Reviews with content warning for Violence - Truly Devious

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Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

20 reviews

akirokis's review

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adventurous mysterious medium-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

4.5

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books4em's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Loved Truly Devious! Yet another young adult cozy mystery that twists and turns, keeps you guessing till the last page, and makes you somehow love and hate the characters. Mental health is touched on in the first book, and I’m hoping it might be further discussed in the series. There’s also some queer side characters, including one who uses they/them pronouns! The relationships between the characters are constantly changing and interesting to see the typical high school dynamics here even though they’re at this special school. I would’ve loved to see more focus on the Ellingham kidnappings/murders -that’s why I didn’t give it 5 stars. But it’s like a typical mystery novel, many subplots and tie-ins. Can’t wait to pick up the rest of the series!

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marioosa517's review

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adventurous dark 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

4.0

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sierrabowers's review

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adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.75

This was a great mystery read. I was not bored and it had me guessing until the very end. I did not like that I have to read another book to figure out what happens, but I guess that’s how they get you! I am curious as to

who killed Hayes. I think it was David, but what do I know…

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rainerasnic's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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emily_mh's review against another edition

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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.

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bookishgoob's review

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dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

the beginning half was incredibly slow and i hated it until i realized that there was several books in this series and then it made sense. the atmosphere was being built. this book is a nice dark academia read. i’m starting the second book now. the main character stevie is a little annoying and a little “not like other girls” which annoys me in books. also her obsession with true crime makes me gag. i hope she learns soon that true crime involves real people and that even though she knows a lot about police proceedings doesn’t mean it’s going to be like her podcasts. i like the building relationship between her and david.

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genny's review

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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? Yes

4.0

Hmm! It's hard to review this because it really doesn't feel like a complete book - there was no resolution at all as everything is set up for the sequel. I was aware of this going in so it didn't hamper my enjoyment, but just keep that in mind! That said, I had fun and found myself flying through the pages - the blurb on the cover is right, this is "compulsively readable". I dove into the second book immediately after finishing this one.

The 1936 mystery is a classic whodunnit, and it's enjoyable to see Stevie dissecting it with the lens she's developed from following mystery novels and true crime. It allows her to come across as a teenager with believable detective skills. She has lovely friendships with Janelle and Nate. The romance, though?

I don't get why Stevie and David are attracted to each other, but...eh. They're hormonal teenagers on a remote mountaintop, I can allow it.

Anyway, I liked both the past and present mysteries, and I'm excited to see how they play out in the next books. Love the "dark academia" atmosphere of Ellingham. Just don't read this without the sequels onhand, because it'll be very frustrating.

Side note: The narration misgenders Vi - it's established that they go by they/them pronouns but the narration later refers to them as "she"; I looked it up and Maureen Johnson said that these were unfortunate typos. The correct pronouns are used in The Vanishing Stair.

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kb_sherman's review

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mariekejee's review

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lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

fuck now I have to read the sequel.

In all seriousness: these teens are insufferable. A school for gifted teens sounds like the worst, and reading about them is exhausting; but as they say, it gets better.

And it mostly gets better not because of the characters gaining an actual personality, but because the plot picks up and we get to follow Stevie trying to solve a mystery. The double mystery is enticing and keeps you hooked, and I genuinely wanted to keep reading this book to find out more - towards the end this book is great, and I can almost forgive it for making me read through the first 100 pages. Additionally, I feel books are sometimes being too lax with "parental oversight", i.e. I find myself wondering multiple times "Wait, where are your parents?" - but I think this books handles that part quite well. I liked how Larry warned her about trying to solve this case, and how her counsellor decides her project should be to put a face on the Ellingham murder, instead of trying to solve it - and how Nate

involves Larry when shit gets real

.

Unfortunately, due to the cliffhanger at the end, and the overall lack of resolution on the Ellingham case, I don't feel satisfied reading this book - and that's usually one of the main things I look forward to in a mystery. Also:

the whole David plot twist? Fucking sucks.

Either way, I will have to read the sequel (and the third book, if I'm unlucky). Would I recommend this book? I think I have to answer that after having read the second book.

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