Written by Maren M.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (AGGGTM), written by Holly Jackson, is one of the most iconic YA murder mystery series of the last five years. While the first book was published in 2019, the series became wildly popular a couple years ago due to social media presence, most notably, on a TikTok subcommunity known as BookTok. AGGGTM follows Pippa Fitz-Amobi, nicknamed Pip, on her senior year of high school and her journey to complete her senior capstone project. While most people might choose to do it on college life or the history of hieroglyphs, Pip decides to solve a murder. She suspects, 2.5 years before the start of the book, that Andie Bell was killed, Andie’s boyfriend was blamed, and then he killed himself. But Pip doesn’t believe that narrative.
The Netflix Series
Usually, I’m not that big of a fan of series adaptations. Finding places to cut episodes, good actors to portray the characters, and places to shoot can easily mess up the story. But it’s safe to say this show did not have these issues. The actors were incredible and truly put their heart and soul into their performances. The emotions and tension at some points in the show are so palpable that you could reach out and grab it. As much as I love the cinematography, the real genius here is the story. The adaptation isn’t a photocopy of the book. There are different motivations, actions, and plot points that keep the essence of the book, but ensure that those who have read the book won't be bored.
The Books
The books have the same goals as the movie: keep the reader guessing. No matter how good of a literary detective you are, you’ll never be able to guess every piece of the puzzle Pip pieces together. While the Netflix series is good, only one of the 3 spectacular books are featured, leaving everyone waiting for a seasons 2 and 3. I highly recommend reading the books first. It makes watching the show much easier, even if the ending is spoiled. They are truly incredible, and watching Pip grow as a character is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
The Verdict
The murder mystery genre as a whole has a lot of requirements to make it a good story. Plot twists are essential. Out-of-left-field killers are a big no. Most importantly, the story lays a trail you can chase if you reread the book, finding the little clues that make you say "Oh!" once you realize who the killer is. AGGGTM has all of these. In both the books and the adapted series, plot twists and oh moments are guaranteed. Once again, I will always recommend reading the book before the series. However, I cannot recommend this series enough. Book or Netflix series, they are worth a read AND a watch.
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