Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious #5

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Dates Read: 11/13/23 - 11/15/23

    In her senior year at Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell grapples with the challenges of her personal life while her friends obsess over college applications. With the famous cold case at Ellingham seemingly solved, Stevie feels adrift and plagued by existential questions. However, relief comes when her boyfriend, David, invites her to join him for a study abroad program. There, they encounter a new mystery—a double-murder cold case from 1995 involving a group of friends who played a drunken game of hide-and-seek. As Stevie delves into the unsolved case, she discovers that one of the witnesses may be hiding the truth about the gruesome murders. With seven suspects, two victims, and a killer still at large, the deadly game is far from over.

    The mystery part was good, but it felt a bit like déjà vu, like I'd seen it before. Plus, for the first time, I nailed the culprit before the final chapter. Mysteries usually keep me guessing, but not this time. Also, I understand Stevie is a senior now and all but the massive jump to all the talk about sex was so unnecessary. ALL of that just for Johnson to end it the way she did????

    The book was going well until the ending blindsided me. David took a sudden turn to the shady side, and now I'm just waiting for the next one to see if Janelle gives him a reality check.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

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