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archiveofrasa's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't necessarily bog a book down if I can predict the murderer (a lot of the twists were fun though). while this may not be my favourite Karen M McManus book, I had one hell of a ride as usual and will probably still read whatever she has coming out lolz
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
libraryghost's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
3.75
A teacher was murdered. Five years later, a former student proposes this case at her internship at a true-crime podcast show. When old stories are brought back up, the group of students who found the dead Mr. Larkins start to panic...though all for seemingly different reasons.
This was a fine mystery novel that was quick-paced and will definitely draw in readers. I was invested in the story and was curious to find out more of what happened with each chapter.
That being said, I didn't find the the plot to be very in-depth, it primarily stayed at surface-level, which is totally fine, but to make it a stellar book, it would have been nice to see the plot dive a little deeper in certain parts of the story.
The same can be said for the characters. I thought Brynn was fun and she was ambitious, curious, and daring. Tripp was a bit mysterious and unhinged but overall a likeable character.
Overall, I think that YA readers will enjoy the journey this story takes on and will be draw in to the fast-paced writing of Karen McManus.
This was a fine mystery novel that was quick-paced and will definitely draw in readers. I was invested in the story and was curious to find out more of what happened with each chapter.
That being said, I didn't find the the plot to be very in-depth, it primarily stayed at surface-level, which is totally fine, but to make it a stellar book, it would have been nice to see the plot dive a little deeper in certain parts of the story.
The same can be said for the characters. I thought Brynn was fun and she was ambitious, curious, and daring. Tripp was a bit mysterious and unhinged but overall a likeable character.
Overall, I think that YA readers will enjoy the journey this story takes on and will be draw in to the fast-paced writing of Karen McManus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I absolutely love Karen M. McManus. I love her work; I love her stories and I’ve been hoping that this book goes back to her old days because I've struggled with the last two books, I've read being The Cousins and You’ll Be the Death of Me. This book was so good.
This book has two points of view. The first is Brynn Gallagher. Five years ago, she quit Saint Ambrose School following the murder of her favourite teacher. The case was never solved, but Brynn’s sure that the three kids who found Mr. Larkin’s body on school grounds knows more than they’re telling the police. The second point of view is one of those children and her ex-best friend Noah “Tripp” Talbot. Thanks to Tripp’s testimony none of the kids were found guilty of the murder and now, five years later, the trio are at the top of the school’s social ladder. However, when Brynn gets the internship of a lifetime working on a new true crime show, she decides to investigate what really happened that day in the woods for herself. But the further she dives into the past, the more secrets she uncovers – about Saint Ambrose School, about Mr. Larkin, and even about her ex-best friend.
She has done it again. The angst. The mystery. The high school petty drama. The secrets. I loved it. I liked how she manages to write a good murder mystery every time. I enjoyed the aspect of the small town and the tv shows trying to do a “cold case” sort of thing. I love the romance part of this story with Tripp and Brynn. I just love the fact that Tripp kept this a secret for 7 years and then instantly came apart when Brynn asked him to be honest with her. My favourite part in any mystery book is when the piece of the puzzle starts to make sense and the killer is revealed and . . . it didn’t really happen in this book. There was no dramatic “I did it” or “we caught you” moment. I like the suspense when the MCs have figured it out. And not to ruin it, but there wasn’t really any of that, it was more of a lesson of telling the truth and not to meddle in things that you shouldn’t.
I have struggled with some of Karen’s work in recent years, but I think that’s because I'm so excited for One of Us is Back. But this book was a nice little filler whilst I’m sat here patiently waiting for One of Us is Back to be released.
P.S. I loved the little cameos and mentioned of her other MCs from other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child abuse
libscote's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Brynn left St. Ambrose behind four years ago for Chicago. Now forced to move back, she has a chip on her shoulder and a determination to prove herself. She's going to help solve the murder of Mr. Larkin, a beloved teacher who was murdered just before she left. This puts her in the path of her ex-best friend Tripp and the popular kids at school.
This was fine? It's not my favorite mystery, but I could see it being popular. There are plenty of twists and turns.
This was fine? It's not my favorite mystery, but I could see it being popular. There are plenty of twists and turns.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Kidnapping
aformeracceleratedreader's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Not my favorite by Karen M McManus but def better than You'll be the Death of Me.
I liked the twists and turns and finding out who really was responsible for Mr Larkin's death. I wasn't expecting the whodunnit but I am notoriously bad at figuring that sort of thing out. Also liked the little nod to One of Us is Lying.
My only complaint with her books overall is the lack of diversity.
I liked the twists and turns and finding out who really was responsible for Mr Larkin's death. I wasn't expecting the whodunnit but I am notoriously bad at figuring that sort of thing out. Also liked the little nod to One of Us is Lying.
My only complaint with her books overall is the lack of diversity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Classism, Blood, Car accident, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
valpuri's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Death, Alcohol, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Classism, Car accident, Cursing, Blood, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Bullying
jjstallone's review
3.5
I’ve read all of Karen M. McManus’s books, and usually I think they’re all fantastic. But I think this book suffered from getting to be the first I got deja vu from. McManus has a few tropes, character types, settings and ideas that she seems to go back to a lot, and all of these things made me feel as if I’d read the book before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
whosgina's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Vomit and Kidnapping
Minor: Toxic friendship and Child abuse
franny69's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse