“A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” (AGGGTM) by Holly Jackson is a thrilling YA murder mystery that made the New York Times Bestsellers list and took over BookTok, starring “good girl” Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi, following her quest to solve a five year old murder case. In the small town of Little Kilton (or Fairview if you read the U.S. version) high schooler Andie Bell disappears, and her boyfriend at the time, Sal Sign, is accused of her murder. Just days after her murder, Sal is found dead, appearing to have confessed and killed himself. But Pip is convinced Sal is innocent. Fans of the books gushed over the unexpected twists and turns and the heartwarming high school romance that blooms between Pip and Ravi, Sal’s younger brother.
Three years after it was published, a series adaptation was announced. Readers speculated about what the series would be like, anxiously biting their nails and begging for them to not mess up the beloved murder mystery. And while some readers have taken to social media to voice their disappointment with the divergence from the book, the series adaptation keeps nearly all the most important plot points and clues to the series, making an enjoyable watch regardless of whether or not you’ve read the books.
The series is only six episodes long, so naturally leaves a lot out — little clues and large red herrings alike. Pip, played by Emma Meyers, even discovers the same clues in different ways; she confronts the drug dealer Howie (Thomas Gray) by herself at a party alone instead of with Ravi (Zain Iqbal) at his home. But given that most of the book is Pip walking around and talking to people, the changes made to the show make sense. While Pip’s strolls down murder lane to prove Sal’s innocence make a captivating read due to her internal monologue, watching a teenager walk around a tiny British town for 40 minutes wouldn’t be nearly as thrilling onscreen.
The soundtrack of the series is masterfully chosen — it nevers fails to flawlessly recreate the edge of your seat atmosphere of the series. The series soundtrack is littered with big hits and classics alike, from “Sail” by AWOLNATION to “You Should See Me In A Crown” by Billie Eillish, each song serves to enhance the emotional tension of the scene. The opening of episode one to “The Feminine Urge” by The Last Dinner Party is the perfect introduction to the reckless, rash and ready to commit crimes in the name of justice, Pip, while providing a musical nod to the feminist themes of the trilogy. “Me and The Devil” by Gil Scott-Heron plays a pivotal scene with Max Hastings (Henry Ashton) and Pip, another great musical nod – this time to one of the series devils.
Speaking of devils, Ashton pulls off an incredible performance as the most punchable man on earth. From the moment he appears as Max Hastings on screen, you can’t help but hate him. From his casual misogyny and predatory demeanor, Ashton perfectly captures the condescension and entitlement of the character as he mockingly calls Pip a “good girl” and a “hysterical avenging virgin”.
The show makes some additional changes, like adding more tension (and disrespect on Pip’s part) between Pip and her mother, who in the books is a largely unobtrusive character, mostly showing only to support Pip or voice concern for her well-being. While it doesn’t necessarily take away from the story, it doesn’t add to it either.
Still there was one missing person that didn’t escape my notice – Stanley Forbes. The vitriol filled reporter serves as a minor antagonist to the books, fuelling the racist hatred and shunning of the Singh family in the first book. In the sequel, “Good Girl, Bad Blood”, Stanley becomes a major player, leaving the show with fewer threads set up for the next season. And if the references made in this season are any indicator, the show is trying to set itself up for three seasons, one for each book.
If anyone is guilty of murder, it’s the industry standard of condensing entire books with complex plots down to six to eight episodes. This format is bound to lose some of the subplots, set-up and nuances of the book, leaving the audience wanting more.
Despite the condensed story, Meyers translates Pip’s awkwardness from page to screen perfectly, creating an endearing (if uptight) teenage mess who becomes obsessed with a case everyone else considered closed. The show uses this as an opportunity to add a sense of humor to the show the books lack. Pip and her friends have their teenage idiocy and predisposition for shenanigans on full display, creating moments of genuine laughter and love, both for the audience and the characters, giving the otherwise intense story a much needed lift.
The development of Ravi and Pip’s relationship is sweet and genuine, capturing the semi-slow burn of the first book as the two sleuths solve the crime side by side. While any readers holding out for the iconic “real men wear floral when trespassing” quote may be disappointed, their Sherlock and Watson banter still shines through as a highlight of the show.
Whether you are a first time fan, or long time stan, the AGGTM show is a must watch. The show executes the twists and turns of the story so well, I found myself clicking into the next episode as fast as possible, despite knowing the way the story ends. If you’re looking for a good (if not entirely accurate) book adaption, or heart-pounding, mind blowing mystery with a mood playlist to match, the AGGTM show should be your prime suspect.
