A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Solid 4 Stars. Really captivating for a YA mystery/thriller.

It was a fun read until it devolved into nonsense.

Holly Jackson nails this young adult mystery thriller with her first book. This story gives you a motivated teen on a mission to reveal truths about a small town murder and missing person. Her investigation tactics vary from somewhat questionable, resourceful, to tech savvy and very thorough. Having an intelligent and resourceful protagonist really propels this adventure forward from plot twist to plot twist. As a reader it was an enjoyable read and kept me guessing at every little detail or suspicion tossed into the story without muddling things so much as to confuse me. I loved the reveals, yes, multiple reveals. I also love how everything wrapped up nicely only to discover there's more leading into the rest of her series. Recommended read, well written, intriguing and didn't feel like a young adult novel at all.

Three and a half stars. A fun read.

My middle daughter has been reading this one, and it piqued my interest—seemed like a good excuse to give it a try so we could talk it over. Turns out, it’s a solid mystery. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely worth the read. It’s clearly YA (which I don’t mind at all) and blends investigative journalism with suspense in a way that keeps the story engaging.

Jackson crafts a well-paced mystery with a likable protagonist, some unexpected twists, and a creative mix of interview transcripts, case notes, and maps alongside the main narrative. This mixed-media approach adds a fresh layer to the story and makes it an immersive read.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable, brisk read that’s well put together. It won’t redefine the mystery genre, but if you like YA stories with a determined lead and a solid plot, it’s definitely worth picking up.