A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Pippa Fitz-Amobi decides to do her EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) on the 2012 investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Andie Bell in her home town of Little Kilton. The media and the local residents know who killed Andie, although her body has never been found. Her boyfriend, Sal Singh, caused his own death by suicide shortly afterwards and the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. Since then, his parents and younger brother Ravi have been gossiped about and ostracised. Pip starts by visiting the Singh family and telling Ravi that she doesn’t think that Sal murdered Andie and, what’s more, she is going to prove it.

There follows entries in Pip’s production log of telephone calls, Facebook snooping and interviews with Andie and Sal’s friends and a local journalist. The more Pip uncovers, the more complex the case for Sal’s innocence seems to be. But if he didn’t commit the crime, who did? And what actually happened to Andie Bell?

The dark and twisty story is plotted in great detail and keeps the reader guessing throughout. If you enjoyed One of Us is Lying, this is a must-read.

The mature content and occasional strong language make it more suited to older readers.

As someone who regularly teaches referencing, I had to agree with Pip’s note to herself: ‘Write your references in now so you don’t have to do it later!!!’ (Jackson, 2019, p.8).

References

Jackson, H. (2019) A good girl’s guide to murder. London: Egmont.