Stevie and the gang go to England! They learn about Henry VIII and bloody pudding!

The mystery in this one was really fun with its dramatic 90s friend group shenanigans. The reveal wasn’t as insane as it was in Box in the Woods either, lol. Although I did think the motive was a bit too obvious, in retrospect.

Minus some points because I still hate David and this was too David-centric. I simply do not care about their romance, sorry!! Also, it needed way more Nate. But that’s always the case.

I won’t lie, I came into this one without having read any of the previous books in the Truly Devious series.
However, it seemed for all intents and purposes, as if I could read it as a stand alone. And for the most part it worked - and it left me curious what is going to happen in the next one. However, it was all highly unlikely, plot wise. And maybe had I read the previous books, I would not have felt this way.

Stevie is at Ellingham Academy with her 3 best friends, but her boyfriend David is studying in London and Stevie feels the distance - from him and her friends who are obsessing over college applications. When David figures out a way for not only Stevie, but her friends to visit him as well, she is ecstatic. Sold to their dean as a study abroad experience, the 4 friends make the most of their time there learning about London. But when one of David’s friends there introduces Stevie to a decades old unsolved murder, she cannot help but be intrigued. And this is where I started to question the book. That a bunch of adults would rely on this teenager to solve the mystery. I mean, obviously she does, but their bringing her in without question was a little over the top. However, like I said, maybe had I read the previous ones, it would be more believable. Overall, a fun, quick read in alternating timelines - if one can suspend their disbelief!

Nine Liars picks back up with Stevie Bell and Co for another mystery. Stevie's feeling of being lost as college applications happen is particularly poignant - I'm a year out of college at this point, but I still can relate to feeling lost and washed up and not knowing what comes next. I think my favorite thing about Stevie is that throughout all five of the Truly Devious books, she remains consistent and true to herself, while still having character development and growing as a character throughout the book. She truly is a great main character, and she's honestly the reason I keep coming back to this series.
I like the other characters enough, although sometimes Janelle seems a bit charicature-ish, and Vi is a side character to the extent that I couldn't tell you anything about their personality. Nate is always fun, and I love his dry sense of humor - other than Stevie, he's probably my favorite character and he has the most fleshed out development and arc. My main caveat with the characters in this book is that I cannot stand David - I find him extremely annoying and I do not think he and Stevie are a good match. I did like the introduction of Izzy - she was a fun character to follow and get to know this book.
The mystery in this book was solid, and once I got towards the end, I found myself trying to rip through it to find out what happened. It was a lot of the rest of the book that I didn't care for. So much of this book is dragged down by the group exploring London. Don't get me wrong, I love travel and books about travel, but it felt like this was just a list of places they went to and history that was unconnected from the rest of the book, and I almost wanted to skip ahead to get back to the story. The story itself was so compelling and fun, and Stevie's detective skills are incredible to read about, but all of that extra stuff really dragged.
Overall, I loved returning to Stevie's world, even though it wasn't Ellingham, and I think I'll always enjoy revisiting this character. I just think that this one, while really well-written and enjoyable for the most part, lost its way a little bit in the travel aspects. I will definitely be tuning into the next installment of this series, if there is more to come, and I'll definitely read anything else that Maureen Johnson puts out!

I was really eager to get to dive back in with Stevie and her friends, especially after The Box in the Woods, which felt, if not extracanonical, something like a Babysitter’s Club Super Special. This didn’t lose that tone entirely, and the pacing was a little off, considering it took almost a quarter of the book just for them to get to England. It also often felt that the character- and relationship-based elements were driving things somewhat more than the mystery itself (which has that Agatha Christie feel and does have clues which are noticeable to the reader, and yet when solved still feels a little bit like the answer was pulled from thin air); I think this is borne out in the choice of ending/cliffhanger. I found the jealousy angle a bit boring, but I appreciated the way the book delved into some of Stevie’s less admirable character traits and how those impact her relationships, even if it’s all a little one step forward, two steps back/noticing something isn’t the same thing as progress. I did sometimes lose track of which of the Nine was which and question why, considering her investigation, Angela continued spending time with the group seemingly without concern, but the writing was as always extremely engaging, and works in terms of both humor and seriousness, and I particularly enjoyed the manor house setting. Despite my quibbles, I’ll certainly enjoy seeing whatever comes next.

Nine Liars is a new book in the Stevie Bell mysteries. Stevie is in senior year and she and her friends travel to London to study abroad for a week and see David. Once there Stevie is introduced to Izzy, David’s friend. Izzy’s aunt lived through a murder in college and is now gone missing. Stevie is asked to help solve the old mystery and to figure out where Izzy’s aunt may have gone. This book has many twists and turns, until the very end.

