Maureen Johnson is encouraging readers to pull out their sleuthing skills in her next terrifying mystery. The Box In The Woods, the next book in her Truly Devious series, is set to hit shelves (digitally and physically) this week.
While technically a stand-alone novel, The Box In The Woods still stars Sherlock-in-training, Stevie Bell, from the first three books. However, this mystery is set outside of Ellingham Academy at a sleep-away camp. Anyone else getting 80s slasher vibes?!
Set in two different timelines, The Box In The Woods is “darker, bloodier and more terrifying” while still holding onto the series’ charming blend of wit and humor:
The Box In The Woods will be available on June 15. The first three books in the Truly Devious series, Truly Devious, The Vanishing Star and The Hand On The Wall, are also available now.
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. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.
Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.
But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.”
