Reviews - As Good As Dead | The StoryGraph

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Wheeeeew, Lordy Lordy! This one stepped on the gas pedal and did not let up until the last sentence.

Showing Pip's struggle with PTSD was very gripping and realistic. It added some depth to the story that you wouldn't typically see in YA books, but it was a very necessary element that added to her character development. Her raw and visceral anger was terrifying, understandable, and a bit unhinged at some times. It drove her to do things very out of character for her, but it also showed how traumatic life events can take a toll on someone and completely alter the person they used to be.

The drama in this one started at a simmer and kicked up to a raging inferno, and it was a wild ride! I totally pegged the villain in this one, and looking back over the clues left in the first two books, it made perfect sense. I liked how everything from the first book and a few little clues in the second all came together here and put the pieces together. Definitely wouldn't have guessed how it would all turn out specifically, but it does make sense.

The randomness of the second one still kind of has me scratching my head, but overall I can see how it acted as a transition/teaser piece. I'm still kind of on the fence about some of Pip's choices once the more serious and crazy scenes happened, but at the same time...they all had it coming, so I can't be totally mad at her. I tell ya, that girl pays attention to her true crime shows and podcasts, that's for sure.

Even though some things were more than questionable, I feel like this was a great way to wrap up Pip's story and get her where she needed to be.

The serial killer element was definitely out of left field, but I liked it! It was creepy, over the top, but played in perfectly with all the drama that happened in the first book. It also gave a little nod to the whole serial killer plot line in the second with Stanley, so it was cool to see that explored in detail here. Okay, but why did she just completely ghost everyone? To me, that would have made her look ten times as guilty as it would have if she had just carried on with life as normal. Cutting yourself off from your friends, family, and long-term boyfriend was definitely a red flag that certainly would have made her stick out more if the police were looking into her.

jellyjk's review against another edition

3.5

Disappointing, sadly. Still love the series and Team Pip/Ravi.

somanybooksgal's review against another edition

3.0

I loved the first two books in this series and dove into the third eagerly. It was not anything like I was expecting. I enjoyed it but it did not match the first two for me.

Pip is clearly and significantly traumatized by the events in the previous book, but is doing her best to hide her PTSD for everyone around her. Weird things start happening around her, but with her mind constantly playing tricks on her already, she doesn’t trust herself to interpret them correctly. She goes to the police for help, and they fail her as they have done every time previously.

There are a lot of twists and turns, a lot of connections to the past cases, and it was good to see some happiness in the lives of previous victims. My heart breaks for Pip throughout this book, and I just hope she finally found her happy ending.