YA thrillers are my jam, and I can always rely on Karen McManus to deliver the thrills. It gave me Only Murders in the Building vibes, and also reminded me a lot of The Good Girls' Guide to Murder, plus I got my kicks from all the Easter eggs for McManus's other books.

Four years ago, Brynn's favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, was murdered, and three of her classmates were the ones to find him in the woods behind the school. One of those classmates Tripp, was also her best-friend, until he purposely humiliated her and cut all ties just days before the murder. Now, her family has moved back to town and reenrolled her and her sister Ellie in the school she left just after the incident. She's also started an internship at a true-crime show and using her connections in town and school to investigate the murder. She starts with Tripp and the other two classmates, Charlotte and Shane, who she's surprised to find are not only dating each other but also are now Tripp's BFFs. As she works to repair friendships with those she left behind while simultaneously following up on clues and chasing down leads in not just the murder but a seemingly unrelated (to everyone else) crime of who stole the fundraiser money, she fails to realize that digging up ancient history that everyone else would prefer to keep buried might just risk her future.

Overall, this was an addictive ad compelling read. I liked the gradual doling out of clues only to have them be red herrings. Also, in a slightly unexpected but enjoyable twist, the solving of one crime - the money theft - wasn't necessarily tied to the other larger one of who killed Mr. Larkin. All these little things combined with the big murder mystery should have had a neat and tidy little resolution with the solving of one, yet the mystique was drawn out as each was solved on its own.

I have loved Karen’s other books, so I was very excited to read this one. It exceeded my expectations! I loved the 2 main characters Brynn and Tripp, and also Brynn’s sister Ellie! They reminded me of the One of Us is Lying group, so that made me love them more. I didn’t expect the killer to be who it was, or the teachers sibling to be who that was either. She did such a great job casting suspicion on literally everyone!

Thanks to Delacorte Press, Random House, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
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I haven't read anything else by McManus, but I was very excited to get my hands on this title and dive into it. The amount of things that these high school kids are allowed to get away with is illogical at best, but honestly I could not care less. I was invested in Brynn's search for the truth, and Tripp was fascinating as a subject to be investigated as a potential witness to Mr. Larkin's murder four years prior. The side characters were interesting, if somewhat interchangeable, yet almost everyone that shows up is involved with the murder somehow.
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It is basically impossible to guess where the story is going, and how the case will be solved because the text is littered with red herrings. Don't get me wrong, not being able to guess where the story is going is great since it is paired with equally fast pacing. The alternating POV between Brynn and Tripp allows the reader to learn about the case from both in the present and the time the murder occurred, which I think always helps keep the reader engaged. Also, in the first couple of pages we are introduced to a "random Emerson College student" and their short cameo appearance rang true for every journalism major I ever encountered at school!

Karen McManus writes a gripping tale that leaves you on the edge of the seat. Who really killed the beloved eighth grade language arts teacher?

Brynn is a senior investigator who recently landed an internship with true crime show: Motive. She instantly pitched the idea to cover the mysterious murder of Mr. Larkin. Three friends see find him dead, three friends get out of trouble without any issues. But do these three really have nothing more to tell?

I devoured McManus's young adult thriller in one sitting. The realistic setting, heart pounding details and true crime writing made me want to know who killed Mr. Larkin. I was left guessing til the end and was shocked with the twists and turns of Nothing More to Tell. Lovers of thrillers and young adult novels will enjoy Karen McManus's latest.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book! I SCREAMED when I saw I got approved and it did NOT disappoint.

I think by far this is the best stand-alone of the McManus-verse. At first I was worried that we were going to flip between the perspectives of four characters - all three of our kids who found a body, and our other MC Brynn. Thankfully, we only focus on Brynn and Tripp, which I found beneficial to the story. We also get flashbacks to Tripp's memories of four years ago, which were scattered throughout and well-placed: just enough of an unreliable narrator to create doubt, but also enough certainty that we think we know the full story. The pacing was just right and as I continued to read I found I couldn't put it down.

McManus also explores the nuances of grief/trauma in a way she hasn't before, which added a lot of realism and maturity to the story. These kids have to deal with lasting consequences from choices made both in the past and now, by children who were too young to be dealing with any of it. I wasn't surprised by the ending, but it was satisfying and there were plenty of other twists that I wasn't expecting.

Overall, it was a really great read and I would recommend this one if you want to get a taste of McManus without committing to reading an entire series, or if you just want a quick, fast-paced thriller!

