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The Vanishing Stair
(Truly Devious #2)
by
All Stevie Bell wanted was to find the key to the Ellingham mystery, but instead she found her classmate dead. And while she solved that murder, the crimes of the past are still waiting in the dark. Just as Stevie feels she’s on the cusp of putting it together, her parents pull her out of Ellingham academy.
For her own safety they say. She must move past this obsession with ...more
For her own safety they say. She must move past this obsession with ...more
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Hardcover, 369 pages
Published
January 22nd 2019
by Katherine Tegen Books
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Start your review of The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious, #2)
WOWOWOW I loved this book so much!! A fantastic sequel, possibly even more enjoyable than the first installment, which was tough to beat.
CW: anxiety/panic attacks, murder, death, abduction
I came away from The Vanishing Stair with such a greater appreciation for this entire series. From the impeccable characterization to the flawlessly constructed plot, The Vanishing Stair is everything one would want from a second installment. It’s not as if anything was lacking in Truly Devious, but the ...more
CW: anxiety/panic attacks, murder, death, abduction
I came away from The Vanishing Stair with such a greater appreciation for this entire series. From the impeccable characterization to the flawlessly constructed plot, The Vanishing Stair is everything one would want from a second installment. It’s not as if anything was lacking in Truly Devious, but the ...more
How am I supposed to....go on being a person after that ending?
Let me preface this by stating that this entire review could be replaced by a footage of me striding down a big hallway in a fancy period gown yelling “fuck fuck fuck” because that would more accurately sum up all my feelings.
So, what’s this book about?
Stevie is cast away from the Ellingham academy by her parents and promptly ordered to push the sour remains of her time in Ellingham to the back of her mind. But Stevie’s mind is ...more
Let me preface this by stating that this entire review could be replaced by a footage of me striding down a big hallway in a fancy period gown yelling “fuck fuck fuck” because that would more accurately sum up all my feelings.
So, what’s this book about?
Stevie is cast away from the Ellingham academy by her parents and promptly ordered to push the sour remains of her time in Ellingham to the back of her mind. But Stevie’s mind is ...more
Look a riddle!
Time for fun!
Should we use
Some juice or gum?
Scissors are sharp
And gleam so pretty
Syrup's slow
Which is a pity
Fire is festive
Drowning's slow
Detergent is a
Soapy way to go
A broken spine
A nasty rip
A book colliding
With a drip
Acid makes a
very jolly look
Such ways to
Punish naughty books
What shall we use
We can't decide
Just like you cannot
Run or hide
Give me an ARC of this book
Or we shall destroy book one
Ha ha,
Truly,
In need of this book
| Goodreads | Blog| Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | ...more
Time for fun!
Should we use
Some juice or gum?
Scissors are sharp
And gleam so pretty
Syrup's slow
Which is a pity
Fire is festive
Drowning's slow
Detergent is a
Soapy way to go
A broken spine
A nasty rip
A book colliding
With a drip
Acid makes a
very jolly look
Such ways to
Punish naughty books
What shall we use
We can't decide
Just like you cannot
Run or hide
Give me an ARC of this book
Or we shall destroy book one
Ha ha,
Truly,
In need of this book
| Goodreads | Blog| Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | ...more
**4.5-stars**
Dear Maureen Johnson,
How dare you?
It was truly devious of you to hit me with yet ANOTHER cliffhanger ending!
Nevertheless, I love you.
Meg
I had many thoughts whilst reading this.
For example, there was this:
Followed by this:
Wrapped up by this:
In all seriousness, that ending!?!?
I really wasn't expecting that, even though Ms. Johnson has played me before.
I was totally invested in this story. I loved being back with Stevie and the rest of the cast at Ellingham Academy.
We got to meet ...more
Dear Maureen Johnson,
How dare you?
It was truly devious of you to hit me with yet ANOTHER cliffhanger ending!
Nevertheless, I love you.
Meg
I had many thoughts whilst reading this.
For example, there was this:
Followed by this:
Wrapped up by this:
In all seriousness, that ending!?!?
I really wasn't expecting that, even though Ms. Johnson has played me before.
I was totally invested in this story. I loved being back with Stevie and the rest of the cast at Ellingham Academy.
We got to meet ...more
you know that feeling when you misremember how you felt about a book, potentially romanticising it, because you swear the story was just that good?? i think i did that with ‘truly devious’ because i went into this expecting it to be a five star read. and maybe thats my fault. i should have done a quick reread beforehand because this sequel did nothing to help me remember why i thought i was obsessed with this story.
dont get me wrong. its still a pretty solid sequel and a really good book, but ...more
dont get me wrong. its still a pretty solid sequel and a really good book, but ...more
Dear Maureen Johnson and whoever publishes this trilogy,
Please send me the arc for this immediately as I am having a spaz attack after the cliffhanger of book number one, okay?
