Audio CD, 8 CDs
Narrated by: Kate RuddRelease Date: January 22, 2019Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Read from: August 15-23, 2019Truly Devious, #2Source: LibraryTW: anxiety/panic attacks, murder, death, abductionFor fans of: Mysteries, Realistic Fiction, Boarding School, Contemporary, YA
All Stevie Bell wanted was to find the key to the Ellingham mystery, but instead she found her classmate dead. And while she solved that murder, the crimes of the past are still waiting in the dark. Just as Stevie feels she’s on the cusp of putting it together, her parents pull her out of Ellingham academy.
For her own safety they say. She must move past this obsession with crime. Now that Stevie’s away from the school of topiaries and secret tunnels, and her strange and endearing friends, she begins to feel disconnected from the rest of the world. At least she won’t have to see David anymore. David, who she kissed. David, who lied to her about his identity—son of despised politician Edward King. Then King himself arrives at her house to offer a deal: He will bring Stevie back to Ellingham immediately. In return, she must play nice with David. King is in the midst of a campaign and can’t afford his son stirring up trouble. If Stevie’s at school, David will stay put.
The tantalizing riddles behind the Ellingham murders are still waiting to be unraveled, and Stevie knows she’s so close. But the path to the truth has more twists and turns than she can imagine—and moving forward involves hurting someone she cares for. In New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson’s second novel of the Truly Devious series, nothing is free, and someone will pay for the truth with their life.
*MY THOUGHTS*
After finishing the first one, I was SURE I would jump right into this one. But for some reason, it took me numerous attempts and multiple formats before I finally got to it. The dry writing style worked for the first one, but I wasn’t too big a fan for the second one. But the mystery and everything was still a definite winner.
After Stevie is forced to go back home by her parents, a weird turn of events puts her in awful position…. she goes back to Ellingham and his son finally begins to act right. So, Stevie tried her best to hold up her end of the deal. While there, David gives her another deal, “do that thing you do.”
I loved the first one so much and I’m not even sure why…. The writing style was weird and it just worked. This one was much the same. Definitely one you have to be in the mood for. And for the most part, I had to work up to it. Finally, when I was ready, it worked.
The plot was what I loved most about this book. I love how Johnson wrote two different stories at two different time periods and still made them connect in some way. And the way she revealed everything was pretty cool too. Its these types of stories that impress me so much about authors and their books. This series is incredibly cool and has such a great storyline and I can’t wait to see what the next one will bring.
That ending though was NOT great lol Another one that made me hate that I didn’t wait until right before the next book, because LAWD the ending of this was stressful. All the reveals made my heart almost pop out my chest, but it was the ending that made me want to say forget everything else lol This ending isn’t for the weak.
This book was great in some ways and definitely needs some work in others. Make sure you’re in the mood for it, and once you are, have fun with it. But still prepare yourself for the ending. This book, as with any mystery, is a roller coaster and will leave you satisfied but angry when you turn the last page.
Overall, I give this
Real rating 3.5