A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a gripping YA mystery novel that combines investigative journalism with thrilling suspense. Holly Jackson crafts a cleverly plotted story following Pippa "Pip" Fitz-Amobi, a determined high school student who takes on a five-year-old murder case for her senior project. What begins as an academic assignment quickly spirals into something much darker, as Pip uncovers secrets the town of Fairview would rather keep buried. Jackson’s novel stands out for its compelling protagonist, layered mystery, and unique narrative style, which blends traditional storytelling with mixed media elements like interview transcripts, case notes, and maps. Five years ago, high school senior Andie Bell went missing and was presumed murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who later died by suicide. The case was closed, but Pip isn’t convinced Sal was guilty. She decides to re-investigate, interviewing key witnesses, analyzing evidence, and piecing together new leads. As she digs deeper, she discovers inconsistencies in the official case and realizes that someone in Fairview may be willing to kill again to keep the truth hidden. The novel’s pacing is tight, with each new discovery raising the stakes. The tension builds gradually, keeping readers engaged until the shocking final revelation, Pippa "Pip" Fitz-Amobi – Pip is an intelligent, determined, and slightly obsessive protagonist. Unlike many YA heroines, she isn’t motivated by personal trauma but by a deep sense of justice. Her methodical approach to solving the mystery—combined with her occasional recklessness—makes her a believable and compelling character. Ravi Singh – Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, is one of the novel’s most well-written characters. He has lived under the shadow of his brother’s alleged crime for years and is deeply invested in Pip’s investigation. His friendship (and eventual romance) with Pip adds warmth to the story while reinforcing the theme of seeking justice. Andie Bell – Though she is absent from the story, Andie remains a central figure in the mystery. As Pip unravels her past, she learns Andie wasn’t the perfect victim the town made her out to be. Supporting Cast – Jackson creates a cast of suspects, each with their own secrets and motivations. From Andie’s controlling parents to her manipulative friends, every character feels real and complex. The story takes place in the seemingly quiet town of Fairview, where everyone knows each other’s business—or so they think. The contrast between Fairview’s picturesque suburban setting and the darkness lurking beneath the surface heightens the novel’s tension. A unique aspect of the novel is the way it unfolds like a real investigation. Readers follow Pip’s research, case notes, and interviews, making them feel like detectives alongside her. Jackson integrates transcripts, maps, text messages, and Pip’s notes into the narrative, making the mystery feel immersive and dynamic. The writing is crisp and engaging, with short chapters that end in cliffhangers, making it nearly impossible to put down. Jackson balances humor, realism, and tension, making Pip feel like a relatable teenager while keeping the story dark and suspenseful. The novel keeps readers guessing, with red herrings and unexpected twists. While the story explores serious themes like murder, false accusations, and abuse, it avoids being overwhelmingly grim by incorporating moments of warmth and humor. The book raises important questions about media bias, privilege, and the consequences of rushed justice. One of the novel’s central themes is the pursuit of justice and how the legal system can sometimes fail. The case of Andie Bell was closed too quickly, with Sal Singh being labeled guilty despite a lack of concrete evidence. Pip’s investigation highlights how biases, media influence, and rushed conclusions can lead to miscarriages of justice. Example: The town of Fairview accepted Sal’s guilt without question, showing how quickly society can turn on someone based on incomplete evidence. The book explores how the media shapes public opinion. Sal Singh was vilified in the press, with no room for doubt or counterarguments. The novel critiques how stories can be manipulated and how public perception often disregards the full truth. Example: Sal’s reputation was destroyed due to sensationalized news stories, and his family was ostracized, even though the case lacked conclusive proof. Throughout the book, Pip uncovers the difference between what people believe to be true and what is actually true. Many characters in Fairview are quick to assume things without seeking proof, leading to lasting consequences. Example: Pip’s refusal to take the original case findings at face value allows her to uncover the truth, proving that critical thinking is crucial in uncovering hidden realities. The novel questions the morality of actions taken to protect oneself or others. Many characters have secrets, and their attempts to cover them up lead to tragic outcomes. The story highlights how hiding the truth can have devastating effects. Example: As Pip digs deeper, she learns that many of the people connected to Andie’s case were hiding key information that, if revealed earlier, could have changed everything. Strengths ✔ A Smart & Determined Protagonist – Pip is resourceful, brave, and refreshingly logical in her approach to solving the mystery. ✔ Engaging Mystery with Surprising Twists – The book keeps readers guessing, with well-placed clues and shocking revelations. ✔ Strong Supporting Cast – Ravi’s dynamic with Pip, along with the layered suspects, adds emotional depth. ✔ Unique Format – The inclusion of interview transcripts and case notes makes the reading experience immersive. ✔ Fast-Paced & Addictive – The short chapters and compelling narrative structure make this a page-turner. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is an expertly crafted YA mystery that blends investigative journalism with a thrilling whodunit. Holly Jackson creates a compelling protagonist in Pip, who is as clever as she is courageous. With its gripping plot, immersive format, and well-developed characters, this book is a must-read for fans of mystery, true crime, and thrillers.

