I had heard so many good things about this book that I couldn’t ignore it any longer and decided to read it.
First posted in Dutch on July 22 2021 and updated on October 14 2024.
Title: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Author: Holly Jackson
Published: May 2019
Pages: 433
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Rating: 9/10
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?
I can really appreciate a good mystery book. Sometimes I even prefer to listen to it via an audiobook app, for example, because I think a good narrative voice can contribute to the suspense. In this case I bought the paperback.
The story is about Pip who has to do a project for a school for the new academic year. She decides to do it about an unsolved murder case in the small village where she lives. Five years ago, Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh, after which Sal committed suicide. However, Andie’s body was never found.
Pip is determined to find out what really happened and where Andie’s body is. Almost no one seems to be really happy that Pip is working on the case. When Pip gets closer to the truth, she is thwarted. But by whom? Could that mean that the murderer is still alive or is something else going on?
What I like about this book is that it reads smoothly. The chapters are alternated with information that Pip collects and it does not disturb the story at all. I think it actually adds to the story. This made me feel involved in the case as a reader, as if I was there myself. It also creates more tension because you always receive just enough information to become curious, but not enough information to be 100% sure of your thoughts.
Another thing I really like about the story is that Pip’s friends are also discussed, and that there are multiple scenes with each other. Some of the friends are less visible later in the story, but I think it’s quite unique that you read about friends at all when it comes to these kinds of books. Usually you read about a main character who is a loner, which Pip is in a way, but she still tries to make time for friends.
In addition, a certain character develops a partner in crime for Pip. What I like about that relationship is that it happens with a lot of humour. This naturally creates a close friendship that adds more depth to the story.
I didn’t immediately see the developments in the book coming. I was on the right track with a number of things, but I still found the outcome surprising. It feels like the author has thought of every piece of the puzzle regarding the storyline. That’s why I can recommend A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder to anyone who loves a good (murder) mystery!
Do you like reading a (murder) mystery?
Love,
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