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One of Us is Lying

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Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online.

Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content.

The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary.

One of Us Is Lying, a Level 6 Reader, is B1+ in the CEFR framework. The longer text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing future continuous, reported questions, third conditional, was going to and ellipsis. A small number of illustrations support the text.

A geek, a jock, a criminal, a princess. A murder.

Everyone has secrets. How far would you go to protect yours? Five students at Bayview High must stay late at school but only four of them leave alive. Bronwyn, Cooper, Nate and Addy all become suspects in a murder. Who do you believe?

Visit the Penguin Readers website
Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys.

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2021

656 people are currently reading
14533 people want to read

About the author

Karen M. McManus

32 books37.8k followers
Hi, and thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page! I don't visit this site often, so the best way to reach me is via my website at www.karenmcmanus.com or on Instagram, where I'm @writerkmc.

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Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her work includes the One of Us Is Lying series, which was turned into a television show, as well as the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, Nothing More to Tell, and Such Charming Liars. Karen’s critically acclaimed, award-winning books have been translated into forty-two languages. To learn more, visit www.karenmcmanus.com or @writerkmc on Instagram.

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5 stars
8,080 (39%)
4 stars
7,574 (36%)
3 stars
3,843 (18%)
2 stars
842 (4%)
1 star
259 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 677 reviews
Profile Image for Francisca.
244 reviews117 followers
December 31, 2025
When reading a murder mystery, one of the things that hooks me the most is—and perhaps I’m not alone in this preference—is trying to figure out who the killer is.

Very often, if I manage to catch on to the truth early on, two things happen, I lose interest almost immediately or, if the story is very well constructed, I keep reading at maximum speed while looking for every hidden clue to feel very smug about having figured out the whole thing from the start.

Well, One of Us Is Lying was one of those murder mysteries where I figured out what was going on very early on , but the story was so good, I just devoured the rest of it with gusto.

That the end held a few nice surprises for me only added to my general enjoyment of this novel. That the characters, while stereotypical do feel real and alive, was a huge bonus. That the story is told from a multi-PVO narrative helps to keep things interesting and moving fast.

Of course, a few things feel a bit against the unripe nature teens must display, but I found myself forgiving those moments with ease because the rest of it was so very entertaining. And that’s it, that’s the word I would use if pressed to describe this book with one term: Entertaining.
Profile Image for Addi.
8 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2023
no one else will really understand why these four became such good friends. these four teens will stay friends forever. such a good storyline, absolutely loved this book! (was a little hard for me to get through the first little bit, but once i started, i couldn’t stop!)
Profile Image for Lauren Taylor.
51 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2022
A must read for fans of the Breakfast Club and the Scream movies tbh.
Profile Image for Thea K ☕.
21 reviews
November 1, 2024
Contains spoilers









