Having read ‘The Cousins’, I was very pleased to get my hands on the latest YA thriller by Karen McManus, ‘You’ll Be The Death of Me’. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, and ‘The Write Reads’ for inviting me on the blog tour.
The story opens with three friends – who have been a little estranged in recent times – agreeing to skip school together and have a big day out. They plan fun…maybe even a trip to the zoo to see the penguins, but life has other plans. Instead, the trio see a fellow classmate, Boney Mahoney, and blunder into the scene of a murder. This is one day off that will change everything…
Because I am ahem of a certain vintage, this book had lots of echoes of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ for me – albeit a version in which there is a murder and bucketloads of secrets. Indeed, everyone has a secret and the plot is carefully managed across the different perspectives of the central trio. Every time I felt that I was beginning to see the bigger picture, McManus threw in another twist or another secret and I was off down yet another blind alley!
I don’t read a lot of YA fiction, but I was impressed (as I was when I read ‘The Cousins’) that McManus convincingly presents the voices of teenagers. I particularly liked the character of Mateo as he seemed the most sympathetic of the three central figures, especially as his backstory with Ivy is revealed. I was also impressed that McManus doesn’t veer away from some hard-hitting issues (aside, obviously, from murder!) – I can’t say exactly what without giving major spoilers but it all seemed realistic and topical for a modern day American setting.
I’d recommend this to those who enjoy twisty thrillers told from multiple perspectives. McManus already has a huge following who will read this anyway, but it definitely should reach a wider audience of people who want to read well-written and engaging YA crime.
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