No One Can Really Keep a Secret

two can keep a secret

Two Can Keep a Secret

By: Karen M. McManus

So you’re going to live with grandma for a little while in a town you’ve never seen. You know it only because your Aunt disappeared from there and was never seen again. Or how about the body of a high schooler found at the murder theme park?

Or how about the hit and run victim you find on your way into town from that airport?

I’d be like well, that’s it. Done. I’ll take my chances literally anywhere else.

Ellery and her twin brother Ezra don’t have much choice and luckily Ellery’s really into true crime and detective work. A good thing when a stalker starts targeting this years Homecoming Court. The other POV in this book is Malcolm the boy whose brother is the prime suspect in the earlier murder and who naturally Ellery likes because why not?

This was a perfectly… fine book. A quick read and there were a few surprises in here including the ending.

I also liked the fact that Ellery was generally not that great at the detecting. Which was a nice touch for a novel. Just because you have a passion for something doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at it. Maybe she can find some other murder towns to practice her skills in?

Plus the ending ending had a nice creepy touch to it. It also was a bit what would you do in that situation?

I think they did the right thing there by the way.

The characters are pretty basic however. I felt like I had read them in a million other books before- or actually it gave me old school CW show vibes which is not a bad thing but not a great thing either. Generally a forgettable thing in the end. Though despite that it had enough that I’d pick up McManus again in the future.

Recommend: 50/50 Best if you’re looking for a fast little mystery. Actually it would be a good vacation/travel read as we get into spring and summer 🙂

17 thoughts on “No One Can Really Keep a Secret

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    1. I never read the other book but I have read some trusted reviews who’ve read both didn’t love this one either but said they definitely feel like she’s getting better as a writer for what it’s worth 🙂

  1. I’m glad you enjoyed this one 🙂 I also like when characters are not perfect geniuses who can figure everything out and are actually unpredictable – you know, realistic. (But I don’t like completely dumb and clueless characters either!)
    With all the hype surrounding this book and the one published before it, I was definitely hesitant to try them but I was never in the mood for that sort of story, so ended up never picking them up.
    I think I might give them a go sometime when I’m up for mildly creepy, mystery YA.
    Lovely review!

    1. Yeah I’ve heard a lot of mixed feelings about that first one. Target had a signed edition which is pretty much the whole reason I decided to give this a try 🙂

  2. Oh awesome. I want to read this one but I’ve been sidetracking it a bit, just because others have been calling me. I liked the first book though by her so I’m definitely going to get this one!
    And good to know that it’s perfectly decent but not ultra memorable- sounds like a good one to eat around a fire with a crunchy s’more lol. I should save it for summer!

    “Maybe she can find some other murder towns to practice her skills in?” Haha awesome. They don’t call ’em AMATEUR detectives for nothing, right??

  3. A not so good but passionate detective – the clear USP. I’m not particularly tempted by run of the mill crime fiction, but that angle sounds interesting enough to give this a go! There was another book before this, wasn’t there? I can’t remember the title, but I know it received plenty of good reviews? 🧐

  4. I do love the sound of it!
    Delicious page turner and all 🙂 I read her other book during a holiday as well, so i think i’ll save this up for my next one 😀

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