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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I received a copy of this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stevie Bell is at an awkward, transitional time in her life and the overall tone of this book really reflects that. Unlike previous novels the mystery isn't really the focal point, though it does share some parallels with what's going on with Stevie and her friends. I also found her involvement in the mystery much less plausible than in other stories, because I highly doubt that an MP in the UK government would allow an unknown American teenager into the investigation of their friend's murder. Like the other Stevie Bell stories it was a quick, fun read, but don't expect the mystery in this one to be as interesting or complex as previous books.
Stevie Bell is at an awkward, transitional time in her life and the overall tone of this book really reflects that. Unlike previous novels the mystery isn't really the focal point, though it does share some parallels with what's going on with Stevie and her friends. I also found her involvement in the mystery much less plausible than in other stories, because I highly doubt that an MP in the UK government would allow an unknown American teenager into the investigation of their friend's murder. Like the other Stevie Bell stories it was a quick, fun read, but don't expect the mystery in this one to be as interesting or complex as previous books.
medium-paced
This is the fifth book in the Stevie Bell series, and the one with the best mystery so far. The series blends teen drama with murder mysteries.
For me, the teen drama only gets more annoying the farther into the series I read. However, the murder mysteries? Those just keep getting better.
This book gives you the perfect amount of information on the murders to set you theorizing, without giving too much and giving it away. You get both flashbacks to the crime and police reports, which often disagree with each other. The trick is to combine it with clues from the present to figure out who is lying, and why.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say that I still hate David as a love interest. Somehow, this book got me to hate him even more. But, I must admire the consistency of his characterization. While the average YA love interest would lose his jerk-qualities over the series, David stays consistently terrible.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/@ChloeFrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Katherine Tegen Books for a copy of this book to review. All options are my own.
For me, the teen drama only gets more annoying the farther into the series I read. However, the murder mysteries? Those just keep getting better.
This book gives you the perfect amount of information on the murders to set you theorizing, without giving too much and giving it away. You get both flashbacks to the crime and police reports, which often disagree with each other. The trick is to combine it with clues from the present to figure out who is lying, and why.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say that I still hate David as a love interest. Somehow, this book got me to hate him even more. But, I must admire the consistency of his characterization. While the average YA love interest would lose his jerk-qualities over the series, David stays consistently terrible.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/@ChloeFrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Katherine Tegen Books for a copy of this book to review. All options are my own.
“Lies, she noted, took energy. They weighed a lot. She had to think about everything she said and did now to support the lie. It say there in her head, giving off vibes. Lies were radioactive.”
Off to jolly old England to with her friends by her side, Stevie Bell has once again found herself a mystery. When her boyfriend, David, introduces her to one of his uni friends, she learns about the story. In 1995, nine close friends from Cambridge are playing an elaborate game of hide and seek when the next morning, two of them turn up dead. It’s clear someone is lying - or is everyone a liar?
There’s something special about the Truly, Devious mysteries that sit in my little heart. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the relatability of Stevie Bell, the kooky mysteries she’s always able to crack, or just Maureen Johnson’s writing. But they’re just the most satisfying stories. Everything feels real and raw and the stakes feel authentic.
I mean we’re on book five!! These kids are growing up - applying to college! (Well…Stevie is struggling a bit on that front..) They’re not the same scared kids who came to Ellingham with little dreams, but dynamic characters with different goals now that they’re grown. And it’s just so special to get to grow with them.
I really loved the entire theme of lies throughout the book. Obviously that’s a huge part of any murder mystery, but it was strung through an over 400 page novel really beautifully. With so much going on, it really wasn’t easy to know who to trust, and when. Like the tagline said, “when everybody lies, somebody dies.”
Is it worth the five FULL stars? Probably not. But I love a cozy mystery, and Stevie Bell hasn’t disappointed me yet. Now I guess I gotta wait until I can get my grubby little hands on book six.
