Review of ‘You’ll Be the Death of Me’ by Karen M.McManus

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand new addictive thriller.

Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be close – best friends back in middle school. Now all they have in common is a bad day. So for old time’s sake they skip school together – one last time. But when the trio spot Brian ‘Boney’ Mahoney ditching class too, they follow him – right into a murder scene. They all have a connection to the victim. And they’re ALL hiding something. When their day of freedom turns deadly, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out . . . It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with murder, perfect for fans of One Of Us Is Lying and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder. This explosive new thriller is impossible to put down.

The novel’s pace starts high and stays high as you follow in the footsteps of the teenage gang, as they pound the streets of Boston trying to unravel the murder of their classmate before it’s pinned onto them. Ivy, Mateo and Cal are incredibly likeable characters and the slow-burn romance between Ivy and Mateo is carefully crafted as they are forced to exorcise their past relationship in order to strengthen their bond and work together. The murder mystery runs parallel against the characters’ own internal conflicts and past conflicts, as we experience each character’s POV. The character’s backstories are woven intricately into the main storyline leaving the structure of the novel precisely crafted for effect.

There are two massive twists in the tale worthy of an induced gasp especially the final twist that rears its head on the penultimate page of the novel, blasting the way for a sequel. Karen McManus really knows how to build up clues in a way that doesn’t give away anything but leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow aimlessly until the plot twist slams you into the ground. You’ll be the Death of Me will please fans of One of Us is Lying for it follows the same YA tropes, the discovery of sinister secrets and the unravelling of character intricacies. It is a smooth read for those looking for a book that will satisfy your craving for teen romance, students play detective and killer twists.

Karen M. McManus is the #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult thriller/mystery novels, including One of Us Is Lying, One of Us Is Next, Two Can Keep a Secret, and The Cousins. You’ll Be the Death of Me will be her next novel, publishing December 2021. Her work has been translated into more than 40 languages worldwide. Karen lives in Massachusetts and holds a master’s degree in Journalism from Northeastern University, which she mostly uses to draft fake news stories for her novels. For more information, visit http://www.karenmcmanus.com or @writerkmc on Twitter and Instagram.

You can pre-order a copy ready for release on the 30th of November here.