Truly Devious

A Mystery

By: Maureen Johnson

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.

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.

Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2018 * Junior Library Guild Selection * 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * 2019 ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2018 * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2018 * 2018 Nerdy Book Club Young Adult Winner * Seventeen Best YA Book of 2018 * Lincoln Award Nominee * 2020-2021 South Carolina Book Awards Nominee * 2020 Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Winner

I loved every minute...

Maureen Johnson's mix of comedy and darkness always lures me in. You feel like you're bring guided through a mystery by a true expert. I will be buying the hard copy just to give this book more support. I ache for the next book...

A fun YA Mystery

The narrator is very good and the story is fun does end on a cliff hanger but not a big as one as other reviews state just leads up nicely to the next book. If you like YA mysteries definitely give this one a go!

Great

This story hooked me in and kept me! The voice actress also did a great job.

I HATE cliffhanger endings

I enjoyed the story for the most part. but I HATE cliffhanger endings. I don't mind storylines that carry over into the next book, but the mystery of one story should have a conclusion. instead we now have multiple mysteries without a clear ending and I am required to read the next book to get answers. if this had had a clear ending and set a new mystery up for the second book I wouldnhappily purchase, but I dislike feeling like I did not get a full story. not sure if I will continue with the books.

Great “page turning” series

I loved these books! They’re versatile in that teens can read them but they don’t feel too juvenile for adults. Listened to all 3 in under a week.