We chat with international bestselling author Karen M. McManus about One of Us Is Back, which is the explosive third and final thrilling instalment in the acclaimed One of Us… series.
Hi, Karen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I write twisty young adult mysteries, including the One of Us Is Lying series and the stand-alone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and Nothing More to Tell.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was eight years old, my second grade teacher had us write a story in class one day. I was a big reader, but it had never occurred to me that I could actually write something on my own. I loved it, and my teacher noticed and encouraged me to keep going.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
First book: a picture book called Crosspatch, about a grumpy little lion in a zoo.
The one that made me become an author: The Hunger Games, which I bought in an airport in 2014. I hadn’t written anything creative in years, but that inspired me to start again.
The one I can’t stop thinking about: The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I reread that book every year, and I always find something new.
One of Us Is Back is the final installment in your bestselling One of Us Is Lying trilogy! If you could describe it in five words, what would they be?
Secrets aren’t safe in Bayview.
What can readers expect?
All their favorite characters back together for the summer, just as another mystery starts to unfold that brings everything that started with Simon’s death full circle.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring one last time?
I’ve always wanted to write from Simon’s point of view, and One of Us Is Back gave me that opportunity with a few flashback entries. Also, Addy’s arc is very special to me, and I loved being able to continue her story.
How did it feel to wrap up the trilogy?
Emotional! I cried after I finished the first draft, which I’ve never done before. These characters mean so much to me, and I know they mean a lot to my readers too. But it’s a good kind of emotion—I’m so happy with how the book wrapped up their story, and I hope readers are as well.
This trilogy kicked off your journey as a published author. How do you think you have grown as an author over the past seven years?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best minds in the business, including my agent and my editor, and to work with them consistently across eight books. They’ve helped me become a much better writer, particularly when it comes to turning the kernel of an idea into a complete, satisfying, character-driven story. My second book was challenging because I hadn’t developed those skills yet, and I floundered when it wasn’t as easy to write as One of Us Is Lying. But now I’m much better at identifying and fixing issues in the early stages.
What’s next for you?
I’m putting the finishing touches on my eighth book, which is another stand-alone novel that will be published in summer 2024. After that, I’m not sure! I’m taking a little breather to figure it out.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Always! Recent mysteries that I’ve loved include The Legacies by Jessica Goodman, The It Girl by Ruth Ware, and Invisible Son by Kim Johnson. For fantasy, I recently enjoyed Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray and the upcoming House of Marionne by J. Elle. And if you want something with a foot in both worlds, I can’t recommend House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland enough.
