Nine Liars
Author: Maureen Johnson. Date: 2022.
ISBN: 9780063032651.
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books.
Genre: Thriller.
Reading Level: Grades 9-12.
Trailer: Stevie Bell is an extraordinary detective by any means, but especially considering she is just a senior in high school. But is she experienced enough to solve a murder that happened more than 25 years ago and more than 2,000 miles away in England? Check out the official book trailer for this magnificent mystery:
In this installment of the Truly Devious series by author Maureen Johnson, high schooler and detective Stevie Bell is off across the pond on what is promised to be a simple trip to see her long-distance boyfriend (well, if you ask her principal it would actually be to study abroad but whatever). When she arrives in England with her posse, Janelle, Nate, and Vi, things are not exactly as the expected. For example, her long-distance boyfriend has a super cute female friend he just forgot to mention AND that friend had a murder mystery to hand over to Stevie.
Thrown into a mystery that happened over 25 years ago, with people she doesn't know, in a country she is unfamiliar with, Stevie tries to do what she does best: solve the murder. This twisty-turny mystery thriller takes readers back in time and into foreign lands before delivering the impactful outcome. Will Stevie be able to solve the murder? Will her relationship with her boyfriend withstand the distance? All fans of the Truly Devious series are dying to know, but you don't have to be a fan to get into this story. Each of these books could be stand-alones!
I loved the ambiance of this book so I made a little collage of the vibe on Pinterest.
Created by: Maureen Johnson has been dropping incredible YA books for a long while now! Back in 2005 she released 13 Little Blue Envelopes which was wildly popular in its time. She's written a few series, including the time Truly Devious series that this book is in. In addition to being an author, Johnson also voices the character Intern Maureen on the spooky serial podcast Welcome to Night Vale (Wikipedia)
Analysis: The best kind of mystery is one that feels well thought out and this is what Nine Liars provides. From the very beginning, Johnson is leaving out just enough bread crumbs to make this mystery realistic. The skill with which Johnson develops the settings is also integral to the realism of the story. Not only is there an accuracy to the setting description, but there is an accuracy to the way the main character navigates the foreign country. Anglo elements in the book are described with accuracy but then the character's interact with them as an American traveler would: with confusion and awe. Like, why does all of their Asian food come with "chippies" and why do they call fries "chips"? These are not questions you get answers to, of course, but it feels authentic that Johnson included the American perspective of Anglo practices.
The real star of the show here is the intricate system of relationships that Johnson creates. Each character has a distinct aesthetic and personality, and their interpersonal relationships are impacted by those elements. I always hate when there is a character in a group that no one likes. Frankly, if no one likes them they shouldn't be in the group. That dynamic is pretty common in horror movies: there is once character that everyone hates and then no one feels bad when they die. Johnson avoids that trope and opts for realism instead. So, while one character might have a sour relationship with another, other characters might offer different perspectives. I really enjoyed how well the characters were planned and the fullness of their personas. I came into this series in the 5th book, but I felt like I immediately got insight into who the main characters were as people and how their relationships worked.
England is so.....unique with their slang. Enjoy this explanation of some of the English slang as told by Anglo Super Hottie, Idris Elba. You're welcome.
Potential Issues: This book does feature some teenagers talking about and exploring their sexuality. One such discussion involves a young person deciding to have sex for the first time. If someone had issue with those topics being explored in a book for teenagers I would direct them to the sexual health section so they might better understand the importance of those types of discussions.
In the Library: I think it would be awesome to host a library wide scavenger hunt that people can sign up to do with a group. The group would get a list of where items were hidden throughout the library and they would have to go find them. Librarians would have to set this up, so participation would be limited to a couple of groups per day. The items could be related to the book series to encourage people to pick them up.
Reason for Inclusion: I know that mystery is super popular right now as a genre, and I wanted to find a good ol' who-dun-it that featured a strong willed lady detective.
Sources:
Maureen Johnson. (n.d). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Johnson
Nine liars. (n.d) Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60495147
Vanity Fair. (2019, March 15). Idris Elba teaches you British slang. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tbs8tFTHpE
Comentarios