One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Karen M. McManus's debut YA mystery-suspense novel One of Us Is Lying—originally published by Delacorte Press in 2017 and a #1 New York Times bestseller—drops five high schoolers into Saturday detention, from which only four walk out alive, and builds its whodunit from the rotating perspectives of each surviving suspect. Praised by critical coverage as "Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club," the novel earned an extraordinary sweep of year-end honors and has since launched a two-sequel series and a television adaptation. This review is based on the book's content and published reception, not hands-on reading.

Reviewed Aug 2, 2026