A review by regina_1
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

"One of us is Lying" is the tale of four high schoolers suspected of murder. Five of them earned detention for having their phones out in class. By the end of the detention, one of them is found dead. The story jumps through time as you learn about the four students and start to question, who actually committed the crime? 

Personally, I thought this book was okay. I figured out most of the story way before we hit the ending. I love a strong YA suspense story that keeps you guessing all the way until the end. For me, it just wasn't there. It took me awhile to fully understand the four students and be passionate about their story. One thing this story does bring to light is the struggles students face daily. These topics are important for society to talk about and I think this book would be a good starting point for some communities. This story even shows that there is so much more to a person than what meets the eye. That is the most important lesson, and I feel the book really did a great job emphasizing it. However, the mystery piece wasn't there and just really effected the rest of the story for me. 
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