Loved this YA mystery from the queen of YA mysteries in which the daughter of a thief that's trying to go straight has to stop a plan from the son of thief who also used to be her step-father from stealing. It could be a disaster or it could be the best thing that's ever happened to her.

I started reading it and was super excited to read this title as I love anything murder mystery and I've read all of Karen's books. And though I read it, and I loved the synopsis, I didn't love it and it's not one of my favorites. There was just too many things that were a "hit the reader over the head with the exposition". I will be recommending it for my teens however, I do think they would love this.

Kat and Liam were step siblings for all of 48 hours when they were kids. Their parents’ Vegas marriage ended as abruptly and dramatically as it started but neither have forgotten their time together. Years later, Kat’s mom is a thief for a living but promises this one last job is it and then she and Kat can live a normal life. Liam’s stuck with his conman dad after his mom died and he tags along to a family gathering of his new (rich) girlfriend to keep an eye on him. Not one of them was expecting to run into each other on the sprawling Sutherland estate—and nobody was expecting the murder of a Sutherland either.

Nothing beats flopping down on the couch and finishing a Karen McManus in two sittings. SUCH CHARMING LIARS was everything you love in a McManus book: thrill, challenging mystery (I only figured out 1 twist before it happened!), infuriating yet lovable characters, and all the sassy banter. The sibling dynamic between Kat and Liam was fun and I’m glad it was the main relationship focus (though the romantic subplot was a major plus). The heist as the original driving mystery was a refreshing change of pace - but you know it’s not a McManus without a murder thrown in as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

I’ve been reading Karen M. McManus’ novels for a loong time now and i always end up being obssessed with them. This was probably one of my faves! The writing was so enchanting.

Who can you trust? Or can you?
McManus does it again with this sensationally thrilling and pulse ponding YA.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for my ARC.

This book was a wild ride. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Would recommend to anyone. The characters were well fleshed out and entertaining.

Karen McManus is queen of a twisty YA thriller/mystery! This book had me guessing and invested in the mystery the whole time. I thought I guessed the twist, but I hadn’t, which was the very best kind of mystery. I did want more resolution at the end, but I can appreciate that it’s left off where it did. I will definitely use this as a recommendation to my students looking for a mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to get into it, but once I got started I couldn't put it down! There were so many twists and turns, and I didn't see any of them coming! I enjoyed not knowing what would happen next! The book was smart, well-written and well plotted out. I thought the characters were well written and I liked how the backstory slowly came out as the story went along. Kat was a very intriguing character, and I loved Liam. I'm glad they strive to be more than their parents! I really liked Augustus as well. This book was such a great ride, and I highly recommend it!

In Such Charming Liars Kat and her mother, Jamie, have been living under assumed identities after fleeing her abusive father. After a two-day unsuccessful marriage to Luke Rooney in Las Vegas, Jamie has been working for a jewelry forging ring helmed by Kat’s pseudo-grandmother Gem. When Gem takes Kat along on a job, Jamie is furious and wants out. Gem agrees after one last job, heisting a ruby necklace from the wealthy Sutherland family at the patriarch’s 80th birthday party. Kat tags along on the job and finds out Luke and his son Liam are also attending. Complications quickly arise when Parker Sutherland is found dead with the ruby necklace in his pocket. Kat and Liam join forces, along with Parker’s nephew Augustus to find the murderer. Twists and turns keep the reader engaged, as one double cross after another confounds their investigation.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus is an enjoyable and quick read that blends elements of a jewelry heist with a classic thriller. The story follows Kat and her mother Jamie, a seasoned jewelry thief attempting one last job. Things take a dramatic turn when Kat crosses paths with her former stepbrother Liam, and the two find themselves tangled in a murder mystery.

One of the highlights of the book is McManus’s exploration of complicated family dynamics. Kat’s relationship with her mother is both loving and fraught, while Liam’s connection with his father sheds light on the dangers of being loved yet deeply misunderstood by a parent. I appreciated how McManus navigated these relationships and presented a storyline different from her usual high-school thriller setting.

Although there were some pacing issues, with a few slow moments that made me temporarily disengage, the book still managed to keep my interest with its intriguing premise and unexpected twists. The cast of con artists and elite characters added a unique edge to the story, even if not all were likable.

Overall, Such Charming Liars is a solid addition to her catalog. Fans of thrillers and family drama will find plenty to enjoy, and its twists and turns make it an engaging read from start to finish.

