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.
I'm going to be honest, I didn't like this books cover but it still looks like an interesting book to read. 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. I had heard about the book but haven't read it yet. Perhaps this also looks like a decent book to read on your spare time.
ReplyDelete