As someone who has devoured every book Karen M. McManus has written, I was so excited for Such a Charming Liar. Her storytelling always pulls me in, and she’s one of my go-to authors when I’m in a slump—instant pick-me-up, every time.

That said, while the writing style and pacing were classic McManus (fast, addictive, and easy to fly through), this one didn’t quite hit the same high notes for me as some of her others. The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the setup, but I didn’t feel as connected to the characters this time around. There were a few twists I saw coming, and others that felt a bit out of left field—not in the jaw-dropping way I’ve come to expect, but more like, “Wait, what?”

Still, I admire how McManus always keeps things fresh, and even when a book doesn’t become a favorite, it’s still a fun ride. This one just didn’t stick with me the way One of Us Is Lying or The Cousins did.

Will I be picking up her next book? Absolutely. She’s an auto-buy author for a reason, and I’m always ready to see what twisty road she’ll take us down next.

I will always pick up a Karen McManus book, so I was glad to have the opportunity to read this one before it was published through NetGalley. There are lots of mysteries in YA, but having a heist book is a little more difficult to find. The beginning of the story really sets you up for a wild ride and I think the rest of the book delivered. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next Karen McManus title!

YA mystery queen Karen M. McManus delivers another gripping thriller that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go. This standalone is a departure from her One of Us is Lying series, and arguably her strongest standalone yet. With a clever, fast-paced plot full of twists, cons, and layered secrets, Nothing More to Tell is a masterclass in building suspense. From professional grifters to family betrayals, it’s an absolutely wild ride that keeps you guessing until the final reveal—and what a reveal it is.

The story is narrated by two step-siblings: Kat, a 16-year-old raised by a professional thief, and Liam, the sweet, naive, yet well-meaning son of a notorious conman. When Kat’s mother, Jamie, agrees to one last job before going straight—stealing a priceless necklace at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party—things spiral quickly out of control. Jamie’s health takes an unexpected turn, and Kat finds herself running point on a high-stakes heist while posing as a guest. Meanwhile, Liam is dragged along by his father Luke, who is now dating one of the Sutherland daughters, placing both teens in the eye of the storm.

As the plan unravels and secrets bubble to the surface, Kat and Liam are drawn deeper into a tangled web of lies, manipulation, and murder. Kat, who considers herself a master manipulator, soon realizes she's not the one pulling the strings—she's just another piece on the board. And when someone in the family ends up dead, everything changes.

The mystery is well-structured and genuinely unpredictable, with pitch-perfect pacing and high emotional stakes. McManus is at her best here, balancing intricate plotting with sharp dialogue and plenty of tension. The dynamic between Kat and Liam is one of the highlights—reluctant allies caught in a storm of deception and personal trauma.

Still, the book isn't without its flaws. The biggest issue lies in Kat's early decisions, which often feel implausible, even for a teenager raised in the world of cons. Her reckless choices made me want to shake her at times, and it took nearly two-thirds of the book for her to become a character I could fully root for. Liam, on the other hand, is immediately endearing—kind-hearted, a little lost, and doing his best in an impossible situation. I found myself wishing he had more of the spotlight.

The Sutherland family, unfortunately, lacked dimension. Most of them are unlikable to the point of caricature, and the one standout—Luke, Liam’s manipulative father—is memorable for all the wrong reasons. That said, imagining Ross Sutherland as Donald Sutherland helped bring the whole ensemble to life in my mind, and honestly, this book feels ripe for a screen adaptation. The structure, stakes, and pacing would translate beautifully to a limited series, and Donald Sutherland would be perfect in that patriarchal role.

Ultimately, Nothing More to Tell is a smart, twisty mystery with just enough heart to ground the chaos. It’s not flawless, but it’s undeniably entertaining, and McManus continues to prove she’s one of the best in YA thrillers. Just don’t expect to sleep until you’ve turned the final page.

This a book that I got for my classroom library. Yet another popular YA novel for Karen Mc.Manus the queen of YA mystery. I enjoyed the mother & daughter dynamic in this novel and my students really got into it

This is a mystery, but it lacked “thrill” in the heist. The main FMC felt naive for someone who has been in the business of burglary for years. Leaving the door unlocked, losing the ring, joining a job without permission, etc. Also, her relationship with Liam was too emotionally heavy for such a disconnected FMC. Not my favorite of McManus books, but I did appreciate that it’s a standalone read.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Karen McManus is my thriller queen I will ready any book she release and this one was one to add to my shelf because how can I not! This book like all her others was filled with suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat!

