It's a "Novel Idea" to Read a Good Murder Mystery

Photo by Sarah Gerovac

Reading a new book each month, Hamilton’s “Novel Idea” book club met at the end of October to discuss our first novel this year. As we read Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, we found many elements of a classic murder mystery intertwined with modern elements that resulted from a book published so recently in 2019. The plot is told creatively through the shifting points of view of online documents from a senior capstone project written by the main character and a third person omniscient narrator, and these different perspectives allow readers to become wrapped up in the story and gain a deeper insight into each character.

With a plot that centers around a high school senior reinvestigating a small town’s case of a murder and suicide that was previously thought to have been solved, the book takes many of the twists and turns that are often a cliché in murder mysteries. Additionally, the story initially focuses on the relationships of the main character, Pip, with many characters in the town, including friends and family. It also focuses on Pip’s own experiences and struggles with the college application process— these pieces of the story allow for a multi-dimensional picture of an interesting main character as well as a relatable one, especially in its modernity in aspects of school, media, and applying to college. 

As the story progresses, it becomes more wrapped up in the murder case with less focus on Pip’s relationships with anyone besides her new friend, the brother of the alleged murderer, which possibly shallows the genuity of Pip’s character and potential for her realistic portrayal. However, such writing decisions also allowed the plot of the novel to progress more quickly and keep the interest of readers throughout the story.

Ultimately, this novel portrays a complex murder mystery plot that keeps readers curious, interested, and guessing until the end, and eventually wraps up in a satisfying conclusion. The writing is certainly not at a high level and although there are some social issues brought up throughout the book, its  main purpose is to entertain. If you generally enjoy the murder mystery genre and are looking for a creatively entertaining book to read, you will certainly find a satisfying tale in this story.

4/5 Stars: Recommend