Karen M. McManus returns to Bayview High with One of Us Is Next, the thrilling sequel to her blockbuster hit One of Us Is Lying. A year after Simon’s death shook the entire school, life has seemingly returned to normal. But Bayview has always had a taste for secrets, and when a dangerous new game begins to spread among the students, it becomes clear that Simon’s legacy of manipulation is far from over.
This time, it is not a gossip app stirring up trouble but a twisted game of Truth or Dare. The rules are simple: play or reveal your darkest secret. Phoebe is the first target, and when she refuses to play, her secret is exposed for the entire school to see. Maeve, the younger sister of Bronwyn from the first book, knows she should pick dare when her turn comes, but soon the game spirals into something deadly. By the time Knox is chosen, fear has taken hold of Bayview once again, and no one knows who they can trust.
McManus’s storytelling shines as she juggles multiple points of view with ease. Through Maeve, Phoebe, and Knox, readers get a full picture of the new Bayview generation and the ripple effects of Simon’s death. Each character feels real, flawed, and compelling, from Maeve’s sharp intellect and quiet resilience to Knox’s soft-hearted loyalty and Phoebe’s struggle to hold her fractured family together.
Fans of the first book will enjoy revisiting familiar faces like Bronwyn, Nate, and Cooper, who now appear as background figures in this new mystery. Their inclusion gives a satisfying sense of continuity while allowing the new cast to take center stage.
What makes One of Us Is Next stand out is how cleverly McManus updates the classic whodunit formula for a digital age. The “Truth or Dare” premise adds both tension and psychological depth, forcing characters to face how fragile reputations can be in a world obsessed with exposure. The stakes are higher, the pacing sharper, and the twists even more addictive.
Tucker Almengor praised the book for bringing back the thrill of a true mystery filled with red herrings and jaw-dropping revelations, while megs_bookrack called it a “fun, sinister, perfectly plotted” sequel that builds suspense from start to finish. Many readers also agreed that McManus excels at character development, balancing teen drama with genuine emotional stakes.
Of course, as Nilufer Ozmekik noted, the number of characters can sometimes feel overwhelming, and Phoebe’s chapters may not resonate as strongly as Maeve’s or Knox’s. Still, the overall experience remains engaging, fast-paced, and deeply entertaining. McManus’s writing captures the energy of teen thrillers like Pretty Little Liars but with smarter plotting and sharper dialogue.
By the final chapters, the mystery tightens into a spectacular twist that few will see coming. It is the kind of reveal that makes you gasp, flip back pages, and marvel at how well everything was set up. McManus proves once again that she is one of the most reliable voices in contemporary young adult thrillers.
If you loved One of Us Is Lying, this sequel will not disappoint. It is darker, riskier, and just as unputdownable.