I love these books and did enjoy this installment. Found it a little confusing in the beginning because of the way it set up the murder mystery of the past. I once again could not put this one down and stayed up late to finish it. I found Stevie’s and David’s relationship a bit weak, but overall it didn’t take away from the story. The end made though made me frustrated that I now have to wait for the next one!!! A definite must read!!!

Stevie Bell's senior year at Ellingham Academy could be going better. Everyone else is talking about college applications and the future and Stevie just isn't feeling it... Her boyfriend, David, is abroad studying in London. She has no new case to solve. Excitement returns when David invites Stevie and the crew to join him in England, and, while there, his friend Izzy tells them about a cold case from the mid 1990s. A group of nine friends from Cambridge went to relax at a country house and played a game of hide-and-seek in the rain; in the morning, two were found murdered in the woodshed. Izzy's aunt was one of the survivors, and she's sure things did not happen as claimed (burglary gone wrong). Can Stevie solve the case in the little time she has overseas?

I'll admit this was not my favorite Stevie Bell book, which is painful to admit, because I adore Stevie and her process. This one just felt *slow*--maybe because I had just binged THE BOX IN THE WOODS, which was so good! But, wow, did it take a long time for things to happen in LIARS! The first half of the book is Stevie feeling sorry for herself about college and David (so much opining about David in this one--this is not the Stevie I thought I knew!) and trying to get to London. Then the group has to see a million London sights to satisfy the "study abroad" part of the Ellingham requirement, which is all well and good, but wow, are those tourist sights described in detail. Get on with the murder!

The proper English country house murder mystery, when we get to it, is quite enjoyable, of course. We hear from the players back in the 1990s via flashbacks and then get to meet a variety of the survivors. There's plenty here to keep us guessing, but a lot of tension as Stevie navigates relationships with her friends, too. I am still Team Nate For Life.

Overall, this is a bit slower and more angsty than other Stevie books, but the mystery is solid, and of course, I'll still continue reading about Stevie forever, because I love her.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the chance to read an advanced copy of Nine Liars in return for an honest review.
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I have been a big fan of the Truly Devious series for a while now, and was ecstatic when I heard that there was going to be another book in the series. This book hopped right back into the world of Stevie, David, Nate, Janelle, and Vi. The gang's all back together again, in England this time. While visiting David on a study abroad program, they are introduced to a cold case that needs solving, because maybe it isn’t so cold anymore.
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The first half of the book, Literally it was almost exactly 50%, is all story build-up. It follows the gang exploring England, and gives us lots of facts. It was almost as if reading a travel brochure a few times. I must admit, I was tempted to skim the random facts about the Henrys of old England. However, if you push past the slow start the mystery is amazing. I loved the mystery aspect so much. We are introduced to new characters, new murders, and new stakes. I greatly appreciated the fresh mystery, one that kept me on my toes. I have to admit that I never truly guessed the murder. The story was so fresh that I kept switching who I thought it might be. We got the same old Stevie again, making deductions and doing her best sleuthing.
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On top of the murders, we also got to learn more about the gang, as they are starting to apply to colleges. I love reading about a group of mystery solvers, getting to reminisce on the old Scooby-doo kind of vibe. This book started to give me that, and then didn’t quite reach that mark. There was a lot of angst. Stevie is really good at that. For me, it felt like most of the relationship stuff was a set up for the next book. Which by the way this one ended I will be surprised if we do not get another book. So most of the relationship building feels like a lead up, and left me wanting more. It did so in a way that was still very enjoyable to read. I must reiterate though, the mystery is so good that these weird moments of fact dumping and relationship weirdness are totally okay to me. Maureen Johnson is a mystery genius, and I totally recommend this book. Just be warned about the slow start and push through, it's worth it.

Truly Devious is a very popular series and I couldn’t even turn my head without someone recommending it to me, a YA mystery fan. I started the series earlier this year and while I have conflicting feelings, I can’t deny that Johnson can write a compelling mystery. My (much) younger sister is a huge fan and we buddy read the series together. She absolutely loves it and it definitely is an amazing YA read that will greatly please people in that age group. I enjoyed Nine Liars more that the previous installment and I was very curious what direction the book would go. I love Stevie but absolutely despise the side characters and especially David. Go away, David! The mystery in this one was excellent and made for a great read. I’ll eagerly read each book as it comes out. Overall, definitely recommend to YA mystery fans.

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Quite a bit late, but. But. BUT.


THIS. IS. THE. MOST. AMAZING. BEST. WONDERFUL. BEAUTIFUL. ONE OF A KIND. FABULOUS. MASTERPIECE OF A BOOK.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for 'Nine Liars' by Maureen Johnson.

My students this year LOVE mystery novels. I brought my copy of 'Truly Devious' at the beginning of the school year for them to read, and everyone that read it love it, as well as the following books in the series. When I told them there was another book coming out in December, I had so many questions of "what is it about?!"

