The third and final installment of the popular mystery crime series One of Us Is Lying brings readers back once again to the revenge-soaked town of Bayview.
The famous Bayview Four and their expanded crew are denied peace once again; their lives are yet again drenched in bloody experiences, fear, suspicion, and uncertainty. Who will be behind these actions this time, and who will fall victim to it all?
I read the first two books years ago, right when they first hit the shelves and before Netflix turned them into a TV series that barely resembles the book plot. Because of that, I have to say my teen-self back then was clearly better at understanding the main characters’ thought processes. Or maybe I just ignored it more. Now, however, I must point out that they seemed far too irrational, hot-headed, and incomprehensible to me. I found myself facepalming and wondering if that character was even using their brain cells at all. The other possibility is the author’s deliberate attempt to manufacture plot drama. Both options seem highly likely to me.
Some readers might disagree with me, but I really missed Bronwyn and Nate, even though we got to experience the plot from Nate’s perspective. I missed their dynamics, the way they functioned together, and how they faced problems as a team. Despite that, there is something beautiful about their relationship—the very thing that made us fall in love with them back in the first book. I also want to mention the bar scene where the Margarita Mothers backed Nate instead of Jake, who comes from a good family. They showed trust in him, pointing out that actions speak louder than social status and money.
Let’s dive into the story itself for a bit. To start, I have to point out the recurring theme: revenge. I honestly feel like nobody lives in Bayview who doesn’t want to get revenge on someone in some way, even if it’s just because they didn’t say hello at the supermarket. My advice: run from that town as fast as you can. We also get the typical mysterious messages pointing to an impending disaster. The first book was excellent, much better crafted, and I’ve read it several times. With this one, though, I felt like it didn’t even need to exist, and I truly just wanted a happy ending for the Bayview Crew. The plot was predictable—like the twist with Mrs. Riordan having an affair, which was totally expected. I also missed that “wow factor” that keeps you from putting the book down and guarantees an all-nighter until you finally find out who is behind the kidnappings and cryptic texts. A welcome plot twist would have been if the culprit was someone directly from the Bayview Crew, but of course, it had to be a new, unknown character. Heaven forbid we sacrifice anyone from the sacred group.
All things considered, it was a fairly pleasant, light read without any cliffhangers at the end. It’s perfect for a quiet evening after a hard day, when you’re so exhausted that you won’t even notice the obvious, predictable plot points.