A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Review: Worth the Hype?

Imagine you love solving mysteries just like a detective! In the book "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," we meet a smart high school student named Pip. She decides to investigate a crime that happened in her town of Fairview, Connecticut, five years ago as part of her final year project.

As Pip digs deeper, she uncovers overlooked evidence and hidden truths that challenge everything the town thought it knew. Will she find justice, or will the secrets she unearths put her own life in danger?

Let's dive further into my thoughts on this YA Mystery Thriller.

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Book Details and Content

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What is A Good Girl's Guide to Murder About?

Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a high school student with a curious mind. For her school capstone project, she decides to unravel the murder mystery surrounding a notorious crime that took place in her town five years ago.

Pip investigates more. She finds evidence that people missed. She also discovers hidden truths. These could change what the town believes.

Spoiler-Free Review

I had a lot of fun reading this book! The mysterious disappearance of Fairview High School Student Andrea Bell was interesting and kept me wanting to know more. Pip and Ravi are cool characters, and I loved how Pip was so determined to solve the mystery for her school project.

I liked seeing things through Pip's eyes and how she solved problems in clever ways. The story is even more interesting because the author uses interviews and diary entries to tell it. I often did not like mystery thrillers because they seemed unrealistic. This story kept me interested. It could happen in real life and feels believable. It was a great start to a series, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a Young adult novel. I didn't see some of the plot twists either.

My Overall Thoughts

I had a great time reading A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. It's a mystery that keeps you guessing with twists you don't see coming.

What I Liked:

The mystery about what happened to Andie Bell and whether Sal Singh was guilty pulled me in. It was like a puzzle that I couldn't wait to solve. Pip, the main character, is someone I found inspiring. She didn't just accept what everyone else thought; she wanted to find out the truth for herself. One of the coolest parts was when she discovered that Andie had a secret boyfriend by looking at phone records. It showed how clever and determined Pip is.

I also loved that the story was told in a unique way using interviews, diary entries, and maps. It felt like I was part of the investigation, especially when Pip talked to people like Naomi and Becca Bell. Their conversations gave important clues that were exciting to piece together.

The story felt real, like it could happen in a small town where everyone has secrets. One of the most surprising parts was discovering that Elliot Ward, who is Pip's best friend’s dad and a teacher at her school, was involved in Andie’s disappearance. Throughout the book, Elliot was portrayed as a supportive figure in Pip’s life, and his character seemed very trustworthy. This twist was shocking because it turned everything Pip thought she knew upside down and showed that even those who seem good can have hidden secrets. It added a thrilling layer of suspense that kept me on edge.

What I Didn't Like:

Sometimes, the story moved a bit slowly, especially in the middle when Pip was putting all the clues together. It felt like those parts dragged on, and I wished they were a bit quicker.

Also, while Pip was a great character, I wanted to know more about Ravi. He was an important part of the story, but he didn’t have as much background or depth. Knowing more about him would have made his character more interesting.

Would I recommend it as a Christian?

I'd definitely recommend 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' to a Christian reader. Pip, the main character, is honest and determined, always striving to do the right thing. Her qualities of perseverance and a strong moral compass echo Christian values of integrity, justice, and seeking the truth.

The story shows themes like redemption and forgiveness. It also shows the importance of community. These ideas match Christian values. The characters face moral dilemmas that encourage thoughtful reflection on ethical choices.

However, it's important to note that the book addresses serious topics like a missing person, murder, rape, and drugs. While these themes are present, they aren't depicted graphically.

As a young adult novel, I'd recommend it for older teens. There are intense moments due to the danger involved, but the main focus remains on unraveling the mystery and doing what's right.

If you like stories where characters solve problems and make good choices, this book is a good pick. The characters show honesty, justice, and forgiveness. Keep in mind some of the heavier themes.

Summary

Pip, the main character, takes on a big project during her senior year. She wants to find out what happened to Andie Bell. Andie disappeared five years ago. She also wants to clear Salil Singh's name. People thought Sal was responsible for Andie's disappearance.

Pip didn't believe Sal was guilty, so she teamed up with his brother, Ravi, for her investigation. She kept detailed notes, where she recorded everything she learned. This included the interviews she did and all her thoughts on what happened to Andie and Sal.

Originally, Sal claimed he was with his friends on the night Andie went missing. However, they later changed their stories, saying he left earlier. This made the police suspicious, given Sal's relationship with Andie. When Pip heard this in the police investigations, she was worried that Sal might seem guilty. But she didn't give up.

As she dug deeper, Pip talked to Andie's friends and others linked to the case. She found out that Andie’s dad was abusive and that Andie was involved with an older guy. Initially, Pip suspected her teacher, Mr. Ward, who was also her best friend's dad, denied knowing Andie, so Pip had to keep looking.

Further, Pip discovered that drug dealing was happening at high school parties, and Andie was involved. To find out more, Pip went to a party herself and tracked down a local dealer named Howie. She bravely confronted him to gather more clues.

Pip even sneaked into Andie's old home searching for a secret phone. Instead, they found Andie's planner, which showed hotel meetings with a mystery man. Meanwhile, Pip started receiving scary messages, telling her to quit her investigation. Things got serious when her dog, Barney, disappeared and was later found dead. This was heartbreaking, but Ravi encouraged her to continue.

Pip suspected something was off with Naomi, but her investigation revealed that Mr. Elliot Ward was sending the threatening notes. When they followed him, they found he wasn’t going to tutor as he said, but to a hidden house. When confronted, Mr. Ward admitted he was involved with Andie. He confessed to fighting with her, after which she left, and out of fear, he framed Sal for her disappearance and later killed Sal to hide his involvement.

Mr. Ward had mistakenly locked up a girl, thinking she was Andie, but she was someone else. Although Mr. Ward was arrested, Pip felt the story wasn't complete. By looking over her notes, she realized Andie's sister, Becca, had a role.

Pip confronted Becca, who admitted that after Mr. Ward's fight with Andie, Andie came home, and in their argument, Andie got hurt again, choked, and died. Becca, overwhelmed with anger and fear, didn't help and hid Andie’s body.

When Becca tried to harm Pip, the police showed up in time to intervene. Pip presented the truth she uncovered during her investigation and honoring Sal’s memory, with Ravi’s support. Through her determination and bravery, Pip showed how important it is to stand up for the truth and bring justice for those who can't.

Conclusion

Overall, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a fantastic book with an exciting mystery and a smart main character. It's perfect for anyone who loves a good puzzle and enjoys being part of a thrilling detective adventure. I am looking forward to watching the series adaptation to see how it compares to the book. I was a big fan of the Veronica Mars show, so if it's anything like that, I think I would enjoy it.

What are you waiting for?