Review: Two Can Keep A Secret

Two Can Keep A Secret
Karen M McManus

Published By: Penguin
Publication Date: January 10, 2019
Date Read: February 9, 2019
Genre: YA - Thriller / Mystery
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Pages: 327

From Goodreads:
Ellery's never been to Echo Ridge, but she's heard all about it. It's where her aunt went missing at age sixteen, never to return. Where a Homecoming Queen's murder five years ago made national news. And where Ellery now has to live with a grandmother she barely knows, after her failed-actress mother lands in rehab. No one knows what happened to either girl, and Ellery's family is still haunted by their loss.
Malcolm grew up in the shadow of the Homecoming Queen's death. His older brother was the prime suspect and left Echo Ridge in disgrace. His mother's remarriage vaulted her and Malcolm into Echo Ridge's upper crust, but their new status grows shaky when mysterious threats around town hint that a killer plans to strike again. No one has forgotten Malcolm's brother-and nobody trusts him when he suddenly returns to town.

Ellery and Malcolm both know it's hard to let go when you don't have closure. Then another girl disappears, and Ellery and Malcolm were the last people to see her alive. As they race to unravel what happened, they realize every secret has layers in Echo Ridge. The truth might be closer to home than either of them want to believe.

And somebody would kill to keep it hidden.

Two Can Keep A Secret was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Now, if you'd have told me last year that a YA thriller/mystery type book would be one of my most anticipated releases then I'd have probably laughed at you. This is not my usual genre at all... but there is just something about Karen M McManus' books that calls to me. I just love them. Last year I read her debut One Of Us Is Lying and I devoured it in a matter of days, I couldn't put it down. I had the exact same reaction to Two Can Keep A Secret. I loved every single second of it.

Two Can Keep A Secret follows the story of twins Ellery and Ezra as they go to live with their grandmother in the tiny town of Echo Ridge. Somewhere they have never been and a town with many secrets. Homecoming Queens seem to go missing in this town. It started with Ellery and Ezra's aunt Sarah... then five years later homecoming queen Lacey's body is found and now the threats are starting again. Can Ellery, Ezra and her friends work out what's happening before another girl goes missing?

I absolutely adored everything about this book. Right from the start I was completely obsessed with this town where all these girls go missing. The storyline and characterisation is absolutely perfect! I adored Ellery and her 'true crime' mind. Maybe because I am obsessed with watching documentaries on serial killers and trying to understand why they do what they do. I just associated with her straight away and couldn't help but judge every character that she came into contact with.

Two Can Keep A Secret is told from the perspectives of two main characters, Ellery and Malcolm, the brother of Lacey's ex-boyfriend and suspected killer. I love books that are told from more than one perspective. I feel like we get so much more of an insight into the story this way rather than just seeing what one character thinks. I loved both of their perspectives which was amazing as often in dual-POV books I always end up preferring the perspective of one character but I actually loved both of them.

Two Can Keep A Secret is filled with mystery and intrigue and I couldn't read it fast enough. After evert chapter I'd changed my mind over what I thought was happening and who could be the killer or killers. I loved that Karen kept making me second guess everything and even still the ending was not what I was thinking at all. I love books that surprise me as often I've guessed the big twist or big reveal but with both of Karen's books I haven't had a clue! That to me, shows how incredible of a storyteller that she truly is.

I loved every single moment of Two Can Keep A Secret and after that ending I'm hoping that Karen might even write a follow-up. I'd love to read more of these characters. If you're a fan of thriller or mystery type books that I highly recommend this one. And even if you're not... well I thought I wasn't and I adored it. Give it a go! I promise you won't be disappointed.