A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is about a 17-year old student
in her senior year of high school, Pip, decides to investigate a past murder
that took place in her town for a school project. She wants to prove Sal, the
alleged murder, innocent because she thinks he didn't kill his girlfriend,
Andie Bell. She goes to interview people that may have been involved with
either Sal or Andie. As her investigation continues she befriends Ravi, Sal's
younger brother, who also helps her with her project. As Pip nears the end of
her investigation she discovers something very shocking and unexpected.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder had a very intriguing plot
with a major twist you never saw coming at the end. A book you can't put down
until it is finished. I thought the book was very well written and put
together. As you read, it makes you think as to what is going to happen next.
The mystery and unexpected twists make this story even better. The story was
thought out so well it seems as if this had actually happened.
Reviewed by anonymous, Grade 8
Casa Verdugo Library
Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any true-crime fans. Jackson does a beautiful way of presenting heavy topics such as suicide and those left behind after death, as well as media portrayal. While it followed the basic structure of a true crime novel, it was nonetheless enjoyable, as Jackson presented many different suspects and motives. There were many well written twists and turns, and I was constantly left second guessing right along with Pippa. I could not put this book down for the life of me, and it is definitely worth a read this summer.
Reviewed by AL, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
I thought A Good Girl's Guide to Murder was fantastic. Considering that I prefer fantasy, AGGGTM was not on my reading list. I was interested to find out what all the hype was about because my book club actually chose this book. The entire writing quality of the book and characters was excellent. The plot was incredible since the author developed the mystery to keep the readers interested. The conclusion of AGGGTM sparked some heated debate, but I thought it was wonderful. The ending was quite unexpected because the plot twist wasn't at all what I anticipated. However, The length of each chapter was the one aspect I didn't appreciate. Despite the lengthy chapters, the tale itself was fantastic. Anyone who can get their hands on this book should definitely read it, in my opinion. The hype is absolutely warranted.
Reviewed by Agapi, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
In my opinion this book was not as interesting as I thought it was going to be. I appreciated the plot more towards the end of the book, but overall it is not something I would wholeheartedly recommend. I do believe that it would be great for people who are really interested in contemporary romance or mystery novels. And also think it would be great for people who are trying to start or revive their love of reading. In the end, even though this book was not suitable for my tastes I definitely understand why others would appreciate and promote it.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
My opinion was this was a real fun book to read. I loved it so much I would recommend it. It is such a page turner it had many unexpected turns.
Reviewed by Chungus, Grade 8
Glendale Central Library
This book is amazing. It was one of the first YA books I've ever read, and I'm glad it was, because it truly got me into reading. The mystery is complex and extremely well-written, and I couldn't put the book down. After I finished it, I was left thinking about it for weeks, and needing the second as soon as possible. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries, romance, and generally to YA or teen reader!
Reviewed by Maira H., Grade 8
Glendale Central Library
I really enjoyed “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”! As soon as I started reading I couldn’t put it down. You were never able to guess what would happen next, which keeps you interested throughout the whole thing. Each revelation that Pip had only added to the mystery. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” isn’t one of those mystery books where you could just guess who did it, you genuinely couldn’t tell until Pip figured it out herself. Overall, I give this book five stars and definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Emily M, Grade 10
Montrose Library
I’ll be honest, I read the entirety of this book in one sitting. As I buried myself into this book, I felt the main characters Pippa and Ravi grow on me. First, what I love about Pippa is how intelligent she is. She constantly deals with dangerous situations, but manages to rescue herself. She is a strong female protagonist. I also found myself compassionate towards Ravi. because he’s faced a lot of trauma since the death of his brother. This one-of-a-kind book is for sure worth reading!
Reviewed by Kasya M, Grade 12
Library Connection @ Adams Square
When I read this book during the summer, it took only three days to finish it as I could not put it down. Jackson was able to capture her audience and write a fantastic murder mystery book. The characters were extremely well-developed as I wanted Pippa to uncover the truth and succeed. I found myself brainstorming what I thought happened, yet the surprise ending still managed to shock me. This is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read and I would recommend it to everyone!!
Reviewed by AN, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library