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    The Vanishing Stair
    The Vanishing Stair
    The Vanishing Stair
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Vanishing Stair

    Written by Maureen Johnson

    Narrated by Kate Rudd

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller!

    In New York Times bestselling 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 *

    Praise for Book One:

    “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

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKatherine Tegen Books
    Release dateJan 22, 2019
    ISBN9780062885340
    Author

    Maureen Johnson

    Maureen Johnson is the bestselling author of several novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, the Truly Devious series, the Suite Scarlett series, and the Shades of London series. She has also written collaborative works such as Let It Snow with John Green and Lauren Myracle and the Bane Chronicles with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan. Maureen lives in New York and online on Twitter @maureenjohnson or at maureenjohnsonbooks.com. 

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    Reviews for The Vanishing Stair

    4.5/5

    1,335 ratings44 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      If you liked book one read this but... this duology feels like a trilogy. Book two ends with many unanswered questions. I don't understand the main mystery in the series. Whose death were we trying to figure out? Or was it about the riddle? And then there's David. Did he commit suicide or did the author just get tired of writing this character? I seriously feel like the author is hoping for a trilogy but her contract is for a duology. The end of the book left me very confused. Not what you want in a mystery novel.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 1/5
      One simple kidnapping/murder mystery dragged out into three books. Boring! Also the author promotes HATE toward anybody who has different opinions from you.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      When I read the first book I gave it the benefit of the doubt. My mistake. The culprit is who it obviously was from page one, the crime solving is completely luck and no method, the emotional problems are dumb and the themes repeat from the earlier book. Don't bother reading either.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      OMG! What was that ending!? I'm so ready for the next book.
    • 4/5
      Absolutely ADORED listening to this.... I couldn't stop!!! Well worth the listen slash read.
    • 5/5
      This is a great sequel. maureen Johnson is a genius she does such a great job crafting a story.
    • 4/5
      It’s was great... I don’t know if it’s better than Truly Devious or not but I know I’m enjoying it. More mystery to solve now. And some of the secret in book one also solve. End with a cliffhanger again.
    • 5/5
      IT was awesome there were so many twists and turns i just loved it
    • 5/5
      Second book in the series. Fascinating plot, interesting characters, Fido dialogue.
    • 4/5
      it was wild. just wow. the end...i am shocked at the end
    • 5/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed the second installation of Truly Devious! The end leaves you on a cliffhanger with no way to satisfy the urge to read more as the third novel doesn’t come out until late January, 2020.
    • 5/5
      Write more books for I need so much more of this.
    • 4/5
      This was very fun. Although I prefer the second half! But the narration was amazing as always!
    • 5/5
      This book is ? but I definitely noticed Kate Rudd's beautiful voice in this book (and the last)! I wish all my books were read by her!
    • 3/5
      should be standalone book this was way too long, nothing going on until third part of the book
    • 5/5
      What an ending .... jeeeeeeeez Maureen really loves to tease me with her ending.... the story was amazing.... Stevie is back at Ellinghham academy after she struck a deal with the devil only to stumble on another body in a tunnel... now she is against time as she struggles to put the puzzle pieces together... will she finally solve the 70 years old mystery... will she finally find out who truly devious is and what happened to alice.
      Highly recommend the book especially the audio.. it's much more enjoyable listening to it.
    • 4/5
      I really loved the audiobook. I would have given it 5 stars except that I don’t think cliff hangers are a good note to end on. The same thing happened with the first book. Cliff hanger, ended massively and did not pick up where it left off (started again at a slow, close to boring pace, wasting the first chapter recapping the previous book before becoming interesting again) I hope that’s not the case with the next one. Guess we will find out!!
    • 5/5
      I... what... did Edward king fucking do... who burned down the house... what is David... ahhhhhhh
    • 5/5
      Excellent series! Really keeps the suspense going without getting boring.
    • 5/5
      As I said before, this is definitely a case of the writing and the story getting better in the second book. The first book dragged for me a little, the teen romances and YouTuber drama bogged it down for me. This book does have the element of teen relationships but it takes a back seat to what I found to be the most interesting part of the book: the mystery.

      I am anxiously now waiting to start the last book in the series. I hope the end does not disappoint because this second installment in the series was amazing.
    • 5/5
      That was one helluva wild ride!!!!

      It has been a LONG time since I was this engrossed in a mystery story.

      I did this to myself honestly. I should have waited until the final book was published before I even started this series. I will never learn.

      I don't know what it is about David, but I still really like him as a character. He is messed up as all get out, but I really like him. Nate continues to be awesome. Janelle is wonderful.

      I literally squealed and threw my hand up in triumph cause I predicted very early on in book one who was the killer of Dotty!!!

      I will eagerly anticipate book three now and seriously, the mysteries just kept getting better and better here oh my goodness!
    • 4/5
      It left off with another cliffhanger. This series is really good for people who love mysteries.
    • 5/5
      Very fun book. I am enjoying this series, looking forward to more!
    • 5/5
      HOLY CRAPOLY. I was kind of wavering during the middle, but DANG things picked up for the last act of this story!
    • 5/5
      the best detective novel in a long time!!!! I can't wait for the next book!!!! the mysterious mountain and the elite school for the richest of kids and an unsolved murder! what more can you ask for on a cold winter evening!!
    • 5/5
      What a cliffhanger! I love the characters and the pacing, and how likeable Stevie is - she’s built from her background and her passions and her need to find answers. I can’t wait for the next book!
    • 4/5
      A good continuation of the series. I love the atmosphere of the Academy and the characters are quirky yet endearing. The narrator did a good job, the characters and the different timelines were distinguishable. Looking forward to the third book.
    • 5/5
      This brilliant novel never stops keeping you on your toes.
    • 4/5
      This was SO GOOD! Even better than the first one!
    • 4/5
      Mysteries within mysteries, but I like that some of the threads are tied up as you go along, much like in the first book -- the ending is a surprise, though, and I'm interested for Book 3. It's only really partly historical fiction, as parts of the books are set in the 30s. The audio book is pretty good, and Johnson does a good job reminding us of what happened in the first book without belaboring it -- a net trick, given how complicated the plots are.