Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of Nine Liars by Maureen Johsnon. I have read all of the other books in the Truly Devious Series so I was very excited to read this installment. Just like the other books in her series, Nine Liars is a witty page turner that lets the reader into the mind of Stevie as she works to solve a set of new murders. We will definitely be adding this book to our school library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars!

No huge spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.

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Stevie Bell is back at it again with another cold case, this time drawn across the pond by Boyfriend David and entangled in the case from there. Non-spoilery review: if you like the Stevie Bell books, you will like Nine Liars. Stevie is very Stevie, the murder is very murdery, and the setting is new and fresh. The interpersonal conflict of the teens are pretty sparingly interspersed throughout the plot, which prevents the book from feeling too capital-T Teen. The setting, which takes American readers far from their comfort zone, is rendered in vivid and beautiful detail. The historical asides are not only fun-fact detours, but also weave into the plot nearly seamlessly. With all that being said, I would have liked to see more of the investigation all throughout the novel - more of Stevie connecting those dots and more details from the original investigation. However, I understand that we are deep into Stevie Lore at this point in the series, and her being able to piece things together totally in her mind - all while not divulging the process to those around her, including the reader - is a part of her charm.

Overall, I found Nine Liars to be a very enjoyable read, as someone who is a fan of the Truly Devious series. I’m giving it a solid four out of five stars because it delivers everything you expect from a Stevie Bell mystery, but I wanted to see a little more. A little more detail would have pushed it beyond the formula I think we’re starting to see with these books. Still fun, still wasn’t able to guess the ending, still very much worth the read.

Again, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!