Stevie Bell has a proven record as an amateur sleuth. This teen has solved a historical case that sat for years with its mystery. Her skill at this has been in the media, and someone else needs her help.

Carson Buckwald is a wealthy entrepreneur and the owner of a children’s summer camp in Massachusetts. Now called Sunny Pines, it was once named Camp Wonder Falls. This name is famous for the site of The Box in the Woods Murders where 4 camp counsellor teens were killed in 1978.

Carson wants to run a true crime podcast and believes Stevie can help him with it. The locals however are not impressed, sick of strangers coming into their small town looking for a way to make money out of their tragedy.

At first, this animosity stretches to Stevie who has agreed to help Carson, but only if her friends can stay for the summer too. With their support, Stevie begins to talk to the locals that don’t shun her. This becomes a doorway to more interviews… until another tragedy strikes. Was it a fall, or were they pushed?

To complicate Stevie’s mission is the arrival of her boyfriend David. They haven’t seen each other for ages and at first it’s exciting to sneak away from camp to see him. David has some news however, which knocks Stevie’s focus from the case. Her subconscious is still working though – if annoyingly slow. Stevie knows she has seen or heard something that is the key. Frustrated, she sifts through all she has learnt. What is it?

All her digging makes her a target. She must be getting close…

This is no. 4 in the Truly Devious series but a stand alone story. I haven’t read the others and besides referring to her old school, this mystery is fine all on its own. I liked the way Stevie’s mind worked. She lives and breathes true crime (much to her mothers’ gall), enjoying studying the factual tiny miniatures crafted by Frances Glessner Less, in order to practice her forensic skills.

This story flicks back and forward between the present and 1978, setting the scenes of a horrific multiple murder and a teen sleuth who wonders if she really can solve the crime in front of her. My own guesses to the murderer were way off, the ending yet another surprise!

Mystery lovers and Stevie Bell fans will enjoy this one!

Author – Maureen Johnson

Age – 12+

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(2021, Harper Collins, Mystery, Murder, Historical, Summer Camp, Humour, Friends, Podcast, Crime, Relationship, Lake, Small town, Series, Intrigue, Whodunnit, True crime)