I loved the first three books in what I think most assumed was going to be a Truly Devious trilogy, so the surprise of a 4th book was exciting! And I’m happy to say that it lived up to the others. Stevie is back at it again solving a cold case, but this time at a summer camp and there are still people alive from the time of the murders in the 1970s. From here it proceeds like any good teenaged Agatha Christie novel.

One thing I was particularly pleased about was the further development of Nate’s character, which I think was brushed over in the first books. He finally becomes a real person in my mind. And David becomes much more likable in my mind than his previous displays.

Overall I am very pleased and excited and hopeful to see more from this series!

I really liked the Truly Devious trilogy although when I started it, I didn't realize it was going to be a trilogy so I was frustrated by the cliffhanger. I loved that this was a standalone - I think it helps that the characters were already set up in Truly Devious so it was easier to tell a complete story in a single book. In this one, Stevie (who has gotten press for solving the century old Ellingham mystery) is recruited by the new owner of a sleepaway camp in Massachusetts to come work as a camp counselor and to solve a grisly murder from 1978 that became a famous unsolved true crime case known as "The Box in the Woods." I liked seeing Stevie totally out of her element in the camp setting, and there were some good slasher movie jump scares in this, as well as some good alternating past/present narrative. Stevie does solve the case, which turns out to have a solution that was pretty ridiculous but didn't really take me out of the story even in that ridiculousness. I liked the way that it was revealed through writing from the past. I'd read a whole series of standalone Stevie Bell mysteries, especially if David and her BFFs are involved.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and Johnson did not disappoint. I love her Sherlock Holmes-style writing for Stevie's story and I was happy to be back in the Truly Devious world, even though it did not take place at Ellingham. It was actually refreshing to see Stevie and her friends somewhere else and I really enjoyed the plot of this book.

Great continuation of the Truly Devious series. Stevie is back and hunting down another cold-case killer during her summer break from school. This time she has been hired by the new owner of a camp called Sunny Pines, which was the location of a group murder in 1978. Stevie and her friends from Ellington Academy head to the camp to work on solving the crimes. Luckily for Stevie, many of the people impacted by the murders still live in town. She begins to collect information to help solve the original murders when new murders begin to happen. The Box in the Woods is a quickly-paced mystery that keeps you turning page after page to see what will happen next. While you need to read the first two books to get caught up in Stevie fandom, this is a fabulous addition to the series.

What a great stand-alone follow up to one of my favorite recent series! While the main series always makes me want to run away to Vermont in the fall, this book made me seriously consider the Berkshires in summer. I loved the ambiance of the camp, and the book was chock full of Johnson’s standard humor (for example, the person who brings Stevie in on the case is a disrupter who sells subscription boxes of… boxes). The mystery is well-executed, and while I guessed part of the resolution, I completely missed other aspects. I actually like it when that happens—it shows the book is grounded in logic, but still able to surprise.

A+!

I wasn't sure what to expect from a new book in a series that was pretty well completed, but I was pleased with this addition to Stevie's story. It has the same vibes as the original 'Truly Devious' books but allows for the knowledge that Stevie has gained and the friends who have gotten her there. We have some elements of the mystery that will feel very familiar from the first three books, but then the "in the woods" aspect brings in enough that is new to keep readers from feeling like the story is a knock-off. My only complaint is that time-wise, the story wraps up really quickly. We expect to be at the camp with Stevie for about 6 weeks, and the story actually concludes in a matter of days. I can understand not wanting to draw this storyline out for two additional books, but we had so much build-up that I expected a little more from the ending.

The story has good representation of mental health, diverse relationships and gender identities. All in all, it was a satisfying continuation and a quick read. If Johnson keeps writing these, I'll keep reading them, but I wouldn't mind something with a little more length next time.

