Truly Devious audiobook

I LOVED THIS BOOK. If you need a new YA mystery novel, this is the one for you! Truly Devious totally took me by surprise. I had no idea I would love this book as much as I did! Cw: murderI loved our main character, Stevie. I wish this book existed in high school so that I could have had a female protagonist interested in true crime to relate to. I feel Stevie is extremely competent, self-aware, and has a really great head on her shoulders. I also loved her best friends, Janelle – we need more black girls who like girls in STEM fields in media, and Nate – he’s such an apathetic lil bean who I hope gets more development in the sequel. I wasn’t a crazy big fan of David (I guess he is considered the love interest? Truly Devious is FAR from a heavy romance story, but there is definite attraction). He just sort of weirded me out; Motives unclear half the time, sometimes annoying, sometimes charming. I can’t really feel out his character at this point, but I did enjoy him more towards the ending and I’m hopeful he’ll grown on me more in the future.I am not a huge fan of dual timeline books where it jumps from present to past with a completely different set of characters, but it worked well for this book. The scenes set in 1936 do not overtake the present story, but are a great addition to the story. It does not feel “info-dumpy”, rather, it is like reading two mysteries unfolding at once.I adore the mystery of the story. You truly CANNOT TELL who is “Truly Devious”, if the same killer has returned, or else how these two crimes are really connected! There are so many twists and turns and unanswered questions that you will be on the edge of your seat trying to figure out how everything fits together.I will add, I do feel like the pacing was a bit slow at some points. There are not many significant plot points until about halfway through. That being said, I keep reminding myself that most thrillers are condensed into one book, whereas this will be a trilogy, so I understand the decision/need to have a more fleshed out beginning before diving into all the drama. I am anxiously anticipating book two and am extremely hopeful that things will be nonstop action from here.Truly Devious is truly amazing. It is a MUST READ. Book #2 is already going to the top of my most anticipated releases for 2019. This book was sent to me unsolicited and for free by Harper Collins. I had no obligation to review this book and all opinions are my own.

JOHN GREEN, PAY ATTENTION. This is how you write a cool mystery-y book with quirky teens without making me want to die.Okay, John Green, you can stop reading now. I think it would make me uncomfortable if you read the rest of this review, considering the mean things I’ve said and the mean things your fans have said to me in the comments of my mean things. We just have too much backstory.Now, for the rest of you!WHAT A FUN RIDE.As soon as I heard this book was “unsolved murder mystery at boarding school,” I was in. When I heard the elaboration “unsolved rich people murder mystery from History mixed with current boarding school murder mystery plus true crime aficionado,” I was EXCITED.And whoa mama was that excitement warranted.This was not a perfect read for me by any means. I think the quirkiness was wayyy extraneous at some points (even if it wasn’t John Green-level - but truly what is), and it took away from the pacing and the believability. It kind of felt surreal at times. (Like, can we stop talking about the girl who somehow has her dirty unshowered hair in a million tiny ponytails tied with baby socks and get to the murdering, please?)Also, the pacing of this was weird just because it’s a three-book series with one or two main mysteries. So you get answers at some points in this book, but not a lot of them and not really any that matter. A very unsatisfying experience.I think if I could have read all three books at once and pretended they were one very long book, I would have liked this more. As is, it’s a solid three point five.Also, I already forget what happened in the second book. But that’s unrelated.Bottom line: This was fun and promising! But weird stuff prevented it from being any more than that.-------------reread reviewhell yeah.rounding up to 4 (instead of down to 3) upon reread-------------reread updatesTHERE'S GOING TO BE A FOURTH BOOK??!i just picked this up for a reread on basically a whim and now i find out there's another installment out in 2 months. i think i'm god.-------------pre-reviewbaby, let me tell you...I GOT WHAT I CAME FOR.review to come-------------tbr reviewi am ready for INTRIGUE. i am ready for SUSPENSE. i am ready for CRIME and MURDER.

