Maureen Johnson was born in Philadelphia, but soon ran off to New York City to study writing and drama at Columbia University. Along the way, she served up hamburgers in the company of mad scientists and talking skeletons in New York, worked in a bar in Piccadilly Circus, nervously worked alongside five tigers in Las Vegas, and once got mixed up with the entire cast of a major West End musical. She is the author of The Key to the Golden Firebird and The Bermudez Triangle. You can visit Maureen online at www.maureenjohnsonbooks.
“The Agatha Christie-like ecosystem pairs with lacerating
contemporary wit, and alternating past and present scenes makes for
a multilayered, modern detective story.” — New York Times Book
Review
“Jumping between past and present, Johnson’s novel is deliciously
atmospheric, with a sprawling cast of complex suspects/potential
victims, surprising twists, and a dash of romance. As in her Shades
of London books, Johnson remains a master at combining jittery
tension with sharp, laugh-out-loud observations.” — Publishers
Weekly (starred review)
“Johnson deftly twists two mysteries together—Stevie’s
investigation is interspersed with case files and recollections
from the Ellington kidnapping—and the result is a suspenseful,
attention-grabbing mystery with no clear solution. The versatile
Johnson is no stranger to suspense, and this twisty thriller will
leave plenty of readers anxious for more.” — Booklist
“The story raises more questions than answers, leaving readers
hoping Johnson has another entry up her clever sleeves. A classic
mystery that would make Dame Agatha proud.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Agatha Christie meets Riverdale in Maureen Johnson’s latest, which
offers two gripping mysteries rolled into one. Truly
Devious adds a modern flair to that delicious classic mystery
novel-reading experience in which every passage seems rife with
potential suspects and clues.” — Chicago Tribune
“Stevie Bell is a dyed-in-the-wool true-crime buff…a smart,
relatable, self-aware protagonist. Fans of puzzles, boarding school
stories, and true crime will tear through this book and love every
minute.” — School Library Journal
“Told in alternating chapters, Johnson’s finely tuned plot
effectively employs classical mystery tropes while maintaining a
thoroughly modern sensibility. Stevie’s quirky, ragtag bunch of new
friends crosses sexuality and class lines, providing teen readers
with a wealth of characters to connect with.” — Horn Book
Magazine
“Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing
it was something special? There’s that same sense of magic in the
introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie
Bell. Parallel mysteries unfold with cleverly written
dialogue, page-turning brilliance and a young sleuth just as
captivating as Hercule Poirot.” — USA Today (four stars)
“Johnson quickly sets the game afoot, skillfully introducing a
Clue-like set of characters, laying out various motives, and
hinting at long held secrets. There’s a delicious slow-burn element
to the locked-room mystery in Stevie’s present, while the chapters
on the kidnappings read like a true crime novel.” — Bulletin of the
Center for Children’s Books
“An intricately plotted, compulsively readable novel that explores
not only fascinating crimes but also the mysteries of anxiety, the
creative process, contemporary fame, and so much else.” — John
Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way
Down
“Maureen Johnson has a totally original mind, a passionate set of
moral convictions, an extraordinary sense of bravery and
ridiculousness, and she writes pretty sentences. Read
whatever she writes.” — E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and
Genuine Fraud
“Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” — Bustle
“So much to love in this book! The dueling mysteries, present and
past. The incredible mansion/school setting. The smart, diverse and
quirky characters. This mystery had us fooled at every turn! And
the best news? It’s the first in a series.” — Justine Magazine
“This read is perfect for those who enjoy twisty, turny plots and a
high-stakes mystery.” — Buzzfeed
“Truly Devious is filled with twists and turns—plus Maureen Johnson
is very, very funny.” — Harlan Coben
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