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A review by abooknomad
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
This finale was the book equivalent of GoT season 8: it was going well until a trainwreck of a plot-twist happened. Suddenly, too many hasty decisions and questionable choices were made by the author that lacked proper build-up and development. My suspension of disbelief can only go so far.
I can see what Holly Jackson was trying to do, but I don't think the execution was what the story or the characters deserved.
The writing was also repetitive in a way the two previous books weren't. At first, I chalked it up to Pip's trauma, but as the plot unfolded I had the impression the repetition was a way for the author to constantly reassure the reader (and perhaps herself) that she was making the right decisions or that there were no plot holes in the turn the story took.
It's a shame this final instalment didn't live up to the rest of the series. I love these characters and found the interpersonal relations well-written. It's a series that discusses a lot of relevant and important themes regarding justice, it has nuance... I just don't think As Good As Dead did a good job of raising all these points.
I can see what Holly Jackson was trying to do, but I don't think the execution was what the story or the characters deserved.
The writing was also repetitive in a way the two previous books weren't. At first, I chalked it up to Pip's trauma, but as the plot unfolded I had the impression the repetition was a way for the author to constantly reassure the reader (and perhaps herself) that she was making the right decisions or that there were no plot holes in the turn the story took.
It's a shame this final instalment didn't live up to the rest of the series. I love these characters and found the interpersonal relations well-written. It's a series that discusses a lot of relevant and important themes regarding justice, it has nuance... I just don't think As Good As Dead did a good job of raising all these points.