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In Truly Devious, author Maureen Johnson set the stage for a captivating young adult mystery, connecting a modern-day murder to an unsolved case from the 1930s. And in the follow-up, The Vanishing Stair, the pieces of these two puzzles continue to come together.
The story catches up with Stevie Bell as she’s struggling to return to her life back home, away from the adventure and mystery of Ellingham Academy. So when loathsome Senator Edward King arrives at her home to convince her parents to let her return, Stevie is willing to do whatever he asks—especially since he simply asks her to keep tabs on his son, David. Whisked back to the mountains in Vermont, Stevie is relieved to be back where she belongs—but she soon finds herself focused more on the decades-old murder mystery (and the weeks-old murder mystery) than on her homework.
The Vanishing Stair provides more answers regarding both cases while adding some new mysteries for Stevie to solve, too. It’s pretty clear that nothing in this tale is simple and straightforward. And this dramatic second installment ratchets up the intrigue as Stevie returns to her exclusive school in the mountains and finds herself caught up in all new drama.
Stevie’s relationship with David was already strained, and now, to make things even more uncomfortable, she’s also forced to hide her connection to his father. But while she struggles to keep secrets from David, not even the awkwardness with her troubled friend—nor the notoriety that she gained from her part in the school’s newest murder mystery—can hold this gifted young investigator back. Once she returns to class, she’s assigned to assist an author who’s writing another book on the original Ellingham case, and she soon ends up buried in her investigation, digging up clues that no one else has been able to uncover.
As answers lead to more questions, the story twists and turns and surprises. The closer Stevie gets to discovering the truth, the more dangerous the investigation seems to become. And it all makes for a gripping read.
With its mix of classic whodunit and modern mystery—and its delightfully eerie atmosphere—this Agatha-Christie-style young adult read is a great choice for an evening curled up with a book. And as more of the pieces begin to come together, bringing the story closer and closer to those final revelations, you’ll eagerly await the next installment.
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