A review by mcintyre
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

THIS IS NOT A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW.
Romance: ❤️❤️
Here's a plot rundown: Simon Kelleher just died due to a cup of water spiked with peanut oil, and only four people were around when it happened; Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, and Cooper. Since they were the only ones in the room where it happened (If you get the reference you get it), they are all under suspect for the murder as
Tumblr posts start coming out, stating that
this wasn't an accident (I mean, who thought it was; how else does peanut oil get into tap water?). So the book is all about figuring out who did it
while they also deal with a post on their school's gossip app, About That, that has basically ruined their lives.

Now, this premise is really interesting, especially since we see all four of their perspectives throughout the novel. I also like the themes of acceptance and mental health issues, which felt very down-to-earth and realistic.
Personally, my favourite storyline was with Cooper, having to come out as gay and deal with the hate that comes with it, even though he's an incredibly talented baseball player.

This is very much a classic closed-circle Whodunit, and I am all here for it! My thoughts on who did it changes almost every 20 pages, which is pretty abnormal for me in mysteries, and I really liked the dynamic with the press. The only reason why this isn't four-five stars for me is because it wasn't as good as other YA mysteries and thrillers like Five Survive and Rachel Price. This is still a worthwhile read, though, and I recommend it for anybody who is a fan of whodunits and mystery!
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