(Image from Barnes & Noble)

On an ordinary Monday at Bayview High School, five teens walk into detention.  There's Brownwyn Rojas, the brilliant Yale-bound senior; Nate Macauley, a 17-year-old drug dealer; Addy Prentiss, a pretty, popular homecoming princess; Cooper Clay, the well-liked basketball star; and Simon Kelleher, creator of a gossip app which Bayview kids view with both fear and fascination.  How Simon gets his surprisingly accurate intel remains a mystery, but everyone knows he's not afraid to use what he knows to stab his classmates right where it hurts most.

Although Simon is hardly Mr. Popularity, it's still shocking when he dies in detention following an allergic reaction to peanut oil.  It soon becomes apparent that his death was no accident.  The only question is: Who murdered Simon Kelleher?  He was just about to publish damaging secrets about Brownwyn, Nate, Addy, and Cooper, giving all of them motive to kill the app maker.  But which one of them actually did the deed?  All profess to be innocent.  Are they telling the truth?  Is someone on the outside framing the four teens?  If so, who?  Who wanted Simon dead bad enough to take such elaborate measures in order to close his digital mouth forever?  With a whole school full of suspects who know more than they're saying, finding the killer won't be easy ...  

I love me a good murder mystery, so I was excited to give this YA version a go.  One of Us Is Lying, a debut novel by Karen M. McManus, definitely opens with an intriguing premise.  It's essentially a locked-room mystery with a cast of unlikely suspects.  Tense and twisty, the story reveals secrets about all of the characters, adding to their realistically complex lives while upping the tale's intensity.  While I guessed whodunit without too much trouble, I appreciated the plot's build-up and the surprises it did offer.  Overall, this is a suspenseful novel with important messages about acceptance, honesty, and true friendship.  It's also a depressing little drama starring some seriously disaffected teens.  All in all, then, I didn't love One of Us Is Lying like I wanted to.  I enjoyed it enough, though, to keep reading and to keep an eye out for more from McManus.  

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a little of This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for strong language, violence, sexual content, and depiction of underage drinking and illegal drug use

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

I haven't done one of these since September, so I figured I should jump back into the fray for the month of December.  There are some great topics coming up this month—I couldn't resist!  Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme and you should definitely join in.  Just click on over to The Broke and the Bookish to see what it's all about.  

One of my favorite things about a new year is checking out all the sparkly books it will be bringing us.  Here are ten on which I have my eye:  

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in the First Half of 2017 

1.  Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little—I'm excited to see what happens in the finale of this YA Mesopotamian adventure/romance series.  I enjoy everything KGL writes, so this one is naturally at the top of my list.  Available February 7, 2017. 

2.  Caraval by Stephanie Garber—This YA novel sounds like an intriguing blend of adventure, magic, and romance.  What's not to love?  Available January 31, 2017.

3.  Wintersong by S. Jae Jones—This Phantom of the Opera-ish story sounds magical.  I want.  Available February 7, 2017.

4.  Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves—This YA novel about a girl who is Barren in a world of magic has intrigued me ever since I first heard about it.  Available March 28, 2017.

5.  In Farleigh Field by Rhys Brown—I received an ARC of this WWII novel the other day and can't wait to delve into it.  Available March 1, 2017.

6.  Follow Me Down by Sherri Smith—You all know I love me a good psychological thriller.  This one, about a woman who returns to her North Dakota hometown after her twin brother goes missing, sounds compelling.  Available March 21, 2017.

7.  Into the Water by Paula Hawkins—I enjoyed The Girl on the Train, so I've been anxious to see what Hawkins will do next.  I'm not sure what her newest is about, but that doesn't matter.  I'll read it no matter what.  Available May 2, 2017.

8.  One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus—YA mystery/thrillers are not exactly plentiful, so I get excited when I hear about one that sounds good.  In this one, five kids walk into detention, but only four come out.  How did Simon die?  And why?  Available May 30, 2017.

9.  Proof of Lies by Diana Rodriguez Wallach—Another YA mystery, this one is about a teen who's trying to solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance.  Available March 7, 2017.

10.  Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor—This YA novel, about a boy in search of a mythical lost city, sounds exciting and mysterious.  Available March 28, 2017.

What do you think?  Do any of these appeal to you?  What are you looking forward to reading in the first half of 2017?  I'd love to know.  Comment on this post and I'll happily return the favor.

Happy Top Ten Tuesday!