The Hand on the Wall
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4.6 • 222 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
New York Times and USA Today bestseller!
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson delivers the witty and pulse-pounding conclusion to the Truly Devious series as Stevie Bell solves the mystery that has haunted Ellingham Academy for over 75 years.
Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . .
She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.
At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.
Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.
In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.
Praise for the Truly Devious series:
“Readers, hang tight: there’s one more round to come, and if the signs are right, it’ll be to die for.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Agatha Christie-like ecosystem pairs with lacerating contemporary wit, and alternating past and present scenes makes for a multilayered, modern detective story.” —New York Times Book Review
“Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell.” —USA Today (four stars)
“Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” —Bustle
Customer Reviews
YA but definitely entertaining enough for adults
These books were recommended to me by my 17 y/o sister. I’m an avid reader so when someone makes a suggestion I will check it out. These books have me hooked. I have been them non stop! They are young adult books but have definitely kept me entertained. There’s some teenage drama and romance but not so much that it distracts from the story.I am starting the 4th book immediately and will definitely be reading any sequels!
4.5 stars for Stevie Bell solving the murders of the past &present, all with a pretty little bow.
A round of applause for the trilogy that is the Truly Devious series! (Yes, I know that the author ended up extending the series as most authors do when the books tend to be more successful than they had anticipated, but I finally got my satisfied ending with a bow that I like to have at the end of each book, which was essentially why I didn’t rate the first in the series higher.) I give this novel itself 4.5 stars! & I cannot wait to read where the author takes Stevie Bell in her follow up mysteries.
I wish this series had been out when I was younger because it absolutely would have intrigued me enough to start reading some of the original works of the murder mystery greats - like Agatha Christie. (shoot, who am I kidding? I still haven’t read any of her works but I definitely want to go to the library and pull out ten more murders mysteries- I forgot how much I loved them.)
I think what was satisfying for me was that I had accurately predicted who had a hand in the original kidnapping/murders, and when it came to the current murders I went back and forth between three different characters, essentially ruling out one of them, and thus narrowing it down to two different people. Had I gone with my original gut reaction, I would have been right! So ultimately, the author had tricked me with her twists and turns. I guess I was feeling smug yet humbled, all in good fun.
This novel finishes up the original kidnapping/murder mystery of Albert Ellingham’s family from back in the 1930’s, as well as the current accidents/murders of current times. It once again follows Stevie Bell, amateur detective, and her friends as they continue on with their lives and have more twists, turns, and secret tunnels popping up. It gives a bit more backstory to some of the characters who were introduced in the second book in the series, and by the end, it answers all questions that I had remaining after the first two books were finished.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed this series and I now I can’t wait to read more novels by this author. These 3 books would be perfect for a road trip, beach day, rainy day, or bored day. They are quick paced and a page turner. I had seen some people say that not enough stuff happens within the first book, or that it read more middle schooler level, but I think that’s because there wasn’t any smut within the pages in the first. Not that there is too much of it in the following two books of the series, but there’s was definitely some young love/confusing hormones within it. (I personally don’t care too much for all of that stuff in a novel, and I usually steer away from “romance” novels to begin with.) The amount that was within the books was about how much I enjoy reading. That being said though- I straight up did NOT care for the guy who the main character was swooning over, I find him to be quite narcissistic and I have a feeling or a hope that the author could potentially explore that type of twist down the line with that character, though only time can tell. And on that note, I cannot wait to see what other crimes Stevie Bell sinks her teeth in.
Returning reluctant reader
This series has kept a reluctant reader’s attention and drive.