Off to jolly old England to with her friends by her side, Stevie Bell has once again found herself a mystery. When her boyfriend, David, introduces her to one of his uni friends, she learns about the story. In 1995, nine close friends from Cambridge are playing an elaborate game of hide and seek when the next morning, two of them turn up dead. It’s clear someone is lying - or is everyone a liar?
There’s something special about the Truly, Devious mysteries that sit in my little heart. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the relatability of Stevie Bell, the kooky mysteries she’s always able to crack, or just Maureen Johnson’s writing. But they’re just the most satisfying stories. Everything feels real and raw and the stakes feel authentic.
I mean we’re on book five!! These kids are growing up - applying to college! (Well…Stevie is struggling a bit on that front..) They’re not the same scared kids who came to Ellingham with little dreams, but dynamic characters with different goals now that they’re grown. And it’s just so special to get to grow with them.
I really loved the entire theme of lies throughout the book. Obviously that’s a huge part of any murder mystery, but it was strung through an over 400 page novel really beautifully. With so much going on, it really wasn’t easy to know who to trust, and when. Like the tagline said, “when everybody lies, somebody dies.”
Is it worth the five FULL stars? Probably not. But I love a cozy mystery, and Stevie Bell hasn’t disappointed me yet. Now I guess I gotta wait until I can get my grubby little hands on book six.
I liked this book, but didn't like the way it ended.
Stevie is quirky as we all know and her sole goal once getting on a scent is to finish the job. She does, but watches her personal life fall apart because of it. Its accurate, but not the way we want books to end. I like that there is honest talk about sex. I like that we have diverse character sexualities. I hate what the author did to Stevie, but man that cliffhanger...
Overall an enjoyable listen.
Stevie is quirky as we all know and her sole goal once getting on a scent is to finish the job. She does, but watches her personal life fall apart because of it. Its accurate, but not the way we want books to end. I like that there is honest talk about sex. I like that we have diverse character sexualities. I hate what the author did to Stevie, but man that cliffhanger...
Overall an enjoyable listen.
I greatly enjoyed jumping back into Stevie’s life and into another murder! The author does a great job giving tidbits of information that adds intrigue but doesn’t give it away. I enjoyed them exploring England as well. It did feel a little rushed with the one week time frame.
Overall I think what ruined this book was that the murder mystery was overshadowed by David and Stevie. Their awkward relationship and ending ruined the whole “I solved a mystery” vibe. And instead left off on the weirdest cliff hanger? In the end I wasn’t even thinking about the mystery instead I was wondering why I care about David and Stevie.
Overall I think what ruined this book was that the murder mystery was overshadowed by David and Stevie. Their awkward relationship and ending ruined the whole “I solved a mystery” vibe. And instead left off on the weirdest cliff hanger? In the end I wasn’t even thinking about the mystery instead I was wondering why I care about David and Stevie.
While I enjoyed the four other whodunnits in this series, this fifth installment seemed to have a noticeable drop in quality and a lamentable increase in unfortunate content that prevents me from recommending this to anybody. I nearly gave up on this book a few times, but the mystery unfortunately needed resolving. If you take my advice, don't waste your time here and read some Agatha Christie instead.
This book felt very disconnected from the rest of the series. Solving the mystery wasn't the main focus of the book, the dumb inner personal squabbles of the group was the focus. It is starting to feel stupidly convenient that Stevie and her group always end up going to the same places together with no consequences for all of the idiotic things that they get involved in. All of the inner personal problems were petty and could have been solved with some simple communication.
The mystery in this book was hard to care about any of the characters because there were just so many of them. The solution also felt like it came completely out of left field with no good build up at all. It felt like it just came out of nowhere.
It was also annoying to end it the way they did.
The mystery in this book was hard to care about any of the characters because there were just so many of them. The solution also felt like it came completely out of left field with no good build up at all. It felt like it just came out of nowhere.
It was also annoying to end it the way they did.