Ratings151
Average rating3.9
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart. Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.” Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.
Featured Series
5 primary booksTruly Devious is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2018 with contributions by Maureen Johnson.
Reviews with the most likes.
Average but makes me want to read the second book still
this book reminded me why I hate YA boys
I really enjoyed this! In the last few years I found in very picky about the YA I enjoy. There tends to be very immature characters with needless drama that just annoys me in YA a lot of time but I heard such good things about this I had to pick it up. I LOVED it! It kept me thinking, and I still am. I love a good mystery and a boarding school with a tragic past so Truly Devious delivered. Can't wait to pick up the next one in the series.
I listened to this on audiobook and really liked the narration by Kate Rudd.
Nice books, I do wish Maureen Johnson could have given us an answer to at least one of the mysteries. I found most of the characters slightly annoying at times. Otherwise really interested and I hope to by her second book.
Leaving a mystery unsolved is a very bad thing for a mystery book.
Featured Prompt
17 booksThe mystery genre favors bringing the truth to light. That focus on revealing a story slowly over time knows no age, yet many stories are too serious for young adults. Which mysteries do you think ...