Elsa G., South River High School
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a curiosity-provoking mystery about a teenage girl named Pippa, who re-opens a murder case within her small town. While nearly everyone in town believes that Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh, Pippa is reluctant to agree. This first book of the series guides readers through Pippa's detective process as she looks for clues and follows loose ends within the case.
I liked this book particularly because Pippa's thought process and collection of data from interviews, observations, and audio files makes readers feel like they're solving the case alongside Pippa. The unpredictable nature of this case makes the book difficult to put down. I even read it in two nights. Themes of courage, perseverance, and loyalty to family are all present throughout Pippa's journey, adding depth and realness to her character.
The author, Holly Jackson, integrates different conversations, maps, and images into the novel, which turn it into Pippa's personal journal of discoveries. These stimuli allow readers to gather their own assumptions as to who the murderer may be, even though it's quite unpredictable. There are times where the suspects and their stories become convoluted because there is so much information surrounding the case, but the data is re-organized as the novel progresses. This book is well suited for teenagers and young adults, but I personally think that adults of all ages would enjoy Pippa's journey. I would warn younger children away from this book because suicide, rape, and harsh language are described.
Click here to check out A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson