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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Bit disappointed by who the killer was. Kind of a nothing character up to that point. Also fuck David
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:
Complicated
I love the Truly Devious series, but this installment seemed to be missing something. I didn't enjoy it as much. While the other books in the series balanced the mystery and Stevie's relationships pretty well, this one seemed to put the relationships in the foreground and would sometimes come back to the mystery. And the mystery itself is so bloated (9 suspects???) that it was just too much to enjoy. Thanks to the less than stellar cliffhanger, I think there's another book coming. I will still read it and hope that Johnson is able to rekindle the Bell magic.
mysterious
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
mysterious
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
Just like all of the other Maureen Johnson books I've read, this book is slooow in the beginning. You really have to get through the first 20/30% percent without literally anything happening. Once it starts, I usually get into it, and while that was also the case in this one, I kept getting a bit annoyed by the personal stuff that was interfering. I am all for subplots of romance, navigating friendships and other hard parts of life, but to be honest, I was there for the mystery. I really liked the premise of the case Stevie was working on. Nine seemed like a bit of a high amount of people at first, but I got to know them pretty quickly. Even though we got interrupted a lot by stuff I didn't really care about, I was very interested in the case. To be honest, the ending kind of disappointed me. It was cool thinking back of all the things that were mentioned and lead to the ultimate answer, but I really didn't like the reason why our killer did it in the end. I thought it was kinda weak, and I just don't like stories like that. The ending also really confused me. Will there be a next book?? Idk, there kind of has to be, considering how this one ended (fucking David), so I highly urge Maureen Johnson to up the mystery in the next one, and let Stevie sort out her personal issues in her own time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Misogyny
Minor: Vomit
I will continue with this series of the author writes more. This one ends on a non-case-related cliffhanger so I believe she has plans to continue.
Note on the audiobook: So far they’ve all been narrated by the same person, who generally does a great job. However, her attempt at British English accents in this one is abysmal. It was grating, but I sped up the narration and powered through.
Story wise, there are always a few things that require the suspension of belief in these, but the overall mysteries keep me going.
Note on the audiobook: So far they’ve all been narrated by the same person, who generally does a great job. However, her attempt at British English accents in this one is abysmal. It was grating, but I sped up the narration and powered through.
Story wise, there are always a few things that require the suspension of belief in these, but the overall mysteries keep me going.
This did not live up to the standard of the first three or even the last book! Stevie felt different in this book…it was like she was less sure of her self and her skills if that makes sense! Also, if she doesn’t murder David in the next book I WILL!! He needs to go!!!! I don’t know if there will be a next book but with the way this ended I have a feeling there will be! I wish the mystery had more of the forefront in this book and less of the personal drama because I think it would’ve been much better that way! Nate is still the best as are all the characters besides David😂 I will continue to read these because they are just cosy to me & I love the characters and their dynamic!
lighthearted
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:
No