This book was an excellent example of a young adult "murder mystery." Stevie's group of friends are diverse and interesting. They are supportive of each other, but not in a saccharine way. The ending tied up all of the loose ends perfectly.

Maureen Johnson has done it again!! Such a great mystery. I am usually able to guess the endings of mystery books/ solve the mystery, but I never can in these books. This book kept me on the edge of my seat while also not being too scary. In the beginning, I was a little annoying that the plot wasn't picking up very fast, but I think that groundwork had to be layed out for the rest of the book to make sense. I really liked the relationships in this book, and think that they are actually even better than Truly Devious. Such a fun little add on to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing it out in the world!

Fresh from catching a killer at her exclusive boarding school, student sleuth Stevie Bell is back in her hometown for the summer, bored and looking for adventure, when she gets an offer she can’t refuse: Come to Camp Sunny Pines to crack a cold case (the 1978 murders of four camp counselors) and invite your best friends!

Assisted by pals Janelle and Nate and boyfriend David, Stevie jumps into action. No spoilers here. The writing is breezy, the clues and crime-solving methods are intriguing, and the reunion of Stevie and her boarding school besties, though short on Janelle, is great good fun, especially if you’ve read the Simply Devious trilogy. If you haven’t, get to it (though you don’t need to have read the trilogy to thoroughly enjoy this one). And note Johnson's references to Frances Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies; they're a fun side-trip.

Maureen Johnson has crafted a clever teen mystery referencing both the Nutshell studies by Frances Glessner Lee and slasher flicks of the '70s. Young fans of true crime will appreciate both the references and the characters that make this an appealing story. Though the mystery sometimes takes a backseat to Stevie's friendships and romance, the clues are there and the ending feels satisfying. A good read for series fans and those new to the Truly Devious timeline.

4.5 stars

I had thought the Truly Devious series was done, but I was glad to see Stevie and co. get a new mystery to solve in this fourth book. I don’t know if I’m just out of touch with YA these days, but it seems like straight-up mysteries aren’t that common. I don’t read a ton of mysteries, but I enjoy this series—the dual narrative for past and present crimes and the YA elements of found family, friendship, and romance are an interesting combo.

I never would have figured this one out—it was quite a twist at the end! I loved getting Janelle, Nate, and Stevie back together in an adventure. As always, Nate had the best lines, but David was a close second. It would have been nice to have him around more, and it looks like he’ll be somewhat out of the picture again if there’s another book. I do hope that Johnson continues to do stand-alone mysteries like this one, as the pacing worked really well. Maybe a tad too accelerated at the end, but Stevie was so clever and tricky I didn’t really mind.

A nice addition to the series and one I’ll be recommending.

4.5 stars - this might be the best one I’ve read from Stevie and the gang... This book went from completely not on my radar to one of my most anticipated books of 2021 in the matter of a few weeks. I recently read the entire Truly Devious series in one go and it kind of re-sparked a desire for reading in me. It’s nothing *completely* out of the ordinary, just a fun and sometimes serious series about a girl solving an old murder case that turns into a present day murder case. But I read it at just the right time, where its bingeable format made it all I could think about for a week. The original trilogy was paced a little strange, just because it’s not typical for one mystery to span an entire trilogy. But it worked like one giant book, and I was happier for having read it.

Bring in The Box in the Woods. It’s the perfect sequel spin-off a la High School Musical 2; it’s the summer time story. Stevie solved the Ellingham murders, but now she’s home for the summer and selling ham (she works at a deli - see what I did there?) She gets an email asking her to come stay at a summer camp and potentially help solve a grisly crime that happened there in the 70s. And this is Stevie Bell we are talking about. She is practically headed there before the confirmation email even sends.

Even better, Janelle and Nate get to come along. David isn’t able to because of work. He does get to visit later, and I like that choice. I like that no love interests actually stay at the camp and that the trio of friends get to just hang out together for a while. Their school year was so stressful and it’s nice to see them, especially Nate, enjoying themselves. I love that I already know and love these characters. It really helped with the pacing of the story; we were able to dive right into the case way quicker.

Stevie quickly learns that this murder case is way different than the Ellingham murders of the 1930s. There are still a lot of people in the camp’s small town who are still fractured from the stuff that went down in 1978. The victims’ siblings, teachers, exes, friends... they all have no answers and have been sensationalized by all kinds of reporters and such through the years. Stevie knows how to keep emotions out of investigation, but it’s impossible not to see how this case affected people.

