Review: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

Two Can Keep a Secret
by Karen M. McManus

January 8, 2019

336 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone's declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she's in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous--and most people aren't good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it's safest to keep your secrets to yourself.
 

Review

I am not the biggest mystery/thriller reader but when an author comes highly recommended with raving reviews on her debut I couldn't not try. I can see why all the praises after reading Two Can Keep a Secret!

What a haunting but juicy read. Two Can Keep a Secret is fast-paced with an unpredictable plot, an intriguing setting and a cast of curious characters. The writing's really easy to get into and once you've picked it up, you won't want to stop until you hit the very end. I was All. In.

 

This is the third twin story I've read in a month but Ellery and Ezra are my favourite pair. They have a solid bond where they don't keep things from each other. A wonderfully healthy sibling relationship compared to the others in the book. Katrin, Malcolm and Declan have completely different dynamics. These stepsiblings/estranged brothers are complicated but their sometimes strained, sometimes easy interactions always felt realistic.

 

I wasn't entirely surprised by the murderer and motive (blame my years of crime show watching) but it was still thrilling to see the mystery unravel and the pieces come together. At one point in the story one of the characters brings up something called the killer test. Very neat. I'll be testing it on my friends to see how they react ;)

Intense and gripping Two Can Keep a Secret will have you at the edge of your seat. It has one of the creepiest endings I've read. That last line gave me all the chills so read at your own risk. But really, read it!

 

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the ARC I received.