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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
such a switch. Always well written and exhausting to imagine myself in pips shoes but so good.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Tense, Dark Conclusion Undone by Unrealistic Character Shifts & Stakes
Holly Jackson's finale to the "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" trilogy, "As Good As Dead," offers undeniable page-turning intensity and a significant tonal shift into darker, psychological thriller territory. The core strength lies in Jackson's ability to craft suspense; the mounting dread that Pip experiences as she is stalked by the enigmatic "DT" is genuinely chilling. The novel delves into the profound, corrosive impact of Pip's past trauma and online notoriety, adding a compelling layer of depth and making the story feel like a necessary, albeit grim, evolution of her character arc. The pacing appears somewhat slow at the beginning and does not truly pick up until near the end. However, the novel's major flaws stem from its departure from believability, particularly concerning Pip's actions and their consequences—or lack thereof. While Pip's trauma is understandable, her sudden and complete isolation from Ravi, her family, Cara, and Connor feels jarringly unrealistic and narratively forced. After two books spent building deep bonds, especially her partnership and romance with Ravi, her refusal to confide in anyone about the terrifying stalking she endures strains credulity. This isolation feels less like a natural consequence of trauma, which was effectively shown earlier, and more like a plot device designed to corner Pip and force her into extreme, solo actions. It undermined the established strength of her relationships purely to serve the dark turn the plot demanded.
The central climax and resolution push the boundaries of suspension of disbelief to a breaking point. Pip's intricate plan, coupled with the fact that she ultimately faces no legal or lasting personal consequences for murder, feels deeply unrealistic and tonally inconsistent with the series' roots. While the book explores vigilantism and the failures of the system, Pip's ability to meticulously plan, cover up, and essentially "win" after committing murder stretches plausibility far beyond the "resourceful teen investigator" premise of the first book. The lack of meaningful fallout, beyond internal guilt, significantly diminishes the weight and impact of her actions, making the ending feel morally ambiguous in a way that undermines, rather than challenges, the reader.
Overall, "As Good As Dead" is a gripping, dark read with strong moments of suspense and a brave exploration of Pip's damaged psyche. Jackson isn't afraid to take her character to a bleak place. However, the unrealistic isolation of Pip from her vital support system and the jarringly consequence-free resolution to her extreme actions ultimately detracted from my enjoyment. The book delivers a tense, often shocking conclusion, but one that sacrifices character consistency and believable stakes for dramatic effect, making it a divisive and, for me, less satisfying end to an otherwise strong trilogy. It is worth reading for closure, but expectations regarding realism and Pip's choices should be managed.
Holly Jackson's finale to the "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" trilogy, "As Good As Dead," offers undeniable page-turning intensity and a significant tonal shift into darker, psychological thriller territory. The core strength lies in Jackson's ability to craft suspense; the mounting dread that Pip experiences as she is stalked by the enigmatic "DT" is genuinely chilling. The novel delves into the profound, corrosive impact of Pip's past trauma and online notoriety, adding a compelling layer of depth and making the story feel like a necessary, albeit grim, evolution of her character arc. The pacing appears somewhat slow at the beginning and does not truly pick up until near the end. However, the novel's major flaws stem from its departure from believability, particularly concerning Pip's actions and their consequences—or lack thereof. While Pip's trauma is understandable, her sudden and complete isolation from Ravi, her family, Cara, and Connor feels jarringly unrealistic and narratively forced. After two books spent building deep bonds, especially her partnership and romance with Ravi, her refusal to confide in anyone about the terrifying stalking she endures strains credulity. This isolation feels less like a natural consequence of trauma, which was effectively shown earlier, and more like a plot device designed to corner Pip and force her into extreme, solo actions. It undermined the established strength of her relationships purely to serve the dark turn the plot demanded.
The central climax and resolution push the boundaries of suspension of disbelief to a breaking point.
Overall, "As Good As Dead" is a gripping, dark read with strong moments of suspense and a brave exploration of Pip's damaged psyche. Jackson isn't afraid to take her character to a bleak place. However, the unrealistic isolation of Pip from her vital support system and the jarringly consequence-free resolution to her extreme actions ultimately detracted from my enjoyment. The book delivers a tense, often shocking conclusion, but one that sacrifices character consistency and believable stakes for dramatic effect, making it a divisive and, for me, less satisfying end to an otherwise strong trilogy. It is worth reading for closure, but expectations regarding realism and Pip's choices should be managed.
WTF THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! Pip was absolutely unhinged and I love how everything circled back and wrapped up the first book. I don’t know if I totally loved this one, the ending broke my heart and I just felt like her never talking to her parents & them being so gullible and oblivious to everything going on was annoying, but that’s YA for ya
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To be honest, I don't really know how to rate this book. I understood the motives for why Pip acted the way she did and the way she and Ravi handled the situation made sense for their personality. But still the way Pip decided at that crucial moment made me angry. As well as the fact that she just ate up everything insider herself and didn't even talk to Ravi about her sleeping problems etc.
And I guess that was what the book wanted, to make the reader angry and to understand Pips anger, but for me it made the experience of reading the book annoying. I just wanted it to be done. So while on the one hand I liked the plot, the character development from the first to last book concerning Pip wasn't really my taste.
Maybe it was just too different from the first two books so I had "wrong" expectations going into it.
And I guess that was what the book wanted, to make the reader angry and to understand Pips anger, but for me it made the experience of reading the book annoying. I just wanted it to be done. So while on the one hand I liked the plot, the character development from the first to last book concerning Pip wasn't really my taste.
Maybe it was just too different from the first two books so I had "wrong" expectations going into it.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy. Jackson expertly ramps up the suspense and complexity, wrapping up the series with a powerful and unexpected finale. The gripping plot, rich character development, and clever twists keep readers on the edge of their seats. This final installment is a fitting end to a remarkable series—exciting, intense, and impeccably crafted. Highly recommended for fans of the trilogy!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No