By Toby Atkinson 9M

Do you want a book that combines excellent writing, an incredible mystery, and a social commentary on gossip and the problems facing today's school children? Well, One of Us is Lying is the perfect book for you.

To summarise, Bronwyn (“the geek”), Nate (“the criminal”), Addy (“the princess”), and Cooper (“the jock”), are all in detention together, when fellow student, Simon Kelleher, dies after drinking water contaminated with peanut oil. All four of them are suspects in a potential murder, and, pushed together by unlikely circumstances, this unlikely group develops friendships and tries to solve the case independently of the police.

To start, this book is written perfectly. The author, Karen M. McManus, knows how to build tension and suspense, how to pull at our heartstrings, and how to create an excellently paced mystery. The writing style here keeps you reading – so much so that I guarantee you’ll finish this book in a matter of days - sitting on the edge of your seat.

But combine this excellent style with one of the most interesting murder mysteries in media, and you have yourself a gripping thriller.

The final part of this recipe for the perfect mystery is One of Us is Lying’s commentary on problems facing high school children, such as gossip and bullying.

One of Us is Lying is currently available on SORA, so, I’ll leave you to it.