One of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus

Published by Penguin

WITH so many popular crime novels targeting older readers, the immense popularity of this book shows the demand for high quality suspense and surprise among teenage readers. This quick and never dull read takes advantage of all that is so exciting about the traditional mystery novel and does so with the relatability of teenage characters going through experiences that many will find to be familiar.

One of the elements that makes it stand out is The Breakfast Club style format in which each character represents an archetype and through a shared experience they all begin to grow closer. In contrast to the Breakfast Club, however, the troubling situation the main characters share carries immense danger.

Each of them have secrets beyond the possibility they have killed someone and each fears they will be outed in the investigation have their lives ruined in some way or another. This instant classic teen thriller provides an unforgettable dark twist.

When Bronwyn, the brain, Nate, the criminal, Addy, the princess, and Cooper, the jock, are all stuck in detention with Simon, the self-proclaimed narrator of their stories, go downhill fast.

Simon, who runs the official gossip app at their school, Bayview High, knows all of their most dangerous secrets, the kind that could end relationships and careers and loves to flaunt the power he holds over them.

So when he drinks a cup of water during their detention and mysteriously dies due to his peanut allergy, they all have motives in the upcoming murder investigation – the kind they wouldn’t want to share.

The impact of these clear character types here smoothly avoids falling into the cliche and instead only shows just how separate from each other they begin their story and how perhaps despite their wishes, the shared experience bonds them in a unique way.

The exploration of the cautious friendships they build through this is bittersweet as while they get to know each other more, knowing too much of the wrong person could quickly lead to their deaths, just as Simon met his.

They’re the only people who understand each other but also at most risk around each other, it could be any one of them and who the reader may think it is will change from chapter to chapter.

The story is told by switching between the characters which only enhances the feeling of growing to like them without knowing if they’ve done something unspeakable.

No character’s chapters are boring or ever hold less anticipation than the last, causing a conflict that keeps you reading as you’ll most certainly be rooting for and like most the character who’s eyes you’re seeing the situation through in that moment.

This is a book perfect for those mystery fans from 14-18 that will keep it’s audience guessing at every moment.