Maureen Johnson – The Box in the Woods Audiobook

For fans of Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series, the return of Stevie Bell is always a cause for celebration. After the trilogy satisfyingly wrapped up the infamous Ellingham Murders, the question lingered: what’s next for our favorite true-crime-obsessed, anxiety-ridden detective? The answer is The Box in the Woods, a mystery that serves as both a perfect sequel and a compelling standalone adventure. Experiencing it through the audiobook, brought to life by the exceptional Kate Rudd, is arguably the definitive way to dive into this chilling new case.

The Premise: A New Cold Case

Stevie Bell, along with her ever-delightful friends Nate and Janelle, is looking for a summer distraction. It arrives in the form of an invitation from a tech entrepreneur who wants Stevie to solve a notorious cold case from the 1970s: the “Box in the Woods” murders. In 1978, four teenagers were killed at the Sunny Pines summer camp shortly after it closed for the season. The crime was fast, brutal, and never solved.

Stevie and her friends head to the newly christened “Camp Wonder Falls” to work as counselors, giving Stevie the perfect cover to immerse herself in the camp’s bloody history. Johnson masterfully employs her signature dual-timeline narrative, alternating between Stevie’s present-day investigation and the fateful summer of 1978, slowly revealing the secrets and tensions that led to the tragedy.

The Narration: Kate Rudd is Stevie Bell

If you’ve listened to the previous books in the series, you know that Kate Rudd’s narration is not just a reading; it’s a performance that has become synonymous with the characters. Rudd is Stevie Bell. She perfectly captures Stevie’s internal monologue—the mix of sharp intellect, social anxiety, and deadpan humor. The slight hesitations, the thoughtful pacing as Stevie pieces together clues, and the bursts of excitement are all delivered with a pitch-perfect understanding of the character.

Where Rudd’s performance truly shines in The Box in the Woods is in her handling of the expanded cast and dual timelines.

• Character Distinction: From Nate’s dry, literary sarcasm to Janelle’s vibrant energy and the unique personalities of the new camp counselors, each character is given a distinct and believable voice. There’s never a moment of confusion about who is speaking.
• Tonal Shift: Rudd subtly shifts the tone for the 1978 flashbacks. There’s a grainy, almost nostalgic quality to her voice that transports the listener back to the world of vinyl records and tube socks, which contrasts sharply with the mounting dread of the narrative. This audio distinction makes the time jumps feel seamless and immersive.
• Pacing and Suspense: A mystery’s success hinges on suspense, and Rudd is a master of pacing. She slows down during tense moments of discovery and quickens the pace during moments of action or panic, effectively manipulating the listener’s heart rate right alongside Stevie’s.

Why the Audiobook Excels

While the book itself is a fantastic read, the audiobook format enhances the experience in several key ways. The witty, rapid-fire banter between Stevie, Nate, and Janelle feels incredibly natural and laugh-out-loud funny when heard aloud. Johnson’s writing is sharp, and Rudd’s delivery ensures that not a single ounce of that humor is lost.

Furthermore, because Stevie’s investigation often feels like listening to a true-crime podcast, experiencing the story in an audio format feels incredibly meta and appropriate. You become a listener right alongside Stevie as she unpacks the past, making the reveals and red herrings all the more impactful.

Final Verdict

The Box in the Woods audiobook is a must-listen for any fan of the Truly Devious series. It’s a compelling, self-contained mystery that also beautifully continues the character arcs we’ve come to love. For newcomers, while you could jump in here, the rich character dynamics are far more rewarding if you start from the beginning.

Kate Rudd’s stellar narration elevates an already excellent story into a top-tier audio experience. It’s the perfect summer listen—a chilling cold case wrapped in the warm, familiar wit of characters who feel like old friends.