Sincerely,
Someone who wants to know who’s in the photo
Please send me the arc for this immediately as I am having a spaz attack after the cliffhanger of book number one, okay?
Sincerely,
Someone who wants to know who’s in the photo
Apr 02, 2019
emma
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
owned,
dark,
historical,
mystery-thriller-horror-etc,
diverse,
couldn-t-wait-to-read,
reviewed,
3-stars,
ya
I can’t remember anything that happened in this book.
Judging by my pre-review (which consists of about one-third expletives and three-thirds surprise), I was shocked by something. I do not remember what that thing was, but considering this is a murder mystery, and also the second book in a series, I’m going to guess it was one part Big Reveal and one part cliffhanger.
How frustrating, presumably, for past me.
The only thing I really remember is finding this book slightly disappointing in ...more
Judging by my pre-review (which consists of about one-third expletives and three-thirds surprise), I was shocked by something. I do not remember what that thing was, but considering this is a murder mystery, and also the second book in a series, I’m going to guess it was one part Big Reveal and one part cliffhanger.
How frustrating, presumably, for past me.
The only thing I really remember is finding this book slightly disappointing in ...more
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“Where do you look for someone who’s never really there? Always on a staircase but never on a stair.”
The Vanishing Stair was what I expected it to be; an unnecessary bridge to the third book and this whole series could have been a duology. Yes, this book fell into the second book syndrome with much blabber and not much happening till the end!
I enjoyed book 1 more than I did with this one because there were much to ...more
“Where do you look for someone who’s never really there? Always on a staircase but never on a stair.”
The Vanishing Stair was what I expected it to be; an unnecessary bridge to the third book and this whole series could have been a duology. Yes, this book fell into the second book syndrome with much blabber and not much happening till the end!
I enjoyed book 1 more than I did with this one because there were much to ...more
1.) Truly Devious
2.) The Vanishing Stair .5
3.) The Hand on the Wall .75
-----------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES THAT ENDING EVEN MEAN???? ...more
2.) The Vanishing Stair .5
3.) The Hand on the Wall .75
-----------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES THAT ENDING EVEN MEAN???? ...more
I. LOVED. THIS. SO. FREAKIN. MUCH
This was ... WILD. The twists?!?! The turns!!! The REVEALS. I think this is definitely becoming one of my new favourite series?? and I am DYING FOR BOOK THREE ALREADY
The Vanishing Stair starts a few months after the events of Truly Devious. Despite being pulled from Ellingham Academy by her parents, the mysteries of Ellingham Academy and the Truly Devious case ...more
This was ... WILD. The twists?!?! The turns!!! The REVEALS. I think this is definitely becoming one of my new favourite series?? and I am DYING FOR BOOK THREE ALREADY
Where do you look for someone who's never really there? Always on a staircase, but never on a stair.
The Vanishing Stair starts a few months after the events of Truly Devious. Despite being pulled from Ellingham Academy by her parents, the mysteries of Ellingham Academy and the Truly Devious case ...more
Four more astonishing and intriguing, TG this time I’m not disappointed stars!
This book’s difference from the first one, we don’t need any introductions about Ellingham academy, its history and past kidnapping, murder mysteries. It started where it left and we have some revelations, more informations, finding important pieces of puzzle.
This is more fast paced, riveting and entertaining book. I even start to empathize Stevie, her techniques, her obsessions, way of thinking, emotional up and ...more
This book’s difference from the first one, we don’t need any introductions about Ellingham academy, its history and past kidnapping, murder mysteries. It started where it left and we have some revelations, more informations, finding important pieces of puzzle.
This is more fast paced, riveting and entertaining book. I even start to empathize Stevie, her techniques, her obsessions, way of thinking, emotional up and ...more
4 1/2 stars
This was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. It basically had everything I wanted from a sequel and, to me, is the perfect second installment in this series. The characters felt more fleshed out and charming, the dialogues felt incredibly realistic and well-written, the suspense was ridiculously well structured and executed and THE REVEALS were quite unpredictable and shocking to me. Once more I cannot wait for the next book. (Also Nate hi I love you.)
* * *
YOOOO THIS ...more
This was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. It basically had everything I wanted from a sequel and, to me, is the perfect second installment in this series. The characters felt more fleshed out and charming, the dialogues felt incredibly realistic and well-written, the suspense was ridiculously well structured and executed and THE REVEALS were quite unpredictable and shocking to me. Once more I cannot wait for the next book. (Also Nate hi I love you.)
* * *
YOOOO THIS ...more
The most disappointing part of the book?! The 'Acknowledgwments' just after the last chapter! I wanted MORE...and yes, I can imagine how vampires must be craving for warm blood to survive.
