed at Camp Wonder Falls and the crime was never solved. The new owner wants Stevie's help to solve this mystery for a true crime podcast. Though she isn't too thrilled about the podcast, Stevie can't pass up the opportunity to uncover the truth of another crime that has long been buried.
Maureen Johnson has proven with the Truly Devious series that she can create a really fun and compelling mystery that keeps readers engaged through the last page. This is true in 'The Box in the Woods' though without the three book space to delve as deeply into the story, it's a much quicker and slightly less complex mystery. For those who have read the original trilogy, this is a fun addition to the series and it's great to return to the characters. If this is the start of a spin-off series of one-off mysteries, I think that it could work. If it is merely a follow-up to the original, it makes less sense as it doesn't really add anything to the trilogy beyond being another fun mystery. I will be interested to see what Johnson does next with these characters if this is the start of something new.

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briely's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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manarnia's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

5.0

I love Stevie Bell, and it was very fun and exciting to read a standalone mystery of hers.

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e_flah's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I was a bit skeptical of a new Truly Devious book because it seemed like the series had ended. The Box in the Woods delivered on all of the things I enjoyed from earlier Truly Devious books. Johnson's writing is always so wonderfully atmospheric that I find myself hopelessly sucked in. Stevie continues to be a main character I love reading about. It was great to see her grapple with solving a mystery where the people of interest were still alive and able to be interviewed.

I really didn't care for the whodunit, which is the main reason I'm giving this 4.25 stars. It felt like some key clues were withheld from the reader until the big reveal.

The Box in the Woods is a true standalone novel. It hints at the mystery from prior books but doesn't give away any spoilers about how the mystery was solved or who did it. Stevie and her friends are introduced with enough details that you could easily get to know them if this was your first Truly Devious book. As a forgetful reader, I personally loved the little introductions that helped me remember who was who.

Overall, The Box in the Woods was a solid read that kept me racing to find out who happened. I hope we end up getting some more Truly Devious books.

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