I loved this one! It had me completely hooked and I read the whole thing in about 3 hours. I couldn’t put it down, and every time I checked the page number I was way farther along than I thought. The writing style flows so easily, the twists and turns keep coming, and the characters are compelling and likeable.

I liked the dual POVs from Kat and Liam. I liked how different but similar these two characters were. Their voices were distinct, and I loved seeing them put together the clues to this wild ride of a mystery.

The plot for this one was crazy in a good way. It kept me glued to the page because I had to know what the truth was. I had so many theories while reading, and I love how McManus always has new twists whether they’re big or small to keep you guessing and second guessing. I had parts of it figured out, and I was surprised by others.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley to read and review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House

I read Cousins a few years back and love it. So I was very excited to see that McManus had another ARC available on NetGalley. I’m happy to say that I enjoyed Such Charming Liars just as much as I enjoyed Cousins. McManus has a talent for writing believable teenage main characters with complex backstories, juggling multiple points of view, and creating plot twists that give you whiplash. Such Charming Liars does start out a little slow and Kat, the female main character, makes some choices that sound a little far-fetched for real life, but these choices move the story along toward the better, more interesting parts of the plot. McManus also puts in the effort to make secondary characters, like Augustus Sutherland and Jem, feel real.

The best part of the book is when Kat and the others start to realize that just about everyone at the Sutherland estate is lying about something.

Overall, I am drawn in by McManus’ style of writing and all the twists and turns she incorporates in her plots. Whatever formula she uses to create her stories, she has it down pat.

Due to the controversy surrounding the content of books in school libraries, I feel obligated to give the following content warning. With that being said, I have purchased a physical copy of this book for my school library, and our district has purchased the book in digital and audio formats too.

CW: Some violence, death, foul language

I would recommend this book to fans of Maureen Johnson, Holly Jackson, and Jennifer Barnes.

Review: Such Charming Liars by Karen McManus
Karen McManus delivers another fast-paced, twisty thriller in Such Charming Liars, blending family drama, deception, and murder into a gripping read. Kat and her estranged stepbrother, Liam, reunite at a high-stakes party filled with thieves, scammers, and secrets. When a murder turns them into prime suspects, trust becomes a dangerous game. McManus keeps you guessing with sharp twists and unreliable characters. If you love family dysfunction, morally gray leads, and a dash of danger, this one’s for you! ⭐⭐⭐/5

I love McManus and this was a fun book. I really loved that the characters had a brother/sister relationship and it wasn't a romance. The mystery was good. As always, can't go wrong with McManus

This was SUCH a fun one from McManus. The characters were compelling, the mystery was fresh. I think it's her strongest standalone novel so far. Loved the concept of a jewel heist and all the little connections between these families. I flew through it!

The beginning half of the plot really dragged as the relationships between the characters were set-up. By the time the plot actually picked up in a meaningful way, readers may have just given up as the book jumps between perspectives in a manner that doesn't do the plot any favors. Picking the child of one of the con artists and simply having the relational aspect there would have been enough to connect them, but neither character felt strong enough to stand on there own.

dnf @ 34%. honestly, i am over karen m mcmanus, and i will not be reading anything else she puts out. i think i am generally over ya mysteries, and will only read those i feel are deeply unique and have heard good things about from people i trust.

This was a little change of pace from other books by this author. A little more of a heist type book with a murder mystery mixed in. I will say, I think the authors high school setting books are my favorites. However this could be fun for teens.

Karen McManus books are an automatic buy for my high school library. This one wasn't my favorite, but it was definitely a solid pick from her line up of great young adult mysteries.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This is my first book by Karen McManus, though I’ve seen her books everywhere.

I picked up this one to preview for my daughters who are venturing into some older books.

I’ve commented before that YA isn’t my go-to genre, and that sometimes I’m too much a mom to connect with young adult characters. That wasn’t the case here - and I felt for Kat, and also for her mom. My favorite part of the story was definitely the relationship between Kat and Liam and how that developed over the course of the story. This is definitely one that I feel my tween daughters would enjoy - the right amount of action and age appropriate interactions.

I’ve read all of Karen McManus books, and I think this may have crashed into my first place spot. I absolutely loved all three of the main characters, I loved the plot, I loved the suspense, and all the conclusions. As soon as I hit the halfway mark of the book I couldn’t put it down. I’m going to need Kat, Liam, and Augustus to come back in another book.

I found it really hard to get into this book. The plot and characters didn't really engage me. I found that I didn't really get invested until about 60% of the way through. The adults were unlikable and irredeemable and the plot was unwieldy at times.

Karen McManus knows how to do thriller mystery. I always enjoy her books down to the last word. This one was no different. Each twist and turn kept my attention and had me guessing constantly.