Nothing More To Tell by Karen M. McManus

🤫 secrets from the past unravel
🤫 two alternative pov's and dual timeline
🤫 Young Adult Mystery
🤫 368 pages; publication 8/30/2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Karen McManus always provides an entertaining read. In her typical form we have young adult characters, a murder and the untangling of secrets and mistruths of the past. I really enjoyed the main characters and the way the story unfolded. The true crime investigation plot line is a current trendy trope and I thought could have been given a bigger role in this story but I did like the way it added to book.
The pacing of this book compared to McManus previous novels felt a bit slower to me. It took some time for me to get invested. While I wanted to continue to read and my interest was held... I didn't get that compulsive itch to stay up way past my bedtime to finish. Overall a good book with an ambiguous ending leading me to believe there could be a sequel... please let there be a sequel.


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus is a YA mystery that reads older. I never felt like the characters were immature and I really liked the two characters whose POV’s we got to see. Brynn and Tripp had excellent banter together and made me root for them. McManus really knows how to capture the way teenagers speak and makes them feel authentic. The mystery was strong and I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you Random House Children’s and NetGalley for this ARC to review!

Review: This is the 6th book by McManus that I’ve read and it rivals One of Us is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret for my top spot! Brynn and Tripp were great main characters and I loved their dual POVs. This author has a wonderful ability to showcase the real struggles and experiences of everyday teenagers while writing mystery fiction that even adults would be into.

The mystery in this novel was quite intriguing and I was kept guessing throughout the book. Each time I thought I had things figured out a new twist would be thrown in to knock me off track. I really enjoyed that! I hope to see more books featuring these characters in the future!

Blurb: “Be sure to keep your friends close . . . and your secrets closer.

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.

The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex–best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder. They've never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day. Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie.

Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and as Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she begins to uncover secrets that might change everything—about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot.

Four years ago someone got away with murder. The most terrifying part is that they never left.”

Okay, I loved this book! It was just the guilty pleasure reading that I needed.
I am bad about figuring out the "whodunnits" and the twists in books. As in, they're almost always predictable to me. Not with this one. Just when I think I've got it figured out, I turn the page and the book says "nope, you're not going to know this one until the very end".
I have had the author's other books on my TBR shelf for forever now, but have not read them yet. This book just made me move them to the top of my list.

Thank you for the review copy of this book!

YA mystery writer Karen McManus is back with another whodunit that is sure to be wildly popular with students. Brynn Gallagher returns to St. Ambrose School in Sturgis, Massachusetts after living in Chicago for four years. Shortly before she left, someone got away with the shocking murder of beloved English teacher Mr. Larkin, whose body was found in the woods behind the school by three students -- Charlotte, Shane, and Tripp, all of whom are now seniors at St. Ambrose.

When Brynn, an aspiring journalist, secures a coveted internship with Motive, a television show that focuses on true crime, she begins looking into Mr. Larkin's death. That means trying to find out if her three classmates told the police everything after they found Mr. Larkin's body, a topic none of them wants to discuss. As Brynn continues her investigation, she discovers that not everything is as it appears. Maybe Mr. Larkin wasn't such a good guy after all. Moreover, a lot of people at St. Ambrose are keeping secrets, Could one of those secrets lead to the killer?

Relationships take center in stage in this book. Brynn and Tripp were best friends until the day before the murder, when Tripp intentionally embarrassed Brynn in gym class. They never spoke after that. Upon her return, Brynn quickly sees that Tripp's closest friends are Charlotte and Shane, making Brynn think that the three of them have some sort of secrecy pact. Brynn still cares about Tripp, and her attempts to make him realize that fact make for a compelling subplot.

The twists, turns, and red herrings will keep readers guessing until the very end. Highly recommended.

I think this might be my favorite Karen McManus yet!

Brynn, after moving back to her hometown gets a job working for a company called Motive which covers true crime. Brynn brings a story to the table that helps her get the job. You see four years ago her eighth-grade teacher's body was found in the woods by 3 students. His murder was never solved.

I really loved both Brynn and Tripp, and how they renew their friendship which turns into something sweet and adorable. The mystery was frustrating in the best of ways. All these clues are coming together, and everything looks like it's pointing to a particular suspect then Wham, Something niggling at the back of Brynn's mind becomes something that leaves us both satisfied and unsatisfied with a sort of open ending, that makes me wish we could get another book. I would love to see Brynn and Tripp solving another mystery! and for what happened at the end of this book to be shared with everyone they know...

I can't wait for the next Karen McManus book!

Okay wow, this is my favorite Karen McManus book to date!! The only negative I have is that now I have to wait for a new book from her.

This book is paced so nicely; I planned on reading it in chunks to spread it out but once I started I truly could not stop. I had no idea who did what, even though I thought I had it figured out. The red herrings were *chef’s kiss* perfect.

I also loved the nod to One of Us Is Lying near the end.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

(Huge thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for giving me this eARC to read!)

I actually liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I am a huge fan of YA mystery, but I was a bit apprehensive of this book initially. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole "elite" and "dregs" aspect of the book. It felt very middle grade and a skewed idea of what high school really is like. Especially with a few character's and their dialogue. I read "One of Us is Lying" and I did enjoy it, but I wasn't as attached to the main characters. This book however, I really loved Brynn and I loved her head strong energy and willingness to give up anything for people. I also liked that the author didn't shy away from Tripp's trauma and his actions after witnessing the death of his teacher, Mr. Larkin. There were several times when Tripp was just spiraling and was reacting badly to certain things. I think that Tripp and Brynn were realistic characters and I was pretty attached to their relationship. I also loved Brynn and Ellie's sibling bond, it just felt so wholesome and showed how Ellie has positively influenced Brynn. I think that the ending shocked me a lot, since the murderer kept changing and the murderer was revealed in the epilogue. I really liked that, it kept me on edge and it was absolutely a well done shock factor.

I love a good YA mystery and I definitely liked this better than the last few I read from McManus. It must be tough to have written a huge hit like One of Us is Lying (which I think is like an exemplar of the YA murder mystery genre) and then have to try to live up to it over and over again. This story, set at Saint Ambrose School, a private school outside of Boston, alternates viewpoints between Brynn, who left the school several years ago when her dad was transferred to Chicago, and Tripp, Brynn's former best friend, who has been there all along. Before Brynn left, Tripp severed their friendship and soon after, he and two other students discovered the dead body of a Saint Ambrose teacher in the woods near the school. The murder was never officially solved, though everyone seems to have accepted a theory that a drifter did it. Brynn's dad is transferred back and she re-enrolls in Saint Ambrose, reconnects with Tripp, and gets tangled up in trying to solve the mystery of her teacher's murder, which she has pitched as an unsolved case to a true crime podcast for which she is interning. I liked the pacing here, and found it satisfyingly twisty. Still not quite back to One of Us is Lying level, but a solid YA mystery.

Karen does it again. She weaves a tail where you’re cheering for an unreliable narrator, and I found myself cheering for him and his partner in solving crime the entire time. It was plotted beautifully with so many twists. You’re gonna love it!

Loved all the other books by Karen McMannis. This one did not disappoint.
So happy to get to read it early thank you for the arc. Excited to share the news of this book coming out with other readers.

This has been my favorite book by Karen M McManus. It was so good!
It was written in 2 POV, first is Brynn and second is Tripp. The 2 POVs was the perfect way to tell this story. Brynn is moving back to Sturgis, MA where 4 years ago her 8th grade English teacher, Mr Larkin was murdered. She has landed an internship with true crime series Motive and pitches the story of her English teacher. Tripp was one of the children who found him along with popular kids Shane and Charlotte. All he wants to do is forget anything ever happened.
I loved both Brynn and Tripp. They were both troubled, but extremely likeable. I also loved all the side characters. Brynn's sister and Uncle Nick were fantastic contributions to the story and while they weren't the best human beings, I really appreciated Tripp's parents.
I think what drew me in the most into this story was the true crime aspect. We already have a murder that was "solved," but there is speculation. In Brynn's part, it almost reads like an episode of a true crime show, she is digging into Mr Larkin's past and trying to put all the pieces together. With Tripp's part, we get a few chapters of when the murder actually happened which was really exciting.
This book deals with PTSD, trauma, guilt and the aftermath of seeing things that no one should ever have to see. Tripp has flashbacks that basically incapacitate him even 4 years after he found Mr Larkin. He drinks just to forget. I am not going to go into what Brynn goes through because it's at the very end, but I thought it was very well done and believable for what she went through.
I think everything wrapped up really nicely and in a way I wasn't really expecting. It almost ended having an open ending which is always a little bit frustrating because you just WANT ANSWERS, but honestly, it was a believable ending.
I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone!

Karen McManus smashes another murder mystery/ YA suspense novel out of the park. Nothing More to Tell was a very interesting story about the unsolved murder of one of a middle school teacher from when the main characters were younger. Brynn and Trip are both very likeable main characters and the story is told from both of their POV’s. Brynn is working for a crime series as an intern and pitches an idea about solving the murder of her middle school teacher which Trip happens to be one of the only three witnesses of. These two used to be best friends growing up but there is also some romance brewing between the two now that they have reunited. It was a good, fast read! Sometimes a bit slow and then kind of rushed for a bit at the end, but overall a solid 4/5 stars!

I loved this book! I haven't read a Karen M. McManus book since One of Us Is Lying and I need to change that. I devoured Nothing More to Tell in an afternoon, and it's still one of my only five star books of 2022. The tension between Brynn and Tripp kept me turning the pages, and as the story progressed, I had to know what was going to happen next. The ending was surprising and satisfying in a way I wasn't expecting. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Karen McManus has done it again. This is another great YA mystery book. The characters were likable and the book keeps you guessing throughout. The main character is a student journalist which allowed from some cute throwbacks to the authors other books. Overall this was a nice and fun quick read