Title: Two Can Keep a Secret
Author: Karen M. McManus
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Fiction
Publisher: Delacorte Press
No. of pages: Hardcover, 336
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Date Read: December 23, 2018
Rating: 4.5/5
Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | B&N | iBooks | TBD
Synopsis:
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:
Thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for having me on the blog tour for Two Can Keep A Secret. Also, thanks to Delacorte Press for sending me a copy of the book to review for the post!
One of the main reasons I was excited about this blog tour was the synopsis (above), but I had also heard really great things about another of Karen M. McManus’ books. The title had that ‘Pretty Little Liar’ vibe, but LET ME TELL YOU. This book exceeded every expectation I had and was a tremendous mystery, intrigue, suspense, true crime, contemporary novel.
Two Can Keep A Secret is told through the eyes of two people, each with their own secrets to hide. The first that we meet is Ellery Corcoran. Her and her twin brother, Ezra are moving to Echo Ridge, Vermont to live with their grandmother while their mother is in rehab in California and keeping secrets of her own. Echo Ridge was the name of the town that they’re mother ran from as soon as she could and never looked back. Once there, Ellery and Ezra end up being known for a few things: their mother the movie star, and their aunt who disappeared 20 years earlier. The second is Malcolm Kelley. Five years ago, his brother was dating the homecoming queen who was found dead and his life turned upside down. Now, his mother is married to one of the wealthiest men in town, his stepsister is running for homecoming queen, and his estranged brother is apparently in town. Once Ellery and Malcolm meet a few things happen that spark a domino effect in Echo Ridge: mysterious messages are left reminding of what happened five years ago, Ellery is voted for homecoming queen, one of the other homecoming queen nominees has gone missing, and Malcolm and his brother are once again under scrutiny. What comes next is a story full of twists and turns as Ellery and her passion for true crime drags Malcolm, Ezra, and their friend Mia into theories and detective work that not only could solve their friend’s disappearance, but also solve the mystery into the murder of one and the disappearance of another years before. But through it all, everyone has a secret. Some are worth telling, others are worth keeping hidden.
I read the entirety of this book while traveling for Christmas, and even if I wasn’t stuck on a plane, I would have devoured it. This book is so intriguing and Ellery and Malcolm make it great! Ellery is all about true crime. Since she was young, she wasn’t given any answers from her mother about a lot, Especially, when her questions concerned Echo Ridge, her missing aunt, and her father. So, she got deep into true crime and literally questions everything. Malcolm is the guy that tries to stay in the background because his brother was basically the suspect of a murder investigation. He’s got Mia as a best friend, he’s a drummer, and he just tries to stay below everyone’s radar. Both of these characters were PERFECT. I loved their dynamic and them together as friends and potentially more than friends. Seeing through their views, brought more to the story than if it were just one-sided. There was so much happening that one person couldn’t have possibly carried it all. And I’m so glad that we were introduced to both of these characters that brought so much to the table.
One that I especially loved was her well put together this story is. You’ll be reading and agreeing with a theory that Ellery has thought of, totally agree, and then McManus throws a crazy twist, and then you lose your mind. I LOVED that nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, was predictable in this book. By the end, everything you thought will be turned upside down. I’m actually still not over that ending. Like, what. DANG. The intrigue and that factor that keeps you on the edge of your seat is one that will keep you turning the pages.
I LOVE reading mysteries and thrillers and honestly, this was one of the best ones that I’ve read this year (2018). Like, what a gift. It’s been a great Christmas. Two Can Keep A Secret released yesterday. If you’re looking for a book that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, check this one out. You won’t regret it.
Giveaway:
3 Winners will receive a finished copy of Two Can Keep A Secret, US Only.
Enter HERE.
Author:
As a kid, I used to write books when I was supposed to be playing outside, and not much has changed. I’m a marketing and communications professional who also writes Young Adult contemporary and fantasy fiction in Cambridge, MA.
When not writing or working I love to travel, and along with my nine-year-old son I’ve ridden horses in Colombia and bicycles through Paris. A member of SCBWI, I hold a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Which I have never, ever used professionally.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1.1.19 – Lifestyle of Me
1.2.19 – Paper Reader
1.3.19 – Adventures Thru Wonderland
1.4.19 – Here’s to Happy Endings
Week Two:
1.7.19 – Pink Polka Dot Books
1.8.19 – Do You Dog-ear?
1.9.19 – Adventures and Reading
1.10.19 – The Phantom Paragrapher
1.11.19 – Book Dragon Lair
Week Three:
1.14.19 – A Gingerly Review
1.15.19 – Confessions of a YA Reader
1.16.19 – Sweet Southern Home
1.17.19 – Simply Daniel Radcliffe
1.18.19 – The Hermit Librarian
Week Four:
1.21.19 – Smada’s Book Smack
1.22.19 – Owl Always Be Reading
1.23.19 – BookHounds YA
1.24.19 – Popthebutterfly Reads
1.25.19 – Eli to the nth
Week Five:
1.28.19 – The Clever Reader
1.29.19 – All the Ups and Downs
1.30.19 – Two Points of Interest
1.31.19 – EatingbetweenthelinesINC
Adventures and Reading 