Ok, for Nate's sake, how this book made my life incompletely complete:
The second book started with a bang! Each page was so entertaining, except for the David parts, of course. (I still cannot get used to this character nor to the awkward romance. I guess I never will.) I find almost every character really ...more
Ok, for Nate's sake, how this book made my life incompletely complete:
The second book started with a bang! Each page was so entertaining, except for the David parts, of course. (I still cannot get used to this character nor to the awkward romance. I guess I never will.) I find almost every character really ...more
where can i petition to have more YA mystery series?
i love this SO. MUCH. and frankly it's disrespectful to have me wait until 2020 to get some real answers
rtc
i love this SO. MUCH. and frankly it's disrespectful to have me wait until 2020 to get some real answers
rtc
Man.
Maureen Johnson is master of ending a book in a way that makes the reader throw it across the room, and demand: I WILL HAVE MY SEQUEL NOW!
Cannot wait for the next Truly Devious novel.
And, you may recall my grumbling about punctuation in the first book "Truly, Devious"...well, I'd be remiss if I did not tell you that my little pet peeve did not appear in the second book.
Maureen Johnson is master of ending a book in a way that makes the reader throw it across the room, and demand: I WILL HAVE MY SEQUEL NOW!
Cannot wait for the next Truly Devious novel.
And, you may recall my grumbling about punctuation in the first book "Truly, Devious"...well, I'd be remiss if I did not tell you that my little pet peeve did not appear in the second book.
This one hit the spot in all the right ways. The first book felt a little unfinished for me, but this one fleshed out the mysteries, gave us answers, and set up the mysteries for the next book. All in all a really great read.
The plot thickens.
Now that's what I call a cliff-hanger! So much was revealed in the last 50 pages, and for it to end like that? Bravo, Maureen Johnson.
I definitely enjoyed this second novel in the Truly Devious series more than the first. It still carried all the luscious descriptions of crisp Autumn mornings that I so loved in Truly Devious; I'll never tire of reading about fall in New England.
The characters felt worn-in, in the best way possible. Nate is my favorite, by far. David's still ...more
Now that's what I call a cliff-hanger! So much was revealed in the last 50 pages, and for it to end like that? Bravo, Maureen Johnson.
I definitely enjoyed this second novel in the Truly Devious series more than the first. It still carried all the luscious descriptions of crisp Autumn mornings that I so loved in Truly Devious; I'll never tire of reading about fall in New England.
The characters felt worn-in, in the best way possible. Nate is my favorite, by far. David's still ...more
Jan 27, 2019
Nastassja
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
**This review now posted on my blog**
Dear readers, may I present you a desperate attempt of a bad poet with a shitty rhyme at expressing her WTF feelings aimed at The Vanishing Stair aka The Torture Device aka one more year of desolation aka nine circles of hell aka-- You get the picture!
Riddle riddle on the wall, who's the wickedest of them all?
You are wicked, there's no doubt.
But the slyest of them all is Maureen Johnson!
Riddle riddle on the wall, how do I survive the fall?
Under stair and
This series just gets more and more addictive.
6/20/19: REREADING for REASONS.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. THIS IS AS GOOD AS YOU ARE HOPING. Stevie is still great, Ellingham Academy is still the best school ever, murder is still happening, but NOW IT IS PROPERLY FALL so I want to live in this book EVEN MORE than the first one. (Oh, but the mystery, you ask - sure! The mystery GETS EVEN BETTER. I can say no more.)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. THIS IS AS GOOD AS YOU ARE HOPING. Stevie is still great, Ellingham Academy is still the best school ever, murder is still happening, but NOW IT IS PROPERLY FALL so I want to live in this book EVEN MORE than the first one. (Oh, but the mystery, you ask - sure! The mystery GETS EVEN BETTER. I can say no more.)
WHAT. WAS. THAT. ANOTHER FUDGING CLIFF HANGER? You’re tellin’ me that I have to wait until 2020 for answers?!?!?
HOLY SH*T WHAT THE HELL. OMG. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOWWWW
Annnnnd she ended with another cliff hanger!!! Come on! I have to wait a whole other year for answers, gah!!! Fabulous book. I am loving everything about this series. It keeps getting better and even more clever. Stevie is everything I love in a sleuth. She is not perfect, she suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, but she doesn't allow that to overcome her. She presses forward and finds ways to manage and succeed. I also loved that she could admit when she was scared or overwhelmed by all the
...more
Mar 23, 2019
Clemlucian (🏳️🌈the villain's quest)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
young-adult,
4-stars
"There's nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
GUESS WHO FORGOT TO WRITE THE REVIEW!!
Yes, me again, we've been knew. The thing is, that I've read this book a week ago and so many things happened since then that I forgot most of the book due to the fact that I didn't take notes. I was too busy binging The Vanishing Stair to give a fuck.
