Truly Devious A Mystery
Truly Devious A Mystery by Maureen Johnson, published by HarperCollins on January 16, 2018, is a captivating entry in the young adult fiction genre, spanning 432 pages. The story unfolds at Ellingham Academy, a prestigious private school in Vermont, established by Albert Ellingham, who envisioned a place where learning is intertwined with mystery and riddles. The narrative centers on the infamous kidnapping of Ellingham’s wife and daughter, a case that remains unsolved, marked by a chilling riddle signed by the enigmatic “Truly, Devious.”
In this first installment of the Truly Devious series, readers follow Stevie Bell, a true-crime enthusiast, as she embarks on her journey at Ellingham Academy with the goal of unraveling the cold case. As she navigates her new school life and interacts with a diverse group of housemates, the past resurfaces when the shadow of Truly Devious reappears, leading to new dangers. The book intricately weaves together the historical mystery with Stevie’s personal challenges, inviting readers into a world of intrigue that blends elements of mysteries, detective stories, and ghost stories.
Official synopsis Publisher
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
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