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booksbytheglass's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is by far maureen johnson’s darkest chapter of the truly devious series - and let me tell you, I was SO here for it! it was the perfect amounts of spooky and thriller-esque with still keeping it a YA detective novel
when it comes to extending series past its intended trilogy, I’m usually team “leave it alone” but I’m very happy to be proven wrong here!!!! this was arguably some of the best writing and plot lines around stevie and her young detective brain 🫡
once again, stevie is back in the center of a cold case (right during a new homicide of course), and boy what a ride it was! the cast of characters in the small town was so vast - between their sketchy motives and closed off attitudes, I couldn’t decide who the culprit was!
in the end, I did think the solution came out of left field with no lead up, but it gave agatha christie wild solution vibes so I was rolling with it
and the best part was that david was veryyyyy minimally in this one because his attitude (and honestly stevie’s too in this one) needs a hard check 🥴 for two people who are seemingly very compatible, they sure stink at simple communication and understanding
anyway!!! reading on!!!’
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley rosé
when it comes to extending series past its intended trilogy, I’m usually team “leave it alone” but I’m very happy to be proven wrong here!!!! this was arguably some of the best writing and plot lines around stevie and her young detective brain 🫡
once again, stevie is back in the center of a cold case (right during a new homicide of course), and boy what a ride it was! the cast of characters in the small town was so vast - between their sketchy motives and closed off attitudes, I couldn’t decide who the culprit was!
in the end, I did think the solution came out of left field with no lead up, but it gave agatha christie wild solution vibes so I was rolling with it
and the best part was that david was veryyyyy minimally in this one because his attitude (and honestly stevie’s too in this one) needs a hard check 🥴 for two people who are seemingly very compatible, they sure stink at simple communication and understanding
anyway!!! reading on!!!’
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley rosé
hawkeye_hawkins's review
3.0
2.5 stars. It would have gotten more but the ending… the reason for the murders. Really?!?
dtnorby's review
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? No
4.0
cachinapura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
smartinez9's review
4.0
4/4.5 starts
I do so adore Maureen Johnson. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and this pulled me right out, literally from the first page. I love Stevie, the accurate representation of her anxious brain, her friends, and their usual inadvisable sleuthy shenanigans. While I thought the mystery lacked a bit of the Ellingham atmosphere, it kept me in suspense and at the same time provided enough clues along the way to create a believable trail. Definitely some Agatha-esque tricks were pulled off, particularly with the timeless devices described in the ending.
I particularly admire that this is one of the only series where I’ve been as invested in the flashbacks as I am in the contemporary narrative. My only complaints, and what kept it from being a 5 star like the earlier books in the series for me, were that the magic of Ellingham was absent, and David felt just...there. There was both not enough of him and too much that felt detached from the rest of the novel. I much prefer when they’re more actively partners in crime.
All in all, a satisfying follow-up to a fantastic trilogy that I don’t think many authors could pull off. While I’ll never turn down more Stevie, I will also never give up my undying hope for a conclusion to the Shades of London Series, which I’ve read so many times at this point I have parts memorized. I’m hoping the allusions to London and Jack the Ripper at the end of this work were subliminal signs that something involving Rory and Stephen is simmering in the back of Maureen’s brain.
Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I do so adore Maureen Johnson. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and this pulled me right out, literally from the first page. I love Stevie, the accurate representation of her anxious brain, her friends, and their usual inadvisable sleuthy shenanigans. While I thought the mystery lacked a bit of the Ellingham atmosphere, it kept me in suspense and at the same time provided enough clues along the way to create a believable trail. Definitely some Agatha-esque tricks were pulled off, particularly with the timeless devices described in the ending.
I particularly admire that this is one of the only series where I’ve been as invested in the flashbacks as I am in the contemporary narrative. My only complaints, and what kept it from being a 5 star like the earlier books in the series for me, were that the magic of Ellingham was absent, and David felt just...there. There was both not enough of him and too much that felt detached from the rest of the novel. I much prefer when they’re more actively partners in crime.
All in all, a satisfying follow-up to a fantastic trilogy that I don’t think many authors could pull off. While I’ll never turn down more Stevie, I will also never give up my undying hope for a conclusion to the Shades of London Series, which I’ve read so many times at this point I have parts memorized. I’m hoping the allusions to London and Jack the Ripper at the end of this work were subliminal signs that something involving Rory and Stephen is simmering in the back of Maureen’s brain.
Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
nedge's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bzliz's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Stevie is a fun protagonist and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook more than I enjoyed reading the previous three physical copies. I think this type of YA mystery is well suited to an audiobook format since there is generally minimal tension and, much like murder mystery parties, I don’t think the answer is meant to be solvable.
Because we moved settings to a summer camp rather than the academy, I think some of the structure fell apart for me. It’s such an odd thing that happens in summer camp stories (and only in stories) where an adult in charge of the camp will tell one child they can bring their friends and that’s the way the author integrates known characters that form the support system around our main character. I don’t know why that bugs me so much but it’s so weird, especially for positions that interact with children. Like, you don’t want to vet these friends at all? Just one interview? They play a very small part in this anyway so I’m willing to overlook it.
I didn’t like the mystery as much in this book either. Like Stevie notes, it’s different when the people involved aren’t all dead and gone. There’s a greater discussion that can be had about the morality of true crime content, especially of recent events rather than very old cold cases. But Stevie doesn’t completely dive into that so I won’t either.
Over all I’d say this is a fun enough read if you’re looking for something with a mystery element but low danger. It is not necessary to read the previous three books before this one.
Because we moved settings to a summer camp rather than the academy, I think some of the structure fell apart for me. It’s such an odd thing that happens in summer camp stories (and only in stories) where an adult in charge of the camp will tell one child they can bring their friends and that’s the way the author integrates known characters that form the support system around our main character. I don’t know why that bugs me so much but it’s so weird, especially for positions that interact with children. Like, you don’t want to vet these friends at all? Just one interview? They play a very small part in this anyway so I’m willing to overlook it.
I didn’t like the mystery as much in this book either. Like Stevie notes, it’s different when the people involved aren’t all dead and gone. There’s a greater discussion that can be had about the morality of true crime content, especially of recent events rather than very old cold cases. But Stevie doesn’t completely dive into that so I won’t either.
Over all I’d say this is a fun enough read if you’re looking for something with a mystery element but low danger. It is not necessary to read the previous three books before this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Homophobia