Book Review: Truly Devious  

By Maureen Johnson 

5 Stars 

Truly Devious is an expert novel written by an expert author. To have read so many of Johnson's books is a privilege; her work is truly an art. Truly Devious follows Stevie Bell, attending Ellingham Academy, where she was admitted based on her passion for the Ellingham Case, an infamous murder mystery that took place on the school's very campus. Getting into the novel was easy - the second I read the first line, I was hooked. I wanted to know: what happened at Ellingham Academy? The characters feel as if they are 3D and not merely words on paper. They have a personality and a look to inspire the movie playing in my head as I read. "One more chapter", I said. Over and over. Again and again. I no longer felt like a reader while reading this book; I was a part of the book. I walked alongside Stevie as she worked to solve the infamous case, and her friends became mine. To be immersed in a novel is rare, and to say I was immersed in Truly Devious is an understatement. I have yet to read a novel comparable to that of this one. Following completing Truly Devious, I continued to read the rest of the series, and I must say… it just gets BETTER. I truly mean that Maureen Johnson is an expert author. Stevie has become a near and dear character to my heart, whose story I continue to reminisce about every fall as the leaves begin to turn. If I could pay to read a book again for the first time, I would read Truly Devious.   

Reviewed by Erika 

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