One of Us is Lying

by Fiona MacKenzie (Adapter), Karen M. McManus

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?

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Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Murder Mystery, Crime, Romance, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2021

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as Fiona MacKenzie

Reviews

[Francisca · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 (the mention of 4Chan was all I needed about the truth behind the murder victim and the reason for his death), 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.

[Addi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!)

[Lauren Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of the Breakfast Club and the Scream movies tbh.

[Thea K ☕ · Rating 1 out of 5]

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

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant page turner, with lots of twists and cliff hanger chapters. A must read for fans of gossip girl esque tropes that keeps you guessing until the very end. I look forward to watching a TV adaptation of this and reading the next book.

[Emma Lomax · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sooooooo boring!!!!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love Cooper and Addy. I LOVE the charavter develpment.

[bubbleboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[janaaaaaa]

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...

[Ahad said · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Victoria Barman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Shakera✿✿✿]

Negative 1☆
Dnf about 156/358 page
It's so boring 😫🥱.Don't care about the four main characters.

[eva_12x929 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i fear the plot twist was a bit underwhelming but i still liked it

[Milly!#clockittt · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Omar Barzanji · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a great book, couldn't sleep at night without wanting to read another page,
The plot twist it crazyy

[angel ᥫ᭡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Eme🌀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 :)

[LillxD · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Linah Ab · Rating 2 out of 5]

had big expectation

[Imogen Cleasby · Rating 2 out of 5]

very boring only gets good in the last 80 pages the rest is waffle

[Fatima Elomari · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.👍

[Cosmo Cosimo · Rating 1 out of 5]

nie wieder.

[Karolina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Przyjemne do czytania i bardzo polubiłam postacie. Trochę sus
Edit: naur, 2 gwiazdki

[Charlotte Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed a teen murder mystery. Actually, it was quite entertaining.

[Maria (Taylor's Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

[gabriellaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich fand das Buch mega spannend. Jeder einzelne Charakter war-auch wenn sie alle sehr stereotypisch sind-sehr likeable. Und die Storyline bzw die Idee war auch sehr cool. Allerdings hat mich das Ende etwas enttäuscht. Dass es am Ende doch keiner der 4 war hat mich einerseits gefreut aber andererseits auch irgendwie nicht. Der Plot, dass Simon sich selber umgebracht hat war aber immernoch recht fair (nicht das Suizidieren ihr wisst was ich meine) aber die ganze Story mit Jake ist viel zu weit hergeholt. Zum Beispiel diese Szene im Wald? Irgendwie war das alles viel zu viel und viel zu schnell und ich war verwirrt. Außerdem hat man selber viel zu wenig von Jake mitbekommen. Dann wäre Janae vielleicht eine bessere Wahl gewesen-auch wenn das dann vielleicht zu obvious wäre.

Mir hat es sehr viel Spaß gemacht das Buch zu lesen. Auch wenn das Ende etwas billig war, macht mich ein Happy End immer glücklich. Außerdem bin ich invested in die Love Story von Bronwyn und Nate. Die süßen.

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im Großen und Ganzen ist es ein gutes Buch. Man darf nicht vergessen, dass es ein Teenie-High-School-Drama ist. Außerdem erinnert es mich sehr an Thirteen Reasons Why und vor allem Gossip Girl.
Ich denke aus diesem Grund verdächtigte ich direkt zu Anfang die richtige Person. Trotzdem bleib es spannend und die Entwicklung der „Bayview Four“ gefiel mir auch.

[Lil-lie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book easy to read and enjoyable to read. Although some parts were slow, I found it easy to convince myself to continue reading. There were a few things that I wasn't expecting but overall, I had the part of the ending figured out by chapter 26 but most definitely didn't expect how the ending was going to play out. The ending did seem a bit rushed though.

Overall, this book was a good read, and I would recommend giving it a read.
6/10.