Nine Liars

by Maureen Johnson

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Ripe with hilarious dialogue, a cozy mystery hook and a delectably wry narrator, this is Maureen Johnson at her best. Add to that an immensely satisfying character arc and you've got Nine Liars in all its glory.

Stevie Bell solved the case of Truly Devious, and now she’s taking her detecting skills abroad when she becomes embroiled in a mystery from 1990s England. Another pulse-pounding and laugh-out-loud stand-alone mystery from New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

Senior year at Ellingham Academy for Stevie Bell isn’t going well. Her boyfriend, David, is studying in London. Her friends are obsessed with college applications. With the cold case of the century solved, Stevie is adrift. There is nothing to distract her from the questions pinging around her brain—questions about college, love, and life in general.

Relief comes when David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad, and his new friend Izzy introduces her to a double-murder cold case. In 1995, nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house and played a drunken game of hide-and-seek. Two were found in the woodshed the next day, murdered with an ax.

The case was assumed to be a burglary gone wrong, but one of the remaining seven saw something she can’t explain. This was no break-in. Someone’s lying about what happened in the woodshed.

Seven suspects. Two murders. One killer still playing a deadly game.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063032712
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/27/2022
Series:	Truly Devious Series , #5
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	62,022
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Maureen Johnson is the bestselling author of several novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, the Truly Devious series, the Suite Scarlett series, and the Shades of London series. She has also written collaborative works such as Let It Snow with John Green and Lauren Myracle and the Bane Chronicles with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan. Maureen lives in New York and online on Twitter @maureenjohnson or at maureenjohnsonbooks.com. 

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/24/2022

Set in the Truly Devious universe, this scintillating mystery by Johnson (The Box in the Woods) follows Ellingham Academy senior and renowned amateur sleuth Stevie Bell, who feels rudderless with no college plans or cases to solve. She misses her boyfriend, David, who is in London, so when he suggests a visit, she and her friends hop on a plane. Upon arriving, David’s classmate Izzy solicits Stevie’s help. In 1995, Izzy’s aunt, Angela, and her eight housemates celebrated their Cambridge University graduation at a country estate. During a drunken game of hide-and-seek, someone murdered two of the attendees with an ax. The police assumed the killer was a burglar, who remains uncaught, but Angela once told Izzy she believes one of her friends is guilty. When Stevie confronts Angela, she denies the suspicion, but her obvious fright strengthens Stevie’s investigative resolve. Johnson delivers a meticulously crafted fair-play mystery that gratifies as a standalone while also forwarding the richly textured characters’ arcs, a treat for fans of the series. Distinctly written flashbacks to 1995 pepper the present-day narrative, creating resonance and investing readers in Stevie’s case. Stevie cues as white; the supporting cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"The exploration of the importance of friendship adds emotional vulnerability to this book, which has a well-developed sense of place and features the series’ signature humor and layered mystery elements. Immersive and genre-savvy." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A scintillating mystery. Johnson delivers a meticulously crafted fair-play mystery that gratifies as a standalone while also forwarding the richly textured characters’ arcs, a treat for fans of the series. Distinctly written flashbacks to 1995 pepper the present-day narrative, creating resonance and investing readers in Stevie’s case. Stevie cues as white; the supporting cast is intersectionally diverse." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Now that we've read the fifth novel, we're tempted to buy the rest of the series. We had to admit it: we had not idea who the killer was until Stevie figured it out. The author gives us just enough information to draw conclusions and multiple plot twists take us for a spin. Even when we thought we know what to expect, we didn't." — The Honey Pop

"Johnson delivers another satisfying mystery, with diverse characters, authentic depictions of mental health, and friends holding one another accountable for their actions in loving, supportive ways."  — School Library Journal

"Bestselling author Maureen Johnson employs the hallmarks of classical Agatha Christie-style mysteries...while cleverly subverting others. Stevie still gathers the suspects together to reveal the solution, but she does so in a fresh and unexpected way, and Johnson replaces Christie’s stock characters with Stevie’s diverse and emotionally nuanced friends." — BookPage

Praise for THE BOX IN THE WOODS: "Johnson’s hallmark charming humor and lovable characters provide a robust foundation for another cracking mystery, this time ingeniously working with summer camp and locked room mystery tropes. Stevie’s relationship with her lifelong anxiety is particularly well portrayed. A fantastic stand-alone mystery companion revisits a much-loved sleuth." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"While fans of Johnson's Truly Devious trilogy (and there are many) will undoubtedly be eager for this spinoff, Stevie's summertime exploit both stands alone and adds compelling layers to the established characters—an impressive feat. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Johnson builds on the success of her NYT-bestselling Truly Devious series with this standalone spinoff that blends mystery and horror conventions in a summer-camp setting—perfectly timed for summertime campfires."  — Booklist (starred review)

