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A review by booksbytheglass
The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is by far maureen johnson’s darkest chapter of the truly devious series - and let me tell you, I was SO here for it! it was the perfect amounts of spooky and thriller-esque with still keeping it a YA detective novel
when it comes to extending series past its intended trilogy, I’m usually team “leave it alone” but I’m very happy to be proven wrong here!!!! this was arguably some of the best writing and plot lines around stevie and her young detective brain 🫡
once again, stevie is back in the center of a cold case (right during a new homicide of course), and boy what a ride it was! the cast of characters in the small town was so vast - between their sketchy motives and closed off attitudes, I couldn’t decide who the culprit was!
in the end, I did think the solution came out of left field with no lead up, but it gave agatha christie wild solution vibes so I was rolling with it
and the best part was that david was veryyyyy minimally in this one because his attitude (and honestly stevie’s too in this one) needs a hard check 🥴 for two people who are seemingly very compatible, they sure stink at simple communication and understanding
anyway!!! reading on!!!’
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley rosé
when it comes to extending series past its intended trilogy, I’m usually team “leave it alone” but I’m very happy to be proven wrong here!!!! this was arguably some of the best writing and plot lines around stevie and her young detective brain 🫡
once again, stevie is back in the center of a cold case (right during a new homicide of course), and boy what a ride it was! the cast of characters in the small town was so vast - between their sketchy motives and closed off attitudes, I couldn’t decide who the culprit was!
in the end, I did think the solution came out of left field with no lead up, but it gave agatha christie wild solution vibes so I was rolling with it
and the best part was that david was veryyyyy minimally in this one because his attitude (and honestly stevie’s too in this one) needs a hard check 🥴 for two people who are seemingly very compatible, they sure stink at simple communication and understanding
anyway!!! reading on!!!’
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley rosé