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emma's Reviews > The Hand on the Wall
The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious, #3)
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emma's review
bookshelves: ya, mystery-thriller-horror-etc, reviewed, unpopular-opinion, 2-and-a-half-stars, reread
Apr 06, 2019
bookshelves: ya, mystery-thriller-horror-etc, reviewed, unpopular-opinion, 2-and-a-half-stars, reread
Read 2 times. Last read April 21, 2021 to April 24, 2021.
Here’s the thing: This is not a good mystery.
A good mystery, a truly remarkable one, has not only a question at its core that fascinates and eludes the reader. This series certainly has that, but it’s not the only thing that really makes a mystery book worth writing home about.
The really fun thing, the thing that makes the best works of this genre worth reading, is the solution.
The solution should be the peak of the story, not the letdown. It should be an ohmygod moment, a muttered “holy sh*t” as you frantically turn pages.
This was...not that.
Not even close.
The mysteries themselves were more fun, more interesting, and more impressive than the answers. By a mile.
I stayed up until 3 am reading this, and then I was like “...that’s it? No. It can’t be. Maybe there’s a secret riddle in here where I get more pages. Maybe this is a red herring, and I, the reader, am supposed to solve it. Eureka! That’s it! All I have to do is reread all three books, make a cereal-box model of the school like Gansey, never sleep again, start wearing my dirty hair tied in baby socks to get in the heads of the characters…”
And so on.
The real sleepless night this caused was how much time I feel I wasted on this series.
ALL I WANTED WAS ANSWERS. And I got them...but at what cost? Do I have to dedicate my life to writing fanfiction for this series now, and then break down my brain until I forget this book entirely and convince myself that what I wrote is the real thing? Is that the only way I’ll ever find joy??!
Possibly.
On top of all that, I do not care for this “““David””” character whatsoever. You know that part in the last book where he pays someone to beat him up? In my fanfiction version of this series, I’m going to be the one paying those random, like, skateboarders he encounters or whatever to kick him in the shins. And I’m going to be off to the side yelling, “THIS IS FOR ALL THAT EMOTIONAL ABUSE THAT WAS JUST EXCUSED, FOR SOME REASON, YOU NAKED MOLE RAT.”
Apparently I have more pent up anger about this book than I realized.
In fact, outside of this nice little setting made up of learning and riddles and rich people and sweaters and maple-flavored things, I’m having trouble thinking of much I liked about this at all.
Bummer.
Bottom line: I AM DISAPPOINTED.
--------------
reread updates
i know this book was disappointing to me. i know that.
and yet here i am, rereading it enthusiastically and with high expectations.
i love to fail.
update: i am keeping this same review but dropping the rating half a star for the reason that this whole series would have been SO much better without the flashbacks. those were a snooze and a half.
-------------
pre-review
if i die tonight, it's for one of the following reasons:
1) one of the murderers in this book got to me. (somehow crossed the bounds of fiction.)
2) i passed away from thirst, because i finished my water while reading this but was too scared to get out of bed and get more. (see: real murderers point, above.)
review to come / 3 stars
--------------
currently-reading updates
IT'S HAPPENING.
I HAVE THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS, I AM ABOUT TO OPEN IT, IT IS HAPPENING.
AAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!
-------------
tbr review
2020????!?!?!?!?!?!!!?!??!?!?!!??!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!???!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!??!??!?!!???!!??!
A good mystery, a truly remarkable one, has not only a question at its core that fascinates and eludes the reader. This series certainly has that, but it’s not the only thing that really makes a mystery book worth writing home about.
The really fun thing, the thing that makes the best works of this genre worth reading, is the solution.
The solution should be the peak of the story, not the letdown. It should be an ohmygod moment, a muttered “holy sh*t” as you frantically turn pages.
This was...not that.
Not even close.
The mysteries themselves were more fun, more interesting, and more impressive than the answers. By a mile.
