Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was so fun.... mysteries are such a funny kind of brain candy and this really delivered on that. I'm also biased because it's set in London and I was reading this while I was playing tourist IN London, so it was just me reading about places I had just meandered into while waiting for my train to get me to the next stop. Also the whole Oxbridge thing really got me, along with the messy theater kids angle.

Maybe I'd put this closer to a 3.75, but it was a generally fun and solid read, with cute characters and interesting tension for both the murder as well as the protag's social life! Just a fun thing to spend some time with!

I'm here to admit that I'm a 31 year old adult that loves this YA series. With every new Truly Devious book, I begin wondering how exactly Johnson is going to find a way to give Stevie a new adventure. She always finds a way! Even if the scenario (4 high schoolers going off on a "study abroad" break trip unsupervised) is completely unrealistic, it's still so much fun to read. Plus, the mystery that becomes intertwined is always beautiful. With Nine Liars, I was constantly running through the possibilities of who the killer was - you play a game with yourself of trying to figure out how the author may tell the story, and you almost never get it right.

And of course with any YA, there has to be love interest/story. I was suspicious of David being abroad, but he managed to pull through... up until the very end when he so quickly falls onto your list of characters to dislike.

The mystery continues in this stunning 5th Truly Devious book. There was a part of me that worried that Johnson wouldn't be able to continue the story, because the main plot has been solved. I was hesitant to read this because I love Stevie and the others so much. However, the story that unfolded was wonderful, the mystery just as thrilling as the ones that unfolded over the course of the earlier books in the series. Most impressively there was a good amount of character growth, which is hard with the fifth book in a series. It was an enjoyable return to the world of Truly, Devious I would recommend to anyone especially fans of the earlier books.

I really love this series. Johnson has done a fabulous job blending YA snark, cold case investigation, and contemporary murder into a seamless whole that engages the reader on so many levels. I love Stevie in all her angst-riddled quirkiness, and it was a fun compare-contrast to juxtapose her friendships with the Nine in this one. I really enjoyed the continuing development of the friendships/ relationships established in the first book, and holy cow for the cliffhanger ending! Here's hoping the next installment comes soon because I have to see where this goes...

Ah! I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I was obsessed with the 90's culture and London setting of the newest mystery. I was guessing until the end, and I still didn't figure out the right person for the killer. Stevie's amazing, and the angst of figuring out life after college, or life beyond high school was very realistic. My only complaint is the HUGE cliffhanger at the end, so now I have to wait for another book to come out! I have questions!

I wanted to love this book as much as I had the previous 4 in the series, but unfortunately this one fell flat for me. The drama between Stevie and David was bigger than the mystery and overpowered the story. Also, I really felt like Stevie was overly self-centered in this story and overall I just didn't care for her as a character. The mystery had potential, but ultimately was left a little dissapointed with the whodunnit. This did leave off with a cliffhanger though, so I'm hopeful the next book can redeem itself.

This book has a bit of a darker mood to it. We have our friends back at Ellingham for their senior year and it seems everyone but Stevie has everything figured out. Janelle and Vi are applying to colleges and planning their futures and it looks like Eli is writing again... While Stevie seems to be in limbo, she hasn't applied to any colleges and even if she knew where she wanted to go she has no idea how she would get in or what she would study. Also, David is off in London, and while they talk on the phone all the time she misses seeing him every day. So when David drunkenly invites her and the group to London they jump at the chance and go off on a bit of study abroad adventure.

Of course, once she gets there a friend of David named Izzy brings up the murder of two people back in 1995 that were close friends of her aunt... and Stevie and her friends are on the case. There is a lot going on within the friend group and with David, and amidst all this, the case heats up when Izzy's Aunt goes missing after talking to Stevie and her friends. so Stevie is dealing with quite a bit.

I loved coming back to Ellingham and seeing Eli, Janelle, and Vi again. I also loved the alternating chapters from the past, I loved trying to put the clues together and changing my mind on who I thought the killer was after each new piece of evidence. This is one of my favorite series so I hope we get many more books and mysteries to solve!

It pains me to say this but....this one was just not for me. The last 30ish% was good and had the same qualities as the previous books in the series, which I LOVED. However, the majority or this book had entirely too much detail that wasn't interesting (to me). Too much weird teenage romance (but David is annoying and there is no chemistry) and not enough badass Stevie solving murders/mysteries. I love England the concept of the English countryside but overall, it lacked execution. I'll probably still read the next book because I can't let my feelings end like this!

It was a delight to return to the world I came to love so much. Another hit from Maureen Johnson in a fun, and delightful YA series.

The Truly Devious series is truly delightful. This latest installment had a great deal of suspense and was populated by both old and new geniuses and eccentrics who add drama and texture to the unravelling of a usually pretty good mystery. You will love Stevie Bell’s best friends who seem to stand by her through everything. Although boooo David!

I’m pretty disappointed with this series entry, and it wasn’t just the infuriating ending (which I’m really, really mad at—make no mistake). I’m good at suspending disbelief when I’m really enjoying other things—characters, dialogue, fun relationships, etc.—but there were too many pivotal plot points that felt like huge stretches and too much Stevie angst this time. I like this series, but I think it might be time to wrap things up. Of course I’ll read the next book, and I have high hopes for a strong finish. This is my least favorite of the series so far.

