I have been reading a lot of murder mysteries lately and I was thrilled by how different this one was! I loved the characters and the overall story. I would have given it 5 stars if I hadn't guessed the ending as early as I did. Granted, that could be because I have been reading so many mysteries lately.

Wow!! A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is outstanding. I truly cannot rave enough.

The story follows Pip as she embarks on her senior project investigating a closed case that happened five years earlier. A popular student was murdered by her boyfriend and then he killed himself. Pip doesn't think the case was so open and shut, but as she does her project, it becomes clear someone doesn't want her finding out the truth.

Holly Jackson's writing is excellent. It is smart and complex. There is even a layer of humor, but mainly the story is a mystery/thriller the best plot twists I have ever experienced. The book has a multi-media format that moves the plot along. This will be THE next hit YA thriller. Readers will struggle to get anything done because they will need to finish this book and find out what really happened five years earlier. Highly recommended to readers who enjoyed One of Us Is Lying.

This was a twisty, complex mystery! Pippa and Ravi team up to try to clear Ravi's brother Sal of the murder of his girlfriend five years earlier. Though the police and the town had decided Sal was guilty, Pippa uncovers clues and suspects and chases down every lead. The characters are diverse and well-developed. There are many secondary characters, but they were easy to keep track of during the course of the story. Pippa's discoveries and actions were believable, although I really wish she had stopped confronting potential murderers on her own! A satisfying read to recommend to everyone interested in a good mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

This was an amazing read from start to finish. It was the first book in a long time that I finished in a day, one that I couldn't put down and couldn't figure out until the very end. I loved it and can't wait to recommend it to other readers. Plus, I just saw that there will be a sequel and you can bet your bottom dollar that I preordered it.

Andie Bell died five years ago and everyone knows who killed her. Of course they know it was her boyfriend Sal, especially because he killed himself two days after she disappeared. The fact that her body has never been found doesn't factor into this story that everyone tells themselves. Until now. Pip has chosen to do her senior year project on the case and its portrayal in the media and she is determined to figure out if Sal actually did it. Because to her, the case has never been clear cut at all. And she doesn't believe the story that everyone else tells. But as she digs further in to the past, it becomes clear that someone wants her to stop. And they will do anything to make the questions go away.

Highly recommend this one. It is a first purchase type of book for all collections serving YA readers.

As a true crime addict I was hooked at the Serial reference.
Pippa, a high school senior sets out to "solve" a five year old closed case. The victim, a popular student, was never found, but her boyfriend's suicide note confesses to the murder. Pippa is not convinced. As she begins her investigation she realizes that she is on to something. The further she digs the more nervous the real killer becomes.
Full of red-herrings and surprise twists, this book will keep readers guessing to the final shocking reveal. Pippa is a wonderful character and I am excited to see that there are more books planned with this smart, young sleuth.

A pretty standard mystery/thriller with the appropriate twists and turns to keep you reading until the very end. Was there anything particularly unique about this story? Not really - but Pippa was a likable protagonist and the story moved at a pace that will keep readers turning pages.

Exactly the right mix of thrill and intrigue, a true whodunit with multiple suspects and a murder board.

My ID addicted self was mesmerized with this story which was brilliant and suspenseful and just beyond amazing. I even looked past the underage drinking scenes because I loved the story that much. Though, one thing that needs to be edited or removed is when Pippa states that she doesn’t drink because she doesn’t want to be under the influence, but then she guzzles alcohol and becomes under the influence. Okay then. And what happens when six seventeen/eighteen-year-olds drink alcohol like they’re dehydrated? They make stupid mistakes. But I ignored this because I understand that partying and consuming unsafe amounts of alcohol are what lots of people do for fun.

The mystery was what drew me in from the beginning. I adored Pippa and Ravi and I loved the twists and turns. The negatives are what dropped this book down from a five-star rating. Pippa was headstrong, intelligent, and cautious of her surroundings, especially when she realized she was being stalked and threatened, but towards the end she made stupid mistakes which created consequences. The audience knows what’s going to happen when Pippa decides to go for a walk at night while listening to a podcast while letting her dog roam free. Dog goes missing. I honestly was expecting Pippa to be attacked so it was a tiny surprise that the dog was the victim instead. Then when she’s solved the mystery, she confronts the killer on her own, without backup, and stupidly accepts a drink from the killer. What do you think happens? She gets drugged and the killer tries to kill her. These two instances are what ruined a should have been five-star rating. I couldn’t get past this intelligent girl’s stupidity just to add more suspense to the already suspenseful plot.