i swear, there is no better feeling in the world than getting to a big reveal in a murder mystery and being able to shout, ‘I KNEW IT!’maybe that makes the story too predictable and easy, but wow, what a confidence boost and what an enjoyable book! for a plot revolving around a murder, this is surprisingly... light? the story has a very easy going and game-like feel to it. this is also a slow burn mystery (nothing really happens until about halfway in), but its done in a really effective way where you didnt feel like the story is dragging. all i can say is i had fun and im looking forward to seeing what happens next!↠ 4 stars

This was my first YA murder mystery.I will definitely be reading more. Truly Devious follows a true-crime enthusiast and aspiring detective named Stevie who gets accepted into a mysterious school called Ellingham Academy. Years ago, a series of murders signed "Truly, Devious" shocked the community, and Stevie is determined to solve the mystery. My favorite thing about this book was definitely the atmosphere. It was ominous, unsettling, slightly creepy. Something big was always on the verge of happening. Small clues would appear, slight changes in the mood of the room. It's a little too quirky for my tastes (there was a character whose strange attire was described literally every time she entered the room), but I can see how that worked well for the story.And the anxiety rep was perfect. Although Stevie was a very dull narrator with not much of a personality, this felt like an OwnVoices book. Mental health rep is very important, especially in books outside of contemporary fiction where these things aren't usually depicted. Unfortunately, I had to take off a star because of...David. *smiles through the pain* David. I might as well start from the beginning.David is a student at Ellingham who really isn't there for any reason? Everyone else has a particular skill, but he's just there. He has no personality or defining traits (besides being a jerk). He is specifically there to add ~romance~ and ~spice~ and to fail at his only job. Someone literally got killed and Stevie witnessed it. She was an anxious, wound-up wreck.And he decided that was a good time to make out with her. The logic is not apparent. I am not impressed. Added to that, David was angsty and had a tRaGiC bAcKsToRy, which is a terrible combination. This was supposed to make him interesting, I believe.It failed. There was a plot twist related to him in the end that I think was supposed to be shocking, but if you've read any YA at all, you could probably predict it. Besides, he was nothing but rude and dismissive to Stevie and played the victim whenever she called him out. Nobody likes you, David. He's also kind of manipulative, in that he twists all of Stevie's actions - many of which were caused by her anxiety - and makes her look like the villain. He doesn't make an effort to understand her.I am running far, far away. My only other pet peeve was with Ellingham himself. This book switches timelines between the present day and the past, including scenes with Ellingham. His wife and daughter were kidnapped by Truly Devious, who demands a ransom. Like a fool, he gives up all his money before ensuring that his family is alive. He doesn't even bring a police force with him. His actions were all extremely stupid, and it annoyed me to no end. However, I enjoyed this a lot. It was fascinating, dark, mysterious. I'm coming for David with my pitchfork, so once he's disposed of, this book can safely be elevated by another half a star. Until then, this is a 3.5 star read.

Love the story, hate the love interest.I read this book in a single day. Granted, I spent almost 7 hours on a train and had no evening plans so it was just me and the book and no one else for a whole day but I'm not gonna complain. It was a good day, and I say that despite hating spending more than 90 minutes on any mode of transport, be it trains or planes.I though it was an extremely good start for a mystery series. The setting is exciting as it is a super rich boarding school for the very talented and smart in the middle of nowhere, secret tunnels included. There's an unsolved kidnapping and murder from almost 100 years ago, there are new friends and interesting teachers and threatening messages written with cutout letters. The characters were fun apart from the guy the main character is supposed to fall in love with who radiates punch-me-in-the-face-because-I'm-a-dick energy and is as cliché as they come. It was highly entertaining if not gay enough for my liking.Find more of my books on Instagram