"Johnson gleefully takes a stab at the slasher movie trope by sending her teen detective on a cold case at a summer camp. This satisfying standalone mystery will delight fans of teen horror flicks and true-crime documentaries, as well as those who prefer their mysteries wrapped up after one volume. Here’s hoping this highly entertaining volume isn’t the last we hear from Stevie Bell."  — Horn Book Magazine

"Sardonic sleuth Stevie Bell returns in this engaging stand-alone sleepaway camp thriller, a follow-up to Johnson’s Truly Devious trilogy. Johnson’s kinetic descriptions join towering cliffhangers as chapters switch between 1978 and the present day, and Stevie’s search turns deadly. Johnson includes a winning crew of returning characters . . . the friend group sustains entertaining rapport as Stevie navigates personal and public histories."  — Publishers Weekly

"It’s always a pleasure to watch smart, resourceful Stevie piece together a puzzle. Mystery fans will relish this standalone novel in the 'Truly Devious' ­universe." — School Library Journal

"The Box in the Woods is an excellent, cleverly braided, no punches pulled story leavened with humor. It’s worth reading for the great rapport between the fully-fleshed characters of Stevie, queer black crafts-mad Janelle, and the sardonic uber-nerd Nate alone. A great summer read!”  — AuthorLink

"If the beginning of the storyline reads like a Scooby Doo script it’s done in honest homage, and is just as much fun, if admittedly darker and more complex than anything Shaggy and team would have tackled. That there’s also a deep emotional current running through the book as Bell’s finely developed sense of empathy for the friends of the dead is revealed sets the story apart. A challenging and satisfying mystery, this is one you’ll be shaking the sand out of come September."  — Mountain Times

Praise for TRULY DEVIOUS: “Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.”  — Bustle

“Jumping between past and present, Johnson’s novel is deliciously atmospheric, with a sprawling cast of complex suspects/potential victims, surprising twists, and a dash of romance. As in her Shades of London books, Johnson remains a master at combining jittery tension with sharp, laugh-out-loud observations.”  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was something special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell. Parallel mysteries unfold with cleverly written dialogue, page-turning brilliance and a young sleuth just as captivating as Hercule Poirot.”  — USA Today (four stars)

“The Agatha Christie-like ecosystem pairs with lacerating contemporary wit, and alternating past and present scenes makes for a multilayered, modern detective story.” — New York Times Book Review

“A suspenseful, attention-grabbing mystery with no clear solution. The versatile Johnson is no stranger to suspense, and this twisty thriller will leave plenty of readers anxious for more.”  — Booklist

Praise for THE VANISHING STAIR: “In this second . . . installment, Johnson gives and she takes away: a few major mysteries are satisfying solved, but other long-standing riddles remain tantalizingly indecipherable, and several new ones come into play by the enigmatic end. Readers, hang tight: there’s one more round to come, and if the signs are right, it’ll be to die for.”  — Booklist

"Ramps up the intrigue. Throughout this volume, Johnson's compelling would-be Sherlock proves to be as bad at personal relationships as she is adept at solving mysteries. Teen angst soars as Johnson delightfully conjures up more nefarious deeds from the mountain mist."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Take it from the world’s most impatient reader: If the Truly Devious series is basically one long mystery book, The Vanishing Stair is a middle part so enjoyable you won’t even want to skip to the end.”  — Entertainment Weekly

“In this second installment of her marvelous Truly Devious series, Maureen Johnson offers thrilling suspense, sly wit, a memorable cast of characters and more pieces of her deliciously intricate puzzle.”  — Buffalo News

“Waiting for the next installment of Maureen Johnson’s Agatha Christie-Sherlock Holmes-classic mystery homage series was torture, but The Vanishing Stair is oh so worth it.”  — Bustle

Praise for THE HAND ON THE WALL: "The final, riveting chapter of the Truly Devious murder series. Throughout this intricately woven, fast-paced whodunit, Johnson demonstrates how proximity to wealth and power can mold and bend one's behavior, whether with good or—here largely—devious intent. The brainy secondary characters' quirky talents and interests complement Stevie's sleuthing skills; . . . they include diversity in socioeconomic background, mental health challenges, physical disability, and sexual orientation. A richly satisfying, Poirot-like ending for Johnson's inspired and inspiring teen sleuth." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"In this hotly anticipated trilogy finale, Johnson pulls out all the stops, filling the thrillingly nimble narrative with classic mystery conventions. A striking foray into an examination of what mysteries can ever truly be solved, and a satisfying send-off for a series that will be missed."  — Booklist

“Maureen Johnson brings her delectable ‘Truly Devious’ murder mystery trilogy to a thrilling conclusion, neatly tying together her dueling narrative threads, one set in 1936 and the other in the present day, with an action-packed finale during a blizzard at Ellingham Academy in the mountains of Vermont.”  — Buffalo News

"This will be essential reading for the many fans of the first two books. This trilogy ender is fun, satisfying, and a genuine treat for teens and adult mystery fans."  — School Library Journal

“Readers will be eager to know the novel’s conclusion but will never want the book to end. Replete with intrigue, thoughtfulness, and depth, The Hand on the Wall is a mystery of the moment and for the ages.”  — San Francisco Book Review

"This inclusive, inventive, and vastly entertaining series has been a boon to YA literature. As a layered, complex character who solves crime while also battling anxiety, Stevie Bell reads like the redoubtable love child of Jessica Fletcher and Adrian Monk. There will hopefully be more Stevie Bell mysteries to come."  — Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

"While fans of Johnson's Truly Devious trilogy (and there are many) will undoubtedly be eager for this spinoff, Stevie's summertime exploit both stands alone and adds compelling layers to the established characters—an impressive feat. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Johnson builds on the success of her NYT-bestselling Truly Devious series with this standalone spinoff that blends mystery and horror conventions in a summer-camp setting—perfectly timed for summertime campfires." 

Booklist (starred review)

"The Box in the Woods is an excellent, cleverly braided, no punches pulled story leavened with humor. It’s worth reading for the great rapport between the fully-fleshed characters of Stevie, queer black crafts-mad Janelle, and the sardonic uber-nerd Nate alone. A great summer read!” 

AuthorLink

"Johnson gleefully takes a stab at the slasher movie trope by sending her teen detective on a cold case at a summer camp. This satisfying standalone mystery will delight fans of teen horror flicks and true-crime documentaries, as well as those who prefer their mysteries wrapped up after one volume. Here’s hoping this highly entertaining volume isn’t the last we hear from Stevie Bell." 

Horn Book Magazine

Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was something special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell. Parallel mysteries unfold with cleverly written dialogue, page-turning brilliance and a young sleuth just as captivating as Hercule Poirot.” 

USA Today (four stars)

Praise for TRULY DEVIOUS: “Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” 

Bustle

"If the beginning of the storyline reads like a Scooby Doo script it’s done in honest homage, and is just as much fun, if admittedly darker and more complex than anything Shaggy and team would have tackled. That there’s also a deep emotional current running through the book as Bell’s finely developed sense of empathy for the friends of the dead is revealed sets the story apart. A challenging and satisfying mystery, this is one you’ll be shaking the sand out of come September." 

Mountain Times

02/03/2023

Gr 9 Up—After solving the infamous Truly Devious mystery and then working on The Box in the Woods podcast over the summer, Stevie feels unmoored and restless during the beginning of her senior year. Her friends are busy applying to colleges and seem to have everything figured out. And to make matters worse, her boyfriend, David, is studying abroad in London. When the opportunity arises for Stevie and her friends to study abroad in London the week after Thanksgiving, she jumps at the chance. What is supposed to be a very structured school trip quickly unravels after the suspicious disappearance of the aunt of David's friend Izzy. Stevie's preoccupation with uncovering the truth behind the disappearance leads to a decades-old murder mystery involving the aunt and eight of her friends—two of the university students were found murdered with an ax in a woodshed. Stevie's desperation to feel useful and smart, her incessant worrying about her relationship with David, and guilt over how she's treating her friends only intensifies her singular focus on the case and leads her to spin her own web of lies. VERDICT Johnson delivers another satisfying mystery, with diverse characters, authentic depictions of mental health, and friends holding one another accountable for their actions in loving, supportive ways. Highly recommended.—Katie Patterson

School Library Journal

★ 2022-10-11
Senior year is not off to a great start for Stevie Bell: She’s antsy with no cases to solve, stressed by college applications, and missing her long-distance boyfriend terribly.

So when David invites Stevie to visit him in England, she immediately accepts and, with the help of friends Janelle Franklin, Vi Harper-Tomo, and Nate Fisher, gets a study-abroad trip approved for all four of them. Upon their arrival, David introduces them to his classmate Izzy, who has a story to tell. In 1995, a tightknit group of Cambridge graduates who called themselves the Nine arrived at a country estate for a summer getaway. The morning after their arrival, they discovered the mangled remains of two members. Although the police concluded it was a burglary gone wrong, Angela, Izzy’s aunt and a surviving member of the Nine, recently let slip her suspicion of a more sinister explanation for the deaths. Stevie’s deductive skills are put to the test, but other concerns—her relationship with David, graduation and inevitable separation from her friends, a persistent feeling of inadequacy—compete for her attention and occasionally push her anxiety, which she manages with medication, to the brink. The exploration of the importance of friendship (with parallels between the Nine and Stevie’s group) adds emotional vulnerability to this book, which has a well-developed sense of place and features the series’ signature humor and layered mystery elements. The cast includes diversity in race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Immersive and genre-savvy. (map, floor plan) (Mystery. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews