Holly Jackson’s New York Times bestselling YA mystery novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has been adapted into the highly anticipated six-episode Netflix series. The show doesn’t disappoint as fans of the novel as well as those who went in watching the show blind have both received a chilling experience.
Set in the fictitious town of Little Kilton, the book follows intelligent and witty 17-year-old Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi, played by Emma Myers, as she investigates the closed case of a murder-suicide of high school students Andie Bell and Sal Singh, played by India Lillie Davis and Rahul Pattni, which occurred five years prior. Pip has doubts about the case, so she chose this controversial topic for her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Considering all the evidence points to Sal, ever since Andie went missing everyone throughout the town believed him to be her murderer. Disregarding the evidence, Pip and the brother of Sal, Ravi Singh, played by Zain Iqbal, believe in Sal’s innocence, so they decide to take a stab at the case together. However, they are unaware of the haunting past being uncovered. From attending raving parties to breaking and entering, Pip finds herself caught in numerous dangerous situations, struggling through to find out the truth no matter the cost.
Although Pip starts receiving multiple threats from an anonymous source, she almost never strays from her goal to prove Sal’s innocence. Ignoring school and even her future, Pip’s main focus is on the case, regardless of the discouragements she gets from her family, teachers, and friends. This goes to show the kind of determination Pip has once she sets her mind on something.
Along with Emma Myers starring as Pip, the entire cast did a wonderful job at making Holly Jackson’s novel come to life, and many of the characters were exactly how readers pictured them. A difference between the novel and the series was the way Pip presented herself during the interviews; she was much more unprofessional compared to the book. To be more modern, the show moved the murder to 2019 instead of 2014, as the current characters are living in the year 2024. Furthermore, the series includes a flashback to 2019 that explains Pip had a more emotional connection to the murder itself and blames herself for a portion of it. Even though there were minor differences between the book and the series, the plot didn’t change much, which is great for those who read the book beforehand.
A few key characters weren’t present in the show, such as the biased news reporter Stanley Forbes. Similarly, one of Andie’s best friends Chloe Burch was replaced by a different character, Nat da Silva, played by Jessica Webber, who had a completely different role in the novel. Although these characters were excluded, it didn’t make the series any less interesting. With an exciting plot twist at the end of each episode, it keeps the audience on their toes and makes the show extremely binge-worthy. The soundtrack itself should earn some praise as it creates a sort of eerie atmosphere that fits the plot of the show exceedingly well. Overall, the series was very exciting for both fans of Holly Jackson and newcomers to her world of mystery alike.
