The Hand on the Wall
Ratings119
Average rating4.1
Summary: Stevie Bell thinks she has finally solved the decades-old mystery surrounding the kidnapping of the wife and daughter of her school’s founder, Albert Ellingham. The problem, however, is that danger continues to lurk on the Ellingham campus. Since Stevie has arrived at Ellingham, death and danger have seemed to stalk the campus and those connected to it. Stevie suspects that it’s all somehow tied to the Ellingham case, and she is determined to figure out how.
This was a very fun series to read. I don't normally read YA novels, but this series was so interesting. There were plenty of nods toward Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, so if you love those type of quirky detective novels, this series is worth the read. You do have to start with the first, though, since they are all one complete story.
Goede afsluiting van de triologie. De vragen die ik had aan het eind van the vanishing stair zijn nu beantwoord en het verhaal is mooi afgesloten. In dit boek was de spanning wel beter dan in deel 2, dus dat was fijn. En de covers van deze boeken zijn trouwens echt super gaaf en als je het boek uit hebt snap je de cover ook beter!
Questions finally get answered in The Hand on the Wall. Who is ‘Truly Devious'? Who killed two of the academy students? What happened to Alice Ellingham? And the latest question, who killed yet another connection to the school and the Ellingham case? With all of the recent tragedies, the school risks being closed for good.
Stevie isn't the only one desperate for answers, and though she does have the biggest piece of the puzzle figured out, she still doesn't know why two of her friends have been killed. Meanwhile, David is on a mission to sabotage his father's presidential campaign. This leads to a group of the academy students staying behind at the school despite an evacuation order... because nothing could go wrong trapped in a blizzard in a school that's shaping up to be cursed.
The story winds down in this book and focuses a lot on the historical part of the mystery. It's also slightly more character-driven than the previous two books. I'm curious about what's next given this one doesn't end on a cliffhanger. So far, I've had fun with this series and plan on finishing it in the near future.
kind of sort of disappointed with the reveal of the murderer. i had hoped it would be nate because stevie never suspected nate and i had hoped he would have had a motive or so. also i thought ellie was francis' daughter or granddaughter or something? I had hoped it would be clarified if so considering francis went to france and ellie lived in commune in france. anyway, regardless enjoyed this book.
4/5
OK WOW!!! I read this a while ago now but I don't seem to forgot that plot twist AND I know I'll never will!! So now I like (kinda) David idk BUT OVER ALL was AMAZING
This book is so hard to rate. I hated it and it was my favourite of the series. And by hated I don't mean in an affectionate I hated how much I loved this way. I mean, I really wasn't enjoying myself at certain points. But. Everything got SO. much. BETTER in that last act.
What I disliked the most about this book was the romance aka David. Yes, I finally hate him and have joined the bandwagon. What an ass. And I absolutely hated how Stevie behaved around him. Like, girl, grow a spine and have some self respect.
This is one when of those books where I was not the fan of where the mystery was going UNTIL the big expose where it all came together. I fucking loved it. It's the work of a genius. As underwhelming as the first two books were in that department, this one totally makes up for it. I loved the attention to detail to everything. The way it all came together was so fucking satisfying. I already miss these characters.??
Also, Nate. He's the fucking best. I need a whole book just about him. He better be in the next one.
This book is so hard to rate. I hated it and it was my favourite of the series. And by hated I don't mean in an affectionate I hated how much I loved this way. I mean, I really wasn't enjoying myself at certain points. But. Everything got SO. much. BETTER in that last act.
What I disliked the most about this book was the romance aka David. Yes, I finally hate him and have joined the bandwagon. What an ass. And I absolutely hated how Stevie behaved around him. Like, girl, grow a spine and have some self respect.
This is one when of those books where I was not the fan of where the mystery was going UNTIL the big expose where it all came together. I fucking loved it. It's the work of a genius. As underwhelming as the first two books were in that department, this one totally makes up for it. I loved the attention to detail to everything. The way it all came together was so fucking satisfying. I already miss these characters.
Also, Nate. He's the fucking best. I need a whole book just about him. He better be in the next one.
This series gets better and better with each book. I had my theoriesbon who I thought the murderer is and I was wrong
Definitely not the best series with mystery that was three books long.
But the romance in this book is the worst. How it even comes to someone's head is a mystery for me. Davis is a real d$ckhead who does nothing but humiliates the main character.
