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A review by abookishmagpie
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
4.0
I got to this book a bit later than I had wanted, but it worked out because it made for a really good start to my 2024 reading. In this fifth book of the series, we see Stevie struggling to come to terms with the fact she is in her senior year, and she has no idea what her future looks like. Her friends are applying to colleges left and right and making all these plans, and all Stevie knows is she doesn't want to be apart from them like she currently is from her boyfriend, David, as he is in London attending school. So, when the opportunity to do a week of study abroad in London with her friends and get to spend time with David, she leaps at the chance. But of course, it can't be that simple, when they get there David's new friend Izzy brings a cold case that involves her aunt Angela to Stevie's feet and thus ensues another murder-mystery that Stevie is thrust into solving.
I thought this was another well plotted and written mystery by Johnson that kept me captivated and always on my feet for clues and ideas of who did it and how was Stevie going to put the pieces together. I could have done with less personal drama, or maybe at least narrowed it down to friend drama (the lying to friends and fearing losing them) or boyfriend drama (deciding to have sex for the first time and worrying about his relationship with Izzy) so it didn't feel like we were stuffing plot points into an already complicated story. I'd have loved for more Nate and Janelle time in this book actually, because those friendships are such a big part of this series and I love getting to see them grown and strengthen. However, I get why there is as much personal stuff, we can't have Stevie be all true crime, all the time and she is still a teenage girl who has a lot of stuff going on and it makes sense it would converge with her work. And that ending! I was listening via audiobook and when it just ended LIKE THAT! I was shook and had to sit and really just absorb that it was truly the ending Miss Maureen Johnson gave us. Then I go look to see when the next book is coming out, and I see we have no date! Wild. But like I said, a nice way to start out a new reading year with characters I am comfortable with and like and a well-paced and written book.
I thought this was another well plotted and written mystery by Johnson that kept me captivated and always on my feet for clues and ideas of who did it and how was Stevie going to put the pieces together. I could have done with less personal drama, or maybe at least narrowed it down to friend drama (the lying to friends and fearing losing them) or boyfriend drama (deciding to have sex for the first time and worrying about his relationship with Izzy) so it didn't feel like we were stuffing plot points into an already complicated story. I'd have loved for more Nate and Janelle time in this book actually, because those friendships are such a big part of this series and I love getting to see them grown and strengthen. However, I get why there is as much personal stuff, we can't have Stevie be all true crime, all the time and she is still a teenage girl who has a lot of stuff going on and it makes sense it would converge with her work. And that ending! I was listening via audiobook and when it just ended LIKE THAT! I was shook and had to sit and really just absorb that it was truly the ending Miss Maureen Johnson gave us. Then I go look to see when the next book is coming out, and I see we have no date! Wild. But like I said, a nice way to start out a new reading year with characters I am comfortable with and like and a well-paced and written book.