“Dead girl walking. Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by her last investigation. But soon a new case finds her and this time it’s all about Pip. She has a stalker, one who keeps asking: Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears? Pip soon discovers a connection between her stalker and a local serial killer, nut the police refuse to act. As the dangerous game plays out it’s clear that I Pip doesn’t find the answers, she’s as good as dead…”
What is the book about?
After her last investigation into Jamie Reynolds, Pip Fitz-Amobi hasn’t been the same and has been haunted by the blood that was on her hands. She can’t focus and can’t think about anything other than what happened that night, the trauma still circling through her veins, not letting her sleep. However, Pip knows how to save herself – she just needs one last case, one last case that has a clear good guy and a clear bad guy, a black and white case. She thought this would be a Jane Doe case in Cambridge (where she is planning to go to university in a few weeks), but soon a new case finds its way to her and this time it is all about her. Someone is stalking her, and has been doing so for a while, leaving disturbing online messages (always the same one: ‘Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears?) and some physical appearances not on her phone screen. But soon it is clear that this isn’t a normal stalker case, this man has links to a serial killer, one who was supposedly convicted 6 years ago, but could this be the real killer, coming to claim his sixth victim? Now Pip must find a way to save herself, because if she doesn’t then she is certainly as good as dead…
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
Of course, my first thoughts about the book were that I had to read it and that I was going to love it just as much as the others. I had loved the first 2 books in the trilogy and I was so excited to read the last one. I not only wanted to start reading it as soon as possible, but I also needed to read it because I needed to know more about Pip and obviously her story wasn’t complete. However, initially, I was a little worried that the ending would ruin my whole experience of the books as so far I thought they were incredible and I really wanted that feeling to last. But, I still had high hopes for it and, although I was scared about whether or not the book would reach my expectations, I knew I had to read it. Once I started reading, I knew that I had been crazy to doubt Holly Jackson because she hadn’t disappointed me with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or Good Girl, Bad Blood, so clearly she wasn’t going to start now. From the very first page I knew I was going to love the book and I was completely immersed in the murder town that Holly Jackson created.
Who was your favourite character and why?
Just like in the previous books, my favourite character in As Good As Dead is definitely Pippa Fitz-Amobi. She was so brave and confident, and she was so intelligent, more intelligent than anything I could ever dream of. This intelligence was particularly showcased in this book because she had to use everything she had learnt in the complete opposite way that she was used to using her knowledge and she had to do something that not many people would be able to do and try to get away with something that appears practically impossible to most. However, my favourite quality about her was how extremely selfless she was. Initially she appeared a bit careless and selfish in the way that she tried to get her family and friends involved and looked to them for help, even though she was risking their futures for herself. But, then it was made clear to me that she was actually selfless and that she made sure that she was the only one at risk and if anyone was going to take the fall it would be her. When she thought there was still a risk involved, she decided to distance herself from everyone she cared about her because she couldn’t live with knowing that she had taken one of them down with her. Pip was one of the best female main characters I have ever encountered and she made me love the books even more.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
This is usually the hardest question for me to answer; however, in this case, it was probably the easiest because there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that my favourite part was the ending of the book. I think that this was the best ending I have ever read in my life and I can't believe how much it affected me. I seriously can’t believe I ever worried about the ending ruining the book because in reality it made it better. This ending gave me more than enough information and, although it left a lot of gaps about the future, it gave a small glimpse into the possibilities and that meant that I could hope for the best and use my imagination in a way that meant I could picture the characters in a way that maybe the author wasn’t thinking of. I loved how this ending gave every reader the chance to use their own thoughts and pick an ending that made them happy. It was also a really emotional ending and I don't think any ending has ever affected me like this. It was super subtle about what was going to happen and yet so obvious, and, even though I know I shouldn’t say anything, but I just can’t hold it anymore: I just can't believe that he waited for her! For 2 years!! I wish I could tell you all exactly what happened, but I know that it would be very selfish of me because it is important that you guys read it and experience it for yourselves. I don't think I have ever been so satisfied at the end of reading a book. It was the perfect ending to an incredible trilogy.
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, As Good As Dead was probably one of the best books I have read in a while, especially as it is the third book, which is usually a bit of a disappointment. One reason I loved the book was that it wasn't too difficult to solve who the stalker was. I was actually so surprised because I was able to find out who it was before Pip and she jumped to conclusions and didn’t really see what was right in front of her. I love when I am able to find something out before a main character because it always makes me feel amazing as I outsmarted the main characters, who aren’t real and are made to solve the investigations. Another thing that I adored about the book was the ending. This was my favourite part of the book and I loved how it was the perfect combination of subtle and yet obvious. It left plenty of room for interpretation, but was enough to help steer us in the right direction. But, the thing that shocked me the most was that an ending to a murder mystery series was able to leave me in tears and affect me emotionally in a way not many books have been able to. It was amazing and I loved it, but obviously I wish there were more investigations. One last thing I loved about the book, probably the most important thing, was the cyclical structure of the series. It was a whole circle and all the gaps in the previous cases were filled after reading this one. Not only that but all three books were linked and everything led back to the start. I liked how the tables were turned and it wasn't Pip trying to solve a murder or a missing persons case or a stalker case for the whole book and actually she had to do the inverse and had to put all her knowledge to the test and attempt to bring everything all the way back to the start. This was amazing and I think it really highlighted how amazing the author was. As Good As Dead was an amazing read and I can’t believe the story has ended here.
Which is your favourite book in the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series? (1, 2, or 3)
Although all 3 books (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Good Girl, Bad Blood and As Good As Dead) were amazing and I enjoyed reading them all, I do have a favourite book, or rather a least favourite book. Good Girl, Bad Blood was amazing, however I think that the first book (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) and the last book (As Good As Dead) are my joint favourites. The first book was the start of the series and everything was just so new and shocking that it made the whole experience more incredible. It was so amazing for a first book and I found the plot amazing – an A-Level student trying to solve a murder case that was already solved by the police (amazing!!). I also found that, although the mystery was definitely not easy to solve, if you really looked closely it was obvious from the start and the clues were everywhere so really anyone could put it together if they tried. The last book was amazing in a completely different way. It had the perfect ending that left me feeling lost for words, wanting to recommend the book to everyone I know but also wanting to keep it to myself because it felt like my special secret. However, it was also similar as the mystery was also relatively easy to solve if you looked at the clues. This book left me perfectly happy with how things ended and made me love the series even more. I just don't know which is better as they are both so different and I am just going to leave them as joint favourites. However I do want to mention one last thing: the thing I loved the most of all the books as a whole was that, although they were completely different cases and I had initially thought they weren't really like a series and more like individual stories with the same main characters, they were actually all linked and it felt like there had been a full circle from the first to the last book and back again. The cyclical structure shocked me and I thought it was incredible writing. Sometimes authors don't know that it's going to be a series and so the books don't always link as well, but this was the most well written series I have ever read and it was clear that there was meant to be 3 books from the very start. I can't wait to read more by Holly Jackson and I know if she ever releases another book I will be the first to buy it.
Would you recommend this book?
I would undoubtedly recommend reading this book; but you do need to read the first 2 books before (so that everything makes sense). I think it is a particularly perfect for those who are over 15 and enjoy some crime, drama and mystery.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A compelling, heart-breaking conclusion to the best murder mystery series in the universe.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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