You'll Be the Death of Me

By: Karen M. McManus

Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs, Anthony Rey Perez, Max Meyers, Malik Rashad

Instant Number-One New York Times Best Seller

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It's Ferris Bueller's Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly - and fatally - wrong.

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day.

Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out from working two jobs since his family’s business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up...again.

So when the three unexpectedly run into each other, they decide to avoid their problems by ditching. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they’ve barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say...until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school - and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it’s about to get worse. It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common...like a connection to the dead kid. And they’re all hiding something.

Could it be that their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all?

Fans of the hit thriller that started it all can watch the secrets of the Bayview Four be revealed in the One of Us Is Lying TV series, now streaming on NBC's Peacock!

©2021 Karen M. McManus (P)2021 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"With fast pacing and her signature flair for the dramatic, McManus weaves a masterful tale of secrets, lies, and twisted intentions that will be sure to keep readers guessing whodunit, from start to finish." (Booklist, Starred review)

"A master of the teen thriller delivers again." (Kirkus Reviews)

"...a believable, pulse-pounding thriller." (Publishers Weekly)

An Enjoyable Read

I enjoyed this book, though I didn't think it was quite as good as the others I have read from this author. It is similar in feel to "One of Us" but the pace is much slower and it's not got as much action. Additionally, she always does a great job with a rather large "cast of characters" but I had trouble keeping all the voices and stories straight for about the first quarter of the novel.

Overall, it was an easy, fast read and I liked it. It could have been shorter and less drawn-out. The Audible narrators, especially the female talent, did a great job reading the story, too.

Great YA Novel

This was a great YA novel but it didn’t really make the cut as a crossover to adult fiction for me. The characters were just so so for me to care about. I do see where high school students would devour this one and want more though. Main theme is drug dealing and usage so be aware of that if you are a watcher of words for your child.

McManus' best work so far

Karen M McManus does a perfect job giving the reader enough information to speculate, but not enough to guess the truth. She knows right where to end a chapter. This was true for One of Us is Lying, and all her other books. That last chapter was perfect. Can't wait for the next book.

Another great story

I loved this story! Ms. McManus does such a great job at bringing the different personalities to life and weaving mysteries in with what should have been a normal high school skip day.

I wanted to like this so much more…

I was a huge fan of One of Us is Lying and One of us is Next. I wanted to like this so much, but it was boring until about the last 1/4 of the book. The author also seems to recycle character names between her books, as well as story ideas. They all kind of run together only this was not as exciting as the aforementioned. It was just okay, maybe I will try listening again when I have free time.

Amazing

You’ll Be the Death of Me is amazing. I listened this book in less in a week and love every minute. I love Karen M. McManus’ books.

kept me curious the whole time

the story is amazing and involves you in a way that you can’t stop reading. the end is a surprise and the characters grows you. one of my favorites from Karen

last minute twist

good characters that are relatable. and one last twist at the end. good story

Liked the twists

Great read. Like the twists and turns this book makes. I like complicated plot lines

Karen M McManus always Delivers

this is my 5th Karen ya thriller and although this one didn't blow me away, I do always enjoy my time reading them and the twist in the last chapter had me wanting a sequel. the small romance plots are my favorite part of these books too.