One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus is the third and final installment in the Bayview High YA mystery/thriller trilogy. Following the resolution of the previous book, One of Us Is Back opens with a reunion of all of our favorite characters. As a new mystery unfolds over Bayview following the reveal of an ominous billboard message and the return of someone unexpected, we not only get to experience the detective skills of the original Bayview Four, but also those of our favorite new characters from the second book, Phoebe, Knox, and Maeve. A new game is starting, and there are still more secrets to be spilled. When one of the crew goes missing, it becomes clear that it’s going to take everyone to solve this mystery before it’s too late.
The Pros: McManus once again pulls through with a beautiful execution of the found family trope. Despite her books being fiction, they still feel extremely realistic and reading them is like stepping into an entirely different world. Alongside the amazing characters and relationships McManus continues to flesh out in this final book of her series, I also heavily enjoyed the mystery as it unraveled. In fact, I was so enraptured by the way she unfurled the plot that I binged the entire book in one day! The ending had my jaw on the floor as all the pieces clicked together in an extremely satisfying way.
The Cons: This book was exceedingly enjoyable for me, to the point where in my mind it has no cons. You can truly tell how McManus has developed her writing throughout the series and put together a masterpiece of a final book using everything she learned. From the pacing to the twists, McManus knows how to keep you hooked!
Overall, One of Us Is Back is a thrilling and engaging read that got me hooked from the beginning. Not only were the characters spectacular, but the plot was incredibly enjoyable as well, earning it a five-star rating from me. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first two in the series and is looking for a thrilling mystery with a stunning plot twist.