The Box in the Woods

After solving the case of Truly Devious, Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery from New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

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. 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.

* Cosmopolitan Best YA Books of 2021 * People Magazine Best Books of Summer 2021*

• Cold Case Mystery: Stevie investigates the infamous 1978 “Box in the Woods Murders,” a gruesome crime that has haunted the town of Barlow Corners for decades.
• Student Sleuth: Fresh off her success at Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell puts her investigative skills to the test at a summer camp with a dark past.
• True Crime Podcast: Stevie’s invited to help produce a podcast about the murders, giving her unprecedented access to a crime scene that’s anything but cold.
• Funny Mystery: Packed with the witty, hilarious voice that fans of Maureen Johnson love, this thriller proves that even a student detective needs a break for a good murder.