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A review by inkhearted
One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
2.0
In the post-Simon times, a few copycats emerge but none succeed until someone launches a sinister truth or dare game-by-text that turns deadly.
McManus makes a valiant attempt at creating another dramatic mystery to match the suspense of One of Us is Lying and I like her initial concept. Unfortunately, this cast of characters just isn't as strong as the first and so when the gimmick falters there's not much to fall back on.
To her credit, she had almost an impossible task with the concept of the first being very much one-and-done. I liked the truth or dare bit, unfortunately there's surprisingly little of that and much more filler. With the strength of the first crew the interstitials (between drama bombs) were just as goodl, but in the sequel Phoebe, Maeve and Knox virtually blend together. Multiple times I had to go back and check the chapter heading to remind myself who was the narrator. The original Four do pop up but as little more than cameos.
Unfortunately too, the mystery here is pretty easily decoded.
It would have been tough competing with the first anyway, but definitely a bit of a come down.
McManus makes a valiant attempt at creating another dramatic mystery to match the suspense of One of Us is Lying and I like her initial concept. Unfortunately, this cast of characters just isn't as strong as the first and so when the gimmick falters there's not much to fall back on.
To her credit, she had almost an impossible task with the concept of the first being very much one-and-done. I liked the truth or dare bit, unfortunately there's surprisingly little of that and much more filler. With the strength of the first crew the interstitials (between drama bombs) were just as goodl, but in the sequel Phoebe, Maeve and Knox virtually blend together. Multiple times I had to go back and check the chapter heading to remind myself who was the narrator. The original Four do pop up but as little more than cameos.
Unfortunately too, the mystery here is pretty easily decoded.
It would have been tough competing with the first anyway, but definitely a bit of a come down.