One of Us Is Lying meets Knives Out—with beasts, murder, and magic—in this first book in a thrilling locked-room whodunnit YA fantasy duology by Andrea Hannah and New York Times bestseller Rebecca Mix.
After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his chambers: the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can reveal why he has gathered them, the castle goes dark.
When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.
With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky pact: Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.
- A Magical Whodunnit: The king is dead, but this is no ordinary murder. The weapon is laced with a beast tamer’s venom, the wound is in a secret spot only his guard knew, and the suspects all have something to hide.
- Multiple POV Narration: Told from the perspectives of the six suspects—the prince, the princess, the guard, the tamer, the healer, and a mysterious newcomer—trust is the most valuable and scarcest commodity.
- A Treacherous Masquerade: Behind the elegant masks and rustling silks of the peace celebration, a killer is hiding in plain sight, picking off guests one by one.
- Six Unreliable Suspects: Everyone has a motive, everyone has a secret, and everyone is a potential victim. They must work together to find the killer, but can they even trust each other?