Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
What's It About?
Stevie Bell solved the case of Truly Devious, and now she’s taking her detecting skills abroad when she becomes embroiled in a mystery from 1990s England.Maureen Johnson is the type of writer that knows how to showcase a sense of mystery in her stories. She writes characters that have an intense curiosity and interest in finding out, at all costs, the secrets that surround them. Her books are relatable not only to teens, but also to adults, who will gravitate toward her colorful, engaging and fun storytelling.
These types of books pique a reader’s interest because we all have a deep curiosity about unsolved mysteries. This curiosity, at times, keeps us invested in stories such as real-world true crime and news about those who go missing. It makes us wish to know why it happened and how they can be found again. In Nine Liars (Katherine Tegen Books), Johnson captures that tension with her character, Stevie Bell, an eager person hungry to solve what’s still unsolved.
Relatable Characters and a Captivating Plot
Part of the beauty of this novel is that some readers might’ve already enjoyed spending their time with the main character, Stevie Bell. She solved the mystery presented in Johnson’s prior YA book series that began with Truly Devious.
Stevie is introduced as the type of brave and curious character who is obsessed with true crime, to the point at which she craves solving anything she can get her hands on. That part of her personality and drive remains, yet she finds herself at a different crossroads in Nine Liars — a mix of her coming of age and her realization that life changes and other responsibilities might sometimes take her away from her passions.
Teens will feed off these realistic feelings of trying to find themselves and trying to figure out what exactly to do with their future, at a time when it’s hard to feel like they have it all figured out.
As Stevie struggles with these challenges, she also realizes she misses the rush and excitement of solving a mystery, especially after the high of solving the last one. With that in mind, she immediately accepts an invitation from her boyfriend David, who asked her to consider a study abroad program in England, where he has been studying.
Stevie makes an impulsive decision, led by the two parts of her heart that matter the most, which are David and a deep curiosity to get herself into something new. She looks forward to a new adventure and a life away from the fears and doubts that she’s dealing with.
The Unsolved Mystery Reveals Itself
While Johnson’s other novels grapple with character development that is fresh and engaging, this book knocks it out of the park. When Stevie arrives at the program and meets four of David’s friends, they tell her about an unsolved mystery.
At Cambridge in the 90s, nine students decided to escape to a relaxing country getaway. Yet, they arrived at different times, just to realize two were killed and left there for the rest to find. Stevie gets excited and digs into the mystery, one that satisfies her craving for solving an unsolved crime.
What readers will love is seeing Stevie’s growth. She questions her relationship with David and even questions her talents, not only as a student but also as a sleuth. This is represented as an all-encompassing theme in the book, along with representations of what it means to be anxious, question your real priorities, and grow apart from friends and loved ones at the same time.
These themes grow throughout the story, as Stevie explores the nine Cambridge students, her friend groups and her relationship with David. These layers add to the mystery that she’s engrossed in, as she discovers the betrayal and lying involved in the friends’ situation in the 90s.
Engages Teens And Those Past Their Teen Years
Beyond the mystery and thrilling moments in Nine Liars, the coming-of-age elements and Johnson’s take on all types of relationships will resonate with readers as they get to know Stevie’s challenges and doubts.
Who doesn’t remember those teenage struggles of trying to figure out if you are good enough or where you should head next? Who, as a teen, did not dabble in trying to get everything figured out to the point that anxiety took over?
We’ve all been there and Johnson’s take on coming-of-age, along with the excitement of solving a true crime, shows us an important message. Sometimes finding ourselves, believing in ourselves, and making it through the times when we are questioning ourselves is another of life’s biggest mysteries to solve.
About Maureen Johnson:
Maureen Johnson is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow with John Green and Lauren Myracle (now on Netflix), and several works in the Shadowhunter universe with Cassandra Clare. Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Buzzfeed, and The Guardian, and she has also served as a scriptwriter for EA Games. She has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and lives in New York City.