The murder case is pretty emotional - 4 teenage camp counselors were murdered in the woods one summer night, and it completely rocked the town, of course. The way it ends (and it actually ends, in just this one novel!) is pretty okay. It wouldn’t be as exciting of an ending if not for Stevie’s now-signature Holmes-esque crime explaining and solving sessions she gives in front of all the suspects and people involved. Completely dramatic and probably unrealistic? Maybe. Trope-y and totally fun to read scenes? Absolutely.

We also have Stevie and David’s relationship. I’ve seen a ton of folks in reviews shipping Stevie and Nate...... girl what? They’re clearly best friends and I’m so obsessed with their friendship. David has really come to be a great boyfriend in this book, he calls Stevie “princess” which is to die for and also which is just funny because she’s so not a princess type but she is to him which makes me emo lmao. And David clearly has issues and so does Stevie and David even says at one point “we both have problems,” and idk, they’re not toxic with each other in any way, they just have difficulty communicating their true feelings sometimes. Which, with Stevie’s anxiety and David’s upbringing, totally tracks. They obviously think it’s worth working though so I support it, idc.

Also pleaseeeeee let there be more books about these guys and please let it be on a trip to England and I am saying this for no reason whatsoever absolutely none I’m appalled you’d think otherwise

It was so great to be back with Stevie and the gang! The Truly Devious series is one of my favourites, so when I heard that there was going to be a 4th book I totally freaked out. I’m not going to lie, I was a tad bit skeptical going into this because it wasn’t following the Ellingham Academy mystery anymore, but I ended up liking it a lot.

In The Box in the Woods, we follow Stevie as she is requested to work as a counsellor and help solve a murder case at the camp that happened back in the 70s. I loved the camp setting so much, and it had the same creepy vibes that the other books did. I was so invested in the mystery that I read it all in one sitting. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

While I did love the mystery part of it, the characters are really what makes this series so great in my mind. Stevie was the best as always, and I loved getting more Nate and Janelle content as well. Contrary to many people’s opinions, I actually don’t mind David all that much, and I liked him a lot more in this book.

There was never a dull moment, and I think that fans of the series will really enjoy this. I hope that there will be another book after this one because I’m not ready to say goodbye to this series just yet!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this. I was absolutely ecstatic to receive this ARC after falling in LOVE with the trilogy. Seriously, this series got me hooked on mystery books.

5/5. I was a little hesitant to read this just because the OG trilogy was beautifully done over the course of the three books, so I wasn't sure how much there was left in Stevie's world...but as long as there's a cold case, Stevie has a purpose. I LOVE Stevie. The way she functions is SO unique, and I would love for her to continue being explored along with her handling of anxiety. I was sucked in from the beginning with this book and could not put it down...SURPRISE! (ahaha, you'll get it when you read the book). Seriously though, this is SO captivating, and I didn't see the ending of who committed the crime until it was being exposed at the end in true Stevie fashion.

I didn't even realize the book was ending until Stevie was exposing the crime and her logic and I was like...wait...WHAT? It SUCH a good mystery also filled with Stevie's quirks, Nate's mannerisms, Janelle's love for crafts, and.....DAVID! I was pleasantly surprised to see the gang back together...including a surprise (ahaha) appearance at the end by another Ellingham person...I would 10/10 continue reading Stevie solving cases.

When I found out about this book at the beginning of the year I was so ecstatic that Stevie would have another adventure solving a mystery. Truly Devious was the first YA Mystery I read and it’s what got me out of a reading slump as well as started my love for mysteries! Maureen Johnson never disappoints and this one hooked me right from the beginning.

As with the previous books, there are two timelines as well as two-point-of-views. In the present timeline the point-of-view corresponds with Stevie Bell. The real life Sherlock who is obsessed with murder. The past timeline has a few different point-of-views as well as something else but it’s a secret and it ties everything in.

Stevie is still the same ‘ol Stevie and she is accompanied by Janelle and Nate. I have always enjoyed Nate as he is hilarious and really gives us the comedic relief. I would say that he is more present than Janelle at times but she is still always there for Stevie which I love. And of course, David does make appearances and I’m not going to lie I actually liked him a lot in this book.

Since the mystery wraps up by the end the book is pretty quick paced and I was devouring it. It was hard to set it down once the timeline changed because the chapter would leave off on a cliffhanger and I had to know what would happen next. I may have stayed up past the time I usually go to bed because I kept saying, “just one more chapter!”. I also thought I would be murdered in my sleep but that is neither here nor there, haha. I’m a chicken!

