Goodreads synopsis
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?
I very much prefer this cover on the left than the one in the Feature Image (taken from Ms Holly Jackson’s Twitter). So, if anyone ever feels like gifting me a copy (I read it on my Kindle and therefore do not have beautiful bookstagram photos of it to share), you know which edition to opt for.
And now, on to my Review.
I first heard about this book approximately a year ago – soon after it’s release and the title intrigued me. The book had been on my TBR ever since as my reading had taken a slump which continued in to 2020
As part of my #TwelveMonthsAndATwelveLetterName I chose to read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder for the 4th month and I am so very, very glad that I did.
Not only did this book help me with my challenge, it also brought me out of my continuing reading slump as I picked the book (or my kindle, rather) at every free moment that I could find between work and chores.
I have already put the synopsis above so I will just move on to my thoughts.
Pippa Fitz-Amobi may be a child prodigy but she felt all the more real as she displayed human weaknesses even when she touted all her ingeniousness. Kind of reminded me of Hermione Granger (which is a vert hard feat, let me tell you). The girl showed bravery which deserved applaud but what endeared the bravery was her fear that was reflected in her actions; showing that she cared!
Ravi, though very important to the plot remained in the background and that made the story more impressive for me because had it only been Ravi, the emotion behind the effort would have been familial loyalty but that would not have highlighted the importance of doing the right thing. Putting someone before oneself without having the result have an impact on one’s life.
I loved how Ms Jackson highlighted how racism destroys communities. I hated what the journalist played the incident but that is the truth of the world we live in and it is impressive of the author of showing people a mirror and imparting an important message without every asking anyone to refrain from a certain behaviour.
The book cover (the one that I like) is a very good representation of the plot; weaving here and there and making roundabouts every which way. The most important bit to mention here is that in all the threads intersecting and moving away, the story remained pristine in it’s clarity with the mystery intact until Ms Jackson was good and ready to let us know who did it.
I don’t know how other people judge a mystery but for me, if I unable to guess who did it until the time it is purposefully revealed, the story gets extra points from me because it is very rare that I am unable to guess.
The entire story I had my doubts but I was not entirely correct – as was shown time and again in the story, which kept me on edge until I knew.
Prior to writing this review, I have already recommended the book to 5 people and am looking forward to what they think of it. Now, I recommend it to you.
This is my rating for the book – which you would have guessed by now already.
Lastly, I can’t emphasise enough how much I am looking forward to get my hands on Good Girl, Bad Blood – the second book in the series.
Hina Loves To Read 
Great review. Surely gonna add ut in my tbr list. 😍
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Awesome. I will be looking forward to how much you like it.
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