A review by asipofcozy
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 3.5 ? maybe 4? 🌟 

TW: drug abuse, selling/buying of drugs, murder, gore, blood, mention on animal killing, killing of animals, beheading of animals, threats, stalking

I am really struggling to come to terms with my rating for this book because there were so many parts that were great but many big parts that I just can't turn a blind eye to.

There isn't much about my review that hasn't been said in many other reviews. I absolutely loved the fast pace of this book. It's been awhile since a book kept me turning the pages for more, pushing me faster and faster towards the end. An ending that really left me reeling and quite disappointed with where the book had strayed.

In the first half we are given what we have associated with the first two books in the trilogy, a mystery with facts, interviews, and investigation. We are also contending with a very traumatized Pip, which is understandable for everything that she has been through. So her choices, while might seem right to her, really are up for debate in the terms of "good" or "bad". However, the book still felt like it fell into that realm of mystery and intrigue that we have grown to love in the last two books.

Then that scene happened, and if you read the book you know which one I am talking about.
After finding about Jason Bell is the serial killer and almost being killed by him, instead of running for help, Pip decides to take justice into her own hands and turn around to bludgeon the dude with a hammer...which we could call it self defense but she had already ran away before making the decision to go back and surprise attack him...so not defense anymore.


Going into part two of As Good As Dead was like reading a different book with completely different characters. And I am struggling with the morals, the tone, and the change that took place. It completely deviates from Jackson's established "MO" when it comes to the trilogy and to many of us as readers it came as a complete shock and disappointment. This wasn't the same characters or plot that we have come to love.

And while Pip's character development was phenomenal and has evolved since the first book...this situation took her character development way to far and felt jarring and off course for her.

Then of course we were dealt with the ending quite rushed and unbefitting of these characters. So that's why I am struggling with what to rate this. I loved this trilogy but this is not an ending that I would have wanted for any of the characters.
Even Max, he deserved to be put in prison for the actual crime he committed, rape, not for a murder he never committed. If anything this makes Pip just as bad as any other murder out there. She could have made a different choice but she didn't, she chose the worst kind of revenge.


One more thing. This is published as "YA" and while the first two books definitely fit in that category, this book does not in the slightest. This was like reading one my adult murder mysteries but even more intense at times. 
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