As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson: A Dark, Twisty Finale That Stays With You 🖤🔪

Hey book besties! Sooo… remember how this was supposed to go up on Sunday? Yeah, about that. 😅 It’s Tuesday, consistency has clearly packed its bags, but here we are — Review #15, and what a read it was.

I finally (!!!) finished As Good As Dead, the final book in Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy, and let me tell you: this book took me out. It’s dark, intense, and a wild ride I couldn’t look away from — even if some parts left me side-eyeing the pages.

Pip, But Unraveled

We’ve seen Pip investigate, uncover secrets, and risk it all in the first two books. But in As Good As Dead, we see her unravel. The trauma from past cases is catching up, and Pip’s fear and paranoia are palpable. It’s a bold, risky direction, and honestly? It worked.

This book shifts from YA mystery into something closer to a psychological thriller. It’s gritty, morally gray, and asks big questions about justice, survival, and the thin line between right and wrong.

Dark Twists, High Stakes, and “Did That Just Happen?” Moments

The first half pulls you in with that familiar investigative tension, but when the twist hits, it changes the game. I won’t spoil, but let’s just say I had to close the book, take a breath, and re-enter the chaos.

Yes, there were moments that felt a bit off or stretched, and a few plot points that needed more space to breathe. But overall? The pacing, the moral complexity, and the rawness of Pip’s journey made this a finale worth the emotional turmoil.

A Quote That Lingered:

“Good people do bad things, don’t they? Bad things for good reasons.”
— Holly Jackson, As Good As Dead

If the entire series could be summed up in one line, it would be this.

Final Thoughts

As Good As Dead is not a comfortable read, but it’s an impactful one. It closes the trilogy with the weight it deserves, leaving you questioning what justice really means and how far you’d go to protect yourself and the people you love.

If you’ve read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood, you owe it to yourself to finish the trilogy. It’s haunting, intense, and will sit with you long after the final page.

15 Reviews In — And Counting 🖤

Wow, 15 reviews down, inching closer to 20. I may have lost my Friday rhythm, but I’m still here, still reading, and still sharing what I love with you.

Thank you for being part of this space, for the DMs, the comments, and for screaming about books with me. Let me know: Have you finished this trilogy? Did you see that twist coming? Let’s chat below.

See you next Friday (🤞) for Review #16! Until then, happy reading, and remember: it’s okay if your rhythm is messy — stories still find you where you are. 📖✨

Book + Series Review | A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson – A Sharp, Addictive Mystery (But the Book Wins!)

10th Book Review — We Made It to Double Digits! 🎉

Hey hey! Back with my tenth book review (how did we get here already?!), and this one’s a little extra — it’s a combo review of both the book and the series adaptation of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Because seriously, when a mystery grabs me, I just can’t chill. 😅

The Book: Twisty, Smart & Surprisingly Addictive

From page one, I was hooked. The setup? Pip, a high school student, dives into an old murder case in her town for her senior project — only to discover that things are far messier than they seem. Honestly, I got some very confused looks reading this in public (the title does sound like “Crime 101”), but I didn’t care one bit.

What makes this book so immersive is its mixed-media style — texts, interviews, notes — that pull you into the investigation with Pip. She’s clever, persistent, and a total overthinker (relatable!), making her an engaging narrator to follow.

Yes, the middle dragged a bit — too many suspects and theories — but the ending? Chef’s kiss. Fast-paced, shocking, and completely worth the wait.

One quote that stuck with me:
"Everyone has secrets. It’s just a matter of finding out what they are." — Holly Jackson, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

The Series: Visually Nice, Emotionally Meh

After finishing the book, I couldn’t resist watching the series. Visually, it’s sleek and stylish — definitely a binge-worthy watch. The pacing is tighter, which helps keep the momentum going.

But here’s the catch: if you’ve read the book, you’ll notice a big difference. Pip in the show doesn’t have the same sharpness or depth. Key scenes and emotional moments felt watered down. The tension and layers that made the book special were dialed back, making the series more surface-level.

So, if you’re new to the story, the show holds up as a decent mystery drama. But if you’ve read the book? No contest — the book wins every time.

Bonus: Series Progress Report 😅

I’m done with Good Girl, Bad Blood and currently reading As Good As Dead, the final book in the series. So stay tuned for — yes, you guessed it — another trilogy review coming your way soon! After years of starting and abandoning series, I’m actually finishing one — and honestly, I’m proud of this small win. 📚

Final Thoughts

If you love dark YA thrillers with smart plots, layered characters, and plenty of twists, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a must-read. The book offers more tension, grit, and heart than the series can capture. The show is a fun bonus, but it can’t quite match the depth of the original.