The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson

The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious, #3)

by Maureen Johnson

New York Times and USA Today bestseller!

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson delivers the witty and pulse-pounding conclusion to the Truly Devious series as Stevie Bell solves the mystery that has haunted Ellingham Academy for over 75 years.

Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . .

She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.

At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.

Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.

In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.

Praise for the Truly Devious series:

“Readers, hang tight: there’s one more round to come, and if the signs are right, it’ll be to die for.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“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

“Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell.” —USA Today (four stars)

“Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” —Bustle

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

I have been hooked on this series since Truly Devious, and I couldn't wait for this finale. If I were to describe this conclusion in three words, I would use: captivating, surprising, and satisfying.

All the elements I loved in the first two books were still present in this final chapter, and maybe Johnson even turned it all up a notch or two.

I felt like I got to know some of the other characters better in this book. Stevie began to really embrace these people as her own, and in doing so, I got to spend more time with them. But, I didn't only learn more about the present day characters, Johnson revealed a plethora of tidbits about the Ellingham Academy residents from the 1930s, and some details were quite surprising.

I felt like Johnson not only maintained that classic whodunit feel of the previous two novels, but rather, she amped it up for this book. The gathering of all the suspects, while they were trapped due to a blizzard, seemed torn from the vintage mystery handbook. I felt a smile spread across my face as it played out in a most gratifying way.

But, I came here for answers and resolutions, and you know what? I got them! I discovered the whole, unadulterated truth about Alice (a pretty big surprises there), Stevie figured out how the present day and 1930s murders were connected (this was rather messy and interesting), AND I finally found out what was "always on the staircase, but never on the stair."

Stevie was a force, as she had been this whole series, and I will forever keep her on my list of literary favorites. Her wit, her humor, her quirks - I loved them all, and I was thrilled with the ending Johnson gave her.

I will miss Ellingham Academy, but I will remember it fondly.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 1 January, 2020: Finished reading
  • 1 January, 2020: Reviewed