Truly Devious

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Enter the dark and twisty world of Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, a bestselling young adult mystery filled with secret passageways, unsolved murders, riddles, and elite boarding school intrigue. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, true crime, and atmospheric thrillers, this gripping first installment in the Truly Devious series blends classic detective fiction with modern suspense.

Ellingham Academy is a prestigious private school in Vermont designed for gifted thinkers, artists, and inventors—a place where learning is treated like a game. But the school has been haunted for decades by a chilling unsolved crime. Shortly after the academy opened, founder Albert Ellingham’s wife and daughter were kidnapped, and the only clue left behind was a cryptic message signed by the mysterious “Truly, Devious.”

Aspiring detective and true-crime enthusiast Stevie Bell arrives at Ellingham Academy determined to solve the legendary cold case. But balancing difficult classes, eccentric classmates, and the pressures of school life becomes even more dangerous when shocking new events suggest the killer—or someone inspired by them—has returned. As past and present mysteries intertwine, Stevie must uncover the truth before history repeats itself.