The Truly Devious Series in Order

About the Truly Devious series

Series Premise

The core premise centers on Stevie Bell, a true-crime obsessive who earns a coveted spot at the ultra-elite Ellingham Academy for one purpose: to crack the infamous cold case that has defined the school since the 1930s. Wealthy, eccentric founder Albert Ellingham built the academy as a whimsical experiment in creative education, but his dream shattered when his wife Iris and young daughter Alice were kidnapped. A chilling ransom note signed “Truly, Devious” listed four methods of murder, yet the crimes were never solved, the victims never fully accounted for, and the perpetrator vanished. Stevie arrives convinced the answers are hidden in the campus itself—its riddles, architecture, and secrets—and she sets out to connect the dots. As contemporary incidents begin to mirror the past, her investigation becomes dangerously personal, forcing her to navigate privilege, power, grief, and the thin line between amateur sleuth and target.

Main Characters

Stevie Bell

The protagonist: a fiercely intelligent, true-crime-obsessed teenager with anxiety who sees patterns everywhere. Relatable, determined, occasionally awkward, and profoundly empathetic, she drives the entire series with her relentless pursuit of truth.



- David Eastman

Stevie’s complicated, sarcastic love interest: brooding son of a powerful, controversial politician. Guarded, wounded, and quick with dark humor, his secrets and chemistry with Stevie create one of the series’ most compelling emotional threads.



- Janelle Franklin

Stevie’s brilliant, loyal roommate and best friend: practical, inventive engineer who builds gadgets, offers no-nonsense advice, and provides unwavering support. She grounds Stevie and brings warmth and steadiness to the group.



- Nate Fisher

The dry, sardonic writer in Stevie’s inner circle: introverted, sharp-tongued, and surprisingly loyal. His deadpan humor and quiet dependability make him an essential part of the found-family dynamic.



- Hayes Major

The charismatic, self-absorbed actor and filmmaker: handsome, dramatic, and attention-seeking. His larger-than-life personality stirs conflict and reveals unexpected depth over time.



- Vi Wilcox

A confident, outspoken recurring friend in the circle: adds social energy, occasional friction, and evolving connections within the group.



- Albert Ellingham (historical/recurring figure)

Setting

The setting is Ellingham Academy, a breathtaking, eccentric boarding school nestled in the misty Green Mountains of Vermont. Conceived as a “game” of learning, the campus is a living riddle—hidden tunnels, statues with hidden meanings, twisting gardens, puzzle-locked doors, and architecture that feels deliberately playful yet sinister. Dual timelines bring the glamorous, radical 1930s to life through letters, flashbacks, and archival glimpses—lavish parties, experimental education, and the shadow of tragedy—while the present-day academy buzzes with art studios, maker spaces, and privileged students chasing brilliance under the constant weight of the past. Vermont’s seasonal beauty—foggy autumns, snowy winters, blooming springs—mirrors emotional shifts and heightens the sense of beautiful isolation.

Tone & Themes

The tone is witty, suspenseful, and surprisingly warm—dark enough to keep your pulse racing, yet lightened by sharp banter, genuine friendship, and moments of tenderness that keep the story from feeling bleak. Themes weave together obsession with justice, the ethics and psychology of true-crime fascination, the impact of inherited trauma, mental health (especially anxiety), found family, class privilege, and the idea that some secrets are worth risking everything to uncover. Johnson handles heavy subjects with nuance and care, balancing tension with humor and hope so the darkness never swallows the light.

In the end, the Truly Devious series feels like the literary equivalent of solving a 1,000-piece puzzle at 2 a.m.—exhilarating, a little obsessive, and deeply satisfying when the final piece clicks. Maureen Johnson crafts a world where curiosity is a superpower, friendship is a lifeline, and even the darkest histories can lead to light. These books don’t just keep you guessing; they make you care—about Stevie, about her messy, wonderful friends, about justice that’s worth fighting for. Once you step through Ellingham’s gates, you’ll carry a little of its magic (and maybe a few new detective instincts) with you long after the last page.