A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Book Review
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Rating: 4.0 Stars.
Read from October 1 to October 2.
I can’t believe I’ve finished two books in two days. I started this book late yesterday and just powered through it. The writing and the pacing are so good. I know this book had a lot of hype so I went into it trying to manage my expectations. It doesn’t help that I already have a pretty low opinion of the Mystery/Horror/Thriller genres. But maybe that needs to change because I’m discovering that I really enjoy Young Adult Mystery/Thriller novels.
I think a lot of the story is believable and I really enjoy Pippa and her family. I think the author does a good job of not making the main character make impossible logic leaps which is a huge pet peeve of mine in this genre. I also enjoyed feeling like I couldn’t trust anyone. The author did a good job of making the reader feel like they knew who did the crime, but then a new piece of evidence would come to light and turn the reader around again.
I did have trouble with a couple of things with this one, but one of them is definitely a me problem and not a book problem. I cannot stand when characters fall behind in their school work or college applications. I think that stems from my own school issues, but reading about it drives my anxiety sky high which I thought it already was because MURDER. But apparently my anxiety could go higher. In the last 40ish pages of the book, I had to question how much suspension of disbelief I could have. I think it stems from the fact that there are a few things we never see prior to the big reveal. I don’t want neon signs leading me to the turn, but breadcrumbs are nice. And there were two things that I feel got almost none.
But otherwise I think it’s a really well done Mystery which is glowing praise coming from someone who dislikes the genre so much. I think it is probably worth the hype. Just don’t go in there expecting the next Agatha Christie or whoever the Mystery author god or goddess might be. I don’t know how this can be part of a series when everything is wrapped up pretty well in the one book. I’m not sure I want to continue for that reason so we’ll just have to wait and see.