Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by cloreadsbooks1364
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not Quite Dead Yet, the new YA mystery novel from Holly Jackson in which a woman solves her own murder. A fascinating premise. After enjoying all of Jackson’s previous novels, I immediately dived into this one.
Not Quite Dead Yet
By Holly Jackson
4/5⭐️
On Halloween, 27-year-old Jet Mason is attacked in her home. Upon awakening, she is told that she has seven days at most until she is unavoidably killed by a brain aneurysm. Jet becomes determined to finally do something with her life, and declares that she will solve her own murder, accompanied by her childhood friend Billy.
I want to start this review by mentioning that I somehow guessed who was responsible for Jet’s death extremely early on, and this unfortunately reduced the exhilarating rush I always get at the end of Jackson’s novels, with the all-is-revealed confrontation scene. I definitely prefer the tension created by not knowing who it is, but am still quite pleased with myself. On the last slide, I’ve explained how I realised who it was, if you’ve already read this book.
Characters included the optimistic protagonist Jet, the kind-hearted Billy, Jet’s annoying brother and horrible sister-in-law, kind father, and pressuring mother. There is also the adorable dog.
Jet and Billy solve the mystery through breaking-and-entering, confrontations, social media, and recalling past evens. Meanwhile, symptoms of Jet’s aneurysm grow, from dizziness to losing the use of an arm, as her time runs out.
This book took me less than a day to read, as did Jackson’s previous two standalone novels. It had the same easily read writing style, confident protagonist, and a complex truth hidden behind mystery.
I recommend this one if you enjoy a good fast-paced mystery.
Not Quite Dead Yet
By Holly Jackson
4/5⭐️
On Halloween, 27-year-old Jet Mason is attacked in her home. Upon awakening, she is told that she has seven days at most until she is unavoidably killed by a brain aneurysm. Jet becomes determined to finally do something with her life, and declares that she will solve her own murder, accompanied by her childhood friend Billy.
I want to start this review by mentioning that I somehow guessed who was responsible for Jet’s death extremely early on, and this unfortunately reduced the exhilarating rush I always get at the end of Jackson’s novels, with the all-is-revealed confrontation scene. I definitely prefer the tension created by not knowing who it is, but am still quite pleased with myself. On the last slide, I’ve explained how I realised who it was, if you’ve already read this book.
Characters included the optimistic protagonist Jet, the kind-hearted Billy, Jet’s annoying brother and horrible sister-in-law, kind father, and pressuring mother. There is also the adorable dog.
Jet and Billy solve the mystery through breaking-and-entering, confrontations, social media, and recalling past evens. Meanwhile, symptoms of Jet’s aneurysm grow, from dizziness to losing the use of an arm, as her time runs out.
This book took me less than a day to read, as did Jackson’s previous two standalone novels. It had the same easily read writing style, confident protagonist, and a complex truth hidden behind mystery.
I recommend this one if you enjoy a good fast-paced mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness