Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Book: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12
Rating: 4 Stars

A little more than a century ago, the wealthy and eccentric Albert Ellingham created a prestigious and selective school like none other, driven by his love for games and unconventional methods of learning. However, just as his dreams for the school were coming to fruition, a horrible tragedy struck: his daughter and wife were kidnapped with only a demand for a ransom and a bone chilling note left behind, signed ‘Truly,  Devious’. Now, almost 70 years later, Stevie Bell’s dreams are coming true as well she begins attending Albert Ellingham’s school. Stevie is a passionate true-crime lover with dreams of joining the FBI, and the mystery of who exactly was behind the Ellingham's kidnapping consumes her attention. When the same disturbing events begin to repeat themselves and ‘Truly, Devious’ makes a comeback, it’s up to Stevie to get to the bottom of it- before anyone else gets hurt. This is a classic mystery novel with plenty of suspense and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I especially enjoyed how the perspective alternated between the events of the present and the past, so the reader could piece together the whole story gradually, focusing on two mysteries that are deeply interconnected. I also enjoyed the writing style, which occasionally had some humorous sarcasm and thoroughly built the setting and the atmosphere; in fact, the writing style made me feel that this book was written almost as a movie, and could be effortlessly adapted into one. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys more classic mysteries and true crime, but with a modern twist.