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eliescool's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
whatyoutolkienabout's review
4.0
I want to start by thanking Harper365YA for an ARC of this title to review. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #Harper365ya #TrulyDeviousSeries #NineLiars #MaureenJohnson #BookReview
Nine Liars is the fifth instalment in the Maureen Johnson Truly Devious mystery thriller series and while I did love it, particularly being set in England, I have to say I don’t think it had me hooked as much as Truly Devious and the Box in the Woods (my two favourites in the series so far). It’s still a solid four stars from me though.
In the fifth instalment Stevie Bell is back and in her Senior year at Ellingham Academy but it isn’t going well. Her friends are obsessed with college applications, her boyfriend, David, is studying in London and with the cold case of the century solved Stevie is left adrift. With nothing to keep her focused and distract her she finds her mind focusing on questions plaguing her brain about college, love and life in general.
But it’s not all bad, David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad and his new friend Izzy has just the thing Stevie needs, a double-murder cold case from 1995. Nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house, played a drunken game of hide and seek and two were found in the woodshed next day, murdered by an axe. With the case ‘solved’ as an assumed burglary gone wrong but one of the seven survivors saw something they can’t explain. It’s clear to Stevie that someone is lying about what happened in the woodshed.
In Nine Liars we still get that mystery we have come to enjoy from the Truly Devious series and while I understand we have grown with Stevie and she is experiencing very real thoughts and conflicts in her life I did find, personally, her relationship with David got in the way of the story a little bit for me. The moments shared and the will they won’t they dynamic just left me a bit frustrated since I was more interested in the solving the mystery than that but in defence of the novel I have never been overly one for romance be it the main plot or subplot, particularly in genres were it just doesn’t seem to add much to the mystery element.
That said this is by no means a bad book or a romance one at that. We have plenty of mystery solving and I have to say the way Stevie confronted the remaining seven was amazing. Definitely a scene I am still thinking about. I am really hoping we get more in this series and continue to see Stevie grow and her mystery solving develop. She’s almost like a Nancy Drew of a new generation and I am loving that! If you love contemporary mystery thrillers aimed at a young or new adult audience you will love this one but I highly recommend the whole series!
Nine Liars is the fifth instalment in the Maureen Johnson Truly Devious mystery thriller series and while I did love it, particularly being set in England, I have to say I don’t think it had me hooked as much as Truly Devious and the Box in the Woods (my two favourites in the series so far). It’s still a solid four stars from me though.
In the fifth instalment Stevie Bell is back and in her Senior year at Ellingham Academy but it isn’t going well. Her friends are obsessed with college applications, her boyfriend, David, is studying in London and with the cold case of the century solved Stevie is left adrift. With nothing to keep her focused and distract her she finds her mind focusing on questions plaguing her brain about college, love and life in general.
But it’s not all bad, David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad and his new friend Izzy has just the thing Stevie needs, a double-murder cold case from 1995. Nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house, played a drunken game of hide and seek and two were found in the woodshed next day, murdered by an axe. With the case ‘solved’ as an assumed burglary gone wrong but one of the seven survivors saw something they can’t explain. It’s clear to Stevie that someone is lying about what happened in the woodshed.
In Nine Liars we still get that mystery we have come to enjoy from the Truly Devious series and while I understand we have grown with Stevie and she is experiencing very real thoughts and conflicts in her life I did find, personally, her relationship with David got in the way of the story a little bit for me. The moments shared and the will they won’t they dynamic just left me a bit frustrated since I was more interested in the solving the mystery than that but in defence of the novel I have never been overly one for romance be it the main plot or subplot, particularly in genres were it just doesn’t seem to add much to the mystery element.
That said this is by no means a bad book or a romance one at that. We have plenty of mystery solving and I have to say the way Stevie confronted the remaining seven was amazing. Definitely a scene I am still thinking about. I am really hoping we get more in this series and continue to see Stevie grow and her mystery solving develop. She’s almost like a Nancy Drew of a new generation and I am loving that! If you love contemporary mystery thrillers aimed at a young or new adult audience you will love this one but I highly recommend the whole series!
meswauncyc's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
becsbooks612's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
sg1987's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.75
eyeudall's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
alprnt's review
2.5
After really liking The Box in the Woods this was disappointing, to say the least. It was, in fact, quite boring and felt like a first draft at times. I also didn't care about Stevie's storyline at all and while I was intrigued by the mystery at first there were just way too many indistinct people involved (5 liars for book 5 was right there btw).
llereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another Stevie-banger. I am obsessed. BUT WHY END LIKE THIS? WHY IS DAVID CHEATING AND YOU END THE BOOK WITH THIS?? WTFF
alexxshum's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0