The Book Nook

A Classic Modern Mystery   Summer is a great time for reading and today’s selection was picked for several reasons.  First, it’s a wonderful mystery with a well-constructed plot and characters.  While aimed at young adults, it’s appeal is broad enough that those wishing to try young adult fiction will find this book a great introduction into that genre.  Finally, it’s the first in a popular trilogy so those who like will find more books to enjoy. “Truly Devious” by Maureen Johnson actually offers two mysteries in one book – a decades-old case tied neatly to a modern investigation. In the 1930s tycoon Albert Ellingham believed learning should be fun and created Ellingham Academy – a fantastic place where students could complete their last two years of high school in a unique environment.  Shortly after the school opened, Ellingham’s wife and daughter were kidnapped with only one clue - a cryptic and mocking note about murder.  Their disappearance would become one of the great unsolved crimes of American history, in spite of a culprit being found and convicted. Fast forward to the present where we meet true-crime aficionado Stephanie Bell, aka Stevie.  Curious by nature, she’s always been fascinated by the case and is thrilled when her application to the academy is accepted.  It’s quite a feat because Ellingham only accept s fifty student per year, offering free tuition along with a nurturing environment for “creative geniuses, radical thinkers and innovators”. Not only will she be able to examine the scene of the crime, but live there as well!  While her plans include making friends and enjoying everything the academy has to offer, her ultimate goal is to solve the cold case, thus launching her career as a brilliant detective. First, she must adjust to a school unlike any she’s experienced.  The campus is every bit as amazing as she’d imagined, and she has good feelings about this new phase of her life.  She hopes to have less trouble fitting in here than she did at her former and more conventional schools.  But to do that she’ll need to get a handle on her odd and interesting housemates, an eclectic and eccentric group. As the semester progresses, Stevie finds herself dealing with strange events that culminate in a shocking death on campus.  It seems history is repeating itself and Stevie’s right in the middle of it. A few things made this whodunit special.  One is the very atmospheric feel that pervaded the novel and another is how well the author created and sustained suspense, working in a bit of romance to good effect.  She has a knack for planning and placing her twists and turns, which continued right to the end. If this were a stand-alone novel, I’d say the pacing was a bit slow at the start, but given this is the first of the Stevie Bell mysteries, it’s fine for laying a solid groundwork.  The plot is intricate but not so complex as to boggle the mind, providing a well-blended combination of contemporary young adult fiction and classic mystery.  The teen’s sarcastic banter and forging of their family of friends were also well done. The characters are diverse, with most facing issues as complex as they are, with the author addressing each in a way that doesn’t seem contrived or thoughtless.  She includes adult situations and language, but not gratuitously.  Social issues are portrayed realistically and one example is Stevie’s struggle with panic attacks.  They’re remarkably well-described and treated with a balanced, empathetic hand.  Stevie is a likeable protagonist who recognizes her own quirks and knows what issues need work. Scattered throughout this very readable novel are enigmatic messages, puzzles and riddles, which enhance rather than muddle the plot.  Readers are shuttled between the original mystery and Stevie’s modern-day investigation via an interweaving timeline that’s handled brilliantly. Fans of classic mysteries will find some comparisons with and definite nods to works by the Queen of Mystery herself - Agatha Christie.  From the clever dedication (which I won’t spoil by quoting) to the cliff-hanger ending, there’s much to like here for a wide audience.  For those who agree, here’s the order of this series with publication dates: 1 “Truly Devious” – 2018 2 “The Vanishing Stair” – 2019 3 “The Hand on the Wall” – 2020 There’s also a fourth novel intended as the series’ first standalone title, “A Box in the Woods” that was published earlier this year. Maureen Johnson is a prolific writer who has penned novels, anthologies and series novels, among other works.  Most are aimed at teens or young adults and several have brought awards.  In addition, she’s coauthored several works including a holiday romance, “Let it Snow” with Lauren Myracle (“Kissing Kate”) and John Green (“The Fault in our Stars”). Her creativity goes beyond writing and she’s been active in theater production, social media and podcasts.  She’s also been a social activist and has raised funds for disaster victims. While I had hoped to solve the mystery along with Stevie, we’ll both have to be patient and I hope the next installment is equally intriguing.