Well written story with some twist and turns in the plot. Overall a good read and I loved the main character. Will be reading the next books in the series.

Normally when a book has been overhyped, I end up not enjoying it because I come to expect too much from them. This book though? This one lived up to the hype and more! I absolutely DEVOURED it and am practically kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I’m so glad I read it as a group buddy read because had I not it would have been even longer before I read it! I say that because I’ve been let down by so many books and I tend to put them to the side because I fear it will happen again. Does anyone else suffer from this? It’s horrible. A Good Girls Guide to Murder is an epic young adult mystery with an amazing cast of characters and a mystery that had me both shocked and intrigued! I love how the MC of this one (Pippa) is using her senior capstone project to solve a murder when she feels the person everyone is convinced did it, actually didn’t do it! She’s smart, quick witted, and clearly has a knack for asking the right questions and talking to people and it is shown through the writing here. I actually loved it so much that I went ahead and bought the next two books because I am downright obsessed with it. Take my word for it, this book is THAT good. It's well written, fast paced, and unputdownable! If you enjoy young adult mysteries, then this is a must read for you. The killer will shock you; the plot will suck you in, and the 400 pages that encompass this story will fly by so quickly that you’ll finish it in a day or two. It’s probably one of the best YA mysteries I’ve read to date to be honest! So read this one if you haven’t already. The blurb doesn’t so the book justice! It’s so much better than described! 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙: • Young Adult Mysteries • Cold Cases/True Crime • Fast Paced Stories 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bought for my daughter. Delivery took some time but guess it is reasonable since it travelled halfway around the world. Nicely packaged and arrived in perfect condition.

This book, I loved it! It was intense and everything you want in a Mystery novel, with developments in the plots in all the right places to keep readers enthralled with the story line. The book is set in a small English Town, I loved that this book is set in England. The description of the towns perception on the accused murderer is what you would expect from a rural town and the impact on the accused murderer’s family is very realistic, seeing them ostracised as they are is how I’d imagine it would be in real life. I left like this little town could be placed in any part of the UK and this story still make sense which I really like, as it isn’t restrictive to a certain area. I love Pippa, I’m not as smart as her but the nerdy parts of her I could totally connect with. I loved how tenacious she is and that she wasn’t put off by picking such a tough and sensitive topic for her project. As you get through the book you really can’t help but route for her and at parts feel for her. I admire her greatly and as soon as I finished this book I pre-ordered the second book so that I could spend more time with Pip and her adventures. My heart bled for Ravi, being treated like dirt on peoples shoe for what they think his brother but still having such a lovely disposition. There’s a lesson to be learned in this book on how we treat people and human decency. Ravi’s sense of humour really bounced of Pip’s more serious nature and created an enticing rapport between them, seeing them both learn to trust each other than become friends. Beautiful work. I give major kudos to Holly for not have a romantic sub-plot within the book, I feel that would have detracted from the over story arc. Saying that, I did route for Pip and Ravi as they started to drawer closer so I’m super excited to see what happened with them in the second book. If they’re together, I’ll be super interested how Holly balances their relationship with the new plot. There are two narrative styles in this book, one based on Pip’s project logbook and the other following Pip’s investigation in real-time. I found this balance worked really well and supported the progression of the plot. The real time sections takes the reader on the discovery of new information, introduction to new characters and also experiences Pip’s life during and around the investigation. These sections helped me build a connection with Pip and Ravi, seeing and feeling how they do as the investigation gets closer to discovering the truth. They’re also the more emotive causing chapters, I went from being tense to laughing to tears in a few chapters. The logbook is where the facts and outcomes of Pips investigation are presented along with her suspect, these allow the reader to create their own hypothesis and agree/disagree with Pip’s representation of the facts and suspects. This totally suits me, I’ve watched a whole heap of crime TV series (Elementary, Bone, NCIS) so guessing the bad guy is part of the fun with murder mysteries. These styles latch on to you and create so much suspense to that you can’t help but read on. Who is the murderer?! Summary I loved pretty much everything about this book. It gave it a full 5 stars. The way this book is written with the two narrative styles kept the pace running smoothly. The characters, even the side characters are relatable and people you can imagine knowing. This is a book where you check the time at night and know you should be going to sleep cause you need to get up in the morning and if you don’t go to sleep like RIGHT NOW you’re going to be a grumpy pants in the morning. BUT still debate reading just one more chapter! It is that addictive. If you love murder mysteries, or mystery books in general this is an excellent one. It is described as a YA book, but I think people of any adult age could enjoy reading this book. I just need to find out where I can squeeze the sequel into my tbr list cause I gotta know what happens next for Pip and Ravi.

ÄLSKAR

Lo compré para mi hija que tiene 12 años. Me lo pidió ella, y está encantada con la trama de la novela. Lo importante es que lean y además si es en inglés mejor. Lo recomiendo

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