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Truly, Devious (Truly Devious, #1)

Maureen Johnson

Start date: March 1, 2022

Finish date: March 31, 2022

Discussion: Series of the Month 2022

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Series of the Month 2022

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* Full Series List
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What Members Thought

Sep 12, 2021 Tawallah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-actually-owe, book-series, audiobook, mystery-thriller, bookopoly-notw-joc

Reading #2

It has been a few years since I first listened to Kate Rudd read this popular YA dual time mystery novel. The historical period section remains the strongest portion with the wealthy Albert Ellingham and his boarding school dogged by its reputation for death. In the 1936, the wife and daughter ( Iris and Alice) are kidnapped by someone who calls themself Truly Devious plays the ultimate game. Ironic, given the fact that Albert invites gifted students to treat learning as a game and is Reading #2

It has been a few years since I first listened to Kate Rudd read this popular YA dual time mystery novel. The historical period section remains the strongest portion with the wealthy Albert Ellingham and his boarding school dogged by its reputation for death. In the 1936, the wife and daughter ( Iris and Alice) are kidnapped by someone who calls themself Truly Devious plays the ultimate game. Ironic, given the fact that Albert invites gifted students to treat learning as a game and is open to unorthodox ways of learning using puzzles, riddles and ciphers. In the modern day, the Ellingham Academy is still accepting gifted students. And Stevie Bell, is a modern day sleuth determined to solve this cold case.

The love for Stevie and her passion for solving crime reflects the recent love for true crime in the last few years. Through the eyes of Stevie the reader is offered a more realistic view of being involved in a crime. As well as the modern concerns of having chronic anxiety, parents who differ from you but are concerned about you, but finding good friends who accept you. And, yeah, the first romance with that guy. This time around I appreciated Stevie more and her passion to be a detective. She takes inspiration from Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie recognizing that true events inspired these stories.
Having the interweaving of the past and present worked until the final pages. It was just a set up for the next book in the series and honestly a bit of a letdown with solving the original case.

This is an okay series so far. I am just here for the final reveal of the cold case.

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First reading
There has been a lot of praise showered on the first installment of this dual timeline mystery series. The premise of a cold case set at Ellingham Academy from 1930s where the founder’s family is kidnapped and riddles must be solved to best the culprit is the attraction. The contemporary portion features Stevie Bell who has panic attacks,loner and is determined to solve this cold case. Initially she is pitched as a young Sherlock Holmes.

The execution of this novel? Problematic. Most of the characters are flat and I struggled to distinguish many of them( I listened to this one). The historical aspects were more captivating and often the modern portions didn’t advance the plot. Finally, the book ends on a cliffhanger having been preoccupied by an unnecessary romance. Like everyone else I’m not a fan of the love interest.

The highlight for this book seems to be the accurate representation of anxiety. And for Stevie.

Unfortunately I wanted more for the plot and wasn’t a fan of the cliffhanger. I plan to read the next installment via library service to see if I will continue.
So far a lackluster start meant to introduce characters and set the stage for the rest of the series. ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 ClaireB rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-contemporary, ya-thriller, 1-booktube-rec

3,75/5 stars

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Oct 17, 2021 Crystal Dickson rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved the storyline, it kept me hooked the entire time. But that ending!!!! I don’t often curse at the end of a book lol. Ive already started book two because I NEED to know what comes next.

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Feb 18, 2019 Uswa Tayyab rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

I am not disappointed though the ending was shocking; can’t wait to get my hands on the vanishing staircase. Also, I think David is linked with the case but let’s see who is TRULY DEVIOUS.

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