*Trigger Warning in the book Death, animal death, drug use, suicide, sexual assault, grief, bullying, kidnapping, adult/minor relationships.

          “You go around asking dangerous questions, girl, you’re going to find some dangerous answers.” –Ravi Singh, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

          What if the truth behind a murder was never uncovered? What if the wrong person was accused? What if the police got tricked? What if some of the evidence were planted? What if the real killer is right under everyone’s nose? What if? These are the questions Pippa Fitz-Amobi can’t stop asking. In A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Pippa, Pip for short, a senior in Fairview High, decides to reopen a case from which everyone else has moved on or seems to have moved on.

Book Summary

          Five years ago, Andie Bell, a popular high school senior, went missing and was later assumed by the police to be dead. Her boyfriend, Sal Singh, was accused of her murder. Shortly after a talk with the police, Sal was deemed to have died by suicide, which was said to be an act of guilt, leaving the case closed. 

         Pip isn’t convinced, so she decides to use this case as the topic for her senior capstone project. Driven by her curiosity and a desire for justice, Pip begins to dig into the case, reopening old wounds and secrets. She teams up with Ravi Singh, Sal’s brother, who is also investigating the truth about his brother’s death. As Pip digs deeper, she uncovers a web of lies and hidden truths about Andie’s life, leading her to question everyone’s involvement in the case.

          As she investigates, things get darker and more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can she solve the case, or will the secrets she uncovers put her own life and the lives of those she cares for at risk? You will have to read the book if you want to find out.

Book Review:

          A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder written by Holly Jackson was published on May 2nd, 2019. It was named one of the best books of 2020 by Barnes and Noble and has a 4.3 rating on Goodreads.

          Autumn Pagan, a junior at Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA), stated that she was drawn to the book because “Honestly, I heard a lot of good things about A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. And it seemed like an interesting prompt.  And so I just looked in Barnes & Noble and I found it.” 

          “Like, you want to put it down, but you can’t put it down, if you know what I mean,” stated Leyna Tran, a freshman at MECA.

          A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the first in the series: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019),  Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020), and As Good As Dead (2021). Pagan shared, “I like the second book. It was good, but I liked the third book the best.”

          Courtney Bell, English 9 teacher, recommended, “If you enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, then I would definitely recommend the Truly Devious series and Ten by Gretchen McNeil.” 

          Holly Jackson really knows how to pull you into a story. One of the things that stands out most about A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is how it deals with some pretty heavy topics, grief, guilt, and the idea of justice, and makes you think about them in a new way. 

          Pip, as the main character, is someone you can really root for and feel connected with. She’s determined, even when everything seems stacked against her. Bell stated, “I really liked how dedicated [Pip] was, like, her perseverance and not giving up, and the fact that the reason why she wanted to do this was because it impacted her.” 

         Pagan said, “I really just like Pip and Ravi together. I just love them both. I think they’re so cute and I love their friendship and their relationship. Spoilers, sorry. And I think it’s just really cute how he always calls her ‘Sarge.’”

          The way Jackson paces the story is also really well done. It moves quickly, but not in a way that feels rushed. “I’m one of those people where I can’t read really slow books. It has to be more fast-paced. So I thought it was a really good pace for me,” stated Pagan.

          Each chapter keeps you wanting more, and the way the story is told through different types like interviews and phone calls. It’s like you’re putting together a puzzle, piece by piece, with every new clue. 

          Ultimately, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is more than just a typical mystery; it’s a gripping look at what happens when the truth gets buried and how far one person will go to uncover it. Holly Jackson does an amazing job of making it a story you won’t want to put down.