About the Book
The Vanishing Stair is the second book in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series, a YA mystery set at Ellingham Academy, a peculiar Vermont boarding school founded by a wealthy eccentric named Albert Ellingham in the 1930s. In the first book, Stevie Bell arrives at the school obsessed with a decades-old unsolved case: the kidnapping and murder of Ellingham's wife and daughter, known as the Truly Devious crimes.
This second installment picks up with Stevie forced back home after a death at the school shakes the administration. She's desperate to return to Ellingham and to the investigation she left behind. A deal, and a morally uncomfortable one at that, gets her back on campus, but at a cost. The book splits its attention between the present-day mystery and flashback chapters set in the 1930s, slowly filling in the historical case that drives the series.
The Vanishing Stair functions primarily as a middle chapter, it deepens the mystery and develops relationships between characters, but it's not designed to stand alone. Readers new to the series should start with Truly Devious before coming here. Fans of locked-room mysteries, cold cases, and school settings with a slightly gothic atmosphere tend to respond well to this series.
Narration & Audio Performance
Kate Rudd returns to narrate this installment, having also handled the first book in the series. That consistency matters in a story with a recurring cast of characters, listeners who've already spent time with Rudd's voice in Truly Devious will find the transition seamless.
Rudd has a clear, measured delivery that suits the material well. Stevie Bell's narration in particular comes through as grounded and slightly deadpan, which fits the character, she's an anxious, hyper-focused teenager, not a dramatic one. The pacing is steady without being slow. The 1930s flashback sections, which carry a different tone from the present-day chapters, are handled with enough distinction to track without becoming theatrical.
If you've listened to the first Truly Devious audiobook and liked Rudd's performance there, this one holds to the same standard. If you haven't sampled the series yet, the Audible preview of the first book is a better place to start before committing here.
The Audible Verdict
The Vanishing Stair is a well-constructed second act in a YA mystery series, and Kate Rudd's consistent narration makes it a comfortable audio experience. It's not essential listening, the story is readable in any format, but there's nothing about the audio version that works against it. A free trial credit is the right level of investment for a mid-series installment that functions more as setup than payoff.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
This book translates to audio without meaningful friction. The structure is straightforward: alternating present-day chapters and historical flashbacks, both handled in linear order. There are no charts, maps, or visual elements that carry narrative weight, and the writing doesn't depend on formatting tricks.
The dual-timeline format can sometimes be harder to track in audio than in print, since readers can't flip back as easily to reorient themselves. In this case, the transitions are clear enough that it's not a real obstacle. Listeners doing household tasks or commuting should be able to follow without losing the thread.
This is the type of mystery that rewards attention to detail, Stevie is a methodical thinker and the clues accumulate over time. Passive listening while distracted may cause you to miss small details that matter later. It's a better fit for focused sessions than background listening.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to listen to the first book before this one?
Yes. The Vanishing Stair is a direct continuation of Truly Devious and picks up immediately after that book's ending. Starting here without the first book would leave major plot points and character relationships unexplained.
Is this a YA book? What age range is it written for?
Yes, this is a YA novel, generally aimed at readers 13 and up. The content is suitable for younger teens, the mystery involves historical violence and some present-day tension, but nothing graphic.
Is the narrator the same one from the first Truly Devious audiobook?
Yes. Kate Rudd narrated the first book in the series and returns for this installment, so the voice and character interpretations remain consistent.
Does the mystery get resolved in this book?
Partially. The Vanishing Stair advances both the historical cold case and the present-day investigation, but the series arc continues into a third book. It ends on a significant moment rather than a full resolution.
Similar Audiobooks
The essential starting point, same narrator, same setting, same central mystery. Listen to this before The Vanishing Stair.
The Hand on the Wall
The direct follow-up to The Vanishing Stair, also narrated by Kate Rudd. The place to go after finishing this one.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Another YA mystery with a teenage amateur investigator digging into a cold case. Popular with Truly Devious readers for a similar tone and pacing.
A YA mystery set in a high school environment with a multi-perspective structure. Readers who like the boarding school setting and teen detective angle tend to find this one appealing as well.
Nine Liars
Part of Maureen Johnson's Shades of London series, another YA mystery series with a school setting and a protagonist investigating past crimes. A natural next step for fans of Truly Devious.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Truly Devious 2: The Vanishing Stair |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Kate Rudd |
| Genre | YA Mystery |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The Vanishing Stair is available on Audible with consistent narration from Kate Rudd. If you're already into the series, a free trial credit is a practical way to continue.
Open on Audible