Karen M. McManus never disappoints, and Such Charming Liars was no exception! As one of my favorite YA thriller authors, she has given us another brilliant, twisty murder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page. The story of Kat, her complicated relationship with her mom Jamie, and the unexpected reunion with her former stepbrother Liam is absolutely gripping. And how charming is Augustus!! Kat’s world turns upside down at a glamorous birthday party where secrets, lies, and murder collide.

I loved that everyone got the justice they deserved in the end, bringing the story to a deeply satisfying close. McManus beautifully combines suspense, family dynamics, and complex characters with a tightly woven plot that’s impossible to put down. Such Charming Liars delivered all the thrills and twists I could’ve hoped for in a YA thriller—highly recommended for anyone who loves a good mystery!

I love the whole one of us is lying serious, so I’m gonna have to read this book. This is about a mother and a daughter and the mother is a jewel thief. Mom has a random marriage for 48 hours that ends in divorce. And that should be her last heist she ends up running into her ex-husband and his son her daughter and the son have to try and figure out who the killer is. Another one for the author! I loved it!

I loved this book. I just can’t get enough of McManus’ novels. This mystery has a completely new set of characters than her previous series. We meet some very charming and sneaky characters in this book. As with all of her books, you never quite know who the “good” guys and “bad” guys are until the very end. I was sure I had the mystery solved several times throughout the story. This will be a great addition to my Library’s mystery section.

Karen M. McManus’ latest YA thriller strays from her usual high school setting to delve into the world of the rich and privileged. Featuring Kat, a semi-trained con artist who’s been on the run her whole life, and Liam, her former stepbrother, the pair team up to pull off the heist of the year: stealing a ginormous necklace from the richest family in New England. Brought together nearly a decade after their parents’ divorce, Kat and Liam barely know each other as people, let alone as siblings, but their shared night of trauma as children bonded them for life. Now, in an effort to save Kat’s mom and take down Liam’s dad, the pair embark on a series of hijinks while stumbling into murder, generational trauma, and theft.

McManus will always deliver with her YA thrillers, and Such Charming Liars is no different. While none of her books have managed to capture the initial magic and success of One of Us is Lying, Such Charming Liars is a good step in the right director for McManus. A breakaway from her normal plot, this latest novel plays with sibling dynamics and heist plots in a promising way, and Im excited to see if McManus develops a sequel for Kat and Liam. Fans of Holly Jackson, Maureen Johnson, and McManus’ other mysteries will enjoy this book.

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

Such Charming Liars is an incredible thrill ride for all the mystery lovers out there. Karen has a gift for writing good plot twists.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I was excited about reading this, even though I know YA is not my jam, but I'm relieved to have finished this book and can finally move on. It might be my last Karen M. McManus read but don’t hold me back from that. The issue wasn’t the book itself—it was me. I’ve been stuck in a severe reading slump, and if I hadn’t, I probably would’ve enjoyed it more and finished it faster. The plot had some solid twists—while I saw a quarter of them coming, two caught me off guard in the best way. Still, the pacing felt uneven, dragging in parts, making staying engaged hard. The characters, though, were great, and their traumas hit hard, especially one scene that made my blood run cold. Augustus stole the show for me. I liked the unique storyline and most of the characters, but I can’t help feeling the execution could’ve been a bit better. Or maybe that’s just the slump talking because the book itself was pretty solid—it’s just me that’s the problem.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers

Such Charming Liars delivers an intriguing blend of suspense and psychological drama, but it falls short of reaching its full potential. The story centers on a group of characters whose tangled web of secrets and deceptions gradually unravels, leading to a compelling mystery. However, while the premise promises twists and tension, the execution feels uneven.

The characters, though interesting, lack the depth needed to make their motivations and actions fully believable. As the lies begin to surface, some of the plot twists are predictable, and the pacing occasionally drags, leaving certain key moments without the punch they deserve. The writing is solid, but the emotional stakes never quite hit as hard as they should.

For readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries filled with manipulation and intrigue, Such Charming Liars offers an entertaining ride. However, it may leave others wishing for sharper twists and more complex character development. Overall, it's a decent psychological mystery, but not a standout in its genre.

Karen McManus is the queen of YA thrillers! This is a page turner that young adults are sure to love!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to preview this title.