Truly Devious: A Mystery

by Johnson, Maureen
ISBN: 9780062338068
4.5 (2)
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Used - Trade Paperback - 9780062338068

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Overview

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.

Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2018 * Junior Library Guild Selection * 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * 2019 ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2018 * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2018 * 2018 Nerdy Book Club Young Adult Winner * Seventeen Best YA Book of 2018

  • Format: TradePaperback
  • Author: Johnson, Maureen
  • ISBN: 9780062338068
  • Condition: Used
  • Dimensions: 7.90 x 1.30
  • Number Of Pages: 448
  • Publication Year: 2018

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  • Fresh Take on the Classic Murder Mystery

    Meg M. - 2 years 7 months ago

    Truly Devious is the first novel in Maureen Johnson's awesome series of the same name! It has the feel of an old school Agatha Christie murder mystery with all the excitement of modern teen fiction. With great representation from the lovably flawed and very diverse cast of characters, you are sure to find someone to relate to in these pages. Be warned, this book does end on a doozy of a cliff hanger so you will want the second (and third) books close at hand once you start reading!

    HPB Staff Review

  • A Crime-Tastic Thriller

    Eleanor L. - 6 years 10 months ago

    Riddles, a school high in the mountains, crooked politicians, several murders, oh my! When Stevie travels to the prestigious Ellingham Academy to solve a 90-year-old cold case, she gets more than she bargained for when the sinister Truly Devious strikes again and murder and intrigue hit the school. For fans of crime thrillers and plucky, but anxious female detectives, Stevie is super relatable but also exciting to get to know. The story keeps you guessing and jumps around enough that it keeps you engaged. There's even a cliffhanger ending, thank goodness the sequel, The Vanishing Stair came out. This is a fun, quick read and very well written. Even adults will enjoy it!

    HPB Staff Review