Holly Jackson’s plot twisting novel A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder lurs you straight into the story, by explaining to the reader a little about her town, and its worst secret in only the first few sentences: “Pip knew where they lived. Everyone in Fairview knew where they lived. The home was like the town’s haunted house.” Already the first few sentences leave you on edge with a hunger to know.
This murder mystery tells the story of a highschooler named Pip as she investigates the murder in her town which took place a few years ago. She does not believe that the police found the true culprit to the crime and decides to take this into her own hands using her senior project as an excuse to investigate the worst thing that has ever happened in her town. Pip makes this her senior project, and throughout the twelve months in this book this is her main focus as she buries herself deep in this investigation. Along the way she makes enemies, as well as friends, and a lover.
Pip, the main character, goes on to try and discover the truth of this mystery; it almost requires a map to be able to keep up with the genius discoveries, red-herrings, and false clues Pip experiences throughout the novel. Keeping you on the edge of your seat, wanting, needing to know what is going to happen.
This novel may sound like a common murder mystery story and it is true that the story line has been repeated multiple times, but it really is not the same. The reason for this is the manner this novel is written. The author shows the characters in their deepest most vulnerable forms, using there weak spots as turning points in the plots. The author weaves romance into the novel, so as a reader it is not the main focal point but it is still an important factor. The characters travel through the mystery not wanting to be put into danger, but they also have a need for the truth, that keeps them going, keeps them pushing for the truth.
As someone who has read her fair share of amazing murder mysteries, this was by far one of the best reads. This murder mystery was such an extraordinary book because of the manner the book is written. For instance, Pip, the main character, keeps all her information and clues on the document she is using for her senior project, so after every chapter of the novel there is a recap of all the clues gathered during the chapter. This added feature to the book Allows the reader to be immersed into the story by deciphering the truth alongside Pip.
If you are the type of reader who enjoys reading a murder mystery with snippets of romance, secrecy, and betrayal but would like to read something different compared to all the other mystery novels, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the book I would recommend. You will be left more than satisfied after this read, but if you still want to keep reading about these characters there are other books adding on to this story making a series.
Another aspect of this novel that helps make it stand out is the motive behind the investigation. It is revealed that Pip was not trying to protect the victim but rather the one found guilty. This played an enormous role in making this a different, non repetitive mystery. This book should be on your ‘to be read’ list of books.
