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The Vanishing Stair
- Truly Devious Series, Book 2
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
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Truly Devious
- A Mystery
- Written by: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early 20th century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place", he said, "where learning is a game." Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly, Devious".
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ok
- By Genevieve Paquette on 2021-04-09
Written by: Maureen Johnson
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The Box in the Woods
- Truly Devious, Book 4
- Written by: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer. But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls - the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display.
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Awesome!!
- By Cassandra Burrows on 2021-06-28
Written by: Maureen Johnson
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A Study in Charlotte
- Charlotte Holmes, Book 1
- Written by: Brittany Cavallaro
- Narrated by: Graham Halstead, Julia Whelan
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers were one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She's inherited Sherlock's volatility and some of his vices - and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she's not looking for friends.
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A Fantastic YA Mystery
- By Melissa Rose on 2021-09-06
Written by: Brittany Cavallaro
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Five Survive
- Written by: Holly Jackson
- Narrated by: Emma Galvin
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends: Her best friend—the older brother—his perfect girlfriend—a secret crush—a classmate—and a killer. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead. With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape, or figure out which of them is the target. But is there a liar among them?
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So easy to listen to and follow
- By Sarah Kelly on 2023-02-10
Written by: Holly Jackson
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Nothing More to Tell
- Written by: Karen M. McManus
- Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky, Andrew Eiden
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.
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Fantastic
- By Anynomous on 2022-11-23
Written by: Karen M. McManus
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Kill Joy
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Novella
- Written by: Holly Jackson
- Narrated by: Bailey Carr, Raymond J. Lee, Bruce Mann
- Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Pip is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind …
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Disappointing
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-03-09
Written by: Holly Jackson
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Truly Devious
- A Mystery
- Written by: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early 20th century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place", he said, "where learning is a game." Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly, Devious".
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ok
- By Genevieve Paquette on 2021-04-09
Written by: Maureen Johnson
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The Box in the Woods
- Truly Devious, Book 4
- Written by: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer. But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls - the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display.
-
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Awesome!!
- By Cassandra Burrows on 2021-06-28
Written by: Maureen Johnson
-
A Study in Charlotte
- Charlotte Holmes, Book 1
- Written by: Brittany Cavallaro
- Narrated by: Graham Halstead, Julia Whelan
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers were one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She's inherited Sherlock's volatility and some of his vices - and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she's not looking for friends.
-
-
A Fantastic YA Mystery
- By Melissa Rose on 2021-09-06
Written by: Brittany Cavallaro
-
Five Survive
- Written by: Holly Jackson
- Narrated by: Emma Galvin
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends: Her best friend—the older brother—his perfect girlfriend—a secret crush—a classmate—and a killer. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead. With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape, or figure out which of them is the target. But is there a liar among them?
-
-
So easy to listen to and follow
- By Sarah Kelly on 2023-02-10
Written by: Holly Jackson
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Nothing More to Tell
- Written by: Karen M. McManus
- Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky, Andrew Eiden
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.
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Fantastic
- By Anynomous on 2022-11-23
Written by: Karen M. McManus
-
Kill Joy
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Novella
- Written by: Holly Jackson
- Narrated by: Bailey Carr, Raymond J. Lee, Bruce Mann
- Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pip is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind …
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Disappointing
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-03-09
Written by: Holly Jackson
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The Cousins
- Written by: Karen M. McManus
- Narrated by: Sarah Skaer, Kate Reinders, David Garelik, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised...and curious.
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A good story
- By Anonymous User on 2021-08-09
Written by: Karen M. McManus
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One of Us Is Lying (TV Series Tie-In Edition)
- Written by: Karen M. McManus
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Pay close attention, and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. Only Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead.
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Gripping!!
- By Sarah on 2020-01-08
Written by: Karen M. McManus
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A Darker Shade of Magic
- A Darker Shade of Magic, Book 1
- Written by: V. E. Schwab
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes. As such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. There's White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now.
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Very good book, hated the narration. Bought physical copy instead.
- By Jordan on 2021-03-13
Written by: V. E. Schwab
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The Cheerleaders
- Written by: Kara Thomas
- Narrated by: Phoebe Strole
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook. First there was the car accident - two girls dead after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know his reasons. Monica's sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they'd lost.
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It’s ok
- By Karita on 2021-11-10
Written by: Kara Thomas
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The Name of the Star
- Shades of London, Book 1
- Written by: Maureen Johnson
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city - gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific work of Jack the Ripper in the autumn of 1888. Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect.
Written by: Maureen Johnson
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Inheritance Games
- Written by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Narrated by: Christie Moreau
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: Survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why - or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch - and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.
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Poor narration detracts from plot
- By Melissa on 2021-01-06
Written by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher's Summary
New York Times and Publishers Weekly best seller!
In New York Times best-selling author Maureen Johnson’s second novel in the Truly Devious series, there are more twists and turns than Stevie Bell can imagine. No answer is given freely, and someone will pay for the truth with their life.
The Truly Devious case - an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder that rocked Ellingham Academy in 1936 - has consumed Stevie for years. It’s the very reason she came to the academy. But then her classmate was murdered, and her parents quickly pull her out of school. For her safety, they say. She must move past this obsession with crime.
Stevie’s willing to do anything to get back to Ellingham, be back with her friends, and solve the Truly Devious 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, and the guy who lied about his identity - Edward King’s son.
