A review by thaatswhatsheread
The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

adventurous challenging 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? No

4.0


I was so happy to revisit Stevie and her friends! This was perfect as a ya mystery with nods to horror slashers with the camp murder setting.

We pick up with Stevie the summer after her eventful school year, where she has gained a bit of notoriety as a teen sleuth. A subscription box CEO reaches out to her about being a camp counselor at a summer camp, but also helping him solve a cold case concerning the murder of four camp counselors in the woods a few decades ago. She asks to bring her friends as fellow counselors and the trouble starts.

Coming into this a big fan of the Truly Devious series, I enjoyed the equivalent of hearing from old friends again. As a horror fan, I enjoyed the nods to teen slashers with the nature of the Box in the Woods murders. This is a fun spinoff, deviating from the dark academia setting to a light summer camp murder mystery.
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