28 December 2024
Dee D.
Dee D.
Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

The novel follows a 16 year old Kat as she starts getting more involved with the criminal organization her mom works for that specializes in jewelry theft. While Kat currently has just her mom, Kat used to have a step-dad and step-brother due to a 48 hour marriage, but they have since become estranged. The perspective of her former step-brother Liam is also shared, revealing the nearly non-existent bond between him and his father, Luke. This is due in part to his father dedicating much of his time to catfishing women for money. While Kat joins her mother in her last gig for the organization, the four run into each other at the Sutherland compound, home to billionaire Ross Sutherland and his family. Kat soon discovers the reason they all met again is that Luke is dating Ross' daughter Annalise: her mom's target for the heist. Things quickly spiral out of control as her mother falls inexplicably ill, leaving her on bed rest, as Kat attempts to complete the job herself by stealing Annalise's necklace. Though before she gets the chance, she witnesses a member of the Sutherlands getting murdered in the woods while the family, as well as Luke and Liam, are partying less than an acre away. Kat and Liam then attempt to solve the crime themselves while facing life or death stakes, uncovering family secrets, and experiencing personal betrayals.
I really loved the premise of this book and thought it made for a nice, juicy mystery. The suspense was present very early on which I enjoyed and there was a bit of action, though I would have liked to see a bit more. The author's choice to set the entire story in just one week made the story flow very smoothly, while also integrating conflict frequently, which continuously kept my interest. I additionally found the climax to be very thrilling and I could not put the book down for this whole section. Though, the climax seemed to have a pattern: the suspense would zigzag in a sense, where conflict would be repeatedly introduced then quickly resolved. This didn't really sit right with me, especially the end of the climax, as it resolved in an anticlimactic way. What's more, during this part, some of the characters seemed to behave in ways that either did not fit their character or the circumstances. What I also did not love was that some of the revelations the characters had were a bit too easy, to the point that the reader could reach the conclusions faster than the characters. Some of these revelations would also be disproportionally described as very dramatic twists which did not come off well. I also found a few issues with the writing style in some parts where the wording seems amiss. All in all, I found this book to be pretty typical for the author, with lots of drama and twists, but more of a thriller than I was anticipating, culminating in a very exciting book.
The most memorable thing about this book was definitely the climax. When the author establishes the stakes of the climax, it is apparent that it is going to be the most exhilarating point of the story. This has your heart racing going into the scene, making the experience of reading it invigorating.
Reviewed by Brooke B., Twin Hickory