My only real complaint (in my opinion) was how much focus was on Stevie's struggles and insecurities in her relationship with David, and their lack of communication.

But I can finally tell my students that they won't be disappointed with the mystery that Johnson has unfolded for us. It did develop very slowly, and I had a love/hate relationship with over it not being obvious - it was a little frustrating that some clues were only given with the final reveal.. but, overall a lovely mystery.

4/5

Meh. Loved the previous books. Can't finish this. I'm pretending Stevie's story stopped with Box In the Woods. Just not my cup of content.

I'd personally rate a book I didn't finish 1 star. But I'll refrain and give this an average 3.

Stevie Bell is back to solve a murder in Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson.

"Senior year at Ellingham - Stevie is adrift. Her boyfriend, David, is in London. Her friends are concentrating on college applications. She's just solved a big case and now there's nothing to distract her. David invites her and her friends to London to do a two-week study abroad. Shortly after they arrive, David's friend, Izzy, tells them about a double-murder from 1995 that her aunt knew about.
Nine friends went out to a country estate for the weekend, but only seven came back. Was it a burglary gone wrong? Or is someone still lying? "

This story spends a lot of time in Stevie's head. She's worried about life, love and future. Her hoodie choices are interesting and hilarious. It's nice to be in a different location like London and to visit a creepy mansion in the countryside. Johnson makes the Nine a group you want to hang out with (but not too long - too much for me) There are secrets and more deaths. You never know until the reveal who the killer is. There were a couple of clues at the beginning so if you pay attention you might catch something.

This can be read as a stand-alone. There are references to previous books but not much is given away if you haven't read them.

Not a fan of the very end. Stevie deserves better.

A nice YA crime fiction story from Johnson. Fans of the Truly Devious books will enjoy this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this!

This series is so hard for me to rate - I hate a cliffhanger in a mystery, so the original trilogy I had to convince myself to return to and finish. But every time she adds a new book I am like “really, I should read all of them!” 😂😂 I liked this one quite a bit, the flashbacks intertwined with current events worked well for me this time - I felt like I mostly understood what was happening. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming, but I suck at solving mysteries, I just enjoy the ride to the end. Stevie’s interpersonal stuff in this book had quite a lot going on - lies, concern about cheating/relationships, a coming out, etc, and it was fun to see that part of their story get to shine. I’m definitely going to keep reading these.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Katherine Tegen Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Stevie Bell's life feels adrift. With two cold cases under her belt and not a new one insight, she's supposed to be focusing on getting ready for college and deciding what she wants for her future. It doesn't help that boyfriend David has decided to study at Cambridge this semester and she's officially the girl with a long distance boyfriend. And when David offers her and her friends -- the ever-lovely group of Jannette, Vi and Nate -- a chance to come visit, Stevie can't pass it up.

But things in jolly old England aren't exactly how they appear, especially after David's friend Izzy tells Stevie about a double homicide case from 1995 that's gone cold. Izzy's aunt and her eight friends went for a holiday at a countryside manor...but two of them were found murdered the next day with an ax. Something about everyone's stories doesn't add up and it's up to Stevie to figure out who's still lying and who the killer is after next.

As a big fan of the Truly Devious trilogy, as well as "The Box in the Woods," I had high expectations for this book and like always Maureen Johnson did NOT disappoint. The first 20 percent of the book or so was a little slow as all of the components that allowed the Ellingham gang to travel across the pond and while some of it ended up be integral to the central mystery, I could have done without some of the sight-seeing passages.

And the central mystery was brilliant. It felt like the perfect nod to Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes and now that we're on our fifth Stevie Bell novel, I feel as though I'm getting familiar with her thought process and was catching clues along the way. Everything Johnson includes could end up being important and this was no exception. Expertly weaved together. My only complaint is I wish there had been more flashbacks with the Nine, who probably could have carried the whole book themselves. It was difficult to keep them all straight at first but Johnson made sure they were all different enough that I eventually caught on.

However, I was not a huge fan of the turn in David and Stevie's relationship. I never got the impression they were a huge will-they-or-won't-they couple because they always seemed kind of inevitable to me? But these are also high schoolers so it really does be like that sometimes.

Loved loved loved. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sixth book already.

In my opinion, this series just keeps getting better and better! The crew is back to solve another mystery, but this time in London! Fans of the OG trilogy may be disappointed that this one doesn't take place at the elusive and grand Ellingham Academy, but I thought it was refreshing to get a change of pace.

The novel starts off in an area that I think many YA readers are either going through themselves or went through when they were young adults -- the feeling of anticipation of what's to come as you begin a new chapter in your life. Stevie is in the midst of her senior year at Ellingham and doesn't know which direction to go: where to go to college, should she even go to college, or go in a completely different direction -- maybe with her crime-solving? It's a daunting time when you are on the precipice of adulthood.

