July 2021 Not First in a Series BOTM - The Box in the Woods, by Maureen Johnson

[Alaina]

After solving the case of Truly Devious, Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery from New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer.

But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls—the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.

Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.

But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.

**This BOTM thread will be open until August 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Aly]

Started this!

[Aly]

25% (view spoiler)[ Stevie is so funny and I love that Nate just wants to live up in a tree, away from everyone. This is so great (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

50% (view spoiler)[ I wonder if the same killer is back or if it's a copycat? Or maybe the owner guy is generating buzz for the camp?

I feel so bad for Sabrina's sister. She never let go of what happened and now has this shrine to Sabrina. I hope she can get closure.

I'm glad David is coming, he's funny and up for investigating things (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

75% (view spoiler)[ I think Stevie overreacted. Whatever David chose, they weren't going to be in the same place in fall since he graduated. The England opportunity seems really good.

So Carson did some of those things to 'set the mood' or whatever but who killed Alison? I'm excited to see Stevie put everything together. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

100% (view spoiler)[ Wow I could have never solved that. Really no one could until you got the diary information. That whole thing with a Nazi in hiding was crazy.

This was fun and I really liked seeing Stevie and everyone again. I didn't like the mystery quite as much but still a fun book. I'd read 10 more books about this group! (hide spoiler)]

[Jax]

Been meaning to read this series and this is the push to get me started. Hoping this is as good as the first three in the series. Also hoping some of the secondary characters come along with the group into this new storyline.

[Jax]

(view spoiler)[First 90 pages. I want to go to camp on a train. And I want a trapeze, and a library treehouse. And I love how sneaky Stevie is in getting permission to go to camp. (hide spoiler)]

[Jax]

Halfway through and I have 2 thoughts (view spoiler)[1) if I woke up with as much weird stuff on my walls as Stevie I'd be an insomniac. 2. Why is it that that kids are interesting and complex and the adults are always caricatures? (hide spoiler)]

[Jax]

(view spoiler)[David needs to go find himself. I don't dislike him, but he doesn't make sense and just distracts from the plot. Also, if I were Nate, I'd hide in that tree house and not come down. (hide spoiler)]

[Jax]

(view spoiler)[ This ending came out of left field and made no sense. Also, I'm assuming it's August by the time David has the talk with Stevie about what he's doing next year. Most colleges have already locked in their starting classes (some have already started) so him being all over the place and acting like he can just walk in somewhere to start school doesn't make a lot of sense. Still annoyed about the ending. That wasn't a mystery it was a scavenger hunt. (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

Started today!

[Alaina]

Definitely need to dive into this series stat!

[Ruthie]

Alaina wrote: "Definitely need to dive into this series stat!"

I liked this series!

[Ruthie]

(view spoiler)[

I'm liking it a lot! I saw a peek of a review but didn't read it because I didn't want spoilers and it said something like she wishes there will be tons of these standalone novels with Stevie going all over and solving crimes and I totally agree. (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

Abt Aly's finishing notes:

(view spoiler)[
Aly's notes: Wow I could have never solved that. Really no one could until you got the diary information. That whole thing with a Nazi in hiding was crazy.

This was fun and I really liked seeing Stevie and everyone again. I didn't like the mystery quite as much but still a fun book. I'd read 10 more books about this group!

---Totally agree Aly!! I was totally caught off guard abt the Nazi thing but I guess her books and the fact that she spoke German were kinda like clues that it would have something to do with that. I was shocked tho. It was definitely short compared to how long the last mystery took to solve but I still enjoyed it and I agree, I'd read 10 more books about this group too. (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

Jax wrote: "[spoilers removed]"
Jax responding to some of your notes

(view spoiler)[
Jax notes:David needs to go find himself. I don't dislike him, but he doesn't make sense and just distracts from the plot. Also, if I were Nate, I'd hide in that tree house and not come down.

--It's weird that Stevie be so mad at him-it's an incredible opportunity and Free college!!!! uh why be mad at someone??? As someone who is still paying off loans and prob will for years and years....If I could go back and have someone pay for it I totally would or encourage my friend(boyfriend) to go ahead and take that free college.

--A tree house to live and read and write with no one bothering sounds amazing (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Okay crashing this now with days to spare lol

[Alaina]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[eeeeeeeeeck I'm excited to dive into this. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[Stevie is so freaking calm with all of this.. meanwhile I would be pissing in my pants. Maybe shitting too. WHO KNOWS?!? Other than that, I'm very suspicious of Carson idk why but he gives me weird ass vibes. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

haha Nate has the best idea ever!

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "50%..."

Definitely happy David is here. Also I feel so bad about the freaking shrine. Oh man. I hope Stevie and the gang can work their magic.

[Alaina]

Ch 11-20: (view spoiler)[It's like those people were like "don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious.." meanwhile I AM SUSPICIOUS. You can't fool me people. I don't believe 'oh she tripped' bullshit. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Jax wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

A library treehouse just sounds freaking awesome.

[Alaina]

Jax wrote: "Halfway through and I have 2 thoughts [spoilers removed]"

Honestly.. I sleep like the dead and would definitely freak out if I woke up to what they did.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "75% ..."

Oh my lord yes she did overreact. Her life is over at 17? LOL.

[Alaina]

Jax wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

YES! I feel this so much.

[Alaina]

Ch 21-Finish: (view spoiler)[Hmm.. this was okay? I mean Stevie is a freaking genius when it comes to solving this giant mystery because I would definitely not be able to do so. But at the same time.. it was just okay to me. Not the best mystery to solve but oh well. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "100% ..."

It was fun but mostly okay for me. I still think the first one was my favorite.

[Alaina]

Jax wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, it was wild ending and one I didn't see coming. It also did feel more like a scavenger hunt to me as well which isn't a bad thing but it was just okay at the same time.