Cooper van Grootel and Marianly Tejada co-stars in Peacock’s “One of Us Is Lying” based on Karen M. McManus’ novel of the same name. The show consists of two seasons (eight episodes each) and is rated TV-14.

Five students walk into detention: Bronwyn (the brains), Nate (the drug dealer), Addy (the beauty), Cooper (the athlete), and Simon (the outcast who hates the other four for their fakeness). Only four of the five walk out of detention alive, Simon having died of an anaphylactic shock before he could publicly reveal the other four’s secrets. Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, and Cooper are investigated as the main suspects as they all had the opportunity and motives to murder him. The four form an alliance together in order to find out who’s really responsible for Simon’s death, while dealing with their own personal dramas.

Like most book-to-series adaptations, “One of Us Is Lying” (the show) is very different from the book version. There were some serious character changes, both personality wise and involvement in Simon’s death. For example, the relationship between Simon, Maeve, and Janae was changed from a basically non-existent one to a romantic love triangle. This changes the cause of their rift as well. In the book, their rift is due to involvement in Simon’s death while in the show, it’s because of the love-triangle. Although it may seem like a small difference, it actually changes the ending and why Simon died.

The biggest reveal, how and why Simon died, is the biggest difference between the book and show. To give the directors credit, however, if season one had ended the way it had, there would not be the opportunity for a second season, which according to many fans is better than the first season. 

Overall, the show has been quite a success. It received a Rotten Tomato score of 89%, with 81% of viewers giving it a 3.5 star rating or higher.