There are a lot of suspenseful moments. I also kept trying to figure out who it could be and every time I had an idea along came another plot twist! I really wasn’t expecting the reveal as well as the why. It was intense and definitely unique.

Overall, this was another fantastic book from this author! It was just what I needed and left me wanting more. I really do hope that there will be more books because I love these characters and I never want it to end.

Box in the Woods follows our favorite friend group from The Truly Devious books; Stevie, Nate, Janelle, and David as they head onto their next adventure at a summer camp called Sunny Pines. Sunny Pines was formally known as Camp Wonder Falls, which is known for the 1978 unsolved murders of four of it camp counselors. The new owner invites Stevie and her friends to work at the camp over the summer to help reopen, and hopefully solve, this murderous mystery.

I loved seeing this cast of characters back together again. Stevie is always so great, but I have to admit that Nate stole the show this time around. I also really loved the setting of the summer camp. It was refreshing to see them in a new place, but it also held that classic creepy summer camp murder feel which made it have a fun aspect. My one complaint about the book is honestly about the revel. I felt like it was just too far fetched. If they had just toned parts of it down it still could’ve been a reasonable revel, but I felt that it was slightly too much.

Overall, this is a great read. It is so nice to be able to dive into a new mystery with characters that I already know and love. With that being said, if you have not read the original Truly Devious books I highly recommend reading them before picking up this one. I have seen a few people saying that you don’t have to read them to read this one, but you will be missing out on so much such as getting to know the characters, past conflicts, and so many references to the past mystery. So, if you have not read the first few books, pick them up! They are great! If you have read them, enjoy this great stand alone mystery!

Although this book is a stand alone, if you have not read the Truly Devious series stop what you are doing and get on it. Stevie Bell is what I wish I was when I was in high school. She is brash, unapologetic and loves true crime! In the Truly Devious serious she gets accepted into a prestigious and remote boarding school and solves a cold case that has haunted the school for decades. In this book we find Stevie home for the summer and bored. That is until she gets invited to a summer camp that is the location of a brutal murder of 4 teenage camp counselors that has been unsolved since 1978. The new owner of the camp wants Stevie to come and do a podcast with him about the murderer and hopefully solve it. The best part, she gets to invite her best friends from school Nate and Janelle and her boyfriend David. What could be more perfect than being around the people she loves the most doing what she does best, solving cold cases. Unfortunately, small towns hold big secrets and summer camps are always notorious for strange happenings.

I’m so happy there is a 4th book in this series. I love Stevie Bell and her friends. I was a little worried when I saw that the book was set at summer camp instead of the school (which is almost like a character itself), but it turned out great.

As someone who grew up with the Friday the 13th movies, I think the murder mystery camp setting is great and will be very entertaining summer reading.

I really hope the ending is hinting that there may be more to come in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to have a pre-release copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. I also have the audiobook in my preorders for when it releases on June 15th. I ordered it back in January as soon as I heard it was available. 😁

If you read the Truly Devious series, you’ve probably been waiting for this book! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from @netgalley last week and couldn’t wait to catch up with Stevie Bell and her classmates at Ellingham Academy. Stevie is home for the summer and missing her friends, so when she gets a request to help with an unsolved mystery at a summer camp, she puts on her detective hat and boards a train to Camp Sunny Pines (aka Camp Wonder Falls, aka Murder Camp.) Under the pretense of working as camp counselors, Stevie, Janelle, and Nate investigate a cold case murder that took place on camp grounds in 1978. Will Stevie solve the case? Will David make an appearance? You’ll have to buy the book when it is released in June to find out! If you haven’t read the Truly Devious series, download the books from Hoopla and find out what all the hype is about!

The Box in the Woods will make a great addition to our YA fiction collection in the @reddoglibrary. I hope the author continues to write books that feature Stevie Bell and her investigative skills. Wouldn’t it be fun to follow her through college, then as an FBI agent?!

I loved this series, and the author especially. The book was amazing, and did not dissapoint. Please read this book

I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC. I loved the other books in the series, and I was excited to get my hands on this.

Any fan of the Truly, Devious series is going to love this next installment. In this book, we move away from the secluded Ellingham Academy to a bustling summer camp, where the unsolved Box in the Woods murders occurred in 1978. This book is set at a much faster pace than the other books in the series, but it keeps you guessing until the end. I loved it, and hope that there is much more to come in the future!

Stevie Bell will always be my favorite detective; Sherlock Holmes be damned.

