The Hand on the Wall

The Hand on the Wall is the final installment in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious trilogy, continuing the parallel mysteries at Vermont's Ellingham Academy. Student detective Stevie Bell pursues answers about both a present-day murder and the infamous 1936 kidnapping case that has haunted the school for generations. The story picks up with Stevie and her classmates dealing with a series of accidents and deaths at the academy, while a massive snowstorm threatens to isolate them completely. As new evidence emerges about both past and present crimes, Stevie must work to connect the dots before anyone else gets hurt. The novel brings together threads from throughout the trilogy, incorporating cryptic riddles, old correspondence, and buried secrets. The dual timeline structure maintains its momentum as both mysteries build toward their conclusions. This closing volume explores themes of truth, justice, and the weight of history while examining how the past continues to influence the present. The story considers what drives people to solve mysteries and whether some questions are better left unanswered.

Readers consider this a satisfying conclusion to the Truly Devious trilogy, with most noting it successfully ties together the multiple mystery threads from previous books. Readers praised: - The complex plot resolution - Character development, particularly Stevie's growth - Balance between historical and contemporary storylines - Humor and witty dialogue - Audiobook narration by Kate Rudd Common criticisms: - Pacing feels rushed in final chapters - Some plot points resolved too conveniently - Romance subplot feels underdeveloped - Too many characters to track Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (27,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,100+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (200+ ratings) One reader noted: "The mystery kept me guessing until the end, but the final reveal felt almost anticlimactic after such a long build-up." Another wrote: "Johnson expertly weaves together past and present storylines without losing momentum."

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus A murder mystery set in high school follows five students who enter detention while only four walk out alive.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill Four strangers in a library become entangled in a murder investigation when a woman's scream echoes through the reading room.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson A high school student investigates a closed murder case for her senior project and uncovers secrets in her small town.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes A teenager inherits billions from a stranger and must live in his mansion while solving the puzzles he left behind to understand why she was chosen.

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus A new student arrives in a small town where homecoming queens keep getting murdered and finds herself at the center of the latest disappearance.

🔍 This mystery novel is the final book in the Truly Devious trilogy, wrapping up both the historical Ellingham Academy murder case and the present-day mysteries. 🏫 The book's setting, Ellingham Academy, was inspired by real-life progressive schools like Bennington College in Vermont, which was founded in the 1930s. ✍️ Author Maureen Johnson wrote much of the series while living in New York City during actual blizzard conditions, which influenced the intense winter storm that plays a crucial role in this book. 🎭 The character of Albert Ellingham was partially influenced by Walt Disney and his vision of creating immersive, educational entertainment spaces. 📚 The book incorporates actual historical details about 1930s crime investigation techniques, including early forensic science and primitive fingerprinting methods.