the box in the woods by Maureen Johnson

58th book of 2021

Fourth book in the Truly Devious series

Reading period: July 11th 2021 – July 13th 2021

Summary

Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer.

But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls—the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.

Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.

But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.

Rating

Review

This book is a good novel in the Truly Devious world. I was pretty afraid to read it as the events happen after the last book of the series. However, I liked it as much as the first book of the Truly Devious series.

The settings are well-done as I felt like I was in a summer camp near a small city. And I always like it when there is a mystery in a small town as in general everyone knows everyone and secrets are present.

The couple David and Stevie, is present, but I still don’t like it. I don’t feel the chemistry between them, and I find their relationship not too healthy even if he isn’t as obnoxious as in the trilogy and gains in maturity.

I was surprised by the fact that the flashbacks to 1976 aren’t as present as in the Truly Devious series, they are concentrated at the beginning to give you all the details you need, but you don’t have a lot. At the same time, it’s understandable and frustrating I wanted more information, but the ending gave me all of that.
I wasn’t prepared for the ending, I had many theories during my read, but that one was so logical and surprising.

If there is another book for this series, I am up to read it.

Liz.