Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
Lily | Howell High School, Grade 11
Rating: ***
This books follows the story of two twins who are forced to live with their grandmother while their mom is in rehab. Ellery and Ezra adapt to their new home in Vermont and learn about the people in their new town. While there they discover more about their aunts mysterious disappearance when she was only seventeen. They also learn about another teen girls murder that happened five years prior to moving to the town. As homecoming approaches, Ellery and other girls on the homecoming court receive various threats from an anonymous person. Worry runs through the town questioning if there is a copycat killer or the original one has returned. The twins begin to investigate everyone they know as gossip and rumors run ramped throughout the town. The book followers their determination to bring answers and closure to their family and those affected by the threats.
The book was very fast pace and entertaining. It built so much suspension that it makes it very hard to put down. It is not the best or most well written book that I have read but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers or wants a quick read. There are many surprises and unexpected details that keep you guessing whos leaving anonymous messages throughout the book and what their motive is.
Amisha | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9
Rating: *****
Ellery and Ezra, the Corcoran twins, never knew anything about their mother, Sadie’s, childhood nor her hometown until she got stuck in rehab and they were forced to go live in Echo Ridge with their only family, their grandmother. Sadie, former Echo Ridge homecoming queen, never spoke of this town nor did she ever mention Sarah, her twin sister who went missing in high school and was never found. Additionally, five years ago homecoming queen Lacey Kilduff was murdered which raised many questions among this strange town, one being if this was related to Sarah. Quickly, the Corcoran twins realize that Echo Ridge isn’t safe—it is perhaps even more dangerous than ever. When the three homecoming queens are targeted as victims of murder, Ellery is ready to use her true-crime brain to fit the pieces of this puzzle together. Told from the alternating perspectives of Ellery and the twins’ new friend, Malcolm, McManus brings yet another complex mystery called Two Can Keep a Secret.
The story was so complex and woven so intricately that it felt like a real case that Ellery and Malcolm tried to tackle. There were so many twists and turns that eventually led to the perpetrator. The new setting, characters, and friendships that McManus contrived were so unique and interesting to read about. The Corcoran twins and Malcolm and Daisy are on opposite sides of the spectrum since Ellery and Eza are related to a victim, while Malcolm and Daisy are closely related to potential perpetrators. In addition, I found Two Can Keep a Secret’s plot and mystery even more dark and ominous than McManus’ other novels since it was very intriguing and left the readers guessing till the end. Overall, this was a very suspenseful read that I’m sure will leave you speechless.