Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Truly Devious

I really enjoyed this. I do have to say the mystery doesn’t happen really until almost 250 pages in. Which I don’t mind because I was enjoying the characters in the relationships forming I’m excited to see where this goes. I will be continuing. I also really like Stevie as a main character and
I related to her a lot.

Content Warnings

readerette's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

So I'll read the next in the series to see if this plot can keep its footing, because it has potential. Stevie is relatable in her anxiety and hobbies. Her friends and schoolmates are not always relatable, but certainly intriguing (in a mystery book sort of way, since we see them through Stevie's true-crime-loving eyes). Harry Potter vibes without the magic, original Nancy Drew vibes including the recklessness of the heroine, and Agatha Christie vibes with just a little off-kilter application of drama (too much at the wrong times).

The characters are not excessively whiny or inept, which is a pleasant change for me in my experience with YA. However, the relationship between David and Stevie is borderline alarmingly toxic for a YA novel. It's not abusive or anything, but as you find out more about him it can't really be a healthy relationship.

I don't think this needed to be a multi-book series, and if the author had kept it to only one or two books, I imagine I would have been more inclined to rate at a 5 because it would have been more concise and well-paced without so much meandering in the plot or in Stevie's mind and relationships. Instead this is going to be drawn out, and I can only hope Stevie remains believable and that this doesn't become a case of drawing out a plot for the sake of book sales.

Content Warnings

emily_mh's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The first thing I will say about this one is that it had really, really weird pacing. The best way to describe it is that it felt like one big set-up for the next book, as nothing was really solved or fully investigated. That being said, I really enjoyed reading this. It had so many of my favourite elements: secret tunnels, an isolated boarding school, hidden spaces, and a cold case. Also, Johnson described what Stevie was thinking and feeling really well, so that she felt like an actual person. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Content Warnings

More...