One of Us Is Lying: Chapters 19–25

by Karen M. McManus
Simon Kelleher publishes gossip about his classmates online. When he unexpectedly dies during detention, the four students who were in the room with him become prime suspects in his murder.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–18, Chapters 19–25, Chapter 26–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. endorsement
    formal and explicit approval
    “At least he’s here.” It’s a low blow, and not a ringing endorsement since the guy barely moves, but I feel entitled to it.
  2. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    “It’s more than I deserve, I know.” Her downcast eyes and humble tone are pissing me off.
  3. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Robin gave this haughty speech that was all, Stop wasting our time with meaningless speculation that you can’t prove, and that wouldn’t be actionable even if you did.
  4. speculation
    a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
    Robin gave this haughty speech that was all, Stop wasting our time with meaningless speculation that you can’t prove, and that wouldn’t be actionable even if you did.
  5. chagrin
    cause to feel shame
    She looked genuinely chagrined.
  6. ferret
    search and discover through persistent investigation
    I should demand proof of his trustworthiness, even though I have no idea what that would look like. I should ask lots of pointed questions designed to ferret out whatever other lies he’s told me.
  7. nape
    the back side of the neck
    I reach up and tangle my fingers into the hair on the nape of his neck, smoothing the soft waves against his warm skin.
  8. pelt
    rain heavily
    I snap my menu shut and stare at the gray drizzle pelting the window.
  9. transcription
    the act of making a record (especially an audio record)
    “One of the doctors at Pine Valley—that’s the facility I’ve been in—connected me with a medical transcription company. I can work anywhere, and it’s very steady.”
  10. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    It’s a mundane, innocuous conversation compared to yesterday’s lunch, when we caught up on my police visit, Nate’s mother, and the fact that Addy got called to the station separately to answer questions about the missing EpiPens again.
  11. innocuous
    not causing disapproval
    It’s a mundane, innocuous conversation compared to yesterday’s lunch, when we caught up on my police visit, Nate’s mother, and the fact that Addy got called to the station separately to answer questions about the missing EpiPens again.
  12. conventional
    unimaginative and conformist
    I used to think Cooper was the handsomest guy at school. He still might be, but lately there’s something almost Ken doll-like about him—a little plastic and conventional.
  13. allot
    administer or bestow, as in small portions
    “I gotta go,” Cooper says abruptly, as though he’s used up his allotted non-Jake time.
  14. embed
    fix or set securely or deeply
    Tiny stones shred my skin, embedding in raw flesh and exploding into dozens of tiny cuts.
  15. superficial
    of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
    I haven’t darkened the nurse’s doorstep in weeks, and anyway, my cuts are painful but superficial.
  16. minion
    a servile or fawning dependent
    There’s still twenty minutes left in gym class, and I don’t want to be here when Vanessa and her minions descend.
  17. whim
    a sudden desire
    On a whim I text an invitation to Bronwyn, but I forgot she’s grounded.
  18. rove
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
    We make excruciating small talk with my mother, whose eyes keep roving from Janae’s multiple piercings to her scuffed combat boots, until I bring her upstairs to watch TV.
  19. drab
    lacking brightness or color; dull
    He beckons us toward the interrogation room, which is nothing like you see on TV. No big pane of glass with a two-way mirror behind it. Just a drab little room with a conference table and a bunch of folding chairs.
  20. bluster
    act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner
    I’m about to ask Why wouldn’t I? but before I can speak, Pop starts blustering about how it’s his God-given right to be present during questioning.
  21. subpoena
    serve a witness with a writ to compel attendance
    They want Kris’s number. Mary tells me I don’t have to provide it, but Detective Chang reminds her they’ll subpoena my cell phone and get it anyway.
  22. guffaw
    a burst of loud and hearty laughter
    Pop laughs. Actually laughs, a relieved kind of guffaw, and slaps me on the shoulder.
  23. falsetto
    artificially high; above the normal voice range
    “Cooper Clay is Cooper GAY!” somebody calls out in a high, falsetto voice, and Cooper freezes in the door as something flies through the air and hits him across the chest.
  24. aback
    by surprise
    The rest of the room is equally taken aback, quieting enough that his contemptuous voice cuts across the whispers as he surveys the scene in front of him.
  25. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    The rest of the room is equally taken aback, quieting enough that his contemptuous voice cuts across the whispers as he surveys the scene in front of him. “You losers seriously give a crap about this? Get a life.”
  26. stifle
    conceal or hide
    Cooper stifles a laugh.
  27. collateral
    accompanying; following as a consequence
    I shrug. “Maybe we were just the secrets Simon had on hand. Collateral damage.”
  28. skittish
    unpredictably excitable, especially of horses
    “But she’s been awfully skittish lately. And did you guys notice she and Simon weren’t together as much as usual right before he died? I keep wondering if something happened between them.”
  29. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    “Oh, come on,” Addy scoffs. “That’s so far-fetched. Sounds like a lawyer with a guilty client grasping at straws. Someone new was probably just picking up a kid that day.”
  30. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
    I mean, it was fine, I guess. It got the job done. But it was so prosaic. Haven’t we seen this a hundred times now?
  31. sidle
    move unobtrusively or furtively
    Even Evan Neiman, who’s been acting like we’ve never met, sidles up to me at the last bell and asks if I’m going to Mathlete practice.
  32. shoddy
    of inferior workmanship and materials
    We watch a movie together—his choice, unfortunately—and I fall asleep to his voice criticizing the shoddy camerawork.
  33. brittle
    lacking warmth and generosity of spirit
    “Just...come.” Maeve’s voice is so brittle that my heart thumps painfully.
  34. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
    There’s no trace of the boy I know from the phone, or our motorcycle rides, or my media room. Or the one I remember from grade school, his St. Pius tie askew and his shirt untucked, leading his sobbing mother down the hallway with a fierce look that dared any of us to laugh.
  35. snippet
    a small piece of anything
    Channel 7 has given up pretending they know anything new, and they’re replaying snippets about the investigation to date.
  36. fray
    a noisy fight
    Maeve turns into our street, and my heart sinks when I spy the line of white news vans in front of our house. It looks like Univision and Telemundo have joined the fray, which is seriously going to piss off my dad.
  37. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    Bronwyn, I’m not sure you understand how cavalier you’ve been. You ignored Robin’s advice and you’re lucky it didn’t blow up in your face.
  38. heckle
    challenge aggressively
    My fastball hit ninety-four, I struck out the side twice, and only a few guys heckled me from the stands.
  39. gauntlet
    a severe or trying experience
    "The hell?" Luis mutters once we’re past the camera gauntlet.
  40. onslaught
    a sudden and severe onset of trouble
    Other than a quick visit to warn Kris about the police and apologize for the oncoming media onslaught, I’ve barely seen him in the past couple of weeks.
Created on Mon Jul 08 10:03:03 EDT 2019 (updated Thu Jul 11 08:28:50 EDT 2019)

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