Description
**”One of Us Is Lying”** is a young adult mystery novel written by **Karen M. McManus**, published in 2017. The book is a gripping, suspenseful thriller that revolves around the events following a high school detention. It combines elements of suspense, mystery, and drama, and explores themes of secrets, deception, and trust.
### Plot Summary:
The story is set at Bayview High School and begins with five students—**Bronwyn**, **Addy**, **Cooper**, **Nate**, and **Simon**—who are all sent to detention one afternoon. However, only four of them make it out alive. **Simon**, the school’s notorious gossip who has a history of stirring trouble by exposing people’s secrets, is found dead in the classroom after a drink he had consumed during detention was laced with peanuts, causing an allergic reaction. The twist is that Simon’s death is initially believed to be a murder, and the four remaining students are the prime suspects.
The story is told from the perspectives of the four students who were in detention with Simon:
1. **Bronwyn Rojas**: The smart and driven “good girl” who is an academic overachiever.
2. **Addy Prentiss**: The popular girl who has always been defined by her relationship with her boyfriend.
3. **Cooper Clay**: The charming, talented baseball player with a secret.
4. **Nate Macauley**: The rebellious “bad boy” with a troubled past.
Each student has their own secrets that Simon was planning to expose. As the investigation into Simon’s death unfolds, the four must figure out who is behind his murder while dealing with the pressure of being suspects in the case.
As the story progresses, the characters’ personal struggles, family dynamics, and relationships are revealed, adding layers to their motives and possible involvement in Simon’s death.
### Themes:
– **Secrets and Lies**: The novel delves into how everyone has something to hide, and these secrets often influence their actions, relationships, and choices.
– **Identity and Reputation**: The pressure to maintain a certain image in high school, especially in terms of being seen as “good” or “bad,” is a key theme.
– **Trust and Friendship**: The evolving relationships between the four main characters highlight how trust is built or broken under intense circumstances.
### Reception:
“One of Us Is Lying” became a huge success, quickly gaining a large fanbase and critical acclaim for its plot twists, pacing, and exploration of complex characters. The book has been compared to *The Breakfast Club* meets *Pretty Little Liars*, as it combines a diverse group of high school students with a thrilling, whodunit mystery.
In 2021, the book was adapted into a television series by NBCUniversal, available on Peacock, which further broadened its audience.
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