The Vanishing Stair is the sequel to Truly Devious which I previously reviewed HERE. If you do not want Truly Devious to be spoiled at all, I would recommend not reading this book review.
You have been warned.
An amazon summary, "In New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson’s second novel in the Truly Devious series, there are more twists and turns than Stevie Bell can imagine. No answer is given freely, and someone will pay for the truth with their life.
The Truly Devious case—an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder that rocked Ellingham Academy in 1936—has consumed Stevie for years. It’s the very reason she came to the academy. But then her classmate was murdered, and her parents quickly pull her out of school. For her safety, they say. She must move past this obsession with crime.
Stevie’s willing to do anything to get back to Ellingham, be back with her friends, and solve the Truly Devious case. Even if it means making a deal with the despicable Senator Edward King. And when Stevie finally returns, she also returns to David: the guy she kissed, and the guy who lied about his identity—Edward King’s son.
But larger issues are at play. Where did the murderer hide? What’s the meaning of the riddle Albert Ellingham left behind? And what, exactly, is at stake in the Truly Devious affair? The Ellingham case isn’t just a piece of history—it’s a live wire into the present." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
ALRIGHTTTTT, so brief recap of how book one ended. Hayes had died, Ellie was strongly suspected of having killed him, and fled into the night. Stevie's parents, a bit frreaked out by all the activity on campus, their daughter being in the middle of solving this crime, decided to pull Stevie out of school and bring her home.
Stevie was very non-plussed by that event. Before she had been taken from campus, she discovered a new clue to the famous triple murder, or the Truly Devious case. She brings the tin full of various tiny items everywhere with her. She is obsessed with solving the Ellingham case despite her new circumstances... when a very strange offer comes her way. Her mother calls her home, only for Stevie to find Senator Edward King, father of David King (see previous book for romantic story arc). Stevie's parents are mildly obsessed with Edward King (again, see previous book). Edward King is in Stevie's living room to take her back to Ellingham. Stevie is caught up in the whirlwind that is Edward King where he takes her by private plane back to Ellingham. On the plane, Edward explains that he wants Stevie back on campus to be a calming presence for David, who has gone mildly... psycho while she's been gone. Stevie returns to campus with the instructions to kind of keep David in line. Very, yuck, situation; but she's back on campus!
Stevie returns to find the campus has a new security system set up, but she's quickly acclimated by her friends, and back into her classes. She also has an opportunity to do an internship with an author who wrote one of the most famous books about the Ellingham case. But, David is obsessed with trying to figure out what happened to Ellie, and is determined to have Stevie help him... but he doesn't know that his Dad brought Stevie back to campus.
Dun dun dunnnnnn That's enough summary.
A FANTASTIC SEQUEL. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. THERE'S GOING TO BE A THIRD BOOK.
Still as awesome as the last book, basically, imagine me regurgitating all the awesome things I mentioned about the last book here. Same brilliant story writing. Love, love, love it.
I also want to leave off with some thoughts.
This is spoilers, so don't read any farther if you don't want spoilers. Pretend I left off with a happy reading here and call it a day.
For reals.
So, George Marsh is revealed to be the original kidnapper to both the Ellinghams, That's what Dottie had been trying to tell Albert with her note in the Sherlock Holmes novel. George reveals that the kidnappers he hired to help him, he thought were basically dopes and would follow orders. Turns out he was wrong, and that's basically why Albert's wife died. However, we still don't know what happened to Alice. After the events of everything in this book, I suspect that Edward King, being a rich man, is actually the son of the original kidnappers who knows where Alice is. I suspect he hasn't come forward about Alice because there is something he wants from the Ellingham academy on some level, and also, probably because he doesn't want his wealth taken away or something and ruin his image as a senator. I highly doubt that Alice is alive, but it is entirely possible still. I also have a sneaking suspicion that someone working for Edward King was set up to murder Stevie's internship author lady because she was either in on the truth, or too close to the truth. How did she know about the tunnels under the Minerva house? Also, I want to say the flour heiress is somehow involved, but I have no idea how. Also, the second note from book one that briefly appeared on Stevie's wall has not been resolved. I only have more questions. While I am enjoying these books so far, I hope there is some form of resolution in book three, even if the series continues into general mystery novels. I love Stevie and can't wait to find out about what case she solves next.
Happy reading!
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