I am a big fan of Karen McManus and One of Us is Lying is one of my favorite books. I was looking forward to this book and I did enjoy it but not as much as the others. I think there are too many people mentioned from the previous books and it became confusing to keep all the names and stories together. That took away from the enjoyment of the overall plot. I still thought it was a good mystery and I enjoyed how they all came together with their own talents to catch the culprit. Thank you #NetGalley for my early copy.

This book had a slow start, but had a great finish! It kept me interested and entertained the entire time and I really enjoyed the characters and the story. A really great YA series!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the arc of this book.

Karen M. McManus has done it once more with the third book in her series. As a devoted fan who has eagerly consumed all her previous works, I can confidently say that this latest addition lives up to expectations. With its intricate plot and skillful character development, McManus continues to shine as a talented storyteller.

McManus excels at crafting complex narratives, and this book is no exception. The story delves deeper into the overarching mystery, introducing new layers of intrigue. The pacing is spot-on, keeping readers engaged and eagerly guessing at every twist and turn. McManus effortlessly weaves together multiple storylines, ensuring a satisfying resolution to all the intricate threads. The complexity of the plot adds an exciting depth to the reading experience, leaving readers craving more.

The characters in this installment are as authentic and relatable as ever. McManus has a remarkable ability to breathe life into her protagonists and supporting cast. Each character possesses their own unique strengths, flaws, and motivations, making them feel like real individuals. The friendships depicted within the story are captivating, showcasing McManus' talent for capturing the complexities of human connections. The genuine and compelling relationships elevate the overall reading experience.

As an enthusiast of the English language, I found immense pleasure in reading this book in its original form. McManus' writing style is engaging and eloquent, effortlessly drawing readers into the narrative. The dialogue is sharp, and the descriptions are vivid, painting a clear picture of the story's settings. The beauty of the English language enhances the suspense and emotions embedded within the pages.

While translations can broaden accessibility, I believe reading McManus' works in English allows readers to fully appreciate the nuances of her storytelling. The original language captures the intricacies and subtleties that may be lost in translation, adding an extra layer of depth and enjoyment to the reading experience.

In conclusion, the third book in Karen M. McManus' series is a captivating installment that showcases her exceptional storytelling abilities. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and engrossing friendships, this book is a worthy addition to the series. McManus continues to prove why she is a favorite among young adult authors, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter. Whether you choose to read in English or through translations, this book is a must-read for fans of thrilling and intricately woven tales.

I've been a fan of Karen M McManus since One of Us Is Lying and this was a great wrap-up of the series. Twisty and page-turning.

A satisfying conclusion to the Bayview Crew's story! Fans of the One of Us is Lying series will enjoy this ending. I found it to be a quick, but engaging YA read. You could argue there are too many characters, but I appreciate what Karen McManus does in this book to tie everyone together from the first two books in the series. Bronwyn and Nate are still my favorites. Sad to see Bayview come to a close, but I can't wait to see what she writes next! I'll definitely buy a physical copy to complete my set. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 (just because the ending was a little out there...but I still loved it!)

• Thank you to #RandomHouse #DelacortePress and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is July 25, 2023.

“One of Us is Back” is the third book in the “One of Us is Lying” series, and arguably the best. Life hasn’t been easy for the Bayview Crew. First they had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it’s beginning again.

Kirkus Reviews described it as “A satisfying and hopeful closer in a masterful trilogy” and "McManus keeps the cinematic plotting tight with plenty of twists, red herrings, and long-buried secrets as she entwines the mysteries from the first two books…Another solid thriller from a master of the genre."

Ms. McManus returns with another page-turning whodunit that will keep you hanging on the end of your seat!

McManus does an excellent job of bringing the Bayview Crew back together again to track down a killer that is (gasp) out for revenge! This story does a great job of addressing all of the unanswered questions from the previous two books and giving us a deeper dive into each character and their friendships.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was an engaging and entertaining read. You will be glued to the pages as this mystery unravels and the story reaches a shocking conclusion that you will never see coming!

One of Us is Back kept me hooked and turning the pages. I was very much invested. I loved that we got to see both friend groups merge and see the dynamics with how the Bayview Four expands within the friend group. I love their friendship.

I absolutely love Nate, Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper and Kris so much so getting to see them again made me very happy. This story has been so interesting to me as each book progresses the story keeps evolving and creating more layers and mysteries to follow.

Overall this was a really great ending to the story and I cannot wait to grab my hands on a physical copy. This book comes out July 25, 2023! Thank you Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

CHARACTERS (IN CASE ANYONE NEEDS A BREAK DOWN):

The original Bayview four:
- Bronwyn Rojas: goes to Yale; Maeve’s sister; dates Nate.
- Cooper Clay: baseball star; dates Kris.
- Nate Macauley: dates Bronwyn; works at Knox’s dad’s construction (Myers Construction); injured in last book.
- Addy Prentiss: works at Cafe Contigo; Ashton’s sister; Eli’s sister-in-law; took time off after HS; dated Jake in book 1.

