The Drumbeat

by Apurv Prajapati

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a young adult mystery filled with plot twists and turns, and if you love solving mysteries, you should give this book a try. 

The story centers around Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a bright and determined high school student who chooses an unconventional topic for her senior capstone project: reinvestigating the five-year-old murder of Andie Bell, a popular girl in her small town of Kilton.

Officially, Andie’s boyfriend, Sal Singh, was accused of the crime before allegedly taking his own life, but Pippa suspects that the case isn’t as clear-cut as it seems. Reading the book, I thought Sal did kill Andie, but he didn’t, and if he didn’t, then who did? 

As she digs deeper, what was supposed to be a school project evolves into a full-time investigation, uncovering hidden secrets, and a web of lies that runs deeper than anyone could have ever imagined. And I couldn’t solve some of the mysteries because, to be honest, it was so confusing but also very thrilling at the same time. But when the truth came out, it left me shocked for quite a long time because I didn’t know this would happen, so yeah there are very shocking plot twists, and some of them you wouldn’t even expect to be real. 

One of the book’s most compelling features is its unique format, which includes journal entries, interview transcripts, maps, and other important elements that enhance the storytelling and make the mystery feel immersive and interactive for readers. The journal entries use different fonts and are written in a way that makes you want to read and not stop. It’s also written in a way that if you are a true crime lover you would want to read it more and more. 

Pippa herself is intelligent and determined in this case, whose courage makes her an engaging character to be a big fan of. And she does some crazy stuff that I would not be able to do as a senior, even if it was for my senior capstone project. If you like this book and decide to read the second and third ones, some things she does are just unbelievably crazy and shocking and will leave anyone in pure shock.  

The book perfectly balances its interesting plots with a mystery full of twists and shocking unknown facts, keeping the readers guessing until the end. And may I tell you, it will leave you in shock after knowing who the killer was? (or killers) but to find out who it was you will have to read the second and third one, unless you wanna be left on a cliffhanger. 

The novel’s deep descriptions and strong character development bring the small-town setting to life, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere that stays throughout the reading.

Though primarily a mystery, the story also includes moments of deep friendships, jokes, and light romantic plots that add more mystery. Even if you hate these types of plots, the story is not a chapter long—it’s very short—and you won’t even realize that you’re reading a romantic plot. But if you do like it, then I bet you are going to love it, especially when Pippa starts acting on it, it is one of my favorite parts to read. 

This book is sharp, engaging, and emotional, making it an absolute standout in the genre. This is just the first book, if you read the second and third, I bet you would cry—I did, and it was very worth it. If you love this book and are interested, then try out the second book. Trust me, you are going to love it. 

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder is not just an edge-of-your-seat thriller but also a messing-your-thoughts book, so if you are a hard-core mystery and crime fan you should DEFINITELY read it.