Another clever mystery from the Truly Devious author, this time involving an old cold case during a study abroad trip. The blend of humor, drama, and puzzle-solving is perfect. Smart, twisty, and addicting.

stevie either you need to kiss your best friend or he needs to come out as gay. i love these books i love maureen johnson stevie forever write these books forever i don't care that the original trilogy's mystery ended so disapppointedly

Forty years ago, two of nine Cambridge students were found butchered by an ax murderer at a remote English estate following a drunken night game of hide-and-seek in Maureen Johnson’s young adult mystery, “Nine Liars.”

With apparently no witnesses, police attribute the killings to random thieves; however, one of the survivors tells her niece, Izzy, that she may have a clue to the decades-old unsolved murders.

When David, a student studying abroad in London, surprises his girlfriend, Stevie, with a week-long trip to visit, their friends Nate, Janelle, and Vi come along. David’s college pal, Izzy, is quickly introduced, and soon, super sleuth Stevie and the gang are inducted to investigate the manor house murders.

Maureen Johnson’s “Nine Liars” mystery plot is sophisticated and will intrigue both adults and young adults. Granted, the novel has immature aspects that adults may find boring and skim over, like young love scenarios that I completely ignored. However, the 1995 portions of the narrative and plotting are outstanding—true conundrum puzzles to unravel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Maureen Johnson, and Publishers HarperCollins Children's Books | Katherine Tegen Books for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Copy Electronic Edition to review.

Well, senior year is not going as Stevie thought it would. She is restless as everyone else is focused on the future and what comes next beyond the walls of Ellingham Academy. Stevie cannot help but be focused on a 90s era cold case of nearby university students. It is a horrible case of a drunken hide and seek gone wrong that ended in two gory ax murders with the victims found outside the cottage house near the woodshed . Everyone assumed that it was a burglary gone wrong, but the more she digs into the circumstances, she realizes that there's someone who indeed is responsible. So there's nine liars, two dead and one killer still playing the game
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Maureen never lets me down! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book she’s put out and this was no different.

A good side story to the series. At one point it did fall flat though, it seems there wasn't as much character development going on in this novel and at parts it felt very repetitive

I would like to start out with the disclaimer that I absolutely loved the Truly Devious books. This one was kind of a let down. I felt like we spent more time exploring around London than we did solving mysteries with the characters. It wasn't bad, but it was far from the strongest of the series.

I love Maureen's voice and the Stevie Bell mysteries is the perfect vehicle for it. I love the characters so much and Nine Liars was a good book. My only criticism is that I wish it wasn't so revolved around her romantic relationship but teenagers.

This wasn't my favorite of the series and man, I really don't like David. I found the group of 1995 friends a bit hard to keep track of during the story.

I have been following this series since it's inception and the way that the mysteries unfold is just perfect. I view them as the Nancy Drew of the modern age. I am constantly drawn in by Johnson's writing and just can't put the books down! This one was no exception. I enjoyed the way that the romance keeps creeping in as well and the way that Johnson handle's Stevie's anxiety makes her all the more relatable. Cannot wait for the next installment.

I love the Truly Devious series, but this installment seemed to be missing something. I didn't enjoy it as much. While the other books in the series balanced the mystery and Stevie's relationships pretty well, this one seemed to put the relationships in the foreground and would sometimes come back to the mystery. And the mystery itself is so bloated (9 suspects???) that it was just too much to enjoy. Thanks to the less than stellar cliffhanger, I think there's another book coming. I will still read it and hope that Johnson is able to rekindle the Bell magic.

I have enjoyed this series so much. The characters are so fun and the mysteries are always captivating. I did enjoy Nine Liars, but I did not like the ending. The ending made me so mad!!

I’ve really enjoyed this series and the situations that Stevie finds herself in… but what did I just read? I was very intrigued by the backstory of The Nine in the beginning, but as the book continued, there was just too much going on. And don’t even get me started on the ending. I know these are young adults, but I hate the miscommunication trope and felt like the present day story was just one, long, drawn out miscommunication. I'm still holding out hope that this isn't the last book in the series and that the next one will be better!

"Now a senior at Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell should be focused on college applications along with her friends, but her mind is far away in London where her boyfriend David is attending school. Her mystery-solving adventures are currently at a standstill after solving two cold cases that rocked their respective communities. There’s nothing but time for her mind to ponder her relationship and future and where to go from here. When an invitation opens the door to go to England, Stevie jumps at the chance to be reunited with her boyfriend and travel with her friends Janelle Nate, and Vi. Thanks to David’s new friend Izzy, the Ellingham crew finds themselves confronting yet another cold case. Nine friends stayed in a country house to celebrate graduation; only seven walked out alive. The police assumed it was a burglary gone wrong, but that doesn’t seem to be the right solution to two deaths by axe in a woodshed. With seven suspects to look at, why is the trail still cold? Perhaps too much time has passed, but somebody is still lying, and five high school seniors are on the case, determined to find answers that have alluded local police for two decades. This is a story about the fate of The Nine.”

