Book Title: A Good Girls Guide to Murder
Author: Holly Jackson
Length: 400 pages
Genre: Mystery/thriller, YA, crime fiction
My Rating: 4.5/5
My Age Rating: 14-15+ (Preferably 15+)
Content Notes: language, murder and death, threats, physical assault, sexual violence, crude jokes, lots of sexual content (*no on-page sex), bullying, emotional themes, underage drinking and drug use
“Pip wished she was strong enough, but she’d learned that she wasn’t invincible; she too could break.”
― Holly Jackson, A Good Girls Guide to Murder
Synopsis:
Everyone in Fairview knows the story.
Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.
But she can’t shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?
Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.
My Review:
This book is a twisty turning maze and I loved every minute of it.
I read this book after seeing it suggested everywhere, and I have to say, it did not let me down. I could hardly put this book down, and consider it one of the best mysteries I’ve read so far. So get ready to stay up all night if you read this book.
The writing style is amazing in this book. It is easy to read, and I flew through it. The story is fast paced, immersive and extremely addictive. I love the main character’s voice, she is determined, smart and quirky. Not to mention that it is set up so you can solve the case right alongside her, with case entry logs woven throughout. It was really fun to read!
I also loved that even though this book was pretty tense, there was a small romance subplot, which was perfectly written. It was sweet and innocent in the midst of the chaos around her, and I really enjoyed how much it added to the story.
There were some really good life lessons in this book. Pip doesn’t easily let others deter her from what she believes to be true, and she trusts in herself deeply. But she also needs to learn how to accept help, because she isn’t invincible. Most importantly, you see how everyone has secrets. What you see on the outside shouldn’t be how you judge a person. What is on the inside, and what they do when no one is looking, is what truly matters.
If you are going to read this book, you need to know that it contains some heavy and quite inappropriate themes. Murder, threats, fear, suicide, and descriptions of violence and crime are all present, along with language ranging from mild to explicit. Most important to note is the sexual content, which includes discussions of an affair between a teen and an adult, sexual assault, rape, underage drinking, and drug use, including a scenario where a girl is drugged in order to be assaulted. None of this directly involves the main character, and the romance surrounding her is completely clean, but the mystery itself is full of it.
Because of all this, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up, though I do know some 14 year olds who have read and loved it just as much as me. It is definitely an eye opener, and many of the themes are directed toward a more mature audience.
Overall, this book was an amazing read and I highly suggest it for anyone looking for a quick, gripping mystery. Get ready to solve a case full of suspense and plot twists, with an ending that will take your breath away.
Happy Reading,
Ava
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