Reviews

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

ellenarcher22's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • 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

3.25

101jazzy's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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

3.25

hannahhena's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • 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? No

3.25

jadcolly's review

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I could not deal with the main American line - I wanted more of the 90s one house murder mystery but that’s on me!

bandaigaeru's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

kblum15's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

whiskers_and_lipstick's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

One of the things that drew me into the first three Truly Devious books was the focus on Stevie as someone who is neurodivergent and struggles with people - how she ruminates and can forget the world around her, but has this brilliant mind for deduction. It was wonderful for her to find her chosen family while still being every bit of herself.  

I enjoyed seeing her become more confident and watching her camaraderie with Nate unfold in book 4. However, it felt like a slightly different Stevie. The deeply personal elements of her growth as a character (and developing new adult) was missing from “The Box in the Woods.” 

“Nine Liars” brings Stevie’s personal story back into the mix. She’s faced with a mystery she’s not sure she can solve, she’s distracted by her anxiousness and insecurity about her future and realizing that the family she has just found are all preparing to move on, and her jealousy and paranoia about David and his new English friend. The mystery wasn’t as compelling as the Ellingham case, but this book feels like a much needed step for Stevie as a fully formed character. 

rarc2012's review

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adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring 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? No

4.5

hmcheese's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

rosencommadani's review

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3.0

Just didn’t wrap up or provide a sink your teeth in mystery like the precious books

And there’s gonna be a sixth now? I feel like it’s dragging on
But I’ll read it