Electric Monkey – The Queens of Geekdom

Book Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

Publishers: Electric Monkey
Pages: 432
Book Birthday: 30.4.2020
How I Got It: Bought at 1am, for my Kindle as I couldn’t wait any longer
About: Pip Fitz-Amobi is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.
But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared but the police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time EVERYONE is listening.
But will she find him before it’s too late? Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, Eva Dolan, C L Taylor, We Were Liars and Riverdale

Characters

Being a sequel, the characters we met in the first instalment are built upon. Pip, our returning protagonist, not only grows further in this book, she demonstrates elements of PTSD. Her relationship with Ravi blooms, while not overwhelming the story.
I love that we get to discover move about Connor and others from the previous book. It actually showed what a wealth of characters Jackson built within her literary world.
I did feel that there were behaviours left unexplored and unresolved (I’m not going to say who, as that then may eliminate people from your suspect list). It didn’t leave me unsatisfied, but hoping for another sequel.

Plot

The narrative takes on a new case that has few links to Pip’s previous. It perhaps has more callbacks than another crime book may have, however it’s very clear that for Pip, these are personal as much as professional.
In fact this book had, for me, all the feels of the beloved Veronica Mars. That was an amazing show that build itself up like a braid; new story, new cases but keeping hold of strands from the past.
I loved all the elements within the plot; the court case being resolved alongside this new, missing persons, case. I enjoyed how the adults responded to the ongoings and Pip’s involvement.

Writing

Told in the third person, Good Girl, Bad Blood is still a highly emotive story. I connected with Pip and really felt her anger, pain and helplessness. When my reading seems primarily made up of first person, this makes for a refreshing change.
I was worried that having a kindle edition would botch up some of the formatting, but it was perfect. It made good use of differing fonts and layouts to differentiate between narrative, audio and journal logs. Its a clever way of presenting the evidence as Pip discovers it and adds, rather than detracts, from the pace.

Final Thoughts

I loved every moment of this book. Had it not been for quarantine and the restlessness that has come with it, I’d have read this in one sitting as I had the first.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Published: 2nd May 2019
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Pages: 432
About: The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?
A debut YA crime thriller as addictive as Serial and as page-turning as One of Us Is Lying.

First Thoughts

I’ve been waiting for this book since YALC last year. I love crime thrillers and have done since I was introduced to Faye Kellerman’s ongoing series back in 2003. It was a genre that had remained rather quiet within the YA section for a long time. While I love the detective thrillers, especially those from Chris Carter and Chelsea Cain, there’s always something a little more passionate when it’s a teen sleuth whose not paid to solve the crime.
As soon as I’d heard the plot of Holly’s debut novel, I knew it was going to feel like a painful wait until the publication. I’ve never heard of such a brilliant ARC campaign either; those who were lucky enough to get their hands on one were missing one key thing; the ending.
Since reading the opening chapters and the whole book, I’m very happy I didn’t get a copy. I think not having that ending for so long would have driven me insane.

Characters

I love Pip as a character and as a person. She’d determined, passionate and headstrong. Her character is motivated from the start, and while its personal for her, it’s given that sense of objectivity you would want from a detective.
Her relationships and friendships are key to the progress of the story; she’s unapologetic about her geeky personality. It’s a humbling confidence that will endear her to any reader.
Pip is supported, challenged and scared off by a well rounded selection of friends, classmates and adults. Whether they provide leads, red herrings or suspicions, they all feel like important interactions.
Andie and Sal are interesting characters in the sense that they are ever changing. We only get other people’s opinions and with each reveal, you are left questioning who they really were.

Plot

Well, it’s really hard to talk about the plot because I don’t want to give anything away. Safe to say, the book opens five years after the case regarding Andie Bell has been closed. Pip is constructing an essay on the evidence for and against Sal being the person who abducted and killed his girlfriend on the night in question. There was no trial as Sal’s suicide note was considered to be a confession to the crime.
Pip pulls on threads throughout the narrative and it leads to some excellent questions, curious reveals and plenty of dead ends. You’re with Pip every step of the way and the reader will be just as invested to get to the truth.
It’s pacing allows for only the slightest of pauses for you to catch your breath and asses your own thoughts on who the criminal really is.

Writing

Jackson’s writing is unique and rather clever. It’s so clear and descriptive that it felt like a cinematic thriller, much in the same style as Se7en, Kiss the Girls and Along Came the Spider.
The narrative is presented to the reader in so many different forms; Pip’s essay logs, transcripts and even text messages. Its a refreshing way to tell a story and actually would be a perfect book for students in school to study.
I would have personally have liked a larger printed font and I would recommend those of you who struggle, purchase this amazing book in Kindle so you can alter it to your liking.

Final Thoughts

Not many books would have me buying multiple copies so I could get to the end. I was so invested that when I’d left my copy on holiday at my brother’s (late night followed by an early morning flight meant I was a little sleep deprived) and had to buy another copy on my way home.
I couldn’t wait. There was no way I was waiting for it to be posted to me so my trip home included a stop off at the Waterstones.

My advice is; buy it now, read it quick and keep your copy safe.

Love Han x

#YALC Sampler Round Up One: @MKenneyPR , @akemidawn ,@HoJay92 & @mkhanauthor

City of Dust by Michelle Kenney
HQ
Kindle– 2 October 2018
PB– 13 December 2018
Book of Fire: Review & Buy

I fell back into this world like meeting up with a friend I’d not seen in forever. For both me and the story time has passed, but it feels like yesterday that I was racing through Book of Fire, as if the character’s chance of survival increased by my speed of reading. In the three chapter sampler, you are quickly caught up with the characters and their lives for the last year before Talia’s life is thrown a curve ball.
The sampler ends on a cliffhanger that will have everyone counting down to that release date.
For those who have yet to read Book of Fire, I suggest you get on it, post haste. It was one of my top reads for 2017 and I’ve been waiting with such anticipation for this sequel.

Summer Blue Bird by Akemi Dawn Bowma
Ink Road
Spring 2019
Starfish: Review & Buy

This five chapter sampler has such a powerful opening and lays down a solid foundation for what will be unfolded in 2019. From what I’ve read so far, the set up reminds me of Fly Away Home; my favourite film and worn out novelisation from when I was a kid.
It’s a testament to Bowma’s writing that I’m already attached to her characters.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Electric Monkey Press
2 May 2019
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40916679-a-good-girl-s-guide-to-murder?from_search=true

“We dare you to put it down” states the tagline on the cover of the two chapter sampler. Believe me, I’m gutted I can’t meet that challenge. It’s short, but very effective and I already have so many questions and theories that I need more information to be certain.
There was already a buzz at YALC about this book and even from the pages I’ve had the privilege to read, I can tell this is going to be the big book for next summer.

Kick the Moon by Muhammad Khan
MacMillian
19 January 2019
First book: I am Thunder

I knew nothing about Khan’s second book and I knew that I wanted it in my life. I work as an RE teacher in a diverse school in which some students feel they are almost invisible to society. Unless of course, they’re the subject of negative press. There are others who love reading, but find characters they identify with are tokens and there merely to check a box. It’s wonderful to say ‘here, you are being represented.’
Imagine my delight when I discover that the book will center around a protagonist that loves comic-book heroes. Not only is this perfect for me, I know of at least five students who will be fighting to be the first one to read it come January.