Solve the Ellingham case first
Begin with Truly Devious and finish the opening trilogy before moving to Stevie's later stand-alone cases.
Book Series · 5 Books
Truly Devious Books
In order from Truly Devious to Nine Liars.
True-crime enthusiast Stevie Bell investigates old and new murders while navigating school, friendships, anxiety, and romance in Maureen Johnson's witty YA mystery series.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Truly Devious Books
Start with Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, and The Hand on the Wall. Those three books tell one mystery and need to be read together in order. The Box in the Woods and Nine Liars give Stevie new cases that each stand more independently, but publication order preserves the characters' personal history.
Sources: Maureen Johnson's official Truly Devious page, Official The Box in the Woods page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Every book centers on murder. The cases include kidnapping, discovered bodies, threats to teenagers, fire, confinement, and discussion of true crime and past victims. The descriptions are YA-level rather than highly graphic, but the danger is real despite the series' humor.
Stevie experiences anxiety and panic attacks. The books also include grief, alcohol use, lying, complicated friendships, and teen romance, including an unhealthy on-and-off relationship.
Where to start
Where Should My Teen Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1498
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2018
Truly Devious
A cold case haunts a prestigious academy as a new student seeks the truth.
420 pages· 94,766 words· Est. 9 hour read
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: At Ellingham Academy, a prestigious school shrouded in mystery, Stevie Bell arrives with a mission: solve the infamous cold case of a tycoon's kidnapped family. But as she navigates her new life among brilliant peers, the past resurfaces with deadly consequences. Can Stevie unravel the riddles of Truly Devious before history repeats itself?
In reading order
Truly Devious Series
5 books · Published 2018–2022
#1
Sale price
$1498
Truly Devious
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2018
A cold case haunts a prestigious academy as a new student seeks the truth.
#2
Sale price
$1498
The Vanishing Stair
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2019
A deadly mystery at Ellingham Academy demands answers, but the truth comes at a cost.
#3
Sale price
$1498
The Hand on the Wall
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2020
A storm, a murderer, and a mystery unsolved. Can Stevie connect the dots before it's too late?
#4
Sale price
$1498
The Box in the Woods
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2021
A summer camp murder mystery threatens to claim new victims. Can Stevie solve it before it's too late?
#5
Sale price
$1498
Nine Liars
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2022
A deadly game from the past haunts Stevie as she uncovers a chilling mystery in England.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Truly Devious series?
There are 5 books in the Truly Devious series. It began with Truly Devious in 2018, and the newest book, Nine Liars, was published in 2022.
What order should you read the Truly Devious books in?
Start with Truly Devious and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.
What ages are the Truly Devious books best for?
The series is best for ages 14–18, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Truly Devious book is the longest?
Nine Liars (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 104,696 words (464 pages).
Which Truly Devious book is the shortest?
The Hand on the Wall (Book #3) is the shortest at 82,952 words (384 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Truly Devious to life.
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