In May 2019, Holly Jackson released the first book in her series on the Pippa Fitz-Amobi investigations: “A good girl’s guide to murder”, in the original title. The book arrived in Brazil on March 25, 2022 through the publisher Intrínseca, and has won over readers interested in investigation, suspense and true crime.
In the story, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is about to finish high school and decides to do her final project on the investigation of the Andie Bell case: the most beautiful and popular girl in school murdered in 2012 by her boyfriend, Sal Singh , who committed suicide days after the crime.
A missing girl. A crime with more questions than answers and full of incomplete certainties. But, 5 years after the case, Pip is willing to go after answers. Is Sal Singh Really Andie Bell’s Killer? Body not found, is Andie really dead? What do the people involved in this story have to say?
The book made Holly Jackson a New York Times bestselling author. And it is not by chance, since it is a well-written young adult thriller, addictive and full of twists in which, no matter how hard the reader tries, it is very difficult to unravel the case alone.
A strength of the book is the layout. In all, there are fifty brief chapters that intersperse between the running text, transcripts of interviews, excerpts from conversations and Pip’s production diary, where she recorded all her discoveries and assumptions about the case. This format makes the book more dynamic and immersive: we are investigating and turning over that material together with Pip.
Nice Girls Murder Handbook – Vol. 1″ is a book written by Tori Eldridge that tells the story of Lily Wong, a young Chinese woman who was raised by her grandfather in Chinatown, Los Angeles, and who becomes a professional assassin to avenge the murder of her older sister.
The book begins with Lily being hired to assassinate a dangerous man who is threatening a woman’s life. She is skilled, cunning and ruthless, but she also has a strong sense of justice that makes her question the morality of what she is doing. During the course of the story, she is pursued by a mysterious figure who believes she is involved in her brother’s death.
Eldridge’s writing style is engaging and dynamic, with plenty of action and suspense. The characters are well developed and the Chinatown setting is very well detailed, which creates a rich and authentic atmosphere. It’s easy to get caught up in the story and root for Lily, even though she’s a murderer.
The book also explores important themes such as the issue of cultural identity and the difficulty of belonging to two different worlds. Lily is a complex character who struggles to balance her Chinese traditions with her life as an assassin and her American identity. This duality is well crafted in the plot and makes the character even more interesting.
Another positive point is the diversity of characters. The book features a variety of characters from different ethnic and sexual backgrounds, which is a relief in a genre that is often dominated by white, male protagonists.
However, some parts of the book can seem predictable and clichéd, especially in relation to Lily’s conflicts with the mysterious figure that haunts her. Also, some scenes of violence are quite graphic and may not be suitable for all readers.
Overall, “Good Girls Murder Handbook – Vol. 1” is an exciting and engaging read that offers a unique blend of action, suspense and deep themes. With a strong, well-developed protagonist and an authentic setting, this book is a great choice for anyone looking for an exciting and diverse thriller.
