Truly Devious · #4
The Box in the Woods
The Truly Devious series continues as Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery.
Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer.
But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls—the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.
Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.
But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.
The series
In the Truly Devious series, Maureen Johnson masterfully blends suspense, wit, and a touch of dark academia to create a gripping mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. At the heart of this atmospheric tale is Stevie Bell, a brilliant, quirky teenager with an obsession for unsolved crimes. When she arrives at the prestigious Ellingham Academy, a school for gifted students, she’s determined to crack the long-unsolved mystery of the Ellingham kidnapping and murder—a crime that has haunted the academy for decades.
Read full series description
As Stevie digs deeper into the past, unraveling clues and confronting long-buried secrets, she becomes entangled in her own modern-day mystery, one that is as chilling and perplexing as the one that first brought her to Ellingham. The series takes readers on a rollercoaster of twists and turns, with suspense that lingers in every page, drawing them into a world where every answer only seems to lead to more questions.
Set against the backdrop of the eerie, almost cinematic beauty of the school, Truly Devious explores themes of genius, obsession, and the search for truth—blending historical intrigue with contemporary mystery. Stevie's intelligence, determination, and unique outlook on the world make her an unforgettable protagonist, navigating both the past and the present with a sharp mind and a strong will.
With its richly drawn characters, haunting atmosphere, and an ever-present sense of tension, Truly Devious is a series that will appeal to anyone who loves a good mystery, particularly those who enjoy intellectual puzzles layered with personal stakes. Each book deepens the mystery, drawing Stevie—and the reader—closer to discovering the truth behind the Ellingham crime... and potentially uncovering an even more dangerous conspiracy in the process. A thrilling, page-turning adventure that captivates from start to finish, Truly Devious is the perfect series for those who crave suspense, intellect, and a touch of the eerie.
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