For someone that cranks out novels so fast, Karen M. McManus has yet to write a bad one. That rule definitely applies to her latest, Nothing More to Tell, too.
We get alternating perspectives between former, and now current, classmates, Brynn and Tripp. Brynn is just moving back to her old school after four years away and is dreading it. All she remembers is her best friend telling a lie and isolating her and her favorite teacher getting murdered. Tripp is also not looking forward to Brynn’s return because he isolated her back in the day and he was one of three students to find their dead teacher in the woods. Sure, the dead teacher is a major piece of what ties these two together, but they get even closer when Brynn secretly starts really digging into the case for a podcast internship she’s working at.
What struck me most about this book was how little was revealed about that time when their teacher died. I mean, the title is a play of course, there was plenty more to tell about that day and the events that took place. What was crazy is how involved so many other people ended up being in it all. Also, these people are all horrific communicators. I’ve noticed that’s something that seriously frustrates me in books, television shows, and movies nowadays. All problems could be fixed if these people all just talked to each other! I know that removes conflict, and what good is entertainment without conflict, but still.
There are so many moving parts and characters in this book, but it never becomes confusing. I love how McManus is able to weave this intricate web of relationships and stories and nothing seems too far-fetched. Also really interesting in this novel is that all of her prior work is referenced throughout. For instance, you’ll hear fleetingly about the Cousins and the Bayview four at some point. That was pretty neat! It’s also got me wondering if at some point all of these characters will interact in some way. Maybe not all at the same time at first, but it does sound like it’s a possibility. That would be so cool!
If you haven’t checked out any of McManus’ work yet, start now! I promise you won’t be disappointed.