A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Bibliographic Information:

Title: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Author: Holly Jackson

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Copyright date: 2020

ISBN: 978-1984896407

Reading interest level: Grades 9 and up (School Library Journal)

Genre: Mystery

Format: Print Book

Awards or Honors:

• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2021
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction: 2020

Creative Use for a Library Program:

This is clearly a call for a good old fashioned who-done-it board game night. Clue is a classic. Since the author is British, we could also play Scotland Yard[Link to product on Amazon].

Potential Challenge Issues: 

The book does contain some mature themes, such as drug use, and a girl being raped at a party after being drugged, although it is a recollection of a past event and not a graphic description. There is no active drug use either, it is all recollections of past events. Pippa and Ravi are both positive role models that set good examples for young readers (other then her complete disregard for the danger she may be in). 

Speed-Round Table Talk:

If you like a good murder mystery, with many twists and turns, and potential suspects, this is the book for you. Pippa-Fitz Amobi investigates Andie Bell's disappearance for her high school capstone project. In true detective fashion, she interviews witnesses and investigates clues. The danger ratchets up as she gets closer to the truth, but nothing will stop Pippa from uncovering what really happened to Andie Bell...but they will sure try.

Reason for Inclusion:

True-crime stories are very popular among teens, and I wanted to include at least one crime story where readers could investigate the case along with the protagonist.

Author Description: 

Holly Jackson enjoys "playing video games and watching true-crime documentaries so she can pretend to be a detective" (Penguin Random House, n.d.). We can clearly see where the inspiration for A Good Girl's Guide to Murder came from. A Good Girl Guide to Murder was her debut novel, and she has since released a sequel with Pippa as the lead detective. Good Girl, Bad Blood was released on March 2, 2021, and a third entry into the series, As Good as Dead, is set to be released on September 28, 2021. 

Critical Evaluation:

This is a book for those who like crime mysteries. Pippa investigates the case by interviewing those involved, and pieces together clues that slowly unravel the mystery of Andie Bell, and Sal Singh. Holly Jackson writes the book in first person and third person perspective. Pippa is the only narrator in the book, but the third person perspective allows readers to glimpse what she is thinking in certain situations. Jackson also presents clues in a way that keeps readers guessing on who did it, and what may have really happened. Just when Pippa thinks she may have it figured out, a revelation will cast suspicion in a different direction, or add a new person to the suspects list. The mystery starts out focused, and then expands to branch out in multiple directions, forcing Pippa to figure out how to narrow it down again. Keeping readers guessing is the most important aspect of crime fiction, and Jackson executes well.  

Pippa investigates a possible murder, and she believes that the Sal Singh is innocent, and the real killer is still out there, or Andie Bell is still alive. However, she is ridiculously brave, even after receiving threatening notes. She says she believes the threats were a prank, but it is still difficult to believe that as the threats turn into real action. Perhaps, that is just my perspective, but I felt like she would have naturally taken more defensive precautions then she did. I would have been satisfied if she at least carried some pepper spray around with her. However, I will acknowledge that Pip had a real tenacity to her. Once she found a thread, she was determined to unravel it to the conclusion.

I am not usually a fan of crime novels where interviews are conducted, and clues are investigated methodically, but Jackson's writing is infused with a good deal of humor that makes Pip very likeable, and it was enough to keep me engaged in the story. The expansion of the story from just a single murder also added intrigue to the story.