100 Page Review: Such Charming Liars- Karen M. Mcmanus

Departing from the typical safe setting of a high school, Such Charming Liars puts two young adults in the world of the rich and powerful set in a lavish compound run by an influential family.

Instead of the usual happenings in a Karen. M. Mcmanus book the two protagonists aren't just unwilling participants to the events, they're part of the con. Both their parents are planning to steal from the same woman. With both families having some sort of connection from the past, who will succeed and who will inevitably get killed...

Review-

Pages 0- 100

Following McManus's classic layout of chapters written from the point of view of the main characters, we are introduced to Kat and Liam. Kat’s mother and Liam’s father, who are both con artists for a living, were briefly married. Both are headed to a compound owned by a billionaire family, The Sutherlands, where they run into each other after years.  

Kat’s mother Jamie is on her last con for her boss Gem where she is planning to steal a ruby necklace from Annalise Sutherland by posing as a staff member at the compound. Liam’s father Luke is in a relationship with Annalise, though Liam does not trust his father’s intentions.  

We have been told that both look like younger versions of their parents, which I suspect will be an important plot point further in the book. Perhaps, Liam will frame his father (using their similarity in appearance) as a consequence of his actions. So far, I believe either Ross Sutherland, the patriarch or Griffin Sutherland, the prodigal son will be the one to be murdered.  

Killing off the most powerful member of the family will cause chaos which makes for an interesting premise, making him the perfect victim. On the other hand, Griffin in a drunk stupor had very audibly let everyone know that there was something important he had to tell his brother Parker. A family secret he discovered perhaps?  

100- 200

The plot of trying to fit among the elite reminds me of Agatha Christie's books which are famous for their ensemble of suspects. Although I originally thought the plot was heading in one direction, McManus cleverly subverts expectations. One of my early predictions was proven wrong. So far, it seems to follow the pattern (in this author's books specifically) of the parental figures not being present or aware of situations they could have handled

Jamie falling sick leaving Kat to fend for herself seems all too convenient to make the rest of the events fall into place. We have been told that Jamie cons people for a living and wants to keep her daughter away from the same life, so her having little to do with what was supposed to be her last big job seems out of character. She quite literally sleeps through the night where she was planned to steal the necklace.

The book's strength is its character development. It greatly benefits from the point of view format letting the reader know their thoughts and most importantly when they are bluffing. Kat is quick witted when required yet spills out her biggest secrets in a moment of distress after relieving her traumatic past. Liam on the other hand has good intentions but is an awkward liar, not the most perceptive and doesn't know how to stand up for himself when someone at a position of privilege tries to take the moral high ground.

So far, I'm rooting for Kat. She strikes a balance between mocking the rich and questioning the morality of her actions, often doubting the justification behind her own "Robin Hood argument", as she phrases it, is incredibly self aware. Still, a moral dilemma does not hinder her. She remains focused on her goal. Even in moments of complete vulnerability she is practical and thinks of herself and her mother's safety first.

I think Liam could take a page out of her book in self preservation. I still stand by what I predicted about Liam framing Luke. It would be an interesting character arc for someone so passive to take justice into his own hands.

The main action sequences contributed well to the overall narrative yet one wonders while reading it, is it really that easy to escape a crime scene- for both the murderer and the witness? This is always one of the gripes I have with McManus's writing. Kat simply runs away from the man with the gun, who had just killed Parker Sutherland.

200- 300

The chase between the murderer and protagonists grows more thrilling as the plot finally gains pace. Kat and Liam find an ally in Augustus Sutherland, Griffin's son. He aids Kat and Jamie in hiding as the killer seems particularly determined to kill them. Kat's quick thinking saves the group escape the killer's clutches after he manages to find them once more.

Griffin, who had disappeared for hours after the party, returns to reveal that Parker had stolen Annalise's necklace before his death. I feel that this revelation is quite logical. One of the family members possibly being in on the scheme explains how Jamie was supposed to be able to steal from them and the first place. What it implies for the reason he was murdered remains a mystery.

The plot never grows too convoluted with too many suspects or storylines. The characters theorise with information they have and aren't seen partaking in any detective work like the archetypal murder mystery. However, the role of the Sutherlands themselves is quite limited. You'd imagine an elite family would be more involved when one of their own is murdered but that does not seem to be the case. The Sutherlands have been reduced to a mere subplot which should not be the case considering the power and influence they have.

300- 400

The reveal of the murderer and the twist within the prologue is quite lukewarm. Though, I believe this was the intention. The story has been grounded from the start with limited characters and explores very few locations.

Kat remains the hero with all the action sequences involving her. She previously chased and caught a thief red handed and by the end saves her mother from the killer from the third time in the story. Infact, the whole reason there was a murder and the majority of events that take place are all connected to her. Liam's father as expected, was involved with something dubious and is inevitably caught. However, it is Kat who discovers this and not Liam like I had theorised.

Liam started out with good intentions- saving Annalise and all the other women Luke was trying to scam from that what. As opposed to Kat, who planned to steal from Annalise but by the end of the story the roles practically reverse. Liam who was introduced with supposed heroic intentions contributes nothing proposing a theory about the mystery. Where Kat's growth as a character is prominent, Liam seems to almost deflate. A character shrink, if you will.

The prologue seems unnecessary because there did not seem to be any loose strings left to tie. You may have noticed that I have written more about the characters than the developments in the story and that happens to be the best way I can summarise the book.  It is more character driven than plot driven.

Overall, Such Charming Liars is an interesting read but I would not credit it among Karen's best work.