Week 13: Young Adult Annotation - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

 



*Note: I listened to the audio version of this via Libby*

Author: Holly Jackson

Title: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Genre: Young adult

Publication Date: January 5th, 2021

Number of Pages: 400

Geographical Setting: East Coast, small town in Connecticut

Time Period: late 2000s

Series (If applicable): Yes; Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series

Plot Summary:

An investigation turns into an obsession… Andie Bell had it all. She was pretty. Popular. The perfect IT girl. Until she was murdered. Everyone knew it was her then boyfriend, Sal. Or so they thought. Right up until the moment he killed himself. Pip knew Sal. He couldn’t be a killer, could he? As part of her final senior project, Pip decides to reopen the investigation, just to see if the facts are true. What she soon stumbles upon is more than she bargained for as each clue leads her down a trail of dark secrets that may prove Sal didn’t murder his girlfriend… or kill himself. The lines between past and present blur when someone in Fairview decides that Pip is getting a little too close to what really happened to Andie… and it may just be time to get rid of her, too.  

Subject Headings: Juvenile fiction – Cold cases – Criminal investigations – Murder – Suspense – Thriller

Appeal:

-         Intricately plotted – these books have intricate, complicated, or elaborate storylines, often involving multiple plots or numerous narrative twists and turns

-         Suspenseful – ranging in intensity from subtle psychological unease to nail-biting suspense, these books keep readers on edge

-         Darkly humorous – the humor in these books derives from ironic or grimly satiric treatment of death, suffering, and other morbid subjects

3 terms that best describe this book:

-         Attention grabbing – irresistible to young readers, these books instantly draw them in

-         Engrossing – these narrators skillfully draw listeners into the story, providing a memorable listening experience

-         Spunky – feisty and scrappy, these characters have pluck and determination

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):

The following non-fiction and fiction works were found using Goodreads, NoveList, my local library catalog, and Barnes & Noble.

The non-fiction works are similar in that they feature women of the same age as the characters in the book and are victims of similar crimes. They also feature investigative reporting and writing.

The fiction works are similar in that they feature suspenseful murders, teens investigating fellow schoolmates for murder, heart pounding scenes, and a bit of romance mixed in as well as alternating timelines.

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

-         Who Killed Betsy?: Uncovering Penn State University’s Most Notorious Unsolved Crime by Derek Sherwood

In 1969, Betsy Ruth Aardsma was murdered inside Penn State University’s library by an unknown assailant. Despite interviewing thousands of students, no suspects emerged… until the author and a fellow researcher took another look at the case and brought to police’s attention Richard Charles Haefner, a graduate student at Penn State. Sherwood takes readers on a journey behind the scenes into the world that was the late 1960s at Penn State, and examines why and how the suspected killer, Haefner, managed to elude police and local law enforcement for so long.  

-         Murder in Greenwich: Who Killed Martha Moxley? by Mark Fuhrman

On October 30, 1975, fifteen-year-old Martha Moxley was found bludgeoned to death with a golf club on the grounds of her family’s exclusive Greenwich estate. It’s been a mystery that has yet to be solved, and it’s a case that launched the Connecticut Grand Jury Investigation and brought about questions of the legal system, whether or not it was actually serving its created purpose.

-         Murdered Innocents by Corey Mitchell

It was December 1991 in Austin, Texas, a night no one will soon forget when four girls were found raped, murdered, and set on fire in a yogurt shop. It would be eight years before authorities were able to finally solve their murders and discover that the crime was a botched, drug-fueled robbery gone wrong. Mitchell takes readers on a shocking, twisted, anxiety induced journey from the night when four lives were lost forever to the moment four young men were ultimately tried and charged for their murders.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

-         The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes

Avery Grambs had a plan: survive high school, win a scholarship, get out. But then billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery his entire fortune. Why? Avery has absolutely no idea who Hawthorne is. In order to receive the fortune, however, there’s a catch: Avery must move into the legendary Hawthorne house, a home filled with secret passages, riddles, and codes. And unfortunately, the family that Tobias disowned, including the four grandsons who thought they were going to inherit everything and will do just about anything to prevent Avery from inheriting the fortune they believe is rightly theirs. To survive, Avery must play the game, and get out alive.

-         Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

It was one of the greatest crimes in American history… Albert Ellingham, twentieth century tycoon, founder of Ellingham Academy in Vermont, got more than he bargained when in 1936, his daughter and wife were kidnapped, and the only clue was a riddle left by someone using the name ‘Truly, Devious.’ The case was never solved and it wasn’t until years later when Stevie Bell begins her first year at the infamous school that she becomes determined to solve the mystery and find the whereabouts of Ellingham’s family. In addition to juggling school and her fellow housemates, she now has to contend with the infamous ‘Truly, Devious’ who has returned, making Stevie their next target.

-         Sulfur Heart by Brooke Carter

Will’s father was a retired cop turned security guard who worked the night shift at a sulfur mill, and it wasn’t long before he was found dead in said pile of sulfur. Was it an accident? Or was it murder? That’s a question Will is determined to find the answer to, but in order to do that, he must return to the place he said he’d never step foot in again. Is it a case of history repeating itself? Or something more sinister?


Comments

  1. Lexi OwensApril 7, 2023 at 5:56 AM

    Hi Gabrielle,

    Despite finding most crime-driven novels too anxiety-inducing, the plot summary for this book sounds quite intriguing. I appreciate how nuanced this novel seems to be, particularly in terms of the plot and tone; I think including both psychological suspense and more outward suspense driven by the setting and plot rather than the characters’ internal thoughts and feelings helps appeal to a broader audience who choose thrillers or suspenseful novels that match a specific set of interests. Given the title and certain lines in your plot summary, I wondered whether the fact that the author chose a female protagonist, which I would classify as the characterization appeal, is an essential element of the novel. I agree that your read-alikes, particularly the nonfiction books, would appeal to readers who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan RichardsApril 9, 2023 at 11:35 AM

      I think this book sounds really interesting. I've recently got into crime novels, but a lot are too graphic for me, maybe reading the YA version of these would be better for me. I will be reading this.

      Delete
  2. Brooke DeBoestApril 9, 2023 at 5:02 PM

    I really enjoyed this book (as well as Truly Devious, one of your readalikes). YA dark academia and suspense novels are actually some of my favorite reads. They are quick and easy, and they pack a lot of drama. Basically, if it gives Pretty Little Liars vibes, I will try it. It’s also a good choice for someone who doesn’t want a crazy amount of violence, though some YA can have that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KApril 9, 2023 at 8:58 PM

    Hi Gabrielle!
    This is a book I read a while ago and really enjoyed listening to. I thought the author did a really good job at not making the book predictable and creating a lot of suspense. The rest of the series was really strongly fleshed out too. If you enjoyed this book I might suggest Ripley Jones’ book Missing Clarissa. It's also about a podcast run by two young girls. They are trying to uncover the mystery of a girl who disappeared twenty years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Erin CataldiApril 11, 2023 at 12:13 PM

    I recommend this one all the time to teens - they love it. Great annotation and full points!

    ReplyDelete

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