Truly Devious
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 432
Summary:
Albert Ellingham believed his boarding school to be challenging. Late night classes, grueling assignments, and pending due dates always kept students on high alert. Though he didn't expect his academic curriculum to be an actual killer. After murder befalls an Ellingham Academy student, total chaos plights the school. Ellingham's own wife and daughter become kidnapped, and the only clue to their whereabouts lies in a mysterious note signed by "Truly, Devious", a clue led dry for nearly a century. That is, until now. Stevie Bell has come to Ellingham Academy to finally solve this cold case. However, when her fellow students turn up missing, Stevie realizes she may have received a larger bargain than she asked for. With help from a genius inventor, rebellious artist, and a renowned novelist, Stevie sets out to solve the case that has plagued detectives for nearly a century: before someone else turns up dead.
Plot:
Reading a story is a thrilling ordeal. More exciting still is becoming ingrained within the novel's plot line, a characteristic mysteries prove to excel at. Unsurprisingly, Truly Devious was no exception. Johnson's seamless implementation of alternating plot lines presents readers with a complex view of the presented mystery, an aspect that advances the novel's mysteriousness as a whole. New developments also serve to obscure readers from discovering a distinct solution to the investigated crime, compelling the audience to keep guessing until the very end.
Characters:
I highly enjoyed reading the novel from Stevie's perspective. Her fierce determination leaves her unperturbed in adverse situations, offering her a promising chance of thriving in the story's climatic turns. Stevie's friends also prove useful throughout the novel's investigation, as each of their individual talents are used to solve a definite portion of the mystery, making the story more enjoyable in its development.
Setting:
Ellingham Academy truly elevated my enjoyment of the novel. Each aspect of Ellingham's setting is throughly detailed. Its lengthy project guidelines and winding cafeteria lines are illustrated in a realistic light, an aspect that makes the story more relatable to its readers.
Review:
I am giving Truly Devious four and a half stars out of five. It was a highly enjoyable read and a mystery definitely worth picking up. I would especially recommend this book to those who enjoyed the Lady Janies series or Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly. Thanks for reading :)