Maureen Johnson tells us the story of Ellingham Academy and the students studying there. Albert Ellingham was the founder of this private school. His wife and daughter were kidnapped shortly after the school was opened in the early part of the 20th century. Stevie Bell joins the school now in the present with the plan of solving the above case, which happened many years ago. The use of prolepsis might disconcert some readers, but the enigmatic way in which two conundrums unravel will provide you a ravishing experience. What I learned from this book 1) Why it is important to prevent the witnesses talking to each other? The author tells some secrets of human psychology that many writers are reticent about. Instead of going into the rhetoric of just narrating a murder and chasing the slayer, she delves deep into the psyche of everyone involved in the investigation in an assiduous manner. She tells us how other people's experiences and descriptions can externally influence human memory. "One of the worst things is when witnesses start talking to each other. As soon as you start talking to someone else, the story you have in your head changes. Human memory is rewritten like computer memory. You just get the most updated file." 2) Maureen Johnson on writing. I have read books written by Stephen King, George Orwell, and Deborah Levy on writing. Maureen Johnson's version of it mentioned in this book is simple and equally impressive like the authors above. “Writing is a lot of sitting down... It's a lot of trying things out and screwing up... It's either amazing or it's the worst thing in the world. Sometimes it goes well, and it's all you think about, and then, it's gone. It's like you're taking a ride down a river really fast, and then all of a sudden, there's no water. You're just sitting in a raft, trying to push it along in the mud. And then you've become me." 3) The importance of time in an investigation Time is an important factor in every investigation. The importance of time in an investigation is discussed in an engrossing manner in this book. "What you lack in any investigation is time. With every passing hour, evidence slips away. Crime scenes are compromised by people and the elements. Things are moved, altered, smeared, shifted. Organisms rot. Wind blows dust and contaminants. Memories change and fade. As you move away from the event, you move away from the solution." 4) Why is it important to get up early? The above quote by Benjamin Franklin shows us the importance of getting up early, unless you are a night owl. We can see Stevie telling about the importance of early mornings in this novel. “There is something about early mornings that changes your perceptions subtly. The light is new; no one has put on the defences of the day. All is reset and not quite real yet.” My favourite three lines from this book “Sherlock said, “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.” “When you have enough power and money, you can dictate the meanings of words.” “Stevie had no fears of the dead. The living, however, sometimes gave her the creeps.” What could have been better? The world-building is done in a detailed manner in the initial part of the book. Some readers may find this part a little boring, and it might take some time for them to get ensnared to the mystery. Rating 4/5 This might be a YA mystery thriller with Dark Academia vibes but it will satisfy any solicitous reader who are equipped for a riveting work of fiction.

Um what?!?! I need book 2 right now. The end was such a teaser, things were just starting to come together. I need answers! Haha

That cliffhanger though.

I buddy-read this with one of my friends who doesn’t read much because I’d heard it was good and HOLY MOTHER OF GOD FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T READ AND SOMEONE ELSE (me) WHO DOESN’T LIKE SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERY THRILLERS WE BOTH REALLY WANT TO GET TO THE SEQUEL RIGHT THIS SECOND!!

a main character bold enough to knock herself unconscious when her anxiety gets to be too muchthis book was much better than i was expecting, thank the fucking lord. i've read a couple of maureen johnson's other books and haven't ever been very impressed. this one kind of changed my mind about her.basic premise is that a wealthy 1930s tycoon starts a free school for children in the mountains of vermont where he also hosts small but lavish gatherings with the rich and famous. said tycoon's wife and child are kidnapped. present day true crime lover stevie gets into this free school for kids and decides to solve the mystery.but it's not really that simple. stevie is a little uh... weird and she has to contend with the other strange characters in this boarding school as she tries to uncover what happened so many years ago. oh yeah, and one of her classmates happens to get murdered. no biggie.i thought the plot of this was pretty excellent. i definitely wasn't expecting there to be so much focus on stevie's interactions with the other students and her burgeoning hormonal feelings but it didn't take away from her sleuthing too much imo. i liked that there were scenes from 1936 interspersed throughout the story along with police interviews from tycoon's fascinating friends. and i like that the present day murder is still unsolved, along with the past mystery.the only thing that i didn't love, actually (lol wow that's bad shhh), was stevie herself. i understood her single minded obsession pretty well but her contempt for her parents was pretty hard to believe. also her complete lack of personal boundaries and lack of empathy sort of has me wondering if she has mental health issues beyond just anxiety.but that being said, i'm really really curious to see where the next book takes us. i'll definitely be reading it.ps if you felt the charlotte holmes series was lacking in actual mystery you might find this one more satisfying

