This week was rough. The frigid temps and gray sky drained my energy, and I had a hard time lifting myself up. Things that helped me manage my mood, and I highly recommend, include: Yoga with Adrienne, practicing a musical instrument, and trading my spiraling thoughts for a good story. And that story was the YA whodunit, One of Us is Lying, by Karen McManus.
Premise
One of Us is Lying opens with five students showing up for detention under suspect circumstances; only four of them leave alive. Those four become the prime suspects in the murder of their classmate, Simon, the creator of a malicious gossip app. All of them have reason to hate Simon, and all of them have something to hide. There’s Bronwyn, the super student who never breaks the rules; Nate, who already has a record for selling drugs; Addy, the gorgeous Homecoming princess with the perfect boyfriend; and Cooper, the all-star baseball player being recruited by college and professional coaches. All four swear they had nothing to do with Simon’s murder, but the police think otherwise, and they must race to prove their innocence before one or all of them end up in jail. Unless, of course, one of them in lying.
What I liked
One of Us is Lying is told through four alternating points of view: Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, and Cooper. McManus does an excellent job of developing each character and his or her voice, and she uses those alternating views to move the plot and build suspense. I could relate best to Bronwyn, the brain, but I found all four characters compelling.
One of Us is Lying breaks down the social framework of high school, and the characters in the book grow to understand each other beyond stereotype and rumor. It also explores the danger of social media and the online lives teens live today, as well as unhealthy dating relationships and the toxic focus on appearance and success that our culture perpetuates.
One of Us Is Lying presents not only an interesting mystery, but also a thoughtful commentary on the social pressures teens must navigate today.
What I didn’t like
I listened to the audio book, and all of the readers did a great job, except Cooper is supposed to have a southern twang that gets worse when he is nervous. The performers in the audio book did not consistently portray Cooper’s accent, and I found the entire notion of a drawl that comes and goes unrealistic. I live in the heart of southern drawl – the speed, semantics, and syntax of speech is consistent ’round here. 😉
Also, while I appreciate the toxic social trends McManus explores in her novel, I wonder if centering a book around harmful behavior doesn’t reinforce the behavior. There is a thin line between bringing attention and awareness to an issue and glorifying it. However, McManus handles the topics with nuance and sensitivity, leaving us with a thought provoking and satisfying story.
Recommendation
If you need a good escape read to help you through the winter blues, or anytime, try One of Us Is Lying. Excellent plot, pace, and four characters you can pull for. 😉
Can you recommend another great escape book? Please do so in the comments!
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
I’ve heard of this one, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I saw it described as a murder mystery version of The Breakfast Club. Thanks for the post!