Such Charming Liars - Karen McManus

Karen McManus is one of my 'must read' authors, and everything she writes ends up on my bookshelf the same week it releases. Her ability to create twisty YA thrillers is unmatched, and she leaves you guessing until the very last chapter.
While this one wasn't perfect, it was definitely a ride I enjoyed!
It what I can only describe as a new-aged Heartbreakers (2001 movie with Jennifer Love Hewitt), you follow Kat and her mother as they try to disentangle themselves from a life of crime under the thumb of the 'savior' Gem. In a dual POV with short term stepbrother Liam, you find he is simply trying to protect everyone from his toxic, catfishing father, who Kat's mother was married to in a dramatic 24hr slip in Vegas. 
The two meet again, each side navigating mutual schemes against an affluent Maine family, which leads to murder, secrets and more drama than I can write in a short review. While at times I couldn't really connect with the characters and their choices, I couldn't seem to put the book down, desperate to see who the real master mind was behind everything that was occurring, because if there is one thing I've learned about McManus' writing is 'it's never who you think'. 
This time, however, I figured it out near the end, although it didn't lessen the thrill of the final chapters. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries and hijinx.

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