About the Book
One of Us Is Lying is a YA mystery set at Bayview High, where five students walk into detention and only four leave alive. The victim is Simon, the operator of a notorious school gossip app. Each of the remaining four, Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper, had something Simon was about to expose. All four become suspects.
The book is structured around the perspectives of its four surviving characters, rotating between their points of view as the investigation unfolds and their secrets gradually surface. It's a whodunit that leans into high school social dynamics: who belongs where, what people are hiding, and how much a reputation is worth protecting. The TV series comparison to Pretty Little Liars and The Breakfast Club is reasonably accurate, it has the archetypes and the slow-burn suspicion of both.
This edition is a tie-in release connected to the Peacock TV adaptation. The story itself is the same as the original 2017 novel. If you've already read or listened to the original, this edition doesn't add new content.
Narration & Audio Performance
Kim Mai Guest handles a multi-POV novel with four distinct teenage narrators, a format that could easily become confusing in audio. She keeps the voices consistent enough to follow without needing to check chapter headers, which matters more than it might seem across a book of this length. Her pacing suits the genre: quick enough to keep momentum during tense sequences, readable during quieter character moments.
Guest's delivery skews toward neutral rather than dramatic, which works for a mystery where the plotting does the heavy lifting. She doesn't push for emotional emphasis in ways that feel imposed on the text. Some listeners may find her teenage character voices a bit flat, but the clarity and consistency across four rotating POVs is the more important quality here, and she delivers on that.
Production quality is clean and standard for a major YA release. No music or sound effects, straightforward single-narrator audio.
The Audible Verdict
One of Us Is Lying is a well-paced YA mystery that holds up in audio format. Kim Mai Guest manages the multi-POV structure competently, and the book's linear plotting makes it easy to follow without reading along. That said, the narration is functional rather than standout, and the TV tie-in edition doesn't offer anything beyond the original release. A free trial credit is the right level of commitment here, worth a listen, but not urgently worth a paid credit over other options.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Multi-POV mysteries can be tricky in audio because the listener relies entirely on the narrator to signal whose section they're in. One of Us Is Lying has four rotating narrators, but the chapter structure is clear and Kim Mai Guest differentiates the voices enough that orientation isn't a problem. The linear plot, a single crime, a school setting, a tightening investigation, is exactly the kind of structure that translates well to audio.
There are no charts, diagrams, or visual elements to worry about. This is straightforward narrative fiction. Listeners who enjoy YA mysteries during commutes or workouts will find the pacing works well in that context. It's not a book where missing a sentence causes you to lose the thread entirely, which makes it comfortable for moderate-attention listening sessions.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this the same story as the original 2017 novel?
Yes. The TV tie-in edition contains the same text as the original One of Us Is Lying. The only difference is the branding connected to the Peacock streaming adaptation.
Does the audiobook work if you've already watched the TV show?
The book predates the show and differs in some details, but the core mystery and characters are the same. If you've seen the adaptation, the major plot beats won't be a surprise.
Is this book part of a series?
Yes, McManus wrote a sequel called One of Us Is Next. This book stands on its own and resolves its central mystery, but characters and storylines continue in the follow-up.
Is the audiobook suitable for younger listeners?
The book is marketed as Young Adult. It contains themes of death, secrets, substance use, and relationships, but nothing graphic. It's generally appropriate for teens and up.
Who narrates the audiobook?
Kim Mai Guest narrates. She is a professional audiobook narrator with experience across multiple YA titles, not the author.
Similar Audiobooks
Continues the Bayview High storyline with some returning characters and a new mystery. The natural next listen if you enjoy this one.
Another McManus YA mystery with a small-town setting and secrets-among-teenagers premise. A comparable listen in length and tone.
The Naturals
Jennifer Lynn Barnes's YA mystery series features teen characters solving crimes with rotating suspicion, a similar read-along rhythm to McManus's work.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Holly Jackson's YA whodunit is frequently recommended alongside McManus's books. Both follow teenage protagonists investigating cold or ongoing crimes.
Pretty Little Liars
The publisher comparison is apt, both involve a group of teens with secrets under pressure. Readers who liked one tend to seek out the other.
Audiobook Details
| Title | One of Us Is Lying (TV Series Tie-In Edition) |
|---|---|
| Author | Karen M. McManus |
| Narrator | Kim Mai Guest |
| Genre | Young Adult Mystery |
| Year | 2021 |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
One of Us Is Lying is available on Audible and is a reasonable choice for a free trial credit, particularly if you enjoy YA mysteries in audio format.
Open on Audible