Continuing from my 2024 reading list, I picked up another mystery novel to keep me engaged and continue reading. This time, I’ve chosen to delve into a murder case with “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson. When I was purchasing this book, the bookseller mentioned that it’s the first installment in a series, with two more books available.

Contrary to what the title suggests, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is a tale of unraveling a murder mystery. It delves deep into a five-year-old case, aiming to uncover the truth and bring justice to the person falsely blamed.

Plot

Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a high school senior in the town of Little Kilton, decides to investigate the unsolved mystery surrounding the disappearance of Andie Bell five years ago for a school project. Despite the police closing the case and accusing Andie’s boyfriend, Sal Singh, who subsequently takes his own life, Pippa remains unconvinced of his guilt.

During her journey, Pippa forms an unlikely partnership with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother, who is determined to clear his family’s name. Together, they navigate through a web of lies, secrets, and red herrings, facing danger and opposition from those who wish to conceal the truth.

As Pippa delves deeper into the case, she uncovers inconsistencies in the evidence and interviews witnesses with conflicting accounts. Andie Bell, once perceived as the pretty and popular girl in high school, hides more secrets than anyone realized. Pippa begins to question the relationship Andie had with her family and her teachers, including her grieving parents and sister, Becca and Mr. Ward who is also the father of Pippa’s best friend, Cara Ward. Additionally, Max Hastings, Sal’s best friend, proves to be as mysterious as Andie herself.

As the dark truths surrounding Andie’s circle of acquaintances come to light, Pippa races against time to prove Sal Singh’s innocence before danger strikes again.

Scribbled Canvas’s Take:

The story begins well as it introduces you to the characters and their backgrounds. Both Pippa and Ravi come across as smart and witty characters. The buildup and plot twists are good and not very predictable in the beginning. However, towards the end, the final twist becomes somewhat predictable, and you’ll figure out who the murderer is. Sal’s suicide is revealed, as is the disappearance of Andie Bell.

While reading, I found the narrative style to be the only aspect that struck me as strange. It unfolds through various perspectives, sometimes through Pippa’s point of view as the protagonist. Sometimes, its Pippa writing her thoughts in her journal as notes, and other times its interview notes sent to her for investigations.

Compared to other murder mystery novels, this is a decent read—very easygoing with minimal characters and their storylines. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a good book to start with if you’re not really into mysteries and are just beginning to explore this genre.