It is hard to find a good YA mystery, so when I learned that there was going to be another Stevie Bell book, a standalone taking place after the original trilogy, I was thrilled. I enjoyed the Truly Devious series and I was curious about Stevie’s next adventure. Maureen Johnson couldn’t possibly top the Truly Devious case, could she?! Well, I can safely say that she can, and she does. The Box in the Woods may be my favorite book from the entire series! 

I especially love Stevie’s journey in The Box in the Woods. Maureen does an amazing job of handling Stevie’s internal struggle with the horrors of murder. Unlike the Truly Devious case, the town of Barlow Corners is still grieving from the Box in the Woods murders. Family members and friends of the murder victims are still alive and for Stevie, this is a new experience (the Truly Devious murders took place in the 1930s). Stevie has to grapple with the fact that Barlow Corners is still being impacted by the Box in the Woods murders and as such, the case needs to be handled in a delicate manner. 

As to whether Stevie is able to solve the Box in the Woods murders, I won’t say. All I will say is that I did not foresee the book’s big reveal. Unlike the Truly Devious case, I was not able to solve the Box in the Woods case (and I love it when I cannot predict a book’s ending!). Too many times I have predicted a book’s ending (especially in YA mysteries and thrillers), so it was refreshing to read a book where the ending pleasantly surprised me. 

The Box in the Woods will delight both old fans and new fans! Maureen provides enough information that new fans will be able to enjoy Stevie’s latest adventure just as much as the old fans. For those fans being introduced to Stevie Bell for the first time, The Box in the Woods does contain slight spoilers from the Truly Devious series (don’t worry, though, the outcome of the Truly Devious case is not revealed!). For those fans who are returning to Stevie's world, The Box in the Woods contains many nods to the original trilogy (I especially enjoyed finding the many Easter eggs throughout my reading of the book!). 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

I loved that Stevie was able to continue her detective work. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading it after the first three books. The characters personalities were developed throughout the series and that is something I think you would miss if you read this first.

The Minerva house gang is back together and just like the rest of the series I didn’t want to put it down. Nate was my favorite this time. I loved his dry humor, and he added the light touches to the creepy suspense that came with the murders. While it is not a dual timeline, we got flashbacks of events the night of the murder. This helped me get to know those involved more and added to the twists later in the book. I had so many theories about what happened in 1978 at Camp Wonder Falls, but in the end I was wrong. The ending was wrapped up nicely as the clues came together. I think Stevie’s story could continue and I would keep reading them.

In this fourth book in the Truly Devious series and the first standalone mystery, Stevie Bell and friends take jobs at a notorious summer camp, which gives Stevie the opportunity to solve a 40-year old murder mystery.

I've enjoyed the Truly Devious series, but have always found them to be rather forgettable after finishing. That issue remains true with The Box in the Woods. The characters are, as always, the strong point, but this book lacks the excitement of Ellingham Academy. The way the mystery wraps up is... unbelievably wild, and I didn't find it fun or satisfying. It's an extreme deus ex machina, which takes away the fun of trying to piece things together as the story unfolds. Altogether, this was a disappointment and my least favorite of the series so far.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

THE BOX IN THE WOODS is a nice sequel to Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series, but it is clearly just that - a sequel to a phenomenal series that people were not ready to let go. While I always enjoy a good story about Stevie, Nate and Janelle, it was clearly a copy and paste plot with a few key changes - let's make it summer camp instead of a private academy! - that doesn't ring as true as the original trilogy did. It is not a bad book, it just feels trite compared to Maureen Johnson's earlier books.

The Box in the Woods gives us some more time with the loved characters of the Truly Devious series. It is summer, and the popularity and excitement after Stevie solved the Truly Devious murders has begun to wear off. Stevie is bored and uninspired working at the grocery store deli, so when the opportunity to go to summer camp and solve a murder from 1978 comes up, Stevie jumps at the chance. I enjoyed the setting of this one, and loved getting a little more of the characters. However, the mystery itself kind of fell flat for me. There were really no clues about who was responsible for the murders, and no way to figure out the mystery yourself. It felt really out of left field. The murder itself was so interesting and gripping, that it was such a disappointment to find out who did it and why.

