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Reviewed by: Sarah Wergin, High School Librarian Title: Such Charming Liars Author: Karen M. McManus Publisher: Penguin Books Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Mystery/Thriller Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Some discussion/memories of domestic violence Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I loved her other novels.
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Review:
"Such Charming Liars" by Karen M. McManus will take you on some twists and turns! Is anyone who they say they truly say they are? Kat doesn't have much family - unless you count the 48-hours her Mom, Jamie, was marriage during a whirlwind weekend in Vegas. She hasn't seen or heard from her stepfather, Luke, or her stepbrother, Liam, in years... And why would she? Jamie quickly divorced Luke after he lost Kat and Liam in the heart of Vegas for hours! Thankfully, Kat was saved by Gem - an older woman who turned out to save not only Kat but offered Jamie a new life too.
Jamie, Kat's mom relies on Gem and the work she provides through her forgery business. Kat, Gem, Jamie and Morgan live a fairly nomadic lifestyle - moving frequently to keep people from looking too closely at their "cleaning" business. When Gem involves Kat in one of her heists - Jamie is furious and wants out of this lifestyle and wants to live on the straight and narrow. Gem agrees to let Jamie out of the business - but first she must complete one last job - steal a necklace from the daughter of billionaire Ross Sutherland at his lavish birthday party. Gem has it all set up. It should be a clean easy job, but suddenly turns into utter chaos. Kat has forced her way into the plan. Jamie is furious, but things take an even bigger turn. Jamie should have known things were bound to go wrong as soon as Luke and Liam stopped to help Jamie and Kat with a flat tire on the way to the job.
As if things couldn't get any worse - Jamie comes down with the flu just as she was supposed to be leaving for the first shift of the billionaire party weekend! Kat, determined to help Jamie finish this last job - fills in for her. Soon, Kat is in over her head. She is reconnected with her once stepbrother, Liam, and drawing unwanted attention from the Sutherland family. When Kat finally things she can finish the job and sneaks away to steal the jewels - one of the Sutherland family members is murdered and Kat is a witness! Soon, Kat is the one being hunted. Aided by Liam can they figure out what is going on? Who is really who? and who is telling the truth?
I loved this book! From the start, I was hooked. The book is told from Liam and Kat's perspective. This book has so many twists and turns - you think you know what is happening, but you don't!
I would highly recommend this book for fans of McManus' other novels. This is a fast paced novel fit for any thrill seeking reader!
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