Adding more to the negatives (which didn’t impact the rating, just reflections on the story), Pippa’s three guy friends should have been removed. They provided nothing except a few useless words exchanged here and there. I don’t even remember their names. Lauren needed to be removed as well. She did nothing but mope and obsess over guys, and like the guy friends, she was rarely in the story. Cara needs to be kept for obvious reasons.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I’m excited to read the next installment but hope Jackson decides not to tarnish Pippa’s intelligence anymore.

This book is a great YA mystery. It's fast paced with memorable characters. The twists are fun, but the book also has emotional depth. I would recommend this book to young adults looking for a smart mystery.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Come on! When I read…. “YA crime thriller as addictive as Serial and as page-turning as One of Us Is Lying” I was totally in. Sign me up! I couldn’t download it fast enough. And now that I am done reading all I know to say is WOW!! Just WOW!! This book held my attention from start to finish. Although I love to read I sometimes struggle with books over 400 pages because I get bored. Typically I feel like if that particular book was shorter the story would’ve flowed better. I didn’t feel that way about this one at all.

Five years ago, the small town of Fairview was struck by tragedy. The beautiful, popular, senior, Andie Bell went missing and presumed murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh, who killed himself soon after. For most of the town, those were just the facts Sal was a monster that took a beautiful girl from the world. But for Pippa Fitz-Amobi it had never been that cut and dry. She had known Sal, not well but well enough to believe he couldn’t be capable of murder. So for her senior capstone project Pippa decides to reexamine the case. A studious, “good girl”, Pippa finds herself unearthing secrets of the past that some would rather stay buried. Someone decides it may be time to stop Pippa from digging up too much. Will Pippa be able to find what she needs to expose the truth? Will she even survive long enough to search it out?

I couldn’t help but to fall in love with Pip from the start. Not only is she a bit fiery, she has a strong moral compass that guides her. She isn’t perfect by any means but she is relatable in the sense that she wants to stand up for what is right. I admire that characteristic of her. I was able to see the backdrop of the town and the other characters plainly in my minds eye, although it is a fictional tale it felt real. This is an amazing crime thriller for those of us who are addicted to true crime shows, documentaries and podcast. Reading this book you almost feel like you are right there with Pip trying to figure out all the clues while wanting to scream at her about the ones you see that she hasn’t seen yet. It is a fave for me.
Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book from the beginning. The cover is amazing and captivating. The main character Pipa is intelligent but not overbearing, sensitive but a push over and makes the story line believable. Well written with a suspenseful ending and a dash of romance.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a riveting Young Adult murder mystery, a la Serial. It was clear that the author drew a lot of inspiration from the podcast, as the plot loosely aligned with the podcast and even some characters had similar names. As the main character continues to investigate what happened to a missing girl, the story begins to differ a little from Serial, and really grabbed my attention. It looks as though this was first published in the UK, and I'm not sure if they changed the setting for the American publishing, but it was still very clear that the writer is British. Words like "queue" "smashing" "knackered" and such don't quite fit in the Connecticut setting, but hopefully this can be easily swapped for more American slang before the final print.

The moment this book was compared to Serial, my expectations sky rocketed but I’m very happy to say it did not disappoint. This was truly the Veronica Mars/Serial mashup I so desperately needed.

TW: Suicide, racism, mention of self harm and rape

This was a compelling teen mystery with a unique format.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Random House for the opportunity to read and review A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I have since purchased this book! I loved it! Holly Jackson has a wonderful and possibly addictive first novel to what looks like a new series for mystery lovers. It is written with young adults in mind, but I think many adults will enjoy it too. It is fast-paced, exciting, and suspenseful. I wish there was more reads like this out there for teens.
#AGoodGirl'sGuidetoMurder
#NetGalley
#Edelweiss #RandomHouseBooks

This is an awesome novel with a lot of moving parts that come together seamlessly. The mystery will grab you immediately, and keep you guessing throughout. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers’ Sadie!