I stayed up until 3 am reading this, and then I was like “...that’s it? No. It can’t be. Maybe there’s a secret riddle in here where I get more pages. Maybe this is a red herring, and I, the reader, am supposed to solve it. Eureka! That’s it! All I have to do is reread all three books, make a cereal-box model of the school like Gansey, never sleep again, start wearing my dirty hair tied in baby socks to get in the heads of the characters…”
And so on.
The real sleepless night this caused was how much time I feel I wasted on this series.
ALL I WANTED WAS ANSWERS. And I got them...but at what cost? Do I have to dedicate my life to writing fanfiction for this series now, and then break down my brain until I forget this book entirely and convince myself that what I wrote is the real thing? Is that the only way I’ll ever find joy??!
Possibly.
On top of all that, I do not care for this “““David””” character whatsoever. You know that part in the last book where he pays someone to beat him up? In my fanfiction version of this series, I’m going to be the one paying those random, like, skateboarders he encounters or whatever to kick him in the shins. And I’m going to be off to the side yelling, “THIS IS FOR ALL THAT EMOTIONAL ABUSE THAT WAS JUST EXCUSED, FOR SOME REASON, YOU NAKED MOLE RAT.”
Apparently I have more pent up anger about this book than I realized.
In fact, outside of this nice little setting made up of learning and riddles and rich people and sweaters and maple-flavored things, I’m having trouble thinking of much I liked about this at all.
Bummer.
Bottom line: I AM DISAPPOINTED.
--------------
reread updates
i know this book was disappointing to me. i know that.
and yet here i am, rereading it enthusiastically and with high expectations.
i love to fail.
update: i am keeping this same review but dropping the rating half a star for the reason that this whole series would have been SO much better without the flashbacks. those were a snooze and a half.
-------------
pre-review
if i die tonight, it's for one of the following reasons:
1) one of the murderers in this book got to me. (somehow crossed the bounds of fiction.)
2) i passed away from thirst, because i finished my water while reading this but was too scared to get out of bed and get more. (see: real murderers point, above.)
review to come / 3 stars
--------------
currently-reading updates
IT'S HAPPENING.
I HAVE THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS, I AM ABOUT TO OPEN IT, IT IS HAPPENING.
AAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!
-------------
tbr review
2020????!?!?!?!?!?!!!?!??!?!?!!??!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!???!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!??!??!?!!???!!??!
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The Hand on the Wall.
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Reading Progress
April 6, 2019
– Shelved
January 29, 2020
–
Started Reading
January 29, 2020
–
Finished Reading
April 21, 2021
–
Started Reading
April 24, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 51 (51 new)
message 1:
by
Rucha
(new)
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added it
Jan 29, 2020 11:07AM
I’m obsessed with this series as well!😍
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Only three stars ?? Explain!
What did you rate books 1 and 2?
Rucha wrote: "I’m obsessed with this series as well!😍"not obsessed so much as NEEDED ANSWERS
Just Wanna Have Fun wrote: "Only three stars ?? Explain!"that's what the whole review to come thing means
Cal wrote: "What did you rate books 1 and 2?"3.5 and 3 respectively
I personally thought this book was a huge letdown.
Truebluedah ♪ wrote: "I personally thought this book was a huge letdown."this whole series was meh for me
I am with you, It really worth 3 stars
Sharifa wrote: "I am with you, It really worth 3 stars"truly
The solution was disheartening. I too was like, "What? That's it?" The ending felt dissatisfying after such a good mystery.
I agree. It was so disappointing.
I am so glad I’m not the only one that can’t stand David!!!
I ship Stevie and Nate.
Yeah agreed. The answer to the mystery, I was just like ... oh okay. No shock. No omg moment. Just oh okay. Also David, are we really supposed to like him.
I'm pretty sure the author has a secret hidden in the books. You have to put all the clues together to figure it out.
Thank god I'm not the only one annoyed about David, like could he just leave already?
I hate David. What is even the point of his character???
I was so mad about David gaslighting Stevie knowing her whole life she hasn’t have a say to it
Thank you for writing my thoughts, hope you read some good misters soon to forget this one ❤️
I completely agree with you! I was pretty disappointed at the end, to say the least. And why was David even there is what beats me. (Yes small pun intended.)
