“As Good as Dead” by Holly Jackson is the thrilling conclusion to the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy, which follows the protagonist, Pippa Fitz-Amobi, as she delves into mysteries in her small town. In this final installment, Pippa finds herself tangled in a web of secrets and danger as she investigates a new case while also confronting the lingering shadows of her past investigations and one again the book sets off right wheer the last one left off.
Jackson continues to excel in crafting well-rounded and complex characters. Pippa Fitz-Amobi’s growth throughout the trilogy is particularly noteworthy. In “As Good as Dead,” readers witness her grappling with the aftermath of previous events, dealing with her own fears and vulnerabilities, and ultimately coming into her own as a formidable investigator. The excellent descriptive language helps the reader truly understand what Pip is going through and in some ways makes that feel it too. Personally speaking, I am in awe of Jacksons ability to make her words come to like as multi-dimensional and realistic characters. That by it self made this book and the series as a whole a 10/10 for me but thats not even the end of it, rather… just the beginning.
The suspense that Jackson is able to create through out the book is immaculate and is one of the main reasons why this series has been such a big hit amongst all age groups.
The mystery at the heart of the novel is compelling, with layers of suspense and intrigue that build tension throughout. Jackson excels at planting clues and red herrings, creating a sense of urgency that propels the narrative forward.
Something incredibly funny about this book in hindsight is that I am sure like me many readers started off this series with the fist installment “A Good Girls Guide to Murder” and thought that is what it would have been. However the irony is that it was the last book that truly allowed the readers to gain access to a “How to get away with murder” guide. But please use this to your discretion haha… wouldn’t want a murderer getting their hands on this.
The growth in relationships in this book is outstanding, be it the friendships or the budding romance between Pip “Sarge” and Ravi. The character development is truly fascinating. The way the book handles real life relationships with solutions that the readers could relate to just elevated the overall experience of the book. At least for me.
As a whole, this book was an incredible ending to the already amazing series and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to read this book and I hope you guys do too.