Readers,
Continuations of any form of media have a high chance of going awry. In television shows, it’s a risk between keeping up a newly-hatched fanbase while also evolving beyond foundation and exposition. In books, it’s a matter of balance. There’s a need to stay loyal to the characters and plots written out in the first book, but also the need to expand on them. For many readers, their favorite of a series is either the first or last book—the nostalgic beginning of it all or the grand finale. I’ve found that my heart almost always goes out to book number two.

In the last column, I raved about the internet sensation A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. When I picked up the second book, Good Girl, Bad Blood, I didn’t expect anything fantastic. I thought the conclusion of the first story was satisfactory, and I was wary of the series falling into the same rut as recent teen television series, in which an absurd amount of traumatizing events befall the same group of teenagers season after season. Honestly, I wasn’t far off the mark. But, Holly Jackson doesn’t do anything without class, even that modern trope.

Good Girl, Bad Blood follows Pippa Fitz-Amobi, who has devoutly sworn off detective work since her tumultuous senior project. She’s trying to keep herself on track, avoiding drama and intrigue for her own sake and for those around her, who had to watch her spiral emotionally and physically before. Instead, she’s started up a podcast with Ravi Singh, investigation partner turned romantic partner detailing their journey of solving a murder.

As the podcast goes viral, Pip is happy with this level of recognition and glory until classmate and family-friend Connor Reynolds appears at her doorstep, distressed and begging her to find his missing brother. When it seems that even the police have no desire to take this seriously, Pip faces a grapple between the peace she wants and the justice she seeks.

This story was somehow even more gripping than its predecessor. The conflicting desires of Pip worm into each reader’s heart in some way as she struggles to prioritize her own wellbeing but is forced to abandon that endeavor. The twists will trip up the most experienced thriller connoisseurs, and the romance subplot will stir butterflies in anyone’s stomach. The introduction of new characters, such as Connor and Jamie (his missing brother) give the reader even more people to find themselves empathizing with and, by the end, endearing themselves to. This read takes elements of everybody’s favorite genre and expertly crafts a true story.

Content warnings can reveal major spoilers in this story, so I’d recommend checking booktriggerwarnings.com if you have any concerns. Stay safe.