A review by reka111
Jó kislányok kézikönyve gyilkossághoz by Holly Jackson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

𝐼’𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒: 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑜 𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑦.

𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!

Ladies and gentlemen, I never thought the day would come when I'd say there would be a book I'd love as much as The Witch's Heart, but here we are, so that's either a sign that my heart has softened (which there is no chance) or that this book was 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓. I know, do you think that there can be anything good with such a title?  Don't be fooled, there really is murder involved, but not in the way you think and the answers aren't as simple as you think, so let me explain.

When Pippa (our main character) takes on the investigation of a murder that happened 5 years ago as part of a school project, she has no idea what she's getting into and to be honest, perhaps neither does the reader itsself. We get to know the whole story step by step, crumb by crumb. In each chapter, the author throws us a puzzle or secret that we have to solve together with Pip before we run out of time. 

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
✎ The main character.  My goodness, it's very, very rare to read about such an active, funny, smart and persistent character as Pip was. Nothing can stood in her way when it came to fulfilling her goal and she did everything to prove her point, even if it meant that her life was in danger.
✎ The plot. A fast-paced, mysterious, adventure-filled plot? Count me in! The story flowed very nicely by itself and didn't really force anything, it simply draws you in and won't let go until you figure it out the killer. It built up nicely, with the right speed and the right amount of interest, and it captivates you all the way, so that you spend days wondering if you know every little detail for sure. 
 ✎ The characters. I beg your pardon, but a book where the characters have actual personalities and backstories? When I say that books do need to develop and get to know the characters, I'm talking about something like this.Honestly, I can't say how long it's been since I read a book where everyone got an equal place in the plot at the right time and in the right amount. Each of them has their own dark little secret and none of them are clean, so that makes everyone a suspect.
✎ The little illustrations. It was a great idea to add visual content because it helped me better understand what was happening, where and how.
✎ The love story. Well, I wouldn't exactly call it that, but something similar happened between Pip and Ravi during the book. I liked that they got a little attention, but just the right amount and didn't take away, but added to the whole thing.
✎ The twists and turns. Almost every chapter had a twist or secret (or cliffhanger ending) that I could literally die for. These were the reasons why I was so captivated by the book, because I always wanted more and more.
✎ The killer. In Andie's case, I don't really know who I can call the killer and who I can't, because both Becca and Elliot are guilty of the fact that this happened, but in fact neither of them did it completely on purpose (or maybe the former), you can say Andie invited the wrath of the Fate, in short, for me, she is  the only one who participated fully in her own death. In Sal's case, justice is much simpler.  I actually believed that he didn't kill himself and that someone else did it to him, but I never guessed that it would be Elliot, especially not that he would do it so cruelly.  But I appreciate that he stayed with him while Sal was dying and told him about beautiful things, because no one - no matter how depraved - deserves to leave the living alone.
✎ The end. The ending was simply beautiful, but at the same time heartbreaking, but it gave me the peace I wanted.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐃𝐈𝐃'𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄
✎ I don't know when I signed up for the fact that Barney would grow so close to my heart and that my heart would hurt so much because of his death, but oh my god I SOBBED. I have no problem with death, but the death of animals is very difficult for me and I honestly feel his death was unnecessary, only being used to symbolize shock factor and cruelty (even though he accidentally drowned). 

Honestly, 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲, and that's understandable, because it happens to me too often that I guess the killer before anything serious happens, so it is not enjoyable for me at all, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭. I loved this book, or at least I really enjoyed it, because it gave me the kind of puzzles that I need, not too difficult, but not too easy and ultimately not unsolvable. I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick high school read with secrets, mysteries and trials!