Hey, bookworms! Happy Sunday! To be honest, I kind of wish it were Monday (isn't that a first!) so that I could make some snazzy comment about it being 'Mystery Monday' and channel the power of that glorious alliteration. Alas, we're stuck with Mystery Sunday, which really doesn't have the same pizazz as Mystery Monday, but I suppose it'll do. Well! On Mystery Sunday (and Father's Day, for that matter--Happy Father's Day, everyone!), I'm here with my tour stop for Turn the Page Tours' The Box in the Woods Tour! For those of you who don't know, The Box in the Woods is the fourth book in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series. However, it's also a standalone, which is awesome because it means you can read it whether or not you've already read the Truly Devious series! (Although if you haven't read the Truly Devious series, I do highly recommend picking it up--it's a fantastic series!) A huge thank you to Turn the Page Tours for choosing me to be part of this amazing tour, and also thank you to them and HarperCollins for providing me with a finished copy of The Box in the Woods as part of joining this tour! So it's time to pull out our magnifying glasses, don our deerstalkers (did you know that's what those detective hats are called? Because I sure didn't before my lovely friend Paige over at @pagebypaigebooks told me), and join Stevie and her friends for a new murder mystery! But first, make sure to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a finished copy of The Box in the Woods (open to US only). There will be one winner, and this tour began on June 15 and ends on June 22, 2021. And also, check out The Box in the Woods tour schedule here to follow along! Now keep on scrolling to check out my review of and favorite quotes from The Box in the Woods! Synopsis/Book Information
My ReviewIt's such a delight to be back in the world of teen-detective Stevie Bell and her friends! I missed these characters so much after finishing the Truly Devious trilogy, so I was thrilled to get another book about them. This mystery was just as twisty as the Truly Devious case and it was so fun to watch Stevie become her best detective self to solve a new case. Firstly, I'd like to say that Maureen Johnson's writing is simply fabulous. She has this way of weaving wit and dry humor into every sentence, making you snicker and grin at the most mundane remarks. I absolutely adore her writing style! I know Stevie was reckless in the original Truly Devious trilogy, but was she really this reckless? I can't remember for sure, but I do know that she made some slightly questionable decisions in this book. However, I'm not one to judge, because, after all, she's Stevie Bell. She knows what she's doing...I think? Either way, that just adds to the charm of her character. Stevie would probably give me her worst glare for referring to her as charming, but she just does have some irresistible teen detective charm that makes her so great to read about. If she asked me to solve a mystery with her, I'd say yes in a heartbeat, despite the danger that always follows her around like a shadow. Her friends, Nate and Janelle, are also such fantastic characters, so full of personality and quirks. I unfortunately can't say I was that huge of a fan of David in this book (I think I liked him more in the original trilogy? But now I'm questioning my character preferences), and I definitely wasn't thrilled with his and Stevie's relationship. There weren't enough scenes of them together doing relationship-y stuff for it to feel like an actual relationship--more like they were just acquaintances who met up every once in a while to make out in the woods and drive around town. But some of their interactions were pretty amusing, so I won't totally discount their relationship. As for new characters, Carson was simply hilarious and provided the perfect amount of comic relief. All of his weird eccentricities were too amusing to read about--but if we're being honest, Box Box does seem like the sort of odd thing people would be into in real life. Like with the original trilogy, I enjoyed how the chapters include some scenes from the past. This adds to the mysteriousness and drama of the case, and it allows the reader to get an intimate look at the victims, suspects, and surrounding people from that time. One thing I felt was a bit off was how quickly this book wrapped up; it felt like it went from extreme drama and tension to suddenly the case being resolved. Plus, it didn't feel like Stevie had much concrete evidence for her accusation--it was a bit too much guessing for my liking. However, it still was a relatively satisfactory conclusion to the mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed The Box in the Woods! It was an intriguing, twisty mystery that kept me guessing. It was wonderful to be back in the world of Stevie Bell, investigating a new murder case. This book will no doubt please both longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike! I gave this book Four Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Favorite QuotesAuthor Information
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Hey there, bookworms!My name is Rose (she/her) and I'm the creator of Books of Magic and Mystery. I love reading YA books, especially fantasy and mystery. When I'm not reading, you can find me baking, studying, or cuddling with my super-furry pets. Visit me on Instagram @booksofmagicandmystery! Archives
November 2021
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