4.05 AVERAGE

skyee_18's profile picture

skyee_18's review

3.5

The ending dropped this down from 4 stars, because it was bit too abrupt & didn’t hit as hard as I expected it to. I liked the camp atmosphere in this book as it was very different from the first three and added a lot to the plot! Nate is hands down the best character in my opinion and I loved getting more from him in this story. The mystery kept me engaged and I enjoyed watching Stevie work through this one! My hope for the next book is that she LEAVES DAVID though! Excited to see what mystery she will unravel next!!

leann_loves_books's review

5.0

4.5 stars
kristin_bee's profile picture

kristin_bee's review

4.0

Y’all I love a kitschy summer read and this is definitely one!

You don’t necessarily need to have read the original trilogy, but it helps. Stevie and her friends head to Sunny Pines Summer Camp to solve an unsolved murder from 1978 based on the fame she received from solving the mysteries at Ellingham.

I really liked that this was a stand alone and hope that Maureen Johnson writes more books with Stevie. At times, I felt that the book was formulaic, but Johnson cheekily acknowledges that in the story! Overall, recommend!
adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

plutonium_lilacs's review

3.0

it was good, not as good as the other books but good none the less
adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

brandie_ellen's review

5.0
mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
linaciara's profile picture

linaciara's review


Nate should be the main character

I really really liked the small town element because everyone knew everyone yet they did not know who the killer was. Who it could be. For me, the twist and the revelation really lived up to all that build up and suspense of as to who it was. I love Stevie, she's my freaky sweet neurotic child and I love how into the case she is working she gets. I love her friendship w Nate and her relationship with David, that is a big part of her heart but doesn't consume her. I loved how she went around talking to all the people involved and the moments she connected the dots. I want this series to go on forever. I think I'd like the Ellingham trilogy better if I went back and read it for Stevie and her brain but I don't want to jinx it. But I am excited for Nine Liars and the Untitled next book in the series :D 

TL; DR: By far, my most favourite book of the series because it's one and done deal + the finale lives up to it :3 

marquessa17's review

5.0

This was an absolute delight to read and I loved every single word. In the box in the woods we follow Stevie as she is asked to look into a Kohl case that took place at a summer camp in the 1970s. Some thing that I wasn’t sure I was going to like is that we are looking into a brand new case but I think that actually works the best. Everything is neatly wrapped up at the ends and I thought it was extremely quick paste. I look forward to reading more in the series and I am so happy that I stuck with it because this might have been better than book 2 and three.