As always: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!! If you would only like a basic summary of this book, I would recommend reading only the first two paragraphs. I originally read the book One of us is Lying also by Karen McManus, and I LOVED it, so I was glad to read Two Can Keep a Secret when a friend recommended it to me. In comparison, One of us is Lying was a lot harder to follow, but had a much more in depth plot since it followed six characters, while Two Can Keep a Secret follows only two characters.
For more information on One of us is Lying, visit my first blog post.
First, a basic summary of the novel: Ellery and her twin brother are forced to move to the small town of Echo Ridge to live with their grandmother when their mother ends up in rehab. Echo Ridge may be a small town, but it became nationally know when a young girl Sarah, their mother's twin, went missing and was never found. The heat was turned up when five years pass and another girl, Lacey, goes missing- but her remains are found.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!
I loved the contrast between the main character Ellery and Malcolm Kelly- two sides of the same coin. Ellery's aunt has gone missing, and Malcolm's brother, Declan (Lacey's boyfriend), is accused of Lacey's murder, although he was never convicted. McManus does a wonderful job of showing how the situation has impacted both Ellery and Malcolm by not just showing it from one point of view- she captures the emotions of almost everyone involved.
The ending and the "bad guy" are also very well concealed until the end. When Peter, Malcolm's step father, is revealed to be the murderer of all three girls, Sarah, Lacey, and recently missing Brooklyn, it is a huge surprise. Looking back though, it all makes sense, and it's logical the Peter is the killer- all of the pieces fall nicely into place.
While the novel is a murder mystery, there are also realistic elements about the characters that make them relatable and different from other YA novels. Ellery is obsessed with true crime, but when she gets caught up in a true true crime, she doesn't react perfectly or know exactly what to do like the heroine usually and magically does. McManus shows how situations aren't always what they seem, and it's different when it's actually happening to you.
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel. While it is a murder mystery, it's scary without leaving you afraid of the dark. The plot is deep, without being confusing or hard to follow. Two Can Keep a Secret is perfect for a light read to get away from daily life for a little bit.
For more information or to purchase this book, visit Goodreads.