Reviews tagging 'Murder'

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

91 reviews

kshertz's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is such an interesting sequel. It was nice to see previous characters and learn more about precious side characters. I love the twists and turns and when everything gets explained. An excellent sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Violence, Child death, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Body horror, Blood, and Chronic illness

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book is very slow for the first 60%. There is a lot of focus on drama unrelated to the underlying mystery and characters that don't matter past the initial burst of drama. There is somehow not enough focus on any of these characters to pull off a red herring maneuver. You can basically figure out the plot by the 70% mark aside from a few details that were mishandled, in my opinion. There is also a romance between a 17 year old and someone who is old enough to have graduated college.

There is a character blatantly introduced at the 90% mark. He is mentioned two to four times throughout the book but only in passing as the "intense guy." To no one's surprise he is one of the three culprits and not at all a red herring. There are three culprits: Emma, Owen, Jared Jackson. Jared Jackson made a deal with Emma in a revenge board. Emma did this through the use of her sister's phone as she had conveniently lost hers. Emma admits this all from the hospital bed where she is suffering from the effects of alcohol poisoning. When Emma backs out by ghosting on Jared, Owen (the little brother) steps in, steals the pseudonym, and pursues revenge against Brandon for the death of his father. Emma and Phoebe agree to act like Jared fabricated Owen's messages to protect him.

The reveal right at the end of the book is a very cheap gimmick and though it was executed properly, it feels unrealistic to how someone of that age demographic would respond to the info they'd acquired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Sexual assault, Death, Alcoholism, Murder, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, and Cancer

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child death, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, and Racism

There is a subplot of a bomb but only one person is injured and they survive but will have scars. There was also a subplot of a corrupt police officer who framed and blackmailed someone for drugs.

rys_readingcorner's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was an AMAZING sequel to One of Us is Lying! The only issue I ahd with it was that the "who done it" at the end was a lot harder to follow and digest than the first one. I found myself pausing on reading and sorting out what the author was connecting before continuing on. But the plot twist on the literal last TWO PAGES was wild. Anyways....Bronwyn and Nate 4EVEA!! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Bullying, and Suicide

steffi_lag's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

dominic_t's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a really great book. The twists were great--they were unexpected, but still believable. I love books where the twist ending is well supported by the rest of the book, and this one really was. This was just as good as the first book in the series. The new characters in this book were great and very likable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Blood, and Murder

sophiabooks6's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book was very entertaining and I loved reading it! While the first book, One of us is Lying is better, I found myself very interested in the characters and trying to guess what would happen next. The ending is a bit confusing but it's still very much worth the read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Cancer

Moderate: Sexual assault

taelights's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

Personally I didn't like this one as much as the first book until the very end because I just disliked all the characters so I just couldn't get into it. I think this author is just not for me and I should just stick the the tv adaption but i will be giving the next book a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cancer, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

abbyycadabbyy's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

2.0

    I was so excited for this book and so let down... After finishing the first book I couldn't wait to read this book. I felt like the book was not needed. 

     I can't help but compare this book to the first one. I feel like the mystery and suspense fell short. I was hoping it would be like the first book where it just jumped right into the death and mystery. I felt the book didn’t really get good till like halfway through. 

     I really didn’t like the truth or dare game. I thought the concept was there but the execution again fell short. I thought the “twist” wasn’t all that. To be completely honest I felt this book was really stupid compared to the first book.

      I think when going into a book that I had such high hopes for I will get let down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Vomit

vickisharp19's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Murder

nataliapassos's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

Minor: Xenophobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Vomit