In part to procrastinate her college admissions essays and to see her boyfriend, David, who is currently going to school in London, Stevie devises a plan to do a quick study abroad trip with her friends. Here they meet David's friend, Izzy, who has a family connection to a murder from many years ago involving nine friends.

I think what gripped me most about this book compared to the others in this series was the background story of the nine friends or as the title implies - liars. I thought they were such an interesting group of people and it was both a great plot device to switch between the past with these characters and the current time with Stevie and her friends. The juxtaposition of both friend dynamics was so well done.

The ending is satisfying in some ways and devastating in others. The best part is that it's set up for there to be more in the series!

I still really enjoy this series a lot. I will say, I think this one was my least favorite. I think because it focused less on the mystery and more on the relationship with Stevie and David- which based on Goodreads reviews, literally no one ships. I wouldn't call it an unsatisfying ending but a bit rushed. I did really like the friend group involved in the mystery- please give me more of them.

Stevie is a young sleuth that has solved several murder mysteries in her past. While on a trip abroad visiting her boyfriend, Stevie and her friends uncover a new mystery in need of solving that proves to be too much for Stevie to resist. I have been enjoying this series and love the cast of characters. The books can be read as a standalone but readers might not be as invested in Stevie and David's relationship without the context of the other books. I wasn't a big fan of the way this book ended, it felt very abrupt and like it cut out mid-scene, though I suppose that will be an enticement for me to read the next book.

The Quick Cut: A teen girl visits her boyfriend in London and finds a new mystery to solve with her friends in the process.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books for providing the ARC for an honest review.

If you solved a decades old mystery, what would you do next? Go back to life as it used to be or feel adrift, looking for something new to interest you? In this fifth book of the Truly Devious series, Stevie is looking for purpose in her senior year.

Stevie has twice now solved decades old mysteries, including the one of her high school named Ellingham Academy. However, while everyone else in her class is focused on finishing senior year and applying for colleges, Stevie finds herself looking for purpose. When her boyfriend provides an opportunity to study abroad in London, she joins her friends in the adventure and finds a new mystery to solve. Can she find out what happened with these nine friends in the 90s?

Like the previous book in the Truly Devious series, this one is setup to function as a standalone. While it definitely works on that level, this one also has a lot of relationship angst for Stevie and David, which won't have as much interest for new readers. The ending certainly won't be of interest to anyone not invested in them as a couple either.

Stevie as our lead heroine is flawed in many ways and her addiction to a new mystery to solve really highlights that. As a reader, I love that she's not perfect and has this grand future plan in mind. She doesn't know what she wants to do other than solve mysteries. While she has friends applying to colleges, she's focused on other things. I think the struggle with post high school life is more common than acknowledged and seeing this book showcase that is a good thing. Not everyone has to go to college (and that's a good thing)!

The only criticism I have is for the melodramatic saga known as Stevie and Davids long distance relationship. It really plays out a lot in this book, especially at the end. Stevie deserves better anyways and I quickly started to hate David. Overall, I find the relationship angst distracting, so if you also can't stand romantic melodrama, this book isn't entirely a fit for you.

A mystery abroad with romantic angst.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

#NineLiars #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out! Excellent read.

Let me start by saying that Maureen Johnson is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. To the point where I don't actually know how to review this book. Was it perfect? Probably not for everyone. But did I absolutely adore it? You better believe it.

There is something about the writing style in the Truly, Devious series that always sucks me in. I’m not reading a book, I’m watching the drama unfold before me. I can see so clearly the surroundings Stevie and her friends find themselves in. The fact that this book takes place in London for the majority of the book was even better. Although I have missed the amazingly mysterious Ellingham Academy, it was great to see some of my favorite characters so far from home.

That leads me to my next point. The characters. Despite the teenage angst and whiny moment, I love Stevie, Nate, Janelle, Vi, and sometimes David. As always, I would have loved to see more of Nate, but I think at this point, the only way to get enough would be to have an entire book from his point of view. When in the midst of a mystery, I love seeing the way Stevie’s brain works. The way she makes connections and puts the picture together is fascinating.

I appreciated that the mystery took precedence to the drama. The mystery was well crafted and made sense, especially with the flashes back to the past. The parts that focused on what happened in 1995 were fluid in the way that they connected with the progress that the case made in the present. The more personal parts of the story for Stevie were the parts that seemed abrupt. There were a few times that I was surprised in the direction that her life was taking.

I am going to go ahead and give this book 5/5 stars because I appreciated the thought that went into the mystery of the book. As the main storyline of the book, it was important to be that it take precedence over the other storylines.

Be sure to check trigger warnings.

Special Note: If you read this book. Please message me. I am desperate to discuss.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Book for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.