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A review by smartinez9
The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
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.