One of Us Is Lying    by Karen M. McManus Order:  USA  Can Delacorte, 2017 (2017) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Teen mysteries have come a long way in the last century. Thefts have been pushed aside for the more grisly business of murder. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is one such mystery. It starts as a typical locked-door mystery but turns into much more. Five students have all been given detention for the same crime – having a cell phone in their back pack during science class. Everyone says they are innocent, but that is soon the least of their worries when one of them, Simon, ends up dead. The other four are the only suspects, but the more each of them begin piecing together clues and getting to know each other, the more unlikely each one seems. One of Us Is Lying starts off feeling like The Breakfast Club – but with murder. Then McManus deftly turns it into warning against lying, bullying, and judging others. The story wraps around and around, unveiling clues and developing characters as it goes. It is a tight story that keeps the reader on the same shaky ground as the four suspects. Karen M. McManus makes a very strong debut with One of Us Is Lying. I can only imagine how much stronger her next work will be. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews