Student Book Review: As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson, reviewed by Cerisa Gu (Year 8)

Every week, Volumes will feature a new review from one of your St Cuthberts classmates. Want to write one of your own? It's easy! Email seniorlibrary@stcuthberts.co.nz with the subject line 'Book review request' to find out more.

This week, Cerisa Gu (Year 8) reviews As Good As Dead, the final book in the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson.

As Good As Dead is a mystery thriller novel written by Holly Jackson. It was published last year (2021) and is set in a fictional town in Buckinghamshire called Little Kilton. This book is the last in the trilogy of ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ (AGGGTM).
 
‘As Good As Dead’ continues Pip’s journey as a podcaster who uncovers the truth behind many missing and dead people, but this time, she’s the one who is about to go missing. Having received many threats, Pip, the main character, must find out how to save herself before it’s too late. The good thing is, Pip is smart, knows how to find clues and is experienced when it comes to crimes. She starts the book as a student who has graduated high school and is about to start university. Pip doubts many things in the beginning, including if legal justice really is fair, but by the end of the book, she is sure of most things and will take things into her own hands when the law doesn’t help.
 
Overall, the main message of the book is that there isn’t always a definite good or bad, but a lot is grey, and left to the interpretation of yourself. I rate this book a ⅘ as it definitely kept me on my toes, but the ending was a little weak for me. People who are into crime, mystery and books with amazing plot twists should read this book, but I would recommend this to mature readers since there are violent scenes and the overall plot is quite scary. Anyone from Year 8 or above should read this book.

Four stars.

Keen to read? Pick up a copy of As Good As Dead at the Frances Compton Library!