It’s a ghost house, they say. They’re kidnappers, that family. They’re murderers, all of them.
For 5 years, the house has been avoided, insulted, and vandalized. Even the mere thought of nearing the house is unimaginable–after all, it is the house with the killer.
Until now.
Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a high-school senior in a small town, is determined to investigate the supposed crime. You see, 5 years ago, Salil “Sal” Singh killed Andie Bell. Allegedly.
Instant hit and BookTok viral, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is the quintessence of a thrilling murder mystery. Awe-struck by her childhood hero, “Pip” simply can’t accept that Sal murdered his girlfriend Andie Bell. She reaches out to Ravi Singh, Sal’s brother, and delves deeper into what really happened on that fateful night. As the “Persons of Interest” list grows and grows, readers are left in anticipation–was it really Sal? If not, then who?
The building suspense has us all on the edge of our seats as we, alongside Pip, try to figure out who did it. With every page comes new theories or evidence that has us second guessing our suspect. With just a touch of romance, Jackson makes the story an interactive roller-coaster of emotions as “just friends” Ravi and Pip work together to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Andie Bell.
Holly Jackson is, if nothing else, meticulous. Every miniscule detail is artfully planned and ties into the bigger picture. Maybe when first reading this book it goes unnoticed, but when reading for a second time, all those little hints that were dropped here and there are uncovered and shine a whole new light on the plot. In this sense, Holly Jackson is truly a genius. Subtle hints are sprinkled throughout the story, seemingly unimportant, yet making sense at the end. These easter eggs are what so many murder mysteries fail to do appropriately: Either they spoil the story by giving too obvious hints, or the plot twists are completely unexpected and out-of-pocket. Rather, as seen in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, it’s this perfect Goldilocks balance that gives this novel the true honor of becoming a TV series.
The building suspense has us all on the edge of our seats as we, alongside Pip, try to figure out who did it.
But it’s not just that this book is an exciting read. Jackson also incorporates important notes about race and religion that reflect upon our society. Both the alleged killer, Salil Singh, and one of the main characters, Ravi Singh, are of Indian origin. Despite being born and brought up in Britain, they are still discriminated against. Rebelling against stereotypes, Jackson gives depth to every single one of her characters, regardless of race, making us fall in love with her storytelling. The complex relationships and intricate personalities make all of the characters three-dimensional, a feat that will make even the most stoic of readers tear up with emotion. As such, this book does notable work to fight against those hurtful stereotypes without unintentionally boring the readers with information irrelevant to the plot.
That being said, the majority of the book is a murder mystery and does address serious topics, such as drugs and rape. Readers should be aware of trigger warnings to avoid offense. In addition, some people may find the beginning a little slow or confusing, but the truth is, that’s just the style of the book. Despite these downsides, the intrigue of the plot keeps us hooked as we are motivated to read more.
Not only do we continue reading, our hope for a TV show has now come true. Set to release in July, the TV series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder gives us all high expectations. As we dig deeper and deeper, dark truths are uncovered, and it seems that the killing of Andie Bell is much more complicated than at first sight.
Despite layering secrets upon secrets and lies upon lies, the most serious crime that Holly Jackson committed was luring readers into falling in love with the inescapable story of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder.
