The Vanishing Stair
Ratings149
Average rating4
Summary: Despite having (kind of) solved the mystery surrounding the death of her classmate, Stevie Bell has been pulled out of Ellingham Academy by her parents, greatly hindering her ability to continue her research into the decades-old Ellingham kidnapping cold case. It is not until Edward King, the deeply unpleasant politician for whom Stevie’s parents work, steps in that the Bells allow Stevie to return to Ellingham. His seeming kindness, however, comes with strings attached, and Stevie must balance meeting his expectations while continuing her investigation into the Ellingham case as well as the continued mysterious happenings on Ellingham’s campus.
3,5/5⭐️
Minder goed dan deel 1. Ik ben met zo veel vragen achtergelaten. Ook is er een deel opgelost, maar dat neemt niet op tegen alle open stukken uit dit boek...
Picking up shortly after where Truly Devious left off, we return with Stevie to Ellingham Academy after making a deal with her worst enemy, Edward King. Things look a little bit different now that one student has died and another has gone missing. Going against all of the warnings, she continues investigating the Ellingham case as well as the recent death and disappearance. The plot thickens when there is another death. If she wasn't suspicious before, she is certain now that there is foul play. Is this the work of a fellow student? A faculty member? Or is it an outside job? Between riddles and bizarre behavior, Stevie has her work cut out for her.
Given we were introduced to the characters in the first book, there's no shortage of action and intrigue in the sequel. I ended up enjoying it even more than Truly Devious. We also get a deeper look into Stevie and David's complicated relationship, though David has been acting strangely since she left and returned. This becomes another mystery Stevie wants to uncover. However, she's yet to make peace with the knowledge of who his father is.
Once again, the book leaves off on a cliffhanger that is perhaps even crueler than the first. Be sure to have The Hand on the Wall ready because you aren't going to want to wait for the conclusion.
I thought the first book in the series was just okay, but this continuation was everything that I wanted it to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the clues and reveals and, even though I don't usually enjoy YA because of its simplicity, I couldn't put this book down once the pieces started coming together. I also now understand that the first book couldn't be all that satisfying, because the whole trilogy should be looked at as a whole, and rating each installment individually is not quite fair. Overall, a really fun and thrilling reading experience. I'm starting the next book right away because I just need to know more.
3.5
Reading this feels like reading Harry Potter but without the magic and the magical creatures. Lovee the vibes of the academy and the various activities.
4.5⭐️ Wow that ending was one that actually attached more and MORE to this series it was good and bad(in a good way)? After finishing this book I totally picked up the second one lol. Ummmmmm I totally like Hunter I think he is now my favorite character, also Stevie's pls dump David like girl HE.IS.NOT.WORTH.IT
really disappointed by the big reveal. i knew they were sus. also, this book was so rushed.
really disappointed by the big reveal. i knew they were sus. also, this book was so rushed.
I'm really glad I decided to give this series another shot. I get why Book 1 was set up the way it was. Book 2 was a lot better and I lobed it! Thank goodness for buddy reads and Bookstagram !!
Leaving a mystery unsolved in the second book is even worse, than doing the same thing in the first book.
Also, why the hell David is supposed to be a love interest? That guy needs therapy, not a relationship.
3.5/5
I vote that David gets a therapist in book 3.
A pretty solid sequel! A lot of unexpected twists in this one, and every answer leaves you asking new questions. We are left on another cliffhanger, and I sometimes feel like the mysteries are a bit too drawn out but overall still a really enjoyable read.
3.5 rounded down
kinda starting to think ya mysteries aren't my jam but idk gonna keep reading them!
average like the first book but there is something that's pulling me to read the next book and I don't know what it is
Just as a good as the first. No, maybe better! Love this author's portrayal of anxiety, feels quite similar to my own experiences. The mysteries in these books keep me hooked.
This one was good but this one didn't scream out to me like the first installment of the series. I definitely would call this a 4 star. I thought stevie was a bit dramatic in this one but still very vested in this series and its characters. Really looking forward to book 3 :)
So I don't know how to rate this one just yet. I did enjoy parts of it, but I also felt like it had the ‘second book syndrom.'
But it was also quite exciting, if you know what I mean! It did have some amazing parts and some plottwists, which I did enjoy. But the plot in general was a bit too dramatic for me! Nevertheless I am excited to read the final installment! :D
I love the old school murder mystery vibe this book gives with all it's Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes references. Hardly ever happens to me that I like the second book in a series more than the first, but I flew through that one. I found the flashbacks much more interesting and actually adding a lot to the story. My main problem though, is that even though the characters are supposed to be around 16 (I think) somehow the way they behave and talk reminds me more of 13/14 year olds and this kills a lot of the vibe for me. Also they make quite a lot of “teen” impulsive decisions and for a character that is supposed to be straightforward and logical, Stevie makes some really seriously dumb decisions. But maybe that's just YA? Still has me hooked though so I guess it deserves its 4 stars.
Favourite Quote: “You have to shut down the voices in your mind that say, “it has to be this person.” Muderers aren't a type. They're anyone.”
I am so in love with these characters and Ellingham Academy! The description of each book in the series gives nothing away and makes you really want to read the nest one. The way information is discovered makes a lot of sense and we also get to discover more about Stevie as she is growing as a person. This is a perfect book two and I have to get my hands on book 3 now to finish this series!
If you are going to use “them” as a singular pronoun, the character should never be referred to as “themselves”. The singular is “themself”. Arrrgh!