Although the crime, thriller, and mystery genres are not for all readers, there are a few titles that are undeniable works of art in literature.
“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” (2019), written by Holly Jackson, is a breakout debut that touches every base of what a quality mystery should be. With solid character development, a believable, yet nail-biting plot, and stellar writing and worldbuilding, AGGTM offers a solid introduction into crime fiction that is perfect for those who are curious about the genre, or are well-versed in the world of mystery already.
In the first installment, we are introduced to Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a 17-year old high school student who has decided to investigate a local tragedy for her senior capstone project. This tragedy, focusing on the alleged murder-suicide of Andrea “Andie” Bell and Salil “Sal” Singh five years prior in her small Connecticut town, turns out to be much more complicated than it seems, leading Pip down a mysterious rabbit hole as she interviews her community, researches the case, and finds herself in some dangerous situations along the way.
The sequel and final book in this three-part series up the ante more than you could ever imagine, revisiting characters and twisting the lives and fates of everyone involved as we dive deeper and deeper into this not-so-simple town, and the girl determined to free it of its complicated past.
Jackson does an incredible job of meshing together her storytelling techniques, not only narrating Pip’s point of view and experiences, but incorporating transcripts, images, maps, and other interesting forensic material into the book itself, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the case from Pip’s perspective. She also takes it upon herself to truly develop and utilize the characters she creates in this world, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat as they consider the motivations, desires, fears, and hesitations of each and every character Pip interacts with throughout the story.
As Pip’s story becomes more and more complex with each book, the stunning finale challenges every preconceived notion the reader may have had throughout the series, uprooting what’s possible and probable in Jackson’s Fairview community, leading to a stunning, satisfying, and truly electric conclusion for one of the most well-developed protagonists seen on the page.
For those who have heard of this series but have not yet picked up a copy, I highly recommend taking the leap and giving it a try. Let “A Good Girl’s Guide” guide you to a truly exemplary reading experience.