The Box in the Woods is a quick and fun summer mystery novel. The plot is an extremely fun and fast paced ride. It seemed like there was always something going on, which I loved. I also loved all the twists and turns this book has. I had suspicions about who the culprit was, but I was never sure of anything. Overall, it was a fun and engaging story with great characters and a lot of emotions attached to these wonderful characters. I highly recommend to those who enjoy some fun young adult thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

Following up on the wildly successful mystery series featuring teenage sleuth Stevie Bell, The Box in the Woods, chronicles Stevie's first case outside of Ellingham academy. While home for the summer, Stevie receives an email asking for her assistance solving another cold case, this one dating back to the 70's and involving the mysterious murder of four summer camp counselors. While Stevie herself always aims to be respectful and conscientious while investigating, the same cannot be said of the man who hired her to solve the crime, a man who seems to be intent on making a profit from his true crime podcast. Unlike with the Ellingham murders, there are still many friends and family members of the victims who reside in the community. Stevie brings along reinforcement however in the form of friends and quickly sets about searching for clues and piecing together patchy bits of evidence in the hopes of forming a cohesive and detailed list of what exactly happened and who is behind the grisly murders.

The Box in the Woods is the perfect summertime caper full of mystery, suspense, and summer camp/ horror film vibes. Many members of the original trilogy appear in the fourth installment as well, bring with them all their snark, humor, friendship, and sleuthing skills. The mystery took center stage and was well plotted with a shocking twist towards the end. Stevie has grown over the course of the series and her friendships have evolved as well, adding in some warmth and humor to an otherwise dark and sinister plot. I highly recommend Box in the Woods for those looking for a summer mystery with a dash of friendship, family and romance thrown in the mix.

Stevie is at a bit of a loss while back home working at a deli counter during summer break. The new owner of Camp Wonder Falls, invites her over to work on a previous crime from the 70s, for his upcoming documentary and podcast, Stevie immediately says yes. It’s especially appealing since she gets to invite her closest friends, Nate and Janelle, as well as her boyfriend, David, to tag along. When a new murder takes place just as Stevie starts asking questions around town, the gang find themselves in danger once more. A few snippets relating back to the events in 1978 and Stevie’s empathy for the grieving friends and relatives of the dead, who still yearn for answers, provide a strong emotional grounding for the case.

This was a good read. Enjoyed it! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing to me to read an advanced copy!

Maureen Johnson never seems to fail me (please note: I've read the entire Truly Devious series and her Hello Cruel Heart book, so far, so the verdict is still out on previous books she's written). I love that this book starts out with Stevie in a murder mystery creative slump and that her character stays true to who she started off as, just a little wiser. I did feel like the ending was a bit of a surprise, not so much in a bad way as it was in a way that I wish she'd written just a little more background to wrap up the story. However, the book still had me up all night reading, completely engrossed in the story and unable to put it down. I think Maureen hit this one out of the park, overall. I already can't wait for the next one and I only just finished this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an early look at this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of the Truly Devious books, I was really looking forward to this book as it steps out of the setting of the other three and takes Stevie out of her newly found comfort zone. Our sleuth has solved the mysteries of Ellingham Academy, but her itch to solve crime has not been scratched. During her time home for the summer, she receives a message asking for help solving a cold case at a summer camp, and desperate to get out of her 'normal' funk Stevie jumps on the opportunity (of course dragging her best friends into it as well).

While I love Maureen's writing, this one sort of fell short for me. Stevie outside of a school setting ends up even more loose and less likely to follow the rules than before. She gets into even more trouble, as if she hasn't learned anything from the three books prior. She continues to lean heavily on her friends and not grow as a person. She eagerly throws herself into danger in the dark, ignoring warning signs and poking around where she knows she might get killed. The only time she ever perks up is when her (obviously not good for her) boyfriend shows back up. As much as I love a good enemies to lovers, Stevie and David just are not it- as a couple, or as friends.