Things finally start to wrap up in this one, huzzah.
Main thoughts at the end:
True crime has rotted Stevie???s brain, she is way too chill with everything that???s going on.
the books in this series go by so fast and they were entertaining but everything else was extremely average. I disliked the main character and any love interest and things got repetitive at times.
it does make me want to read Sherlock Holmes though
also the MC slandered the great Gatsby.. I knew I hated her for a reason
I have not been disappointed yet in this series and I'm surprised even further each and every installment on the suspense factor. Stevie is amazing and I love everything about this one. Can't wait for the fourth in this series!
This was great! A perfect wrap up to the original trilogy. I don't have a whole lot to say since it's the third in the series and I don't want to write spoilers, but loved both mysteries, loved Stevie, and loved all her friends.
I'm beyond excited that we will get to see more of Stevie in the upcoming stand alone case “The Box in the Woods”!
This is one of the best series I've read in a while, I mean I actually have each book at 5 stars and that pretty much never happens.
3,5. It was a decent read! Very fast read in my opinion!
I did enjoy it, it was fun to learn more about the mystery and what has happened, but I do feel like this series could've been written in one, maybe two books.
However, when the next book releases, I'm still going to read it xD
I really like Stevie, and I know lots of people think she is annoying. She kind of is, but I still like her! The school setting and just the decor in general is amazing. It's visually written, so it's easy to imagine how it all looks!
I did enjoy it, it wasn't my favourite so far, but I do recommend it! :)
Snowed in and trying to catch a murderer as well as solve a decades old crime? Yes! This was an amazing finale to wrap up the trilogy. Everything gets wrapped up and I was right about a lot of it! We also get to see more of these characters growing and connecting and managing relationships. I really like the way it ends. It is happy and also logical. I like these characters because they are very unique and real people. They don't fit easily into any “typical” boxes. I am not ready to leave them behind! I am totally going to have a book hangover now.
Finally, some answers! I really enjoyed the ending to this series.
This is some interesting YA. The characters are distinct and flawed (except Janelle, she is perfect), yet each have their appeal. The dialogue is realistic and genuinely funny. Alternating between the 1930s and 2010s makes it feel like both contemporary and historical fiction. The article clippings and interview transcripts give it an epistolary twist.
Stevie is an endearing and intriguing protagonist. She's proof that mental illness does not disqualify you from tense, high-stakes professions. She works through her anxiety, helped by both medication and therapy. She acts even when she's scared, despite swirling thoughts that she's not good enough, and despite certain characters who seem to agree. It's great representation of anxiety.
This is also good quarantine content. It's suspenseful and sometimes eerie. The students live in uncertainty, scrambling to keep hold of plans and aspirations as horrors unfold beyond their control (was that heavy-handed enough?). But having friends to talk to and lean on means you laugh even during weird, dark times (was THAT heavy-handed enough?).
Sometimes you need some escapism and some answers to problems. And with the Truly Devious trilogy, Johnson provides both. Even if she makes you wait for the latter.
A very satisfying ending to the Stevie Bell story! I haven't read too much Agatha Christie, but I think what I'm seeing here is a nice tribute! I'm not a big mystery reader, or crime fan, but I loved this quirky little series. I think Nate is fabulous.
I did this one on audio and it was just perfect. Laughs when I needed them.
Well done.
Wow what a stellar wrap up!! I'm just enjoying the crime-solving high right now, full review to come.
Recensie van audioboek (via Storytel)
Minder spannend en absorberend dan gehoopt en ook de atmosfeer van de eerdere boeken leek vermist.
De vele vragen en mysteries krijgen wel een antwoord, maar die antwoorden zijn niet de meeste boeiende of opwindende. De onthullingen voelden soms zelfs een beetje als een aframmeling van feiten in plaats van een speurtocht. Ook de uiteindelijke ‘slechterik' bleek de meest voor de hand liggende persoon.
Al bij al wel leuk en vlot leesvoer, maar niets meer dan dat.
2.5 stars
I was disappointed by how the story unfolded, by the general lack of consequences, by the fact that there was no more mistery from the middle of the book and by the horrible-unhealthy-manipulative love relationship.
On the bright side the side characters were funny and unique even if they played a really background role.
Overall it can be an averagely entertaining read, with a cool setting but it has too many flaws to be memorable for me.
