Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1) by Maureen Johnson - Restarting Restarting May 11th 2024

[Maddie]

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.

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.

[Leah]

Is it all right if I start this tomorrow?

[Maddie]

Yeah sure! Whenever you're ready :) I'll be reading it a little late, but don't worry, I'll still definitely read it this month :)

[Leah]

Thank you.

[Leah]

Up to Chapter 6:
So far I prefer the story set in 1936. (view spoiler)[I am so curious about what is in the compact that Flora took. Also, I wonder who Truly Devious will be and if Alice is still alive. (hide spoiler)] Not much has happened in the present story. (view spoiler)[The present has mostly been getting acquainted with the location and all of the characters. I do like the setting. It sounds lovely. I also like most of the characters. So far, Ellie is the only character that I don't like. (hide spoiler)]

[Leah]

Through Chapter 14:
The present has gotten more interesting, but it still feels slow. (view spoiler)[The movie part is weird, and I don't like it. I think she should have found a different way for her to get into the tunnel and observatory. Also, I am curious about the new letter from Truly Devious. I wonder if this one is related to the first one. Also, I want to know what is going on with David. I wonder if he is related to Alice. (hide spoiler)] The past is still interesting. (view spoiler)[I wonder what is going on with Leo and Flora. They obviously know a lot more about what is going on. I don't think they are directly involved in the murders and kidnapping. (hide spoiler)]

[Leah]

Through Chapter 22:
Now things have picked up and gotten exciting. (view spoiler)[I am surprised that Hayes was the one who was murdered. It doesn't make sense to me. I still have no idea who Truly Devious is. (hide spoiler)] I think (view spoiler)[the Senator, Edward King (hide spoiler)] is David's father. Although, his last name is different. I am still intrigued by the past story, but not much was added to the story.

[Maddie]

Yay I like your updates :) Thanks! I'll be starting this one in a few days' time.

[Leah]

Thank you. I hope you like the book.

[Maddie]

I will :D

[Leah]

Through the end:
Well, that was surprising and disappointing. I was hoping for (view spoiler)[closure to these cases on this book, but it continues in the next book. (hide spoiler)] I am surprised that (view spoiler)[Ellie was involved. Although, I do not think she killed Hayes. (hide spoiler)] Also, (view spoiler)[the Senator is David's father. (hide spoiler)] I'm not sure what to make of that.

[Maddie]

Will probably start this one tonight, otherwise tomorrow.

[Karen]

Just read opening section. (view spoiler)[ Seems odd to despatch what seems to be the main character straight away. I am curious about Ellingham and the school. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Feel a bit silly posting that...now it makes more sense! Wonder why Stevie chose this school.

[Karen]

Up to ch7. (view spoiler)[ The 1930s storyline is quite suspicious. It screams of a set-up, but I’m intrigued by the friend, Flora. (view spoiler)[ The modern story is all about establishing the characters so we haven’t got much. An eclectic group. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch18. Great idea to mix past and present stories. (view spoiler)[ Hayes...what on earth? There’s something very odd going on here. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'm starting tomorrow :D

[Karen]

Up to ch 28. (view spoiler)[ Totally convinced David is tied to this somehow, and I am pretty certain we’ll get no clear answers about the Ellingham case here. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Liked this a lot initially, and feel there’s some clever stuff happening. The end niggled me - I had my suspicions about a certain male - but I would have liked a little more of an idea about the historical case.

[Leah]

I felt the same way.

[Karen]

Leah wrote: "Through the end:
Well, that was surprising and disappointing. I was hoping for [spoilers removed] I am surprised that [spoilers removed] Also, [spoilers removed] I'm not sure what to make of that."

I think (view spoiler)[ yogurt plenty of clues about the identity of David. I'm just wondering what other clues we've been given that might be overlooked. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I need to read it now! I'm behind!

[Maddie]

Will start tonight and hopefully get quite far through, will finish it off tomorrow.

[Maddie]

Starting this after work tonight. Late, I know. Not sure when I'll finish. Maybe (hopefully) tomorrow.

