One of Us is Lying, by Karen McManus, is one of the most popular and intriguing mystery books of the last few years. Centered in the small town of Bayview California, McManus’s quick paced writing and addicting style allow readers to get invested from the very beginning. High schoolers Abby, Nate, Bronwyn, and Cooper find themselves in detention with Simon Keheller, the creator of Bayview High’s gossip app, ‘About That,’ which is known for spilling destructive and deadly secrets about Bayview’s students. However, when Simon suddenly dies of what is seemingly an allergic reaction in the middle of detention, his four peers find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. ‘The Bayview Four’ must navigate conspiracies and attempt to solve Simon’s murder themselves while contending with death-threats, romance, and legal trouble.
I absolutely loved this book. For me, the mystery is extremely compelling, and the final climax of the novel makes everything worth it. There are so many great aspects to this novel. A found family develops between the Bayview Four, and the development of their relationship is so natural that I found myself rooting for them even more. The romance between Nate and Brownyn is another high point of this book. McManus is very skilled at writing relationships between characters, and I loved all the inner workings of the pairing. The book is only 360 pages, and it flies by, which makes it a perfect quick read for this summer. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!