“What’s wrong with me? … I might seem like the ideal student: homework always in early, every extra credit and extra curricular I can get my hands on, the good girl and the high achiever. But I realized something just now: it’s not ambition, not entirely. It’s fear.”
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
My Rating
In Summary of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
“The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth? ” –Goodreads Synopsis
WARNING: death of people and animals, PTSD, bullying, drug abuse, racism, rape
READ IF YOU LIKE: Young Adult contemporary, twisty mysteries, American Vandal, stories about teenagers at school
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| The protagonist’s passion for justice | Although part of me enjoyed the Capstone premise, I disliked the lack of teacher oversight |
| Mixed media format | The bond between Pippa and the 23-year-old presents a red flag |
| Many twists truly kept me guessing! |
“The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted, or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.”
The Review
I wanted to see what the hype was all about and I was NOT disappointed.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is twisty and complex, despite the Young Adult categorization. The “whodunnit” keeps readers engaged with its mixed media format and Capstone research project premise. I can honestly say that I did not guess who the murderer was, which is pretty impressive given that I have recently inundated myself with mystery and thriller reads!
This novel reveals the depth and ingenuity that society often fails to give teens credit for. Go, Holly Jackson! I do, however, have a reason to gripe…
Coincidentally, I am an English teacher. Not only that, but I am an English teacher that leads seniors in a semester long Capstone research project. I am astounded by the lack of guidance that Pippa receives from her teacher. I would never let my student put him/herself in the dangerous position of investigating a local murder. There are limits to what we should allow our students to research when it comes to their safety. Yes, this is fiction; yes, this is all about the teenage perspective on investigating a murder. However, I just couldn’t let it go. My stomach was churning for the safety of this fictional, non-existent teen! Oh, the teacher-horror!
Oh, well; perhaps I am the worst audience member for this one. I still enjoyed it and can understand why anyone else might rate this even higher than 4 stars. It’s definitely an enjoyable, fun choice if you are willing to suspend some belief. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Book Information
- Published: 2019
- Publisher: Electric Monkey
- ISBN: 9781405293181
- Format: Hardback
- Length: 433 pages
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