Addie, Cooper, Nate and Bronwyn are still trying to figure out who set them up. They’ve all ended up in detention together after cell phones were found in their bags by a teacher who has banned them from his classroom. The phones don’t belong to them, but he won’t listen. Detention. After school. His decision is final.

The five of them know each other by face or name, but are mostly unconnected at school. This detention will implode their lives, all suddenly under suspicion for murder.

The only other student in the detention is Simon Kelleher. No-one likes Simon. He unashamedly runs an app and content that blames and shames anyone he can at Bayview High. Many have fallen under his radar over the years. Some have contemplated suicide when he outs their particular secret. One even tried to do it.

Addie is a pretty blond, always hanging off a top jock’s arm, and doing anything he says. Blake is super popular and Addie along with it. Her mum is always telling her to dress pretty to catch a boy who is going places and Blake is part of the plan.

Cooper is also ruled by a pushy parent. His father wants him to be in the Baseball big leagues. Cooper’s pitching arm is gold, attracting scouts from all over the country.

Nate is the school bad boy – rumours following him wherever he goes. Some of the rumours are true though. He does sell drugs. But it’s the only way to keep a roof over his and his alcoholic father’s head.

Bronwyn is heading to the school’s top spot – valedictorian. She and Nate knew each other years ago, but they haven’t spoken since.

So how did they end up in detention together? This is quickly the last thing on their mind as Simon falls to the floor clutching at his throat, trying to breathe. A mad scrabble to try and save him turns confusion to chaos.

Now the police want to know what really happened in that detention room. Simon was friend to no-one and enemy No. 1 to many. Did the four other students in that room have a motive to kill him? You betcha they did. Suddenly, the only friends these four have are each other, and the police aren’t listening to them – keen for a conviction. These four know that they have to solve Simon’s murder if their lives are ever to go back to some kind of normal.

The first book by this author and still hugely popular, it has even been made into a Netflix series (which is different than the book).

Karen McManus has been dubbed queen of high school murder mysteries, and One of Us is Lying launched her to those accolades. High school is tough at the best of times, but having a secret you wish no one on earth to know – even your closest friends, makes you constantly uneasy and in this case a target for a slighted student with his attention-seeking tell-all app.

Each secret is wheedled out during the novel as each character’s viewpoint is shared. When the truth is finally revealed, you will be just as shocked as the characters are. Revenge always runs deep, but at Bayview High, it’s a long time coming before all is exposed.

Author – Karen McManus

Age -14+

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(2017, Penguin, Murder, Crime, Series, School, Romance, Popularity, Secret, Mystery, Family, Betrayal, Siblings, Sister, Drugs, Alcohol, Neglect, Gay, LGBTQ+, Baseball, Sports Scouts, Parental Pressure, Cheating, Relationships, Lawyers, Poverty, Detention, TikTok)