The Bayview gang is back together and it is only natural that a new mystery appears with the group at the center of everyone's attention. Can they solve this new problem before someone gets killed?
Dates read: 15/08/2023 to 18/08/2023
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Glorious
Genre: Young-Adult Fiction
After an amazing day at the Waterstones YA Bookfest event in Newcastle back in Autumn 2023 (this post is super late!) I just knew I had to devour Karen M. McManus' new book in the Bayview series. During the event, I got to see an interview panel with the amazing author who certainly sold the new addition (not that she needed to - I'm already obsessed!), a new mystery, an unknown character returns, and a death. Yes, please. I got my limited edition copy signed and I bought a copy to match the rest of the paperbacks. The highlight of my time at Bookfest was spending time with a group of amazing people. My friend Natalie (@natscrochetsandbooks) also got a copy of One of Us is Back and we did a mini buddy read. She finished first though - boo!
This review contains spoilers!
The book begins with a reminder of all the characters from the first two books - noted and needed since I haven't re-read the original duo - and then immediately finds itself head first into plot point No.1, quite possibly the most thrilling and attention-grabbing. The gang is sitting watching a broadcast of the irredeemable Jake (that would be the ex-boyfriend of the lovely Addy, who alongside Simon created the final posts and attempted to frame the Bayview Five for murder) stating how prison is changing him and he is now completely fixed and not set on murdering Addy. Yawn! It is revealed that Jake has a pending trial which will debate his early release and it is clear that Addy and the gang are far from pleased.
I was really happy and surprised to see the return of Jake and the continuation of his and Addy's storyline from One of Us is Lying. There was a lot unfinished and unsaid between the two characters and the final installment in the series neatly wrapped up the loose ends and gave us readers the conclusion we had been waiting for. No spoilers for the book's ending (because I'm not absolutely evil) but I can say that the twist is worth the re-introduction of this villainous man.
Typically, the book contains a mash-up of characters from both previous books and has some older characters return in a new light. It was refreshing to see much-loved characters interact as a group. Seeing how the two separate victims of the Bayview attacks have blended with a shared interest in stopping more disasters to come, certainly gave off that found family trope that is beloved by bookstagrammers everywhere. I for one, found the intertwining relationships between each of the characters refreshing and wholesome to read. My favorite, and rather unlikely friendship IMO, was the bond between Nate and Addy. It is clear from the evolution of these characters that Karen M McManus thoroughly enjoys writing about these characters and loves embellishing the connections between them all.
One of my main loves for this book lies solely in the neverending plot twists, unlike my friend Natalie I had no idea who the antagonist was and all of my guessing along the way was nowhere near the true plot twist in the end. You'd think my three years at university studying forensics would give me that edge for crime-solving books but, unfortunately, no. Reading this book as a buddy read opened up a running commentary on the plot twists and I'm sure Natalie was delighted by my thirsting for Nate teamed with a plethora of unsuccessful detective work.
The other notable plot device added to this book came surprisingly and, honestly, made me rethink everything about the characters I thought I knew. Jake and Simon used to be best friends! Okay, maybe not a major plot twist but the flashbacks into Simons's development into a teenage psychopath and the emotional abuse Jake received from his rather as a child cemented a slight of pity for these characters. Whilst, I cannot hold any candles for Jake's character adding that level of depth to a once one-dimensional character helped him stand out brilliantly in his return to Bayview.
I think Karen M McManus outdid herself with this final installment in the One of Us series. It was the finale I didn't know I needed but thoroughly devoured.
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