Review: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson
Series: Truly Devious #1
Published by Harper Teen on January 16th 2018
Pages: 416
Source: Harper Teen via Edelweiss
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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.

I spent a large majority of my reading time last year devoted to thrillers and more specifically, adult thrillers so this year (still definitely in a thriller kick) I wanted to try my hand at some young adult picks. I saw Truly, Devious while browsing on Edelweiss one day and knew immediately that I had to read it as soon as I read it took place in a boarding school. I’d say If I had a main buzzword, boarding school would be it. More often than not I’ll grab a book if I see that’s the setting, there is just something about the atmosphere that sucks me right in.

The characters in Truly, Devious were great. While I’m not totally attached to then at this point, I do enjoy them and I can’t wait to see them grow in future books. The protagonist, Stevie, is interesting and I have a feeling we are going to learn much more about her. I really want to see how the relationships develop with her fellow dorm mates.

I’d say one of the main points that kept me reading so frantically was the back story of Albert and his missing wife and daughter. It’s told in flashbacks that are during the time they went missing and it’s sooo interesting. I want to know SO badly what happened back then, and I have a feeling I am going to be shocked and taken for a ride. The setting of the school really gives the book a creepy factor because it’s so secluded and I think it added so much to the story.

Once again, it’s pretty difficult to review this book. Due to the nature of the book (mystery), and the fact the story hasn’t wrapped up in book one I don’t want to spoil anything so even talking about the characters can give you ideas. The only definite point I can make is I really, really liked the whole story. The cliffhanger really made me shake my head a bit but I guess I’ll see where that takes us in the next book.

The only “negative” thing I have to say is that I almost regret reading it on release. I am itching to find out what happens next and I have a whole YEAR now to wait… the pain of it all.

I’d definitely recommend this if you like thrillers. It has a fun setting, a great cast of characters and of course, a healthy dose of twists.