***want to binge read something good? This trilogy is perfect 😘Picked up this one like two or three times before, it's interesting and all that. Somehow I am not a big mystery reader and I thought that the book would go on forever. And then I thought the anxiety issues and the panic attacks of the main character weren't handled well when it comes to the attitude of the adult characters towards these.The first half is a bit too slow for me.Other than that, this was a perfect read. I absolutely loved the characters, my most favourite being Nate! Ah, he's so damn precious. I would love to steal all his T-shirts someday and we know why.The characters are interesting. A few are plain obnoxious; most of them are quirky, nerdy and geeky...and my most fav kinds😘The atmosphere of the story is not that spooky or dark even if it's all about solving an 80 year old murder mystery. Somehow it just pulla you in and yes, you cannot go back to your normal life until you finish up all the three books. (I am just taking a break to write this unorderly, short review while reading book 2.) Yes, the writing style, the plot, the weird characters and the cliffhangers: EVERYTHING works for this one. And you will never find yourself that happy as when you start immediately the second book. Damn, the second book is going so good!Ah, another thing I didn't like. The unwelcomed romance. Nah. It just didn't work for me. Too insta. Too impulsive. Too not needed at this point. Too out of place. But the first book is good nevertheless. It's the humour parts here and there that keeps me going on, especially when Nate is there. Damn, he's my nerd😘(...and this is why I fail miserably at writing reviews for thrillers and mystery books😁)

I didn't know this would have a sequel I AM SHOOK. With most books that switch back and forth between timelines, there is usually one I like more than the other. That wasn't the case here. Between present day and the past, we were presented TWO intriguing murder mysteries to solve. Though I didn't love the conclusion here and felt we weren't exactly given enough clues to solve the present day mystery until the very end, I literally gasped out loud no less than three times while reading, and that's for sure a five star book to me.

Crime books are cool till you feel like Agatha Christie or E. Lockhart. Otherwise, they make you feel stupid because no, you haven't thought about the butler with a knife made of ice.It's like math: in the exact moment you understand it, you start to love it. There are two types of reader: the one who love crime books because he already knows everything (who, why, when, where), and sometimes he even has to try to figure out what happened; and the one who read them without a clue of what's going on and why, but the story is nice. And then there are the others: people who try once and hate it until they find THE crime book. It's all about finding the right book, and Truly Devious is really close to being it.Since the first sentence, I knew I’d loved Stevie because we're basically the same person, minus the really good instinct - which I don't have. Serial killers are our thing, and I can actually imagine the two of us solving murders together.So. Stevie is amazing, Nate is kind of a loner but this is why we love him, I get why she wants to be friends with Janelle, David is weird and I need some explanations in the next book, I never liked Ellie and Hayes was an asshole. We can't say it isn't a heterogenic group of people. Also, we agree that the most impressive thing is the school, right? God, what I would do to spend a semester in there. It's like an expensive and really hard university, without all those people and the careless professors.The elephant in the room is that there are two mysteries in this story and none was solved. I mean, it should be a basic thing to do.Maybe it’s too much to think she would have solved a 75-year-old mystery without any new clue or access to the places of that night, but she did figure out what happens to one of her schoolmates. Kind of. There is a missing piece that bothers me very much, and that open ending didn't help at all.Who did it? Why? What actually happened? There is something wrong with all of that and no more pages.At first, the story is slow. Too slow. A little bit of Stevie’s story, a little bit of the Ellighams’. Pages are going through but nothing is happening.Then, all of a sudden, something does happen and there is a case to solve. It looks like it’s solved, but it isn't. And that’s it. The book ends in the middle of a metaphorical storm and we don't know what will happen to the characters or the case. Also, I’d like to say Maureen Johnson is a good writer, she certainly knows how to write about murders and riddles, but she should focus more on the romantic part.If you wanna include it - since it's a crime book -, you need to do it right. Nobody here wants to blow this thing up for a flat romantic relationship.All I can do now is wish that the next book will be good. It better be.↠ 4 stars