I really liked the other books in this series but it’s been a few years since I’ve read them. This one just didn’t hit the same? Some of the dialogue came off as cheesy. The plot was good and I couldn’t have predicted the outcome, but throughout the book I definitely winced with secondhand embarrassment with the dialogue

This book felt like home. It’s been a long time since I laid in bed unable to sleep due to not finishing a book and this did it for me.

I loved how much of Nate we got in this book. I will admit I never cared much for David but I’ve come to love him. And I’ll forever adore Stevie and Janelle’s friendship and how well anxiety is expressed.

The way Stevie pieces together crimes will always be amusing and amazing. *chef kiss*

more like 4.5??? but I guess I would say that it was exactly what it needed to be, which was a succinct little mystery story that had additional background plot involving the characters. HOWEVER, I did miss the complexities and fully fleshed out nature that I felt like the first three books had. it gave me very nancy drew energy but I would prefer if the novels didn’t go in that direction because it’s not as exciting as one very complex case!

I loved this book! It is a great summer stand-alone addition to the Truly Devious trilogy.

I genuinely feel like I got addicted to this series. I’ve never seen the words “compulsively readable” more aptly used. I read this one in an afternoon lol

I really really like Stevie. She’s so weird and smart but also so human. She hates expressing emotions but she still builds very compelling connections. The author’s way of describing emotions through bodily sensation is both very evocative and feels really true to the character. Also the plot of this one!!!!

on reread I really wish less of the end of this book happened offscreen, because I don't think it was totally necessary for the ending to be a surprise to readers and because it meant the ending was a lot of exposition in a way that reminds me a little of nancy drew games (not knocking them, I love them).

One thing I really liked about the og series was how Johnson gave enough details with some context (the back and forth timelines) that readers could connect some dots on their own but they were so seemingly random that it was impressive when Stevie uncovered the case at the end. I was rooting for her! But in this one, the lack of context hurt the impressiveness of this case. It was cool that she solved it, but it felt distanced. I didn’t really care too much. There were no personal stakes. This comes with the territory since Stevie wants to be a detective and she’ll have to work on cases she’s doesn’t have an attachment to like Ellingham, but some of the charm was lost.

Also, David showed up so little in this one. Are we supposed to be endeared by him giving Stevie nothing? Man’s has so little character development after 4 books. Big fan of the Nate content tho.

3.25