The Vanishing Stair - Outside of a Dog

Hardcover, 373 pages

English language

Published Sept. 28, 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books.

ISBN:: 9780062338082

(1 review)

WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER REALLY THERE?

The Truly Devious case--an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder that rocked Ellingham Academy in 1916--has consumed Stevie Bell for years. It's the very reason she came to the academy. But then her classmate Hayed Major was murdered, and though she identified his killer, her parents quickly pull her out of school. For her safety, they say.

Stevie's willingness to do anything to get back to Ellingham, be with her friends, and solve the case. Even if it means making a deal with the despicable Senator Edward King. And when Stevie finally returns, she also returns to David: the guy she kissed, the guy she's conflicted about at all times,and the guy who lied about his identity--Edward King's son. But larger issues are at play. Was Hayes's death really solved? Where did his murderer hide away to? What's the …

WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER REALLY THERE?

The Truly Devious case--an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder that rocked Ellingham Academy in 1916--has consumed Stevie Bell for years. It's the very reason she came to the academy. But then her classmate Hayed Major was murdered, and though she identified his killer, her parents quickly pull her out of school. For her safety, they say.

Stevie's willingness to do anything to get back to Ellingham, be with her friends, and solve the case. Even if it means making a deal with the despicable Senator Edward King. And when Stevie finally returns, she also returns to David: the guy she kissed, the guy she's conflicted about at all times,and the guy who lied about his identity--Edward King's son. But larger issues are at play. Was Hayes's death really solved? Where did his murderer hide away to? What's the meaning of the riddle Albert Ellingham left behind? And what, exactly, is at stake in the Truly Devious affair?

The Ellingham case isn't just a piece of history--it's a live wire into the present. The path to the truth has more twists and turns than Stevie can imagine, and moving forward involves hurting someone she cares for. In New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson's second novel in the truly devious series, someone will pay for the truth with their life.

This description comes from the publisher. The Vanishing Stair is the second book in the Truly Devious series, the first of which is Truly Devious.

4 editions

Elska Bee reviewed The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

Review of 'The Vanishing Stair' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

3.5

I really struggled to remember anything that had happened in the first book even though I read it earlier this year so I really could have done with more of a recap of events at the start of this one.

I struggle with my feelings on this book because the first half was very slow and hardly any progress was made at all. Then the second half was actually quite good as we actually start to learn more info and it picks up the pace. Thank God!

I'm intrigued enough to continue the series still, but if it hadn't picked up at that halfway point I was fully ready to DNF it. So I guess it's on thin ice mostly due to pacing issues for me personally.