Book Review: Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson

This feels a little like cheating since I haven't read the fourth in the series yet (June 2021 here we come!) but since I absolutely devoured the first three books of the series this month, I gotta write a review.

This series was SO MUCH FUN! I love anything that plays off "And Then There Were None", and this series combines that, Knives Out, The Breakfast Club, and other classics that are a hat-tip reference throughout the books. The first two books ended on major cliffhangers, but they're so well done that I'm not even mad.

Stevie Bell (which, what a great character name by the way,) believes her admittance to Ellingham Academy was a mistake. Full of gifted, talented students who have specialty interests, Stevie was shocked to hear she had been accepted based on her interest in criminology and the Ellingham murders, the case which reminds me of the real-life Lindbergh kidnapping. The series follows Stevie as she makes friends, discoveries, and solves crime- not necessarily in that order.

It's not just the edge-of-your seat writing style and smooth as glass writing that makes this series special. Stevie is neurotic, anxious, and obsessive- she's basically me. All three books are plotted so carefully and really kept me guessing the whole way through (I will also confess to coming up with some pretty wild theories along the way, and- spoiler alert- I am so glad Security Larry pulled through).

I love the prose in this story, and how even simple lines can be impactful. I wrote down from the first book

"You have to take things as they are, not how you hear they're supposed to be.",

and

"Stevie would sooner have dropped into the molten core of an erupting volcano more

willingly than she would tell someone she was not okay."

I hinted at this earlier, but TROPES! So many good ones. The third book especially had me absolutely hooked, with the snowed in- secret cave- secret passage- old message in the painting- eyes from the bushes watching.... what can you say except YES YES YES.

The one negative I found was the romance between Stevie and David. I came to like David as a character, and I think having someone was beneficial for Stevie to calm the hell down a bit, but it all felt very forced and there really wasn't any chemistry to speak of. I wish YA authors would stop trying to shoehorn in romances between characters that really don't need it. In my view, it was unnecessary and just distracted from the main plot. David could have very easily remained a good friend and not have anything ruined because of it.

That said, I will still purchase a physical copy of this series as soon as it's complete. Are we getting more than four books? I sure hope so!