But here's what I remember.
It's a good book, the writer doesn't take its readers for dumb cunts for a change and the plot was as enticing as the first ...more
GUESS WHO FORGOT TO WRITE THE REVIEW!!
Yes, me again, we've been knew. The thing is, that I've read this book a week ago and so many things happened since then that I forgot most of the book due to the fact that I didn't take notes. I was too busy binging The Vanishing Stair to give a fuck.
But here's what I remember.
It's a good book, the writer doesn't take its readers for dumb cunts for a change and the plot was as enticing as the first ...more
I was able to get more invested in the story and characters in this book than in book 1, and again the atmosphere are setting are the stars of the show. What I specifically didn't enjoy about this one is that although we are getting real answers, they are just thrown at us by the omnipotent narration, and not revealed due to anything Stevie has done to uncover them. The reader now knows more than anyone else and it's taking away some of the mystery. Regardless, I am finding this series
...more
My review
In the second installment of Johnson’s Truly Devious trilogy, things are getting even more complicated, if that is even possible. Ellie has disappeared and took the only hope Stevie had of finding out what happened to Heyes. However, Stevie found something in Ellie’s room – a box with a picture and a poem, which is actual proof and significantly changes the perspective on the Ellingham case. Stevie is determined to solve the case and motivated more than ever, but the problem is, she is ...more
In the second installment of Johnson’s Truly Devious trilogy, things are getting even more complicated, if that is even possible. Ellie has disappeared and took the only hope Stevie had of finding out what happened to Heyes. However, Stevie found something in Ellie’s room – a box with a picture and a poem, which is actual proof and significantly changes the perspective on the Ellingham case. Stevie is determined to solve the case and motivated more than ever, but the problem is, she is ...more
So goo! A full review is up on my booktube channel http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks
OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE REALLY JUST LEFT OFF LIKE THAT.
Okay so, besides being 10 times more invested in this series now that I was before, this book was a deserving follow-up to Truly Devious, who a lot of people, I found, were pretty unimpressed by, but that I thought was a solidly enjoyable book.
In this sequel, we follow Stevie again after she's been pulled from Ellingham Academy following the death she had a part in uncovering by her parents, because, y'know, she has solid parents. ...more
Okay so, besides being 10 times more invested in this series now that I was before, this book was a deserving follow-up to Truly Devious, who a lot of people, I found, were pretty unimpressed by, but that I thought was a solidly enjoyable book.
In this sequel, we follow Stevie again after she's been pulled from Ellingham Academy following the death she had a part in uncovering by her parents, because, y'know, she has solid parents. ...more
"(...)Nothing compares to a good book. A book gives you everything, it gives you a window to others soul, other worlds. The world is a door, books are the key."
5-star reading
I can't believe that I have to wait another year for the next book!!!!
I really loved this one, we finally get some answers about the mystery that was presented in the first book, but we also end the book with some other questions. Now, I'm way too curious, no way to know what will happen next and I know I have to practice ...more
5-star reading
I can't believe that I have to wait another year for the next book!!!!
I really loved this one, we finally get some answers about the mystery that was presented in the first book, but we also end the book with some other questions. Now, I'm way too curious, no way to know what will happen next and I know I have to practice ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Buddy Readers'...: The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2) by Maureen Johnson - Restarting November 10th 2019 | 46 | 128 | Nov 05, 2019 08:51AM | |
| Addicted to YA: The Vanishing Stair | 3 | 61 | Jul 04, 2019 07:31AM | |
| Addicted to YA: Discussion Leader Sign Up: The Vanishing Stair | 3 | 40 | Apr 03, 2019 02:07PM | |
| You Are Never Too...: The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2) | 16 | 28 | Jan 29, 2019 09:53PM |
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Maureen knew from an early age she wanted to be a writer. She went to high school at an all-girls' Catholic school and graduated from University of Delaware with a degree in writing. She now lives and writes in New York City.
Many of the adventures Maureen's characters face in her books are based on real-life stories. Maureen has traveled all over Europe, and is a Secret Sister to vlog brothers ...more
Many of the adventures Maureen's characters face in her books are based on real-life stories. Maureen has traveled all over Europe, and is a Secret Sister to vlog brothers ...more
Other books in the series
Truly Devious
(3 books)
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“All the money, all the power—none of it compares to a good book. A book gives you everything. It gives you a window into other souls, other worlds.”
—
31 likes
“Anxiety and excitement are cousins; they can be mistaken for each other at points. They have many features in common—the bubbling, carbonated feel of the emotion, the speed, the wide eyes and racing heart. But where excitement tends to take you up, into the higher, brighter levels of feeling, anxiety pulls you down, making you feel like you have to grip the earth to keep from sliding off as it turns.”
—
16 likes
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