This was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and I'm actually very disappointed to say it didn't live up to my expectations. While still a good read, the pacing was quite odd and the resolution was lacking. Something I adored about the original Truly Devious quartet was the way everything resolved. Each detail felt meaningful and purposeful, and even Stevie's personal issues were somewhat settled. This mystery did not feel resolved the same way. Stevie reveals the killer and that's it. All these details are sorted into the puzzle, and then it just felt like the puzzle was dumped on the floor. The reader has no idea what consequences this murderer will face, or even the consequences of Stevie's actions. Stevie makes several decisions at the end of the book that could have lasting repercussions, but nothing is said about them because the book just ends. It just didn't feel finished the way Johnson's other books have.

Many thanks to HarpersCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Let's be honest here: this and The Box in the Woods are utterly unnecessary to the original trilogy, but hey, good for Maureen Johnson for getting the coins she deserves. At least this is entertaining.

Out of every mystery in this entire series so far, I like this one the most. Back in 1995, nine close friends spent a night playing hide-and-seek in an old English manor during a stormy night. The morning after, they discovered that two of them had been murdered brutally in the woodshed of the manor. It was ruled a burglary gone wrong, but one of them had seen something inexplainable that night.

It was a delight to return to the world I came to love so much. Nate was just as amazing as in the previous books. Janelle and Vi are so adorable together. Stevie was a little bit annoying at times, but I enjoy her wittiness. And David, I still hope that he had remained disappeared in Book 2.

The way Maureen Johnson solved the mystery is reasonable. While nothing too crazy happened unlike The Box in the Woods, it is perfectly logical while remaining unpredictable. Johnson was able to mix up the formula for each book, and I really appreciate that.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. Still not my favorite YA mystery ever but I hope that Johnson comes out with more because I can't have enough of this friend group.

The Truly Devious series is one of my favorites. I was so excited to read Nine Liars. It also did not disappoint. Maureen Johnson is masterful at her characters. She knows how to write them so well. It makes reading her stories so much fun. I can identify with Stevie and her anxiety too. I read a lot in the YA murder-mystery genre and Nine Liars is exactly what this audience asks for. The twists and turns of this story are great. And, that ending! I can’t wait for the next book because there has to be one right?!

Having read the entire Truly Devious series, I can honestly say I was extremely disappointed in this next book in the series. First off, it had wayy too much sex reference for a YA novel-and not decent ones either! I’m no prude, but I certainly wouldn’t want a teen to believe having sex amongst ALL YOUR FRIENDS/ sharing partners is OK and normal. Also, sex was mentioned a heck of a lot compared of the previous books! Why?!
Now, nothing happened for the first 60% of the book. Literally. It was detailed descriptions of London-things I could read off a tour guide. This is not what I signed up for.
By the last few chapters of the book, when it finally got interesting, I was so bored I did the even care anymore! And the ending was super anticlimatic-and dont even get me started on David and Stevie. 😒

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

In this Truly Devious mystery Stevie and her friends head off to London to visit David, explore academics, and solve a double ax-murder from the 90s. I ended up giving this book 4 stars because it was a quick read and I enjoyed it (I will continue to read this series as long as it continues as I love the friend group and have always been a sucker for amateur teen sleuths), but it did have some issues.
First off, I loved the original Truly Devious trilogy. The way it tied the past and present together and developed the characters in both timelines kept me reading to find out more. This book had our same lovable Ellingham group, but I kept getting the 9 Liars confused with one another. The mystery itself felt rushed to me as it is supposed to be a standalone like Box in the Woods. Most of the book focused on friendship drama of both our current day group and the 90s group, but not the mystery and when it was revealed I did not find the motive for the murder convincing. Overall, it was enjoyable the pacing just felt a little off.

Stevie - I adore you. I have been following this series for years and stevie has been one of my favourite heroines since then. She reminds me alot of my teenage self, so interested in mysteries,!wanting to solve said mysteries and making everyone else addicted to those mysteries. I love the way Maureen writes, if anything, it captures it all perfectly. The teenage angst, the love you have for your hobby. And this was exactly that. 5/5 stars!

I have had a hard time getting into the Truly Devious series, as much as I kno they are beloved by many.

I thought I would give it another go with this one, but ths story just gets lost in the mix for me.

Where do I even begin? I’ve been reading and following along this series since the release of truly devious. I knew what I was getting myself into. Dark academia mixed in with a loveable and crazy cast of characters. Our main protagonist stevie is nothing short of happiness personified. She’s always a joy to read about and follow - I absolutely adored her arc in this and of course as always, the master of mysteries was a pleasure to follow along as she navigated through another mystery. It was the most fun I’ve had in a while - 5/5 stars!

I loved all of the Truly Devious series and this book was no exception. I was slightly disappointed we didn’t spend more time at the Academy, but after she solved the case that took place there I shouldn’t have really expected a ton more time there. As always the side characters were well fleshed out and enjoyable. Something about David has bugged me from the beginning and I can’t identify it but he’s just such an unlikable character for me so that kind of took away from the book in my opinion. Overall, liked it a lot!!