I gave it 2 stars, because I like Steve, Nate and some others. The plot and ending would have netted max. 1.
I agree about the solution usually being the climax. I correctly guessed, and was satisfied by the solution of the classic Ellingham/ Epstein murders, but the modern murderer was a big letdown. I definitely thought it was going to be someone else.
Wendy wrote: "I too hate David."woo!
BrieAnna wrote: "The solution was disheartening. I too was like, "What? That's it?" The ending felt dissatisfying after such a good mystery."exactlyyyyy
Charlotte wrote: "I agree. It was so disappointing.":( :(
Natalie wrote: "I am so glad I’m not the only one that can’t stand David!!!"he's the worst!!!
Gabrielle wrote: "I ship Stevie and Nate."solid
Allyson wrote: "Yeah agreed. The answer to the mystery, I was just like ... oh okay. No shock. No omg moment. Just oh okay. Also David, are we really supposed to like him."
if we are it was a FAILURE
delfi wrote: "I was so mad about David gaslighting Stevie knowing her whole life she hasn’t have a say to it"infuriating stuff
Essie wrote: "I'm pretty sure the author has a secret hidden in the books. You have to put all the clues together to figure it out."wish i also thought this!
Daniela wrote: "Thank god I'm not the only one annoyed about David, like could he just leave already?"i crave his disappearance
Kaveri wrote: "I completely agree with you! I was pretty disappointed at the end, to say the least. And why was David even there is what beats me. (Yes small pun intended.)"lmaooo buh dum ch
Sven wrote: "I gave it 2 stars, because I like Steve, Nate and some others. The plot and ending would have netted max. 1."you're right and you should say it
Julie wrote: "I agree about the solution usually being the climax. I correctly guessed, and was satisfied by the solution of the classic Ellingham/ Epstein murders, but the modern murderer was a big letdown. I d..."i wish!!
The flashbacks are literally why I never finished this book 🥲 the first two were so good and then this one flopped for me
Rachel wrote: "I just adore your reviews, emma. You make me laugh and smile and have a good time even when we don't see eye to eye. You should really consider a career in stand up comedy. Seriously. I love all ..."
this is...so beyond kind of you??? seriously. just totally transformed my day for the better. THANK YOU!!!
Rebecca ☆ wrote: "The flashbacks are literally why I never finished this book 🥲 the first two were so good and then this one flopped for me"i have mixed feelings about the series but i did think each was slightly worse than the last!!
Oh my word I had the exact same thoughts!! The flashbacks were boring, David is a jerk, the ending was anticlimactic, and overall it was disappointing.
Ugh, I just wrote a review, and I feel like yours sums up my thoughts but so much better. I 110% agree with all your comments.
i feel like me (a loquaciously stimulant-medicated adhd-having nursing student with a proclivity for reading far too much ya than is commonly considered socially acceptable) and you (emma) would actually be great friends if we knew each other irl🤣🤣🤣💀💀
Obrigado por falarem que David é um saco, não aguentava mais guardar isso só pra mim
dylan wrote: "i feel like me (a loquaciously stimulant-medicated adhd-having nursing student with a proclivity for reading far too much ya than is commonly considered socially acceptable) and you (emma) would ac..."lol!
Jessica wrote: "Ugh, I just wrote a review, and I feel like yours sums up my thoughts but so much better. I 110% agree with all your comments."i 110% agree with yours!
Eden wrote: "Oh my word I had the exact same thoughts!! The flashbacks were boring, David is a jerk, the ending was anticlimactic, and overall it was disappointing."precisely
David's actual annoyingg
I just finished the book and totally agree with you. There was nothing interesting about the murderer being Charles. I think the author made some good plot choices that flopped. Like when Stevie and David get trapped in the cave I was for sure he was the murderer but no there was no purpose to the entire endeavor and here we are 😥
Like the flashbacks told us the answers 150 pages before the present time ?? Like i had to wait for Stevie to catch on ?
