Karen M. McManus · YA Mystery & Thriller
One of Us Is Lying Books in Order
Karen M. McManus's One of Us Is Lying series is a complete three-book YA mystery trilogy set around Bayview High. The books follow connected mysteries, returning characters, and the consequences of secrets that refuse to stay buried.
The best way to read the series is in publication order: One of Us Is Lying (2017), One of Us Is Next (2020), and One of Us Is Back (2023). That's also the order McManus recommends.
If you've watched the television adaptation or are trying to work out which book comes next, this spoiler-light guide covers the complete trilogy, its reading order, and which of the author's other novels are separate stories.
Quick answer
- First book
- One of Us Is Lying (2017)
- Second book
- One of Us Is Next (2020)
- Third book
- One of Us Is Back (2023)
- Total main books
- 3
- Series status
- Complete
- Recommended order
- Publication order
- Optional extras
- None tracked
All 3 One of Us Is Lying Books in Order
There are three numbered novels in the Bayview series. Start with the first book and continue in order, even if a later mystery sounds more appealing on its own.
Book 1 · 2017One of Us Is Lying
Five students enter detention at Bayview High, but only four leave alive. When Simon, the creator of the school's gossip app, dies, the remaining students come under suspicion. Each has something to hide, and the investigation makes their private lives increasingly public.
The first novel introduces the Bayview setting and the characters whose experiences continue to shape the later books.
Reading note: Start here. This is the foundation of the trilogy, not an optional introduction.
Book 2 · 2020One of Us Is Next
A new group of Bayview students becomes caught up in a dangerous game of Truth or Dare. The mystery shifts to new challenges and perspectives, but the consequences of the first book still matter.
The second novel builds on the world established in One of Us Is Lying rather than starting an unrelated series.
Reading note: Read after Book 1. Knowing what happened in the original Bayview case provides important context.
Book 3 · 2023One of Us Is Back
The final novel returns to Bayview as familiar characters face another threatening mystery. Someone from the past reappears, and the town's earlier events become relevant once again.
One of Us Is Back brings the original three-book sequence to its conclusion.
Reading note: Read last. This is Book 3, and it is designed to follow the developments of the first two novels.
Why Should You Read One of Us Is Lying in Order?
The mysteries change across the trilogy, but Bayview's characters and history connect the books.
Reading the novels in sequence helps you understand why certain relationships, decisions, and earlier events matter. Starting with a sequel can reveal outcomes or character developments that the previous books were written to introduce gradually.
Karen M. McManus also recommends reading the three books in their numbered order.
Can You Start with One of Us Is Next?
You could understand parts of its new central mystery, but it isn't the best introduction to Bayview. One of Us Is Next follows the events of One of Us Is Lying and assumes readers have some familiarity with the town's earlier story.
For a first reading, begin with Book 1.
Do You Need to Read One of Us Is Next Before One of Us Is Back?
Yes, that's the recommended route. One of Us Is Back is the third novel and brings together developments from the preceding books.
Skipping Book 2 means missing part of the continuing Bayview story. If you're reading all three for the first time, keep them in publication order.
Is the One of Us Is Lying Trilogy Complete?
Yes. The original series has three numbered novels, ending with One of Us Is Back in 2023.
A three-book boxed set collects the same main sequence. It does not represent a separate fourth installment or a different reading order.
As of this guide's October 2026 review, the author's official bibliography lists these three titles as the One of Us Is Lying series. No additional numbered novel is included in this guide.
One of Us Is Lying Books vs. the TV Series
One of Us Is Lying was also adapted for television. The adaptation draws on the books' Bayview mystery premise, but watching the show is not the same as reading the original novels.
The books establish their characters and investigations through the novel format, while a screen adaptation makes its own choices about how to present the story.
If you've watched the show and want to read the books, start with One of Us Is Lying. Do not use the television episode or season order as a substitute for the three-book reading order.
The television adaptation does not add another numbered novel to the trilogy.
Are Karen M. McManus's Other Books Part of This Series?
No. McManus has also written standalone YA mysteries and thrillers that are separate from the Bayview trilogy.
You can explore these independently without following the One of Us Is Lying reading order.
They are other works by the same author, not Books 4–8 of this trilogy. See the Karen M. McManus author page for her bibliography.
Who Should Read One of Us Is Lying?
This trilogy is a good fit for readers who enjoy high-school mysteries, multiple suspects, hidden motives, and stories in which secrets have consequences.
The first book centers on a deadly detention-room mystery. Later installments return to Bayview with new threats while maintaining connections to the characters and events readers already know.
If you prefer a complete YA mystery series with a clear three-book reading path, this is an accessible place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many One of Us Is Lying books are there?
There are three main novels by Karen M. McManus: One of Us Is Lying (2017), One of Us Is Next (2020), and One of Us Is Back (2023). They form the complete numbered trilogy.
What order should I read One of Us Is Lying in?
Read One of Us Is Lying first, followed by One of Us Is Next and One of Us Is Back. This is the publication order and the reading sequence recommended by Karen M. McManus.
What is the second One of Us Is Lying book?
One of Us Is Next (2020) is Book 2. It continues the Bayview story with a new central mystery and connections to the events of the first novel.
Is One of Us Is Back the third book?
Yes. One of Us Is Back (2023) is Book 3 and the final numbered novel in the original trilogy.
Can I read One of Us Is Next before One of Us Is Lying?
It's better to start with One of Us Is Lying. The second book follows earlier Bayview events, and reading it first can reveal developments from the original mystery.
Is the One of Us Is Lying series finished?
Yes. The original three-book trilogy is complete and concludes with One of Us Is Back. No fourth numbered novel appears in the author's official series list as of October 2026.
Is the One of Us Is Lying TV show the same as the books?
No. The television show is an adaptation of the books, not an identical version of the novels. Readers who want the original Bayview story should begin with the first book.
Are Karen M. McManus's other novels connected to One of Us Is Lying?
Her other listed YA novels, including Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, and Nothing More to Tell, are standalone works rather than numbered installments of the Bayview trilogy.
Sources and Reading-Order Notes
This guide follows the author's stated reading order and the publisher's numbered series listings.
The publication years shown in the reading-order cards identify the original books. Exact publication dates can differ between editions and formats.
The television adaptation is discussed separately because it does not determine the novel reading order.
Last editorial review: October 2026.