Do you know who is up to date on all book trends and posts reviews as soon as they finish a book? Not me. Even when I rarely catch up with trend and read something that everyone likes and raves about, everything doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Let us take the example of One of us is lying by Karen M McManus, a YA ‘whodunnit thriller that rocked the Twitter and blogs last, read on to know more.
Almost a year ago, everyone I knew and followed read and spoke about One of us is lying. After a tedious hunt I found the book and read it as fast as could. You see, I do try to keep up. But I never posted a review because I am generally forgetful and I forgot about the book. Read further to know why the book was so forgetful.
About One of us is lying
Book Name: One of us is lying
Author: Karen M. McManus
Genre: Fiction – Young Adult, Mystery
Characters: Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, Jake, Cooper, Simon
Setting: California, The USA
Plot Summary of One of us is lying
The story begins at detention with five students that fit the popular stereotypes – Bronwyn the class nerd, Nate the brooding bad boy, Addy the pretty and popular girl, Cooper the athlete, and Simon the outcast.
Simon holds a knife over everyone else’s head with help of the school’s gossip website and he knows a lot. Things go haywire when Simon dies of an allergic reaction right in front of them at the detention center.
The police suspect foul play and the four teens are brought under spotlight. Did the fact that Simon was going to publish their secrets the next day had anything to do with his death? You will have to read One of us is lying to know more.
Book review of One of us is lying
As someone who loves reading whodunnit, I sorta guessed the murderer easily. Well, my theory almost worked, though not completely. Karen M. McManus’s writing was fast at some places, especially around the murder, and then lagged in other places. I wish it had a consistent pace but it was not a deal breaker.
Things that worked for me
- It is definitely an easy to read book and I finished reading it in a few hours. And needless to say it was un-put-down-able.
- Kudos to the author for writing such a mostly fast paced story with typical characters and yet, make her mark.
- I liked Addy’s character growth, from an airhead to sort of empowered(?). It would have been great if there was such a character development for all the other characters as well.
- Though marketed as a thriller, it has much more of romance and drama from the other side plots, which kept the story moving, all though slowly.
Things that didn’t work for me
- The multiple POVs for various characters sounded pretty much the same to me.
- How many red herrings are too many? ‘One of us is lying’ many. Since I kinda already guessed it, I felt the clues were too many apparently misleading.
- The romance kinda felt forced and the book might have been more crisper without it.
- I think I keep repeating this on all my YA reviews. Where are the adults? And why is the police so incompetent?
Bottom line
Despite the cliched characters and events, One of us is lying held my attention for the few hours it took for me to finish it.If you like a YA mystery that is more on the side of YA, you might like One of us is lying. If you are looking for more solid mystery/thriller, there are better options.
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Let us chat
Have you read One of us is lying by Karen M McManus? How did it fare on your scale? What are the clichés that turn you off the Young Adult genre? Let us talk.
It sounds like this one was an okay one. It sounds like the pacing could’ve used improving and maybe a bit of a different marketing as it wasn’t quite in the right genre as it was promoted for, but it also sounds like it was a hooking read and you did manage to enjoy it as well! I know my younger sister read this one but I’m not sure if I will or not…
It was too long for my taste but I loved her writing style.
Lovely review adding this book to my tbr
Glad to be of use.
I read this a month ago and I really enjoyed it! Like you, I flew through it. Unlike you, I had no idea who was the killer! Great review!
Well, I will blame the hundreds of mystery novels that I have read for spoiling most books for me.
That cover is kind of freaky – haha!
Yes. The cover kinda makes sense right?
I figured it out, but that didn’t spoil this book for me, because I was fully engrossed and invested in this story.
Sometimes figuring it out makes it enjoy better, right?
Love the review, the book sounds really good, I haven’t read it but if there was so many POV’s I would get confused trying to figure out which one i was reading. I also agree with Jenn your design layout really works.
Thanks for the encouragement on my design. I will try to improve.
I have seen conflicting reviews on this one and I have already bought it. Oops. Brilliant review.
I hope you will enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this one!
Glad you liked it.
I tried this in audio format and I couldn’t do. While they had separate narrators for the cast it became to muddled for me. I plan on reading it but have moved to the bottom of the TBR. (Maybe not the bottom, but pretty close.)
Even while reading the book there were not much difference between the different POVs sadly.
I’ve looked at this book a few times but never gotten around to reading it. Lovely review. I must get it read soon.
Thanks, and this one was quite popular on the Twitter a while ago.
I seem to be conflicted about this one…
I understand, I did the same a while ago.
I had an ARC of one of Us is Lying and loved it. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
There is a sequel? I never knew that, will check for it.
It’s due out in January 2019. It’s called Two can keep A Secret. I can’t wait!
Yay! Will check out.
Hmm, I don’t know
I understand how that is.
I read this last year and thought it was really good.
Yes, it was kinda unputdownable right?
Sounds like a good read. I like the way you explained what worked and what didn’t work for you.
Yay, thanks.
I read this one last year and loved reading it. I agree that some of the POVs sound the same, and the police are scary incompetent. But the story is mysterious and enjoyable. By the way, I love the way your layout for this post!
I have been working out on some design changes for my blog. Hope it works out.