Good Girl, Bad Blood Review: Same stuff, stronger heart
While the original A Good Girl's Guide to Murder isn't one of my favorite Holly Jackson books, I was still excited to check out these sequels. I wish I had read her books in release order, but the two sequels were on hold so long that I ended up reading all of her standalones in the time it took to get them. So, was Good Girl, Bad Blood as good as the first, a mediocre sequel, or one of Jackson's best books? That's what I, Brighton Nelson, will be discussing in today's review. Thanks so much for joining me, and I hope you have a great day!
The Negatives
Let's start with the negatives. First, Pip's motivation—and, by extension, the core drive of the mystery—is simply less compelling this time around. The combination of a school project, teaming up with Ravi, and unraveling a massive cold case made for a far more gripping puzzle box than a recent missing persons case involving a character who feels much more distant from the central narrative.
Second, Pip and her friend group feel much more static for most of the novel. Since Pip's notable development happens late in the third act, it didn't feel like she was growing into a heroine, which was a pivotal strength of the first book for me. Her organic, blossoming friendship with Ravi was one of the best elements of the original, but without introducing any similarly beloved dynamic here, I didn't feel as much emotional investment in the cast.
Third, the investigation sequences are far less gripping this time around. While the final act lives up to the original, the middle of the book sometimes grinds to a crawl. However, I will say that nothing in the first book was as intriguing as the Child Brunswick storyline—I'll give it that! Though, this also led to a much heavier reliance on tech for solving the case, which worked fine for me, but I can see it being a bit disappointing for readers who prefer traditional legwork.
The Positives
While I was far less hooked on the initial character dynamics and pacing, the book completely redeems itself for me with its exploration of much darker, more emotional themes. Even if Pip feels more static on the surface, she's grappling with a massive amount of residual trauma. She goes through panic attacks, guilt, and hyper-vigilance. This is easily one of Jackson's best books in that regard, largely because her standalones don't get adequate room to explore the long-term psychological aftermath of a mystery the way a sequel can. Once the stakes ratchet up in the third act, Pip is hit even harder, and the emotional fallout lands with brutal impact.
Furthermore, while the personal stakes can feel relatively low early on, the fact that the crime unfolds in real time means the external stakes end up vastly higher. That real-time urgency skyrockets the tension in the back half and makes Pip's increasingly ruthless (and reckless) choices hit with absolute precision.
The Brighton's Bookshelf Verdict
Brighton's Bookshelf Score: 6/10
Letter Score: B-
Good Girl, Bad Blood isn't a great novel, but it's a good one. It's more of what's good in the original, but to a lesser degree, with better emotional stakes. It's not perfect, and it's not one of Holly Jackson's best novels, but it's certainly not bad.
Interested in checking out some of my other Holly Jackson book reviews? Or other mystery, YA, thriller, and crime novels? Check them out below!
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