Very enjoyable YA book about an academically-focused teen who has decided to re-investigate the murder of a teenage girl for her senior project. What she finds puts so many people in danger, herself included (of course). It was definitely a quick read; I whipped through it in a day. ( )

1.5 stars. I can't believe the book I read is the same one everyone else is gushing over. Completely unrealistic and stupid plot. Also one of the most annoying main characters I've ever read. Actually all the characters were horrible. A waste of time to read. ( )

A very good Young Adult murder mystery. It reminded me of Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" series. It had an engaging heroine and hero.

I read it as an ebook and I think I'll buy it as a paper back as it's frustrating not being able to see all the diagrams and notes properly and I'm sure I would have got more out of the book if I could have read them. ( )

trigger warnings for this book: rape, drug use, pet death, kidnapping.

HOLY SHIT. I need to breathe after reading this entire masterpiece in one sitting. Hands down the best YA mystery/thriller I’ve read. Brilliantly crafted, thick, twisted and unexpected plot, mixed with great characters and suspense. Read this book. If you love thrillers, and want something to keep you on the edge of your seat, this one’s for you. A full 5 stars from me! Bravo Holly Jackson! ( )

A very slow burn that quickly leads up to the climax.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is how 17-year-old Pippa Fitz-Amobi tries to solve a cold case that everyone believes was solved when the number one suspect, Sal Singh, is found dead. It’s believed that he unalived himself due to his girlfriend, Andie Bell, having gone missing. 5 years later, Pippa chooses to use this widely accepted closed case in her small town as the focus of her senior project. She slowly begins to turn over evidence that leads Pippa to the conclusion that there was much more to Andie’s disappearance and Sal’s death than was initially revealed by the police and the media.

This story was told in two voices. First as a narrator’s point of view of Pippa Fitz-Amobi and then as Pippa’s Capstone Project log notes. I found this switch up in delivery interesting. There were sections that had “evidence” included, and man do I love a map. That being said, some of the dialogue rings a little hollow to me. Pippa tends to not use contractions when she speaks, which for a typical 17 year old, takes me out of the story a bit.

Pippa has a group of friends, but other than her best friend Cara, the rest are minor characters. Instead, Pippa receives all assistance from Ravi Singh, Sal Singh’s brother. Ravi and his parents have been victim to all of the anger the town has kept for Sal, and even 5 years later, there immense hatred. Interestingly, Sal and his family having brown skin, and that being the reason the town and media were so quick to place blame on Sal, js only brought up a couple times. It feels glossed over, similar to how Pippa’s stepfather is a tall “six-foot-four Nigerian”. But no one bats an eye and there’s never really a discussion around how that has affected Pippa or Pippa’s family in this small town.

I did really enjoy the story. There were parts that made me stop and say “HUH?!?” Because I was expecting an answer or explanation and never got one. The story was also, as I mentioned previously, a slow burn. Although things are happening, and big things too, it isn’t until the last third of the book, Part 3, that thing start to pick up. And then it’s a whirlwind to the finish.

I see the author already has 2 other books, that appear very similar (continuations of the story perhaps?) that I am interested into looking into further. ( )