[Premium Sourcing] The Velvet Knife by Maureen Johnson | Truly Devious | Stevie Bell Mystery | Hardcover & Paperback

What better distraction from relationship problems than a dead body?

When Stevie Bell travels to New York City with her friend Nate, she expects a change of scenery. Instead, a body turns up inside a Manhattan apartment building — and naturally, Stevie can't resist investigating.

But the mystery soon reaches back into the past, where a young woman named Blue becomes entangled with a mysterious cult in the 1970s.

As the two timelines begin to connect, Stevie finds herself investigating not only a murder, but the complicated nature of trust, manipulation and human connection.

The Velvet Knife brings the addictive combination of mystery, humour and character-driven storytelling that readers love about Stevie Bell — while working as a fresh standalone mystery.

Expect:

🕵️ A teenage detective who can't resist a murder mystery
🔪 A suspicious death in a Manhattan apartment building
🖤 A mysterious cult and high-control relationships
🧩 Two timelines that gradually converge
🏙️ A richly atmospheric New York City setting
💬 Clever, witty and laugh-out-loud dialogue
❤️ Friendship, relationships and emotional growth
🔍 Clues, secrets and twists that keep you guessing

📖 Vibes: Clever • Suspenseful • Funny • Dark • Twisty • Emotional • YA Mystery • Cult Mystery • Dual Timeline

Maureen Johnson is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose books include the Truly Devious series, Shades of London, Suite Scarlett and 13 Little Blue Envelopes.

Her books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and have been published in more than thirty countries. She has also received nominations for major genre and reader awards, including the Edgar, Bram Stoker and Nebula Awards.

⭐ Kirkus Reviews — STARRED REVIEW: Praises the clever dialogue, memorable cast, emotional depth and suspense, calling it an “entertaining, heartfelt, and suspenseful” addition to the series.

⭐ School Library Journal: Highlights the exploration of high-control relationships and the way the past and present mysteries dovetail.

If you've followed Stevie Bell through Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, The Hand on the Wall, The Box in the Woods and Nine Liars, this is her latest mystery.

But you don't have to be a longtime fan to enjoy it. The Velvet Knife is designed as a standalone mystery, making it an easy entry point for readers who love clever YA crime, cult mysteries and twisty investigations.

🔎 For fans of: Truly Devious • teenage detectives • YA mystery • cult mysteries • dual timelines • twisty whodunits • witty ensemble casts

Author: Maureen Johnson
Series: Truly Devious
Format: Hardcover / Paperback
Language: English
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Pages: 400
Age: 14+
Grade Level: 9+

HARDCOVER
ISBN: 9780063256019
ISBN-10: 0063256010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Dimensions: Approx. 21.8 × 14.0 × 2.3 cm
Weight: Approx. 408 g
US RRP: US$19.99

PAPERBACK
ISBN: 9780063485259
ISBN-10: 0063485257
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
Dimensions: Approx. 21.1 × 14.0 × 1.8 cm
Weight: Approx. 318 g
US RRP: US$13.00

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