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A review by secre
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Holy hell, I was not expecting the way this series twisted and pivoted and I am absolutely here for it. Admittedly, some of the events absolutely strain credulity, but it's well written enough and high stakes enough to be riveting regardless. I was very much expecting the same tried and tested formula here and to begin with, it looked like that's what I was getting; Pip finds a new case to embroil herself in even as she's spiralling with PTSD and taking pills to sleep. But at about the half way mark, things take a dark and shocking turn and the entire formula is cast into the winds as Pip scrambles to keep her life intact.
It's shocking. Crazy. And absolutely riveting. And I could not put this book down. I was absolutely hooked. Early in the novel, it becomes clear that Pip probably has a stalker. I say probably because Pip absolutely isn't the most reliable of witnesses at this point. She's spiralling, hard, haunted by the death of Child Brunswick and reliving the moment both awake and asleep. She's heavily reliant on sleeping aids, which is problematic as the doctor stopped prescribing them so now she has to buy them from less reputable sources. Jackson does an excellent job of depicting Pip's mental health struggles.
But as the novel goes on, the threat from the stalker increases and it's clear that this is not the imagining of Pip's mind. Someone really is out to get her. I expected things to fall into place at this point; Pip racing against time to unmask the threat before it's too late. And that's kind of what happens. Until it isn't. There isn't much I can say without huge spoilers, but I can say the novel takes a sharp detour from the expected and runs off the rails into a whole different kettle off fish. Pip has everything to lose.
I hammered through this novel. I needed to know what happened. I needed to know how things worked out. I needed to know if Pip comes out the other side. I could not put this book down. It's completely unexpected but absolutely gripping for it. I hope this isn't the last we see of Pip as this has been one hell of a ride.
It's shocking. Crazy. And absolutely riveting. And I could not put this book down. I was absolutely hooked. Early in the novel, it becomes clear that Pip probably has a stalker. I say probably because Pip absolutely isn't the most reliable of witnesses at this point. She's spiralling, hard, haunted by the death of Child Brunswick and reliving the moment both awake and asleep. She's heavily reliant on sleeping aids, which is problematic as the doctor stopped prescribing them so now she has to buy them from less reputable sources. Jackson does an excellent job of depicting Pip's mental health struggles.
But as the novel goes on, the threat from the stalker increases and it's clear that this is not the imagining of Pip's mind. Someone really is out to get her. I expected things to fall into place at this point; Pip racing against time to unmask the threat before it's too late. And that's kind of what happens. Until it isn't. There isn't much I can say without huge spoilers, but I can say the novel takes a sharp detour from the expected and runs off the rails into a whole different kettle off fish. Pip has everything to lose.
I hammered through this novel. I needed to know what happened. I needed to know how things worked out. I needed to know if Pip comes out the other side. I could not put this book down. It's completely unexpected but absolutely gripping for it. I hope this isn't the last we see of Pip as this has been one hell of a ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Mental illness, Drug use, Murder, and Kidnapping