A review by tyhd
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
1.0
I knew going into the book it was at least partially based off of one dimensional characters - 'The Breakfast Club' adjacent. I had no idea the characters would be so problematically one dimensional.
***SPOILERS***
The beauty queen is actually unhappy in her not-so-perfect life?
The jock is gay and is dating a model boyfriend? - What a gross stereotype of Queer culture.
I kept reading thinking eventually there would be some sort of subversiveness to these cliché characters, but it never happens. It's just another middle aged writer writing about the high school experience in reductive ways.
All of that *may* have been forgivable had the ending paid off. There are so many good whodunits where the puzzle pieces fall into place slowly creating a true sense of exhilaration when the picture is revealed. The ending of 'One of Us Is Lying'? Oh, okay. :|
***SPOILERS***
The beauty queen is actually unhappy in her not-so-perfect life?
The jock is gay and is dating a model boyfriend? - What a gross stereotype of Queer culture.
I kept reading thinking eventually there would be some sort of subversiveness to these cliché characters, but it never happens. It's just another middle aged writer writing about the high school experience in reductive ways.
All of that *may* have been forgivable had the ending paid off. There are so many good whodunits where the puzzle pieces fall into place slowly creating a true sense of exhilaration when the picture is revealed. The ending of 'One of Us Is Lying'? Oh, okay. :|