Ok so there was so much hype around this book so I decided I had to read it. It started of well enough interesting characters, well written plot. But I found the ending to be a massive let down. Personal whenever I read a murder mystery/ thriller it is so disappointing when it ends with suic!de. This is nothing bad to the author or anyone who likes this book but I was just disappointed with the ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bridget.
25 reviews
November 20, 2021
Absolutely love Cooper and Addy. I LOVE the charavter develpment.
Profile Image for bubbleboo.
1 review
January 17, 2023
I read this quite a while ago but still it has remained one of my favourite books. Firstly the way the book is set out and they why each chapter changes to a different point of view is absolutely incredible and such a genius idea, it really allows you to put yourself in the story. And omg the plot twists is amazing, you think it’s one thing and then it’s something completely different and it really keeps you on your toes, it never gets boring. I could go on and on about this book. Incredible just incredible. Such an amazing read, I really recommend.
Profile Image for janaaaaaa.
11 reviews1 follower
Read
June 22, 2025
had to read it for Uni and I don't know if the story itself is boring or if it is because it was shortened to a third of its original pages and written for B1level...
Profile Image for Ahad said.
167 reviews74 followers
July 23, 2022
Really interesting novel, took me long enough to finish, sometimes i feel that I don’t know who is talking but in the end it was quite thrilling
Profile Image for Beatrice.
30 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2023
Ok so I don’t know where to start but I loved this book. My final rating is 4 stars and that’s because sometimes I got bored when it was Addy’s and Cooper’s povs . Don’t get me wrong I still like the characters but sometimes I got bored . I think I will reread this book and maybe my rating will change.The last thing I want to say is that I really enjoyed this book and maybe you will too.
Profile Image for Victoria Barman.
8 reviews
November 29, 2023
AHHHHHH this has made me delulu, I love murder mystery so this was the book for me - I loved all the backgrounds of all the characters how each of them have a story to their life hehe
Profile Image for Shakera✿✿✿.
52 reviews5 followers
Read
May 14, 2025
Negative 1☆
Dnf about 156/358 page
It's so boring 😫🥱.Don't care about the four main characters.
Profile Image for eva_12x929.
18 reviews
August 25, 2025
i fear the plot twist was a bit underwhelming but i still liked it
Profile Image for Milly!#clockittt.
10 reviews
October 20, 2025
LOVED THIS BOOK. but i rlly wish it didn’t end like that. like i was excited to see who did it and simon pulls up like oh it was suicide i mean at least it was like elaborate and tricky but i was rlly looking forward to seeing who the murderer was
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Omar Barzanji.
13 reviews
November 23, 2024
It was such a great book, couldn't sleep at night without wanting to read another page,
The plot twist it crazyy
Profile Image for Rosie.R.
37 reviews
January 12, 2026
here is my review…
ABSOLUTELY TRASH
and thats all i have to say!
Profile Image for Keva Patel.
15 reviews
January 13, 2026
okay. the was really messed up on so many different levels. The writing was really good and I would definitely recommend this to someone who's starting out reading thought the opening lines are a bit... ifffyyy. but overall a great read. 3.5 stars
Profile Image for angel ᥫ᭡.
43 reviews
July 28, 2023
This book truly was the first book that got me into reading. Thank you bezawit. Now, I love a good murder and mystery crime book. I loved how we got perspectives from 5 different characters with distinct personalities. Such stereotypical high school ones however: jock, bad boy, nerdy girl, popular girl, and other. The plot and the big reveal of who killed Simon wasn’t even that good, but the characters is what fuelled this story and made it so enjoyable. I loved reading the different perspectives, some perspectives I liked more than others but they boosted this book up for me.
Profile Image for Eme🌀.
3 reviews
August 18, 2024
It was an entertaining book, although a bit slow at parts and for my liking a bit poorly written at some stages.
I really enjoyed the story and seeing all the characters interact with each other and their own point of view.
If you are looking for an easy read that hypes you up to go back to reading this is a good book :)
11 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2021
War gut :)vorallem die Beziehung zwischen Nate und Bronwyn .Aber dass Buch war auch oftmals langweilig . Einmal lesen reicht , da man dass Ende jetzt schon weiß.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Fatima Elomari.
9 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2023
Good novel , I was excited while reading it to know who kills Simon at the same time I wasn’t expecting the murder I really liked and enjoyed.👍
Profile Image for Karolina.
111 reviews
December 26, 2024
Przyjemne do czytania i bardzo polubiłam postacie. Trochę sus
Edit: naur, 2 gwiazdki
6 reviews
August 19, 2024
I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed a teen murder mystery. Actually, it was quite entertaining.
Profile Image for gabriellaaa.
17 reviews
August 5, 2024
i thought it was a good book with an interesting plot and character, and i’m glad i read it. at first i was quite skeptical, but i was pleasantly surprised :) however, it felt like a lot was happening in beginning of the book, and a lot was happening towards the end of the book, but there were times in the middle of those two that i felt like not much was happening, which made me lose motivation to read it 😔 i think the reason i thought it was slightly boring was bc the bayview 4 didn’t start investigating until the end of the book, and up until then we had just been reading about their personal drama, which i don’t really care all that much about 😭
but all in all i think it was definitely worth reading, and i did not see the plot twist coming at all.

both jake and simon are disgusting, i know simon was sick but that doesn’t make killing yourself and trying to frame four innocent people over miniscule, unnecessary and petty reasons to want their lives to be destroyed. next time you feel envious of others try working on yourself instead of tearing other down😊
and jake reminds me of oliver from five survive, therefore i think my hatred for him doesn’t require further explaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 677 reviews

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