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Quick answer: If you loved Truly Devious, read Maureen Johnson's The Vanishing Stair, then A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, One of Us Is Lying, The Inheritance Games and We Were Liars. All feature clever teen sleuths and secrets at elite schools.
Maureen Johnson's novel follows Stevie Bell, a true crime fan who goes to a prestigious boarding school to solve a cold case from the 1930s. It weaves two mysteries together and ends on a cliffhanger. The books below offer similar teen mysteries with puzzles, secrets and sharp heroines.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vanishing Stair | Maureen Johnson | Teen | the sequel |
| A Good Girl's Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson | Teen | teen detectives |
| One of Us Is Lying | Karen M. McManus | Teen | YA whodunits |
| The Inheritance Games | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Teen | puzzle fans |
| We Were Liars | E. Lockhart | Teen | family secrets |
| Ace of Spades | Faridah Abike-Iyimide | Teen | school thrillers |
| Murder Most Unladylike | Robin Stevens | 9-13 | younger sleuths |
| Stalking Jack the Ripper | Kerri Maniscalco | Teen | historical mysteries |
| A Study in Charlotte | Brittany Cavallaro | Teen | Holmes descendants |
| The Naturals | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Teen | FBI teens |
| The Secret History | Donna Tartt | Adult | older readers |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | younger readers |
| Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock | Carolyn Keene | 8-12 | classic sleuths |
| The Agathas | Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson | Teen | Christie fans |
| Rules for Vanishing | Kate Alice Marshall | Teen | horror mystery |
1. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
The second Truly Devious book continues Stevie's investigation. More twists, more danger and deeper secrets.
Best for: the sequel.
2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pip investigates a murder case for a school project. Fast and gripping, with a strong ending.
Best for: teen detectives.
3. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Five students enter detention and only four leave alive. A fast YA whodunit.
Best for: YA whodunits.
4. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A teen inherits a billionaire's fortune and moves into a puzzle-filled mansion. A fast mystery with riddles.
Best for: puzzle fans.
5. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Cadence returns to her family's island and tries to remember an accident. A twisty story of privilege and secrets.
Best for: family secrets.
6. Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
Two students at an elite school are targeted by an anonymous bully. A tense, timely thriller.
Best for: school thrillers.
7. Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Two schoolgirls form a detective society at their boarding school. Classic and cozy mystery for younger readers.
Best for: younger sleuths.
8. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
A young woman studies forensic medicine in Victorian London and hunts for the Ripper. Dark and atmospheric.
Best for: historical mysteries.
9. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
The descendants of Holmes and Watson meet at a Connecticut boarding school. Witty and twisty.
Best for: Holmes descendants.
10. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Teens with special talents help the FBI solve cold cases. Fast and thrilling.
Best for: FBI teens.
11. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A group of classics students at a Vermont college commit murder. A literary classic of campus mystery.
Best for: older readers.
12. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Gifted kids go on a secret mission at a strange school. Puzzle-filled and funny.
Best for: younger readers.
13. Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
The classic girl sleuth's first mystery. Short and nostalgic.
Best for: classic sleuths.
14. The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Alice investigates the disappearance of a classmate. Inspired by Agatha Christie.
Best for: Christie fans.
15. Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
Teens go to the woods to find a missing girl and discover a game. Creepy and fast.
Best for: horror mystery.
How to Choose
If you want more Stevie Bell, read The Vanishing Stair and the rest of the series. For fast teen whodunits, pick A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, One of Us Is Lying or The Naturals. For puzzles and riddles, choose The Inheritance Games or A Study in Charlotte. For younger readers, try Murder Most Unladylike, Nancy Drew or The Mysterious Benedict Society. Older readers can try The Secret History, which is dark and adult. Keep notes as you read, since the best teen mysteries reward attention to small details. Compare your guesses with friends to see who spots the clues first. Many of these books are first in a series, so you may have a lot to read next. Readers who finish the list can try classic detective stories for inspiration, from Nancy Drew to Sherlock Holmes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Truly Devious about?
Stevie Bell attends Ellingham Academy to solve the 1936 kidnapping of the founder's family.
How many Truly Devious books are there?
Three main books and a related novel.
Is Truly Devious a standalone?
No, the first book ends on a cliffhanger.
What age is it for?
About 13 and up.
Is it scary?
It has suspense and some creepy moments, but it is not graphic.
Who is Maureen Johnson?
A young adult author known for Suite Scarlett and the Shades of London series.
Is there a TV adaptation?
Check current listings for any adaptation news.
Does Truly Devious end on a cliffhanger?
Yes, and the mystery is resolved across the series.
Which book is the most like Truly Devious?
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and The Inheritance Games.
What is Ellingham Academy?
A fictional boarding school for gifted students in Vermont.
Does Truly Devious involve a true crime?
It is inspired by real kidnapping cases but is fiction.
Is the series finished?
Yes. The original trilogy is complete, and a later novel set in the same world followed.