It’s officially the fall season which means Halloween is just around the corner. What is a better way to get into the Halloween spirit than reading a murder mystery book?

Written by Holly Jackson, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is a #1 New York Times bestseller that follows the journey of 17-year-old Pip as she works to solve a closed-case murder investigation in her town. The case was closed five years earlier, involving a popular high school senior, Andie Bell, who was claimed to have been tragically murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. The catch is that Andie Bell’s body was never found, and the supposed killer had commited suicide only days after Andie’s disappearance. Pip decides to reexamine the case for a final senior year project and begins to uncover secrets that may be able to prove Sal’s innocence. Not only does she uncover these secrets, but she also begins to receive signs that someone in town does not want her to bring up these long buried memories, especially when they bring into question many other people’s roles in the case. With the help of her friends and other people in her community, Pip remains persistent and continues to bring herself deeper into the case.

The plot of this book is extremely fast-paced and does not delve too much into lengthy details which is why it could be enjoyable for anyone, especially those who are not avid readers. The layout of the story is unique in the way that it features interviews, notes, text messages and logs that make readers feel as if they are a part of the investigation themselves. Jackson does an incredible job of creating a web of suspects and leads where readers cannot help but try to predict the ending. Overall, the increasingly complex investigation and the admirable yet flawed characters continually hold the reader’s attention throughout the entirety of the book.

Not only has Jackson written this story, but she is also making it into a trilogy, with a sequel published and a third one on the way, continuing the story of Pip as she solves complicated mysteries and works her way through the secrets of her hometown.