Date of Completion: 11/05/2021
Truth be told, the premise of a teenager resolving a five-year-old murder did not elicit much excitement from me. I expected ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ to be unrealistic, predictable and chock-full of cliques. However, this book surprised me by smashing its way through my low expectations to a spot as one of my favourite reads this year.
You go around asking dangerous questions, girl, you’re going to find some dangerous answers.
From the first two pages where a document alludes to a clever and headstrong, Pippa Fitz-Amobi, I knew I would love her character. Pippa, also known as ‘Pipsicle,’ ‘Hippo Pippo,’ and ‘Pickle’ is a smart, 17-year-old who is also sociable and witty. Her character is definitely a highlight of this book as I found her both relatable and entertaining.
Besides Pippa’s character, Holly Jackson’s vivid and simple writing was the next thing that captured my attention. Although the writing is perhaps a little too simple, I found it so easy to picture and follow the events of this book. I also love that Holly creatively uses various media elements such as interview transcripts, journal entries and emails to convey information. These kept me even more engaged and interested in Pippa’s progress with the case.
Holly also does a great job of building suspense and tension by continually raising the stakes. Even as the tension builds, I love that regular moments of humour are incorporated into the storyline to remind readers that this is an amateur investigation. These moments had me laughing out loud a few times and helped soften the tone and atmosphere of the story.
The plot itself is fast-paced and filled with numerous twists that generally caught me by surprise. Included are themes surrounding race, family, and the British media. There is even an interesting nod to the white saviour complex which I thought was addressed well. These themes present an additional depth to the story and I love that Holly explores each one in a manner that does not feel preachy or forced.
The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted, or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.
In summary, ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ is a fun, gripping read that delivers suspense, banter and interesting characters. I must add, as a caveat, that there are a few scenes that require the suspension of reality. However, I found this book far too entertaining to be bothered by these. I will certainly be getting the next book in this series as I need more of Pippa and Holly Jackson’s captivating writing!
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