The set up for the crime is catching, but unfortunately the characters made the book unlikable. I do plan on continuing with the series, if only to see what Stevie does with her life now that her crime solving has gone beyond the doors of Ellingham and in hopes that she will dump daddy issues, run away from my problems and drag you with me David, and realize that the one she fits best with is Nate. :)

Stevie Bell and her friends are back, and they’re heading to summer camp. To solve a cold case murder in the middle of the woods. NBD. The Box in the Woods opens with its eponymous chapter, walking us through the 1970s horror scene of camp counselors heading out into the woods to smoke and listen to Fleetwood Mac and all the way through the next morning when their bodies are found in an old hunting cover box. From jump, despite my affinity for the mystery in the original trilogy and worry that a new one wouldn’t hold up, I was hooked.

I’ll preface this by noting that I would read any and everything Maureen Johnson writes, be it another novel or just her grocery list. She tells such wonderful stories and crafts great characters and there is a reason I kept up with her writing from the moment I first read a book of hers at age 12.

All this to say: there is no YA mystery book I recommend more to my students than the Truly Devious series. And for every student I checked it out to, I excitedly told them that when they finish the trilogy there was a new one coming this summer. I more than hyped myself up for this book and I am so thrilled that my expectations were met.

Maureen Johnson continues to deliver mysteries with twists and turns you genuinely do not see coming, but also brings in the important, ethical discussion about how the true crime “culture” affects those involved or related to the crime. The 1970s murder means that victims’ families are still alive and still mad about the bungled case and absolutely not happy that Stevie has come knocking on their doors at the behest of—as Stevie eventually finds out—a man who wants to solve the crime for clout and not for justice.

For this element alone, The Box in the Woods sky rockets to the top of my recommended reading. And as with the first books in this series, readers come for the mystery and stay for the genuine teen characters who navigate their complicated, real lives as they investigate.

Many thanks to @Netgalley for the e-galley in exchange for reviews and even more thanks to Maureen Johnson for bringing us more of Stevie Bell. I look forward to practically throwing this new installment to all my mystery-loving students come fall.

If you have ever watched a slasher summer camp movie and thought that you could outwit the killer, this is the book for you. Our favorite high school detective, Stevie Bell, has the chance to solve another cold case when she's invited to investigate the box in the woods mystery. Four camp counselors snuck away from sleepaway camp to smoke marijuana and listen to Fleetwood Mac and none of them walked back out. They were brutally and violently murdered in the late 1970s and the small town of Barlow Corners has never been the same. Flash forward to the present and the new owner of Camp Wonderfalls rebranded as Camp Sunny Pines after the murders, is determined to solve the murders and record a true-crime podcast about the process. Enter Stevie, Janelle, Nate, and David. Stevie's deductive abilities never fail to impress, and this novel is no exception. Stevie digs into the history of the town and the witnesses, but someone seems determined to keep Stevie and crew from solving the crime. Danger lurks around every corner at the camp in the woods, and it will be a race against the clock for Stevie to solve the crime before she becomes its next victim. The Box in the Woods is a great standalone, but I highly recommend the Truly Devious series if you've not already read it!
Special thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

In The Box in the Woods, Stevie is trying to have a normal summer even though she is very bored until a stranger who recently bought a summer camp for kids reaches out to Stevie. Now the owner of this camp is asking Stevie to come “work” at the summer camp and investigate an unsolved case that happened in that camp years early where four counselors were murdered. He is hoping to make a podcast about this unsolved case alongside Stevie’s help.

Love the cover and Characters. love that Stevie and the crew are back together again. I thought it pulled things together a little too quickly, but it works and the build up is worth it. This one truly keeps you guessing and has twists that you don't see coming. I highly recommend this book and this series

I really enjoyed the previous books in this series and I enjoyed this one for the most part. The twist was a little too out there for me, but I really enjoyed spending time with these characters again.