Members of Bayview crew:
- All the original Bayview 4 (see above)
- Maeve Rojas: Bronwyn’s sister; dating Luis; previously had leukemia
- Phoebe Lawton: sister of Emma & Owen; works at Cafe Contigo; interested in Knox
- Knox Myers: volunteers at Until Proven: interested in Phoebe

Other Characters:
- Ashton Prentiss: Addy’s sister; married to Eli
- Eli Kleinfelter: Married to Ashton; Addy’s brother-in-law; lawyer at Until Proven
- Jake Riordan: Addy’s Ex
- Keely Soria: Cooper’s Ex
- Kris Becker: Coopers’s bf
- Luis Santos: Maeve’s bf; works at Cafe Contigo (his family’s restaurant)
- Emma Lawton: sister of Phoebe & Owen
- Owen Lawton: sister of Phoebe & Emma
- Manny: Luis’s brother
- Simon Kelleher: Created About That; deceased; Mayor’s son.
- Janae Vargas: Simon’s best friend
- Vanessa Merriman: Bullies Addy in book 1; crush on Jake
- Evan Neiman: Bronwyn’s ex; dated in book 1 after Nate thought they weren’t compatible
- Jared Jackson: “Intense Guy”; book 2
- Jules: Phoebe’s “friend”; had crush on Nate; dated Sean.
- Sean: dated Jules.
- Derek: Emma’s ex; also hooked up with Phoebe
- Evie: new waitress at Cafe Contigo
———————
MY THOUGHTS
- I consider this series YA thriller. I enjoy some YA books from time to time. This is third & final book of the series. I recommend reading the books in order.
- There are definitely way too many characters.
- It’s an enjoyable read, but I don’t think a 3rd book was necessary in this series. At this stage, plot feels played out. Of the 3, I liked the first one the most.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Moderately-paced YA thriller. 3rd and final book in series. Predictable, but enjoyable.

Thanks to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It will be published on July 25, 2023.

This was the ending of a trilogy no one was seeking. The readers are back with both gangs from the first two books that are all now mingled together as the Murder Crew. A billboard says, a new came is started and there is just one rule… It was nice to revisit the characters that I loved from the first book, and the ones I liked from the second book. There are just a few new characters in this book, but the love just isn’t there. Most of this book is character studies. What is happening to who, how are they living with themselves, etc. There is a kidnapping, and 2 deaths, but unlike the prequels they were not exciting. It was boring. It took over half the book to get to the first death, and then it rushed to the end. I liked revisiting the characters, but it wasn’t something I needed to do. This book is only for the fans. It will not stop me from reading other McManus books, because I usually love them, but please, let this franchise die.

I received this as an advanced copy from Netgalley. As a fan of One of us is lying I was excited to see how the series ended. This book was probably my least favorite. It took me a long time to get into the book. It felt like half-way through the mystery started to pick up and I was completely invested. I was happy to see how she resolved all the characters' stories. One thing to note, this was by far the cleanest of the series. Fairly middle school appropriate just underage drinking.

McManus does it again!!!! This was a great addition to the series and I really, really enjoyed the background shared from both Simon and Jake in the book as it related to 6 years prior to everything changing in their lives. The additional members of the Bayview Crew help provide depth to the main characters. Also, I love Nate so thank you for his storyline and ending in this book!!!! I devoured this book quickly and I'm sure you will too.

The last few Karen M. McManus books have been kind of meh for me, but I just love the One of Us is Lying series (including the tv show). This installment had a bit of a slow start, but kept me interested the whole time. McManus does such a great job of building up to the whodunnit. I felt like this book brought the others full circle.

Another story about revenge from Karen M McManus…but this one by far has been my favorite!! I feel that this book really brings the whole series full circle.
Jake is back. After a juror admitted to telling the details of the trial to his girlfriend while it happened Jake now gets a retrial. Now he is back in Bayview. Even with an ankle montor on he still semi-teorrirzes the murder club.

Then people start disappearing. What is happening in Bayview? Is Jake behind it?

Now while I had an idea that certain events were going to happen in the book. I felt like Karen M McManus really does the slow rollouts of the information very well, Overtime I could tell the “who dunnit” was getting smaller and smaller. She is very good at making sure you don’t realize the specific people who are doing it and why till the end. This I really appreciate as there are not many books that surprise me.
This series is the only one that I have read from her and I can’t wait to continue to read her backlog.

This third book in the series was worth the wait. Rarely do three books in a trilogy all have the same level of amazing, but this trilogy does. McManus is a master.

I would give this 4.5 stars. Karen M. McManus brings the Bayview Crew back together again and the twists don’t stop. This third installment is amazing and shouldn’t be missed. Just when I thought I had it figured out, boy was I wrong. I was impressed by the realistic relationship building between the characters and the daily lives. The book is a home run! If you were a fan of One Of Us Is Lying, you’re going to love this!

This book was amazing! It was a perfect marriage between the first and second. It brought all the characters together from every book on every side. The ending of the story was mind blowing. I did not see it coming! This book has twists and turns and you’ll never quite know where you’re going. It has a loose ends on the first and second book beautifully. I could not put it down.

I loved this story. This series has captivated me from the start. It’s like a scooby gang hunting down clues. Certain parts had me on the edge of my seat. Reconciliations made me so happy. I would highly recommend this and others by Karen McManus.

I’ve loved every book from Karen McManus and One of Us is Back is no exception. Another worthy edition to the complicated happenings of this Bayview Crew.

The multiple narrators is an expected challenge, and readers will benefit from reviewing the first two books if they haven’t been recently read.

The story works together seamlessly. Karen McManus delivers unexpected twists without ridiculous reveals or unreliable narrators. Great mystery for teens and adults alike.

I thought this was a great conclusion to the One of Us is Lying series. It was initially a bit confusing as I hadn't read the prior two in a few years but once I reviewed synopses of both online, I was able to more thoroughly enjoy the book. I thought the ending wrapped up all loose ends, which was nice to see.