One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

About the Book

One of Us Is Back is the thrilling third and final book in the globally beloved One of Us Is Lying series. When someone from the Bayview Four’s past resurfaces, history begins to repeat itself and the consequences are deadly.  If you love fast-paced mysteries packed with secrets, this book is made for you.

From the Back Cover

The entire Bayview Crew is back home for the summer, trying to move on. But when a mysterious billboard appears with the words “Time for a new game, Bayview,” and one of their own disappears, it becomes very clear this game is deadly serious. Nobody knows the rules and nobody is safe.

About the Author

Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her work has been translated into more than forty-two languages, and the One of Us Is Lying series has been adapted into a television show on Peacock. She is one of the most trusted names in YA mystery fiction today.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is perfect for teens and young adults who love edge-of-your-seat mystery stories full of twists, friendship, and secrets. If you have learned anything from Bayview, it is that everyone has secrets and everyone is a target, making this a must-read for any fan of the series or the thriller genre.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Do I need to read the first two books before reading One of Us Is Back? It is strongly recommended to read One of Us Is Lying and One of Us Is Next first. The story builds directly on events and characters from those books, so reading them in order will give you the full experience and make the twists much more rewarding.

Q2. Is One of Us Is Back suitable for teenagers? Yes! Kirkus Reviews recommends it for readers aged 14 to 18 , though confident teen readers aged 13 and above will enjoy it too. Parents should note the book touches on serious themes like secrets, past violence, and justice.

Q3. Is One of Us Is Back the last book in the series? One of Us Is Back is the final novel in Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying trilogy.  It wraps up the stories of all the Bayview Crew members in a satisfying and complete way.

Q4. What makes One of Us Is Back different from the other books in the series? Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, calling it a soulful, high-stakes thrill ride with bombshell reveals alongside reflections on honesty, empathy, and cycles of violence.  It is widely considered the most emotionally rich and action-packed entry in the entire series.