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Katherine Tegen Books, imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books, through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I read “Truly, Devious” for the first time in August 2021 and have had one of the best reading adventures these past few years, catching up to the fifth and latest Stevie Bell mystery. If there’s one thing Maureen Johnson has mastered with this series, it’s atmosphere. Stevie and her friends have investigated cold cases and present-day murders at their boarding school in the mountains of Vermont and a summer camp in the woods of western Massachusetts. Wherever they’ve been, I’ve been right there with them, seeing everything they see and feeling everything they feel. “Nine Liars” is no different, adding a new story set during autumn in both Vermont and London, the cold case an English country manor mystery from 1995. Even though I had to power through an awful reading slump for two months, my final twenty-four hours of reading involved staying up until 2am and waking up seven hours later to finish. As I suspected, the ending was worth it.

The biggest problem I can pinpoint is the sexual content which I’m not a fan of in books. I do understand it in the context of the cold case because nine female and male college students lived together and . . . well, experimented together; and yes, alcohol and drugs were involved along the way. I can tentatively accept all of that when I look at the big picture, but I draw the line at Stevie and her boyfriend David, Stevie being a senior in high school and David a first-year college student. I know that particular age gap is typical, but I really don’t want to read about a couple that young trying to initiate their “first time.” Thankfully, this aspect of their relationship is not a major part of the plot, although I’d argue it still took up too much time and didn’t add anything to the story. Adding more wood to the fire, I’ll add that I’ve never been the biggest fan of David and Stevie’s relationship and found it especially annoying in this book. I think it has a lot to do with their age and immaturity so I won’t dwell.

Even though I have strong opinions about what I didn’t like, the strength of the mystery shone through which is most important. The autumn season spoke to my November soul, and the country manor setting was truly a main character. As the kids say, the atmosphere was atmosphering. My rating is 4 stars, and this series is still consistent in my eyes, consistent to a fault. I am dying (figuratively, not literally) to get my hands on book six, which has been confirmed to be in the works. Maureen Johnson, I need you to hurry up, but also, take your time because quality craftsmanship cannot be rushed. I can’t wait to see where Stevie Bell goes next!

•

Content Breakdown: A conversation about eating animal bones & meat (chapter 1), Alcohol, Blood, Cheating (on a significant other), Cigarettes, Drugs & a near overdose, Historical conversations about executions, plagues, stolen artifacts, etc., Intoxication, Kissing, Language (cursing & taking God’s name in vain), Murder (descriptions & conversations), Pubs, Sexual Language & Situations (involving teens & college students), Smoking, & Violence

Mentions of Addiction, Contraception, Crystals, Divorce, Nudity, Prostitution, Rehab, & Therapy

Having a mystery revolve around nine people is just too many people. I found myself caring about none of them, didn't care who died, so I just wasn't that invested in the mystery.

**Book Review: "Nine Liars" by Maureen Johnson**

Maureen Johnson's "Nine Liars" is a captivating and clever mystery that combines intricate plotting with sharp wit and memorable characters. Set against the backdrop of a prestigious boarding school, the novel follows a group of students who become embroiled in a high-stakes game of secrets and deception.

One of the standout features of "Nine Liars" is its ensemble cast of characters, each with their own unique quirks and motivations. Johnson excels at creating distinct voices and personalities, which adds depth to the narrative and keeps the reader engaged throughout. The interactions and relationships between the students are dynamic and multifaceted, providing plenty of twists and turns as the mystery unravels.

The plot is skillfully constructed, weaving together multiple timelines and perspectives to gradually reveal the truth behind a series of mysterious events. Johnson's use of suspense and tension is effective, building steadily towards a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Each revelation feels earned and contributes to the overall intrigue of the story.

The setting of the boarding school adds a compelling layer to the novel, evoking a sense of claustrophobia and isolation that heightens the suspense. Johnson's descriptions are vivid and atmospheric, immersing readers in the world of elite academia while also exploring the darker undercurrents lurking beneath the surface.

Johnson's writing style is sharp and witty, infused with humor and clever dialogue that enhances the reading experience. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, keeping readers on their toes as they try to unravel the truth alongside the characters.

Overall, "Nine Liars" is a compelling mystery that will appeal to fans of suspenseful storytelling and intricate plotting. Maureen Johnson delivers a thought-provoking exploration of deception and betrayal, wrapped in a gripping narrative that holds the reader's attention from beginning to end. For those looking for a thrilling and intelligent read, "Nine Liars" is a book that delivers on its promises and leaves a lasting impression.

It's amazing that Johnson can keep up the momentum in this series. I could read 10 more Stevie Bell books.

Stevie Bell and a double-murder cold case? Yes, Please!
This book was as delightful to read. I appreciate that Stevie was taken to a new environment in this book and that we got to meet more fun characters!

I absolutely recommend this book!

I have loved the other books in this series, but I felt like this one fell flat. I tried very hard to like it but I kept having to force myself to get back to it. About halfway through it picked up, but it was not as good as the others in the series.

Stevie Bell is a teen sleuth I keep coming back to for comfort and to see how her mind works. It's truly fascinating seeing how Maureen Johnson can weave such intricate stories that are complete, succinct, and also completely genius.