readingbyte 's review for:

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

4.0

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Blisteringly paced and wickedly clever, Not Quite Dead Yet is the kind of book that laughs at your confident theories and then smacks you with a twist you never saw coming. Just when you think, ah yes, I’ve solved it, Holly Jackson basically says, lol, no you haven’t.

But this isn’t just a murder mystery built to toy with your detective skills. It’s also surprisingly uplifting, peppered with moments of sweetness and laugh-out-loud humor that keep it from ever feeling heavy. The characters aren’t cardboard cutouts—they’re messy, lovable, and often very funny, which makes the more heartfelt turns land even harder.

So yes, it’s a twisty whodunnit. But it’s also an inspirational, reflective, occasionally goofy rollercoaster that proves a murder mystery can have both brains and heart. Consider me thoroughly entertained (and thoroughly humbled by how wrong my guesses were).

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.