This is a stand-alone mystery that hits all the cozy mystery / classic slasher flick feels: high school students acting as camp counselors investigating a long-dead massacre of four teens found in a hunting blind (the box of titular reference) by a lake in the woods.
It pits senior Stevie against a cold case that's dying to be re-opened, and in many ways, I enjoyed this story more than the last Truly Devious book (book 3). Stevie's with her boyfriend, David, but they're separated for much of the book (David's working a political campaign, and Stevie's investigating murders in the woods), so while there's a romantic element, nothing's graphic on the page.
While it's clear the murderer is long gone, the question is, who's acting on his behalf now? Murdering a sister of one of the victims when Stevie turns her significant intellect to the case? What's their motivation? There's a spark, early on, and you should read carefully to note it.
I love the way Maureen Johnson peppers the story with mis-directions and red herrings, and even once it's apparent who the original murderer was, leaves you guessing who would continue his vicious legacy.
I don't dare write more or I'll ruin it. Read and enjoy!
