“Good Girl, Bad Blood” by Holly Jackson

 “Good Girl, Bad Blood”, the second book of the series, was a 3/5 book for me. I consider it to be like a life lesson through the problems approached than a book to read for fun. On the other hand, my final opinion is that it is only the volume that connects the other two books, which were far more entertaining. It was not quite a memorable book for its plot, but for the character development, the huge changes that take place in the process and for marking an important chapter for the main character, full of life lessons as loss, love and friendship.

Title: “Good Girl, Bad Blood” (#2)

Author: Holly Jackson (check here Holly Jackson’s Instagram page)

Genre: Crime Thriller

Number of pages: 416

Recommended age: +15

Star Rating: 3/5 ⭐

Sneak peek

Pip swore she would stop playing the detective game if that meant her loved ones were going to be safe. Even so, the world had other plans for her, since Jamie, her friend’s older brother, is the one in danger this time. This is a race against time and she knows it better than anyone. In the first 72 h they are looking for a person, then the search would mean only finding a body. When Connor asks her to use her podcast to find Jamie, who suddenly disappeared, she can’t say no. Not to Connor, one of her best friends, not to Jamie, who is as sweet and cute as a teddy bear.

       Now, after almost a year from finding the culprit in Andie Bell’s case, Pip is under the spotlight and the podcast became the best way of exposing everyone who had a role in Andie’s murder. Maybe those people didn’t actually kill her, but certainly had a role in her self-destruction. She needs to find Jamie; she needs to use every tiny hand of help her followers are willing to give her. Even so, are they ready to discover the boy’s dark secrets and connections? Who was the one Jamie saw at the commemoration and why did he seem nervous? The culprit is always so familiar, but also so unusual and unexpected.

“𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭.”

“Good Girl, Bad Blood”, Holly Jackson

The action

The action was far-fetched, from my point of view. I didn’t actually like it, because it didn’t show me anything quite special. On the contrary it created an allure of mystery and made me think that Jamie had a strange, secret life and dark secrets that would frighten me. I was wrong for sure, because he is more naïve and a too good soul than being able to have a complete secret life and actions which would bring himself in danger. Don’t get me wrong, what he does is dangerous, but his naivety and kindness put him in this position. I had greater expectations, to be honest.

       On the other hand, I appreciate that somehow, through Jamie’s character, the importance of safeness while surfing on the internet was powerfully highlighted. It’s an important lesson all of us should learn, not on our skin preferably. You never know who is hiding behind a gorgeous smile and a friendly face online. On this way, I think the book became even more sinister. The simplest things always feel the realest, so it is a good thing this subject was approached.

       The last part of the book is the most successful one, from my point of view. We have drama, some serial killers here and there and a complex backstory. It gets interesting, but I warn you that the ending is heartbreaking and also worthy of movies.

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.”

“Good Girl, Bad Blood”, Holly Jackson

The characters

 We can see the beginning of Pip’s character development, she is getting more and more professional. I really enjoyed seeing her in action, she truly is a determined young woman.

       Connor is showing his sensitive side and he is clearly in pain for his brother’s missing. That is the moment when true friendships come in the spotlight.

       Cara is a very good friend, very devoted, her own pain made her even stronger and braver and her replies are worthy to be proud of. Mind blowing. Pip and Cara are an amazing best friend duo!

       Lauren and Ant’s true face come out and we’ll see further in the story that they are their parents’ children. Their friends group is changing little by little and they will become more like a family than just friends in the end.

The order of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” trilogy

“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” (#1) – Read here the review

“Good Girl, Bad Blood” (#2)

“As Good As Dead” (#3) – Read here the review

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