The Box In The Woods is our first adventure with Stevie outside the Ellingham Academy, but that doesn't give it any less of that pulse-pounding, read-until-the-early-morning feeling. Stevie, bored already after one week on her summer job, receives an offer she can't refuse- come solve another case. Carson is a rich subscription box creator who purchased Camp Sunny Pines with, well, let's just say less than pure motivation- it's the site of the famous Box In the Woods murders that took place in the 70's, and he wants to capitalize on it. Stevie is invited to bring her friends, and convinces Nate and Janelle to join her as 'camp counsellors'- but in actuality, they'll be assisting Stevie in solving the case.

Stevie slowly wins over the townsfolk and begins investigating. In true- Truly Devious fashion though, it's not all it appears to be. Soon Stevie finds herself wrapped up in a 40-year-old-mystery- except this time, witnesses are alive to guide her way. I LOVE the friendship and dynamic between Stevie, Nate, and Janelle, and how they're always looking out for each other and willing to support Stevie in whatever way she needs.

Fans of David, you'll be happy to know he makes an appearance and- spoiler alert- ends up once again saving the day. David haters, you'll be delighted to hear that his role in the book is actually pretty minimal. The ending is a bit scrambled, which is why it's four stars and not five. It seems like we go from Stevie having NO IDEA what happened, to all of a sudden giving a TED talk for what happened. After reading it, it's easy to see why it was written the way it was, but while reading, it definitely broke immersion for me to figure out what the heck was going on.

This book serves as a great stand-alone for those of you who are curious to read this series, but don't want to start all the way with the first book (although you should, because it's really, really good.) In a lot of series, it's clear when the best books are behind whatever new is coming out, and more and more outlandish things keep happening that suspend belief. That's NOT the case with this series. Please, please Maureen Johnson, KEEP WRITING!!!

Maureen Johnson has done it again. "The Box in the Woods" is a great closeout book to the Truly Devious series. Though I'm sad it has come to an end, this was a wonderful read to have done so.

An entertaining mystery with well established characters, The Box in the Woods sees the return of Stevie Bell and friends as they head to summer camp to work as counselors and solve another cold case murder. The setting is definitely one of the books' strong points; it has a great, classic slasher film vibe. The book itself, meanwhile, feels a bit like a summer special rather--an added adventure outside of the usual television season. But it works, and fans of the first three books should enjoy this one as well. Also, I have never been a fan of David, and I am still decidedly not. However, he was more palatable here than in the previous entries.

My library will be purchasing this book.

Just as with the Truly Devious series, I gobbled up this book. Actually, I delayed my gratification of this book because I was trying to get through a different ARC that wasn't grabbing me so I used finishing this one as my reward for slogging through the other. Even though I read it fast and enjoyed myself with it, I can say that it wasn't as great as I wanted. The main issue I have after coming out of the happy daze of reading a mystery is that I don't think the resolution was completely fair. I can see some of the clues Johnson planted along the way, but I don't know that there were enough for a reader to work it out on their own. Okay, she mentioned the bright light and the library books, but we weren't given enough background to figure out the importance of either of those to solving the mystery. I could clearly see that the library loan slip was important, but without the diary transcript there was no way for me to see what those particular books meant.

I liked the camp setting but the camp hierarchy was also confusing to me. Stevie was lured there with the promise of being able to work on the mystery from within and yet she was also expected to be a real camp counselor. And the guy who brought her there pretty much disappeared about halfway through leaving her defenseless against the camp director (who made very valid points about how a camp counselor should behave from a camp director POV).

One important pro for me is that David was a much better boyfriend and the two of them (mostly) got along throughout the book. I'm very tired of romances full of miscommunication that leads to the couple being on the outs all the time. I've been almost entirely on the "dump David" team but he was actually supportive and caring in this one so he gets a reprieve.

I was so pleasantly surprised to discover that Maureen Johnson wasn’t finished with teenage detective Stevie Bell and all of her friends! I loved the three previous “Truly Devious” books (I devoured them all within a week) – so I was so excited to read this stand-alone addition to the series.

Set after the events of the third book, “The Box in the Woods” follows Stevie and her friends into the summer – and away from Ellingham Academy. When Stevie is invited to Sunny Pines - formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls, the site of a notorious unsolved case – she jumps at the chance to escape a boring summer at home, solve a mystery, and see her friends.

I will keep this short and avoid spoilers, but honestly, this book kept me guessing until the last few pages! It was really exciting, at times really scary (I’m a wuss btw), and was full of the fun twists and turns that made me fall in love with the series in the first place. If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed! A perfect spooky summer read – it really made me reminisce about my camp days (without the whole murder part).