"So, which are you guys?" "We're Switzerland." - A review of Karen M. McManus' Nothing More To Tell

Author: Karen M. McManus

Title: Nothing More To Tell

Originally Published: August 30, 2022

Publisher: Penguin

eAudiobook, £17.99

Length: 10h 21m

ISBN: 978-0-2414-7369-9

8/10

After "One Of Us Is Lying" and "One Of Us Is Next" Karen M. McManus shows that her success wasn't because of one book and its sequel, but that she is capable of delivering a gripping murder mystery time and again.

Spoilers Ahead for "The Usual Suspects", "One Of Us Is Lying", and "Nothing More To Tell"!!

You Have Been Warned!!

I had already read Karen M. McManus' first two Bayview Four books and, while waiting for the final installment, I decided to try out this one. I was shocked at how McManus already has a distinctive style only half a decade into her career. All of my favourite elements of those two books - the character dynamics, the multiple narrators, even the fact that one of the main characters loves true crime - are present in Nothing More To Tell.

Firstly, I'm going to talk about the ending. I did not expect Charlotte to be Mr. Larkin's killer. Throughout the book it seemed as if it was anyone except her, it seemed like the mystery would go unsolved. Heading in to the epilogue, I did not expect a twist. I anticipated a reconciliation between Brynn Gallagher and Charlotte Holdbrook, who had been butting heads at almost every interaction they had with each other, yet the way Brynn explained how Charlotte got away with murder completely shocked me as I was under the impression that the "Epilogue" would be more of a reflection on the plot. The twist in the final moments coupled with Charlotte just walking away reminded me of the ending of "The Usual Suspects" where Keyser Söze is revealed to be Kevin Spacey's character as he just walks away.

Secondly, I loved the characters and how each one felt real and none felt one dimensional, e.g. Brynn is a true crime fan who put her internship before her friends and family, until she realises that a story isn't as important as her relationships with the people close to her. I also love how casually the topic of sexuality was addressed - which starkly contrasts Cooper being outed and ridiculed in "One Of Us Is Lying" - with Brynn casually mentioning that her little sister, Ellie, is a lesbian and that Ellie's reaction to Brynn and Tripp kissing was "Ew. Heteros."

Thirdly, I just want to talk about when Mikhail Powers and the Bayview Four were mentioned in one of the last chapters of the book and nowhere else. McManus confirms that the "One Of Us Is..." trilogy is set in the same universe as this book with a line that will likely go over a lot of reader's heads but serves as a little Easter egg for people who've read those books.

Finally, I want to mention about my only problem with this book: all the red herrings. One or two would be fine but it felt like every time that something would be revealed in regards to Mr. Larkin's death, it was a red herring. While the murder mystery aspect is why I love McManus' books, I found it really hard to get invested in any plot developments towards the end because I was afraid that they were just sending the characters on a wild goose chase.

In conclusion, this book is a thrilling murder mystery with amazing characters but is held back by its tendency to deceive the reader far too often.