Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

*unintelligible screaming*

Yeah. I don't know how to form words about this book. I thought I was getting a mid-range YA mystery novel and instead I got an intense high-range YA murder mystery novel that would probably put Nancy Drew to shame (I think. I've never actually read any of the Nancy Drew's).

The twist at the end is just so *chef's kiss*. It's worthy of Scandinavian murder mysteries and that's saying something because no one does murder mystery as well as the Scandinavians.

Looking back on it, I think I figured it out about a third into the book, by complete accident. I just went 'this seems the most legit theory so this person must've done it'. Never thinking I was right because all the theories were more or less legit or plausible. And I wasn't even completely right. Just sort of. Anyway. It's a good book. Go read it, all of you.

Content Warnings

giuliaathenalombardo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I really loved this book.
Something about the occasional murder-mystery done right really tickles my fancy, and this particular mystery was incredibly complex and truly deceitful.
Five years before the start of the book a boy named Sal Singh was found guilty of the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend Andie. Pippa chooses to do her EPQ Project on this topic and sets out to prove Sal innocent, with the help of his brother.
Holly Jackson makes you question everyone Pippa comes across in this novel, anyone could be the killer. As Pippa uncovers more of the town's hidden secrets she gets consumed by this story and so does the reader. Once Pippa was on a roll, I was right there with her and I couldn't put the book down if it where pried out of my hands.
Pippa was an amazing main character, she isn't afraid to go to incredible lengths to find the truth and will question anyone that tries to stand in her way. She was refreshingly smart, and annoyingly always a step ahead of me. Her relationship with Ravi, although not a primary theme of the book. was so wholesome and they understood and helped each other in ways that made my heart warm.
All in all, this book was truly a great read and I cannot wait to buy the next one.

Content Warnings

soundlysmitten's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Five years ago, a teenage girl went missing. Her body was never found... but her boyfriend’s body was.

All of Fairview has accepted the narrative that Sal Singh murdered his girlfriend before committing suicide. All of Fairview, except Pippa Fitz-Amobi. Under the guise of completing her senior capstone project, Pip sets her mind to finding out what really happened. But as additional crimes are uncovered, she learns that the question of who is responsible doesn’t exactly have a simple answer. Will Pip be able to unravel the mystery before someone comes for her too?

As much as I enjoyed this book, I have two main issues with it.

First is the premise. It seems highly unrealistic to me. I just don’t see a high school student being allowed to perform such a “case study.” Or people being willing to speak to one who was.

Second is the fact that Pip is so bright yet she makes some frustratingly stupid decisions, it seems, for the sake of drama. In my opinion, those moments detract from the story rather than enhance it.

Still, I’d say the crimes are planned out impressively well and the pacing is consistently on point. There’s something else, too. Something more to the story that made it easy for me to overlook any issues it may have. I don’t know what specifically, cause I didn’t even connect with the characters too deeply, but I still felt completely invested in seeing Pip’s investigation through.

So, if you can get over the unrealistic aspects... do!

😽

Content Warnings

felixelagabiere's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

max_vampire's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

pip is the best depiction of autism without meaning to be and that's fabulous
an amazing story with awesome characters that even has an interesting sidepoint on how race changes what you're assumed of doing criminally (if you look hard enough)

Content Warnings

More...