One of Us Is Next

Blog Contributor: Rhiana Boutot

One of Us Is Next, by Karen M. McManus, is the sequel to the book featured in my last blog: One of Us Is Lying. We revisit Bayview High only to find another deadly mystery has fallen upon this town. This time, read along as we watch the mystery unfold through Maeve, Phoebe, and Knox's perspectives.

I'm going to be honest, I didn't like this book as much as the last one. Although I still thought this book was entertaining and I liked certain aspects of this book more, I didn't think One of Us Is Lying needed a sequel. This story, while still good, felt more like a cash grab than anything. The ending of the sequel was easier to guess if you paid attention to the clues, and while that feels rewarding because you could solve the mystery, it takes away from some of the magic in the first book, where the reveal is completely out of nowhere. I also didn't enjoy the cliffhanger McManus left us on, but more on that later... Don't let this discourage you from reading the book, though, because the story is still the exciting mystery McManus is known for.

One thing I liked more about the sequel than the first book was the use of POV changes. In the first book, I didn't notice/pay attention to when the POV changed because I didn't think they added anything to the story. However, in this sequel, McManus uses these POV changes to her advantage. In the book, if something important happens to one of the main characters, the POV will switch right before the important event happens and another character will describe what happens; McManus uses the other characters' POVs to show the event, rather than tell us what is happening.

If you read One of Us Is Lying, I encourage you to read the sequel not only to read another thrilling mystery, but to also revisit the characters you loved from the first book from time to time (and to find new characters you'll grow to love). I also believe McManus is coming out with a third book to this series in 2023, so be sure to look out for that! I know I can't wait for the next book; I didn't love the cliffhanger at the end of this book and I need to know how it all ends.

One of Us Is Lying

Blog Contributor: Rhiana Boutot

One of Us Is Lying, by Karen M. McManus, is not your typical murder mystery. It follows four Bayview High students after they've been accused of one of their classmates murder. Read along as we watch the story unfold through Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy, and Nate's different perspectives.

I've been writing for this blog since my freshman year, and I'm about to be a junior (oh how time flies!), yet I can't believe I haven't written about a mystery yet! They are my favorite genre, and this book is truly hard to beat if you are looking for a more contemporary piece still chock-full of twists and turns. At this point, I've probably reread this book four times, yet every time I come back to read it, I find new surprises and clues. McManus is very clever when it comes to foreshadowing. I also really enjoy the ending of this book and how you don't see it coming. My younger sister read this story after I had told her how much I enjoyed it, and she did not expect the ending at all.

One reason I absolutely adore this book is the fact that it's set in a high school; the book is filled with high school drama - although it is a little dramatized - and it makes the characters' consequences feel much more real. Most mysteries I enjoy come from Agatha Christie (hello, Murder on the Orient Express?), Dan Brown and The DaVinci Code, or even simple Sherlock Holmes stories. Yet one thing these stories have in common is, for lack of a better word, their "oldness." These stories are all wonderful, but they don't feel relatable to me, a 16 year-old high school student. That's why I love One of Us Is Lying so much, it follows high school students who are a little more relatable than world-renowned detectives. I'm not saying a book has to be relatable in order to be an enjoyable story, but I personally enjoy books more when I can create connections between myself and the characters I read about. 

If you are into mysteries (especially murder mysteries!), or you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this book is the perfect read. It's full of twists and surprises, and even some romance for the people out there who love to read about love (myself included). McManus did a wonderful job at creating a story that has something everyone would like.

This book has a sequel, One of Us Is Next, so expect a blog about it soon!