Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

By Kate L., Severna Park High School

Truly, Devious is a mystery book where we follow the main character Stevie on her journey at Ellingham Academy. Ellingham Academy is a prestigious high school in the mountains where the students live on campus and study a topic similar to how you would major in a specific subject in college. Stevie is a crime junkie and wants to solve the kidnapping/disappearance and possibly murder of the founder of the school's wife and daughter. The story has a non-linear plot with flashbacks to the people at Ellingham Academy around the time of the kidnapping/murder.

I really liked that part of the book because while the plot was non-linear the events of both the present and past timelines were parallel in the sense that once Stevie found a clue we would be flashbacked to the time when that clue "happened." I also loved how you were able to keep on guessing and figuring out what happened to the wife and daughter throughout the story. I did not like how this book did not reveal what happened to them. After this, I read the next two books, but in this first book, it leaves you on a cliffhanger.

I think that anyone who likes mystery books, especially Agatha Christie books would really enjoy this book! Since it had murders at a high school it also reminded me of the show Wednesday. Therefore, a younger reader interested in those topics would be someone I would most likely recommend this book to. I rated this book 4/5 stars because as much as I loved it, I was not as emotionally invested with the characters as I might have hoped to become. However, I did really love the character dynamics between all the people staying in Minerva. (Stevie's dorm house) 

Click here to check out Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson