Nothing More to Tell is the thrilling story of three high school students who find their teacher dead in the woods. Yet is that what truly happened? Why did one student have fingerprints on the murder weapon? Was Mr. Larkin as beloved as he appeared? Brynn is determined to use her journalistic instincts to uncover the truth of what really happened that day in the woods. With the help of her ex-friend Tripp, Brynn learns that haunting secrets surround that day in the woods. And whoever did it might just still be out there…

This was my first Karen M. McManus book, but definitely won’t be my last! This was a fast-paced, exciting mystery. I found it really hard to put this down! Brynn is a great heroine, determined to uncover the truth no matter how many obstacles are thrown in her way. I found there were a lot of red herrings and the ending felt a little rushed. However, this did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. I’m looking forward to reading more of these mysteries! I would recommend Nothing More to Tell for those who love unsolved mysteries, high school sleuths, and a mountain of clues to untangle.

Thank you to Karen M. McManus, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

I love McManus’ ability to craft high school detectives.

If you enjoyed Holly Jackson’s Girl’s Guide to Murder series, I think you’ll enjoy this book as well.

Brynn, a senior in high school, returns to the town she left four years ago after the shocking murder of her favorite teacher. An avid journalist, as Brynn got older and she started looking into journalistic internships, she realized that his death never sat well with her.

Getting the job at a true-crime show, Brynn feels as though she might actually be able to uncover the truth, but this could also mean picking apart the life of something who was once very close to her – before he purposefully embarrassed her in front of their entire class four years ago.

This book was a fun, quick read. I was able to predict certain parts of it, but others came as a surprise, and the inner depth to each character’s background was incredible. I highly recommend checking this one out.

I don’t read a lot of YA anymore, but I still always look forward to Karen M. McManus books. While this one isn’t one of my favorites of hers, it was still enjoyable and managed to keep my interest during a time when a lot of other books weren’t.

The story is told in alternating 1st person POVs between Brynn and Tripp. I thought McManus did a pretty good job of making their voices distinct and there were only a couple times I may have gotten confused as to whose POV we were in (something that happened more frequently in some of her other books). While I did like that the POVs were kept to just two characters, I sometimes found myself wishing there were others, just because I didn’t find either of the main characters that likable.

I thought the general premise of the mystery was interesting, but the execution left a little to be desired for me. The clues were handed out slowly and there were a lot of red herrings. Even though the murderer ended up being fairly obvious, it felt like for a while the investigation just consisted of throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick. It didn’t seem as carefully plotted as I might expect from this author. I also like my mysteries wrapped up in nice little bow, but this one didn’t give me quite enough closure.

Overall, though, I did enjoy Nothing More to Tell. I’ve been quitting books left and right over the past couple weeks and this one really did grab my attention and didn’t let go. I shipped the romance, even if the characters weren’t my favorite. I wanted to see good things happen for them. Fans of McManus will also enjoy the multiple cameo mentions of characters from her other books. While this isn’t one I would pick up again, I look forward to whatever McManus writes next.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus is a fun Young Adult mystery that hooks the reader fast. The mystery hooked me really fast and wanted to know who done it? The set up worked as Brynn pitches the murder to a true crime podcast she wants to intern, but actually pitching it for the reader, and I was sold. We get two perspectives Brynn who moved soon after the murder who wasn't involved but knows all the suspects and Tripp who might me involved but is definitely covering up something. The twists are through out the book and changed who I thought had done it multiple times and at the end I did not guess who did it? And once you read it you find that is not the only mystery. The pace for this book is so fast I was able to read it pretty quick. The climax was just okay it went off in a direction I wasn't expecting and it wasn't the best choice but the final twist was a good one that saves it a little. McManus is so good at these mystery set ups and hooking me. Nothing More to Tell is my third Karen McManus book after I read One of Us is Lying and it's sequel One of Us is Next. So far she is three for three on giving my recommendation to her books I was happy to get an advanced Reader's Copy thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press. Nothing more to Tell is published on August 30 2022.

Plot Summary: Brynn is having to move back to her old home town half through Senior Year. If that wasn't bad enough her last days of middle school her teacher was murdered, one of her better guy friends Tripp called her a stalker in front of gym class, and days later he was one of the kids that discovered the body. Brynn desperate to get an internship pitches the murder to a true crime podcast called Motive. They like the idea and she starts investigating when she goes back. She finds that Tripp is one of the cool kids and is now linked to two of the other kids that he found the body with. Brynn is not the only one who notices this connection as the detective wants to know why if you didn't know the other 2 kids so well what reason would you have to lie. Tripp along with Shane and Charlotte the other kids who saw the the body in the woods get anonymous text of Murderer! Byrnn knows something is not right and will risk everything to solve the mystery.

What I Liked: The set up of the murder hooked me so fast I loved it and couldn't wait to solve it. I liked the community of friends and how they end up helping solve a piece of the mystery. I loved Brynn's sister Ellie and how she helps solve the mystery. I like how Tripp was written that character deserves to have angst with his two parents. I really enjoyed the mystery and almost all of the plot points( I only had an issue with one but it was a big one). There are some pretty great twists through out that made it very hard to pinpoint the murderer. I liked the LGTBQ representation and the butterflies of prom with that person, it was a very sweet plot point.

What I Disliked: There is a plot point where a character went to great lengths to get out of a bad situation, is ready to not only go bak to the situation but bring others like it was a great thing. This felt so out of character that I had to read it twice none of the narrative pointed to this way and the conversation where they try to convince the other person was not convincing. It didn't ruin the book but I felt that it hurt the climax a little.

Recommendation: This book has such a wonderful set up that will have you hooked and have to know the answer to who done it? This is fun quick read that despite the books one big flaw it is pretty enjoyable. I rated Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus 4 out of 5 stars. I ranked the three Karen McManus book I read in order starting at best. 1 One of Us is Lying, 2 Nothing More to Tell, and 3 One of Us is Next.

Oh what a tangled web she weaves. I love when authors make me feel like everyone has done it lol. I loved all the twistys. I'd be interested to see if there's a follow up - or if it'll be one of those things we're left to ponder. I think this is my favorite of KMM's books yet! ♡

A teacher is found dead in the woods by students if his school. Fast forward a few years and another student wants to report on a true crime show about the murder, which was never solved. First I should say this is a ya novel but the plot could happen in an adult novel. I liked the premise and found the book interesting but would have liked it better as a non-ya novel. The work the investigating student was doing didn’t really match with a high school student. Overall it’s an interesting book. It is told mainly in the present with a few flashbacks to add more detail.

This is by far my favoite McManus book so far. It was so twisty and fun and had such great momentum from beginning to end. I always want her books to go a little deeper than they do, but this one was pretty great. I will continue to purchase and promote her books, and I'll be extra enthusiastic about recommending this one to our library patrons.

I’ve read several books by this author and always know I’m in for a compelling mystery that keeps me guessing.

Brynn has known since middle school that she wants to be a journalist. After a juvenile prank she’s blamed for (she’s innocent), she’s fired as editor of her school newspaper. Luckily, due to her dad’s job, the family relocates back to the town they left four years ago. Brynn then takes a leap of faith, uses a clever approach, and talks her way into an internship on a true crime show. She even pitches a story to them – the unsolved murder of her favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, four years ago. The catch? Three of her classmates, including one who’s her ex-best friend, found the body. Her assignment is to snoop around and see what she can dig up. Someone’s not talking, and once she’s focused on a story, Brynn is like a dog with a bone and refuses to give up. Even when it may endanger her life and others.

Tripp, Brynn’s ex-bestie, won that title when he humiliated her in front of their gym class shortly before she moved away. He regrets what he did, although he had his reasons. Since the horrific day he, Shane, and Charlotte discovered Mr. Larkin’s body, Tripp has been hanging onto secrets that are slowly eating him alive.

I thought I had this one figured out somewhere around the middle, but after previous experiences with McManus’s books I should have known my early assumptions are usually way off base. With her stories I’ve learned that my perceptions will change and new layers to the plot are waiting to be revealed just around the corner.

With plenty of suspects to put on your list and lots of intriguing characters (shoutout to Brynn’s clever sister, Ellie), this mystery will keep you glued to the pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

MYSTERYSUSPENSEYOUNG ADULT

Brynn has secured an internship at Malice, a true-crime podcast. She is no stranger to crime that hits close to home. Four years ago, her favorite teacher( the only one to believe in her writing ability) was murdered. The police theory was that a drifter must have committed this crime, though no suspect was ever apprehended.
Brynn hopes to accomplish several things now that her family has moved back home. Find out who killed Mr. Larkin, beef up her high school resume with some actual experience, and figure out why her former friends(Tripp, Shane, and Charlotte) are keeping secrets about the day they found the body.
Dual POVs by Brynn and Tripp made this murder mystery a page flipper. A YA thriller that kept me guessing with more than a few red herrings. I really liked both MCs and how the story progressed. The ending was the only thing I would have wished was a little different. It felt a bit rushed. No spoilers, but I see another book in the future.

This book was *really* slow to get into but then once it finally got going had enough twists to keep you hooked. (Arguably too many twists without enough payoff, but some of them hit well). I was initially drawn to this book because of the premise of a true crime podcast internship - I think it could have leaned into that idea more. Overall an enjoyable read an a solid entry into the YA thriller space!

I wrote about this on GoodReads and Storygraph. A link went to Twitter. A link will be posted to IG stories soon. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4952518101

Nothing More to Tell is a fun YA mystery read that I gobbled up with cute kitty, Edna, while spending the weekend at my friend’s house in Central NJ.
4 years ago, Mr. Larkin, the 8th grade English teacher at Saint Ambrose School, was found dead in the woods behind the school by three of his students. Brynn, who had attended the school through that eventful 8th grade year, moved to Chicago with her family for the first 3.5 years of high school, but she’s back at Saint Ambrose for the last half of her senior year, and she wants to learn why Mr. Larkin’s death was never solved. She uses the story to help her earn an internship at Motive, a true-crime show based in Boston as soon as she returns. But her involvement is not limited to helping at the show, as she uses all tools available to her as a Saint Ambrose student to secretly question her peers, teachers, friends, etc.
Written in dual point of view from Brynn and Tripp, one of the three classmates to find Mr. Larkin, Nothing More to Tell is quick paced with lots of potential suspects and hidden secrets. It kept me guessing right up until the Epilogue!
I enjoy the way Karen McManus writes, and I often recommend her books (the One of Us is Lying series, in particular) when my high school students ask for suggestions while I’m working the circulation desk after school. In part, I recommend her because she is local to us! Her pub day event tomorrow is scheduled at the Cambridge independent bookstore @porter_square_books, and I’m excited I will be back in MA to attend and hear more about the book in person! Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Nothing More to Tell will publish tomorrow, 8/30/22, and if you’re in the Boston area, maybe I’ll see you at Porter Square Books!

I loved Karen McManus' writing style that made it easy to follow a story that is filled with so many twists and turns. This was my first book by her and this high school thriller brings in the big guns with killer kids and a unsolved murder that rocked the town. Brynn moves back to Sturgis and is hating her life when she stumbles across a true crime internship that will hopefully revitalize her college prospects. However, this means going undercover at her high school that she is dreading returning to. St. Ambrose is filled with the usual high school antics and add in Brynn asking questions no one wants answered makes for a bad start to her senior year. You are kept on the edge of your seat as this onion of a story peels back the layers to a unexpected end.

I’m a big fan of the true crime/podcast trope that has been in a few novels recently but I couldn’t help continually comparing Nothing More to Tell with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and not enjoying this one nearly as much. I found the characters pretty annoying except for Brynn but even she wasn’t my favorite. The story moved slowly in the beginning and I found myself skipping long passages just to get to the end. I figured out the killer early on (which rarely happens) but not the other mystery. This was OK but not up to par with other Karen McManus books I have read.

It has been four years since Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin. Now that she is heading back, she is determined to solve the murder once and for all. After securing an internship with her favorite true-crime show, Brynn is able to pitch the case and resolves to find out everything she can from her former classmates- including her ex- best friend, Tripp, who also happens to be one of the three students who found Mr. Larkin's body in the woods.

I loved the alternating timelines and POVs in this book. It was also refreshing to read something where the lead female does not make continuously idiotic choices. I found all the main characters to be likeable and I liked the way the story built and none of the twists felt too forced. The ending felt a little rushed, but otherwise I thought this book was great!

This was my first book by this author but it will not be my last! Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Yet another fun murder mystery romp told through the ever curious and relentless eyes of teenagers. There were twists and surprises to go around, with a romance blooming in the background. I wasn't expecting the cliffhanger of sorts at the end, but I am excited to see where it goes (and what comes next)!

Karen McManus does it again. Even though it took me a bit to get into this book, I ended up really enjoying it.

Brynn returns to her old stomping grounds after being gone for 4 years. The last time she was at St. Ambrose, Mr. Larkin was found dead. Brynn is fascinated with the case and after she starts working for a true crime podcast she dives deep into finding out what happened. Little does she know she is about to drag everyone into this hornet's nest.

Great YA mystery.

4 stars

McManus really cranks out the hits, and this most recent YA mystery is no exception!

Brynn and Tripp, who share joint perspectives, traumatic past encounters, and a nice reconnection in the present, shepherd readers through their fact-finding mission. Their teacher was murdered four years ago, and when they came upon his body, their lives were also indelibly impacted. With Brynn's return to town and new but sort of secret professional opportunity, now is just the time to crack the case.

In previous McManus books, I've struggled at times to keep track of what have felt like one or two too many narrators, and these two strike just the right balance. Both narrators are flawed but likeable, and they're putting the pieces together in a way that seems - relative to the context - somewhat plausible. They are also working with a well devised plot, which helps quite a bit. And, as they are growing up, their concerns become less about themselves and more about justice and empathy, which adds a nice dash of coming-of-age to an audience that absolutely requires this.

This is an engaging read and perhaps my favorite so far from this author, whom I will continue to recommend to students and enjoy myself!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this!

McManus can be trusted to give a fun YA mystery, and this was no exception. I enjoyed the true crime angle a lot! There were plenty of twists and turns and it was a really engaging read from start to finish.

Nothing More to Tell is the new YA book from Karren McManus.

"Brynn is back at Saint Ambrose School four years after she moved away. She moved shortly after her favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, was found murdered in the woods. His body was discovered by three Saint Ambrose students, including her ex-best-friend, Tripp Talbot. Mr. Larkin's killer was never found. Brynn hopes to solve the case while working for MOTIVE, a True Crime show.
As Brynn begins to look into the case, long buried secrets start coming to light. And killers never want that..."

Two POVs in this book - Brynn and Tripp. McManus does a great job with the pace of this story. We get just enough to keep us invested and wanting more. There are lots of great characters - sometimes it veers toward a stereotype but KM manages to make them feel like part of the story.

Lots of angles going on here but McManus makes it work. She made me care about these characters. A wildly, entertaining story from McManus.