But larger issues are at play. Where did the murderer hide? 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.
* Junior Library Guild Selection * Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books of 2019 * Hypable's Best Books of 2019 *
What the critics say
“The Agatha Christie-like ecosystem pairs with lacerating contemporary wit, and alternating past and present scenes makes for a multilayered, modern detective story.” (New York Times Book Review)
“Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell.” (USA Today, four stars)
“Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” (Bustle)
More from the same
What listeners say about The Vanishing Stair
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- wanda tengg
- 2021-08-21
great story
The narration was well read,I likes all the different characters voices and personalities. what was not good ....the constant interruptions and replay of the recording!
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- Genevieve Paquette
- 2021-04-09
not for me
Nope. Second listen just reminded me of everything that's wrong with this.
Ok, yes, I'm an adult and therefore not the target audience, but 1: I found the first book in the Mystery, Thriller and Suspence section of Audible, and I stupidly didn't twig to the fact that this is straight up YA, 2: I actually do like to check out mysteries for younger audiences in order to find new books for the young folks in my life so I figured, ok, maybe this could be a fun gift, but 3: this was actually garbage.
Here's the thing. I would seriously hesitate to recommend this to any actual young adult. The mystery, the historical one, at least, is surprisingly compelling. But the present day stuff... oy. The characters are flat and impossible to connect with Another reviewer, gives a great synopsis:
"these " tumblr aesthetic characters " were soo boring like I was expecting to get deeper in their shallow quirkiness but it never happened, they were same like in the first book" She also called them robotic, with zero emotional depth, and wow, she nails it.
This installment is when the romance subplot gets really, really problematic. and it ruined any enjoyment I may have had.
Yeah, no. As much as I like the concept, and as curious as I was about the outcome of the Ellingham case... this one just made me angry.
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- Abigail
- 2019-05-03
Don’t read this one yet!
Major cliffhanger. Continuation of book 1. Equally as good or better than book 1 BUT I wish I had waited until the full series is published before listening. There is no resolution. You are given some answers but even more questions. Then the book just stops! The end almost felt mid-chapter much less mid story.
8 people found this helpful
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- Michele Pisano-Marsh
- 2019-02-15
Enjoyable but no resolution
The story is good as was the first although I don’t care for the weird flat affect the narrator has chosen to depict an anxiety disorder. I just wish that there had been more movement in the story - the first was definitely better. This time there was obvious slowing down so as to get another book out of the series
7 people found this helpful
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- C. Bruce
- 2019-01-23
oh my word
How exactly am I supposed to wait for the next book? This one took us on a very wild ride and I don't want to get off! Kate Rudd is fantastic as a narrator, her performance brings the text to the next level.
7 people found this helpful
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- The Chief
- 2019-12-28
WAITING
For the next book - I agree with the reviewer who said not to start the series until all the books have been published.
4 people found this helpful
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- Sheila Enright
- 2019-12-23
The Never Ending Series
You can skip Truly Devious since everything is repeated in The Vanishing Stair! You may be able to skip this book too. I’m betting the author tells everything again. When will this series end?
3 people found this helpful
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- Irina
- 2019-12-18
So much worse than first book
I read the first book and Immediately got second, because I loved Truly Devious. Very disappointed in this one.... The first book had a story - interesting plot - and was very dynamic. Of cause it also had elements of adolescent love story which was pretty boring, but it went with the plot nicely. Second book just drugged. There was little of the interesting story development - only last chapters delivered some progress. Mostly the second book is a boring relationships story between dusfunctional boy with good talent for abuse and gaslighting, and victim type girl, who's supposedly very smart when it comes to solving crimes, but in her own life is very gulluble and poor judge of character.
Story is not over in this book, but I'm not buying next one - so not interested in bad angree dialogs of 15 year olds between attempts to have sex.
3 people found this helpful
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- Cami H
- 2019-02-08
Bad narrator, decent mystery
I think I would have liked this book more if it weren’t for the narrator. Her male voices were just ridiculous and they all sounded exactly the same, like a jolly crazy person. Plus, her female character voices were all weird too, especially Janelle.
The book was fine, I liked the 1930s part much more than the present day parts. I don’t care about any of the present day characters, the author didn’t make anyone very likable.
I probably won’t be reading the next one when it comes out.
3 people found this helpful
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- kira
- 2019-01-30
This better have a sequel!
Good book but ending is terrible. I NEED to know more! When you become invested in the characters you cannot just end on that note.
3 people found this helpful
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- Margaret L.
- 2019-12-21
No resolution
The reviews of the first book said it ended in a cliffhanger; so I bought both first and second together so I could read a complete story with a solution. However the second book ends with only a partial solution to one of the mysteries introduced in the fist book (which I figured out very early in) and NO resolution to any of the multiple other mysteries /crimes. I read series books all the time; you have to have a resolution in each book, even if an overall story arc spans multiple books. I’m done with this and will not read the next book.
2 people found this helpful
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- R. Kadet
- 2019-04-18
Can't wait for the Next
I just listened to the first and then this book w/my 14 yo and we loved it but the cliffhanger is too much. We really need to wait to find out what happens?
UGH....anyway, enjoyed the story very much. The Narrator was good--I did get used to her after a while but think this book could have done well with an ensemble group narrating as there are a lot of characters and many of the voices sounded the same.
2 people found this helpful