[Leah]

Karen wrote: "Leah wrote: "Through the end:
Well, that was surprising and disappointing. I was hoping for [spoilers removed] I am surprised that [spoilers removed] Also, [spoilers removed] I'm not sure what to m..."

I think there will be some answers and more hints in the next book, but most of the important questions won't be answered until the final book.

[Leah]

Maddison wrote: "Starting this after work tonight. Late, I know. Not sure when I'll finish. Maybe (hopefully) tomorrow."
It's okay. Most people, myself included, get behind from time to time.

[Maddie]

I always get behind XD I'm up to Chapter 2.

[Maddie]

Putting this down for a few days, as I'm just not feeling it yet. And it doesn't count for another challenge in which I'm really pushed for time. So I'll pick it back up in around a week.

[Abi]

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 20th of March 2018

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[☆☆Hannah☆☆]

I'm up to Chapter 6.


(view spoiler)[This school is interesting to say the least. I'm intrigued about what happened back in 1936. I hope we get to know what really happened eventually. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

not reading this one yet

[Aly]

I'm going to start tomorrow hopefully!

[☆☆Hannah☆☆]

I'm up to Chapter 14.


(view spoiler)[It's weird that all of a sudden that a new letter showed up. The question is why now? Doe sit have to do with the fact that they are trying to solve the old mystery? So many questions. (hide spoiler)]

[☆☆Hannah☆☆]

I'm up to Chapter 22.


(view spoiler)[It sucks that Hayes dies. I don't think her parents will actually pull her out of this school. I just hope by the end of the trilogy we will find out what happened all those years ago. (hide spoiler)]

[☆☆Hannah☆☆]

I'm finished.


(view spoiler)[Overall this wasn't bad. I just wish we had answers to a few things. I really didn't care much for David. I wonder what all he knows. Hopefully in the next book we learn more. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ I'm liking this so far. The kidnapping and murders are interesting and Stevie seems cool. I'm not sure about Ellie, she seems like she tries too hard. Looking forward to seeing more of the mystery. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ There's a lot of suspicious things going on. Why does David seem so familiar to Stevie? I wonder if he's related to one of the Ellinghams or something. And Hayes seems odd too. Is he actually just kind of dumb or playing like he is? I'm really liking this so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ So Hayes died was killed with dry ice, but I don't think he killed himself. Maybe he was meeting someone. I hope Stevie gets to stay at the school so she can work more on the case! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I was wondering if we would find out why David looked familiar to Stevie, ah ha! And Ellie was involved in what happened to Hayes somehow. And how did she know about the secret panel? So many questions. I need some answers here! (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Starting today

[Velina]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 6 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah she definitely is an amazing character! I actually was intrigued by her obsession of podcasts so i listened to an episode of Serial Killers and i ended up liking it

[Velina]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

I really don't like Hayes,(view spoiler)[ i don't think he made the videos by himself, he seems like an idiot (hide spoiler)]

[Velina]

Finished (view spoiler)[ we definitely didn't get any answers to all the questions and mysteries which annoys me (hide spoiler)]

[Velina]

Finished I have a crazy theory (view spoiler)[ that Iris wanted to escape with Alice or something like that cos she felt trapped or was in love with someone else or something and no one actually kidnapped them but something went very wrong and Iris ended up dead whilst Alice is still alive (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Dottie is dead. She was a great character!!! (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Hannah wrote: "I'm up to Chapter 6.


[spoilers removed]"

I love that school. I want to go there or teach there...
(view spoiler)[ Flora seems suspicious to me... (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 6 [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Ellie seems kind of crazy. But I like Janelle (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

I was hoping I could jump in on this one :) I really want to start this next weekend.

[María]

Hannah wrote: "I'm up to Chapter 14.


[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ The new letter said " the detective is here" so maybe is because of Steve's presence... (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ David is very suspicious. Or at least a jerk. I think Haynes is dumb but then why is he in this kind of school? (hide spoiler)]
I don't usually read mystery books but I really like this one too!