About the Book
Truly Devious is a YA mystery novel by Maureen Johnson, published in 2018. It follows Stevie Bell, a teenager obsessed with true crime who earns a spot at Ellingham Academy, an elite, eccentric school tucked into the Vermont mountains. Stevie's real agenda isn't academic: she wants to solve the Ellingham Affair, an eighty-one-year-old unsolved kidnapping and murder that has shadowed the school since its founder's family was taken in the 1930s.
The story runs on two tracks. In the present, Stevie is navigating the social dynamics of a strange new school, making friends, managing anxiety, and quietly hunting for clues. In the past, the original investigation plays out through letters, documents, and reconstructed scenes. The mystery itself, who was "Truly Devious," the name signed on a ransom note, remains genuinely unresolved through most of the book, as this is the first installment of a longer series.
Readers coming in expecting a standalone mystery should know upfront: the Ellingham case is not solved in this book. Johnson sets up an intricate puzzle and introduces a cast of suspects and witnesses across both timelines, but the resolution carries over into later volumes. The contemporary plot does reach a stopping point, but the cold case threads remain open. That's not a flaw exactly, but it's worth knowing before you commit a credit.
Narration & Audio Performance
Kate Rudd is a reliable YA narrator with a long track record in the genre, and she fits this material well. Her voice for Stevie is wry and slightly understated, which suits a character who is internally anxious but externally composed. Rudd doesn't overperform the emotion, which keeps the pacing from feeling melodramatic in quieter sections.
Character differentiation is adequate. The ensemble at Ellingham is large enough that some secondary characters blur slightly in audio, but the main cast is clearly distinguished. The historical sections, set in the 1930s, benefit from a slightly more formal register that Rudd handles without making the tonal shift feel jarring.
Production quality is clean and consistent with Katherine Tegen's standard releases. No music or sound effects are used. Listeners who prefer atmospheric audio production may find it plain, but the stripped-back approach keeps the focus on the plotting, which is where this book earns its attention.
The Audible Verdict
The audiobook is a solid listen and Kate Rudd handles the dual-timeline structure cleanly, but this is the first book in an ongoing series with no resolution to the central mystery. It's a good choice for a free trial credit, enjoyable in audio, but the open ending means you're committing to a series rather than a satisfying standalone payoff. If you finish it and want to continue, that's when a paid credit makes more sense for the sequels.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Truly Devious is a linear narrative with a clear protagonist, and the chapter-by-chapter rhythm is easy to follow in audio. The dual-timeline structure, alternating between Stevie in the present and the 1930s investigation, is clearly signposted, so listeners don't lose their footing when the timeline shifts. This kind of structure can be disorienting in print if you're skimming; in audio with a single narrator, the transitions actually feel more controlled.
The book is text-heavy in terms of character interiority and dialogue rather than action, which suits the audio format. There are no charts, maps, or visual puzzles that would be lost in the audio version. Any clues embedded in documents or letters are read aloud, so nothing critical is dropped.
One minor consideration: the mystery's complexity builds over several books, and listeners who prefer to re-read clues or flip back to earlier sections will find print easier for that kind of active engagement. If you're a casual listener rather than an active puzzle-tracker, audio works fine here.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this a standalone book or part of a series?
It is the first book in a series. The Ellingham cold case is not resolved in this volume, you'll need to continue with the sequels to get answers. The contemporary storyline reaches a partial conclusion, but major mysteries remain open.
Is this audiobook suitable for younger listeners?
The book is published as YA and is appropriate for teenagers and adults who enjoy the genre. Content includes references to historical violence and kidnapping, and Stevie deals with anxiety, but nothing is graphic.
Does the dual-timeline structure work in audio?
Yes. The shifts between the present-day story and the 1930s investigation are clearly marked, and Kate Rudd adjusts her register enough that listeners can follow without visual chapter headings.
Is this author-narrated?
No. Maureen Johnson does not narrate. Kate Rudd handles the narration.
Similar Audiobooks
The Inheritance Games
Another YA mystery built around a multi-book puzzle with a teenage protagonist investigating an elaborate cold case, readers who enjoy Truly Devious's tone and structure tend to cross over to this series.
Shades of Magic
Kate Rudd narrates V.E. Schwab's fantasy series, giving listeners a sense of her range and voice before committing to a longer listen.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
A YA mystery with a true-crime obsessed teenage protagonist investigating a cold case, the premise and audience overlap closely with Truly Devious.
Another popular YA mystery with an ensemble cast at a school setting, readers who want more in the same vein while waiting for Truly Devious sequels often pick this up.
The Westing Game
An older mystery built around a confined, eccentric setting and a puzzle designed to be solved, fans of Ellingham Academy's atmosphere frequently cite this as a spiritual predecessor.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Truly Devious |
|---|---|
| Author | Maureen Johnson |
| Narrator | Kate Rudd |
| Genre | YA Mystery |
| Year | 2018 |
| Publisher | Katherine Tegen Books |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Truly Devious is available on Audible and works well as a free trial selection, it's an easy listen with a solid narrator, though be aware you're starting a series rather than finishing a mystery.
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