It started with a school project. I picked up A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on a rainy afternoon, thinking it would be a decent thriller to pass the time. Three chapters in, I realized something rare was happening—I was forgetting to blink. That book wasn’t just good. It was addictive, electrifying, and brutally smart. And like thousands of other readers, I fell headfirst into the chilling, twist-filled world of Holly Jackson books—never to return.
Over the years, Jackson’s storytelling has evolved from teen cold-case investigations to survival thrillers and, most recently, a heart-pounding adult debut. Her characters don’t whisper; they demand answers. They solve crimes the police ignore. They ask hard questions—and sometimes become the answers themselves.
Whether you’re new to the author’s work or want to track her journey from Fairview to Vermont, here’s a complete look at all the books by Holly Jackson, with plot summaries, reading order, and insights into why each one matters.
A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER SERIES
Where it all began. Where readers like me became investigators. Where Pip Fitz-Amobi reminded us that the most dangerous thing you can do… is dig up the truth.
1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
Genres: YA Mystery, Crime Thriller
Five years ago, Andie Bell was murdered. Everyone in Fairview knows it. Her boyfriend Sal Singh was blamed, then died by suicide. Case closed.
Except it’s not.
Enter Pip Fitz-Amobi: brilliant, methodical, and utterly relentless. For her senior project, Pip decides to reopen the case—and soon discovers evidence that doesn’t add up. As she dives deeper, secrets rise, and someone wants her silenced.
This isn’t just a mystery; it’s a revolution in YA storytelling. With podcast transcripts, journal entries, and police files scattered throughout, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder doesn’t just tell you the story—it makes you part of it.
Among all Holly Jackson books, this is the one that changed everything.
2. Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)
Genres: YA Mystery, Contemporary Fiction
Pip said she was done.
But when her friend’s brother goes missing and the police won’t investigate, she reopens her true-crime podcast and takes matters into her own hands—again.
As the clock ticks and Jamie Reynolds remains missing, Pip uncovers long-buried grudges, twisted motivations, and a community still reeling from the past. The line between reporter and participant blurs dangerously.
This sequel deepens Pip’s character and explores the emotional cost of constantly searching for justice. The stakes feel real. The fallout is brutal. And the ending? Devastatingly human.
Good Girl, Bad Blood isn’t just another case—it’s the price of being the girl who always asks why.
3. As Good As Dead (2021)
Genres: YA Psychological Thriller
Now Pip is the case.
Following the events of her podcast, Pip finds herself haunted—by anonymous threats, by memories she can’t shake, and by a killer who might be closer than she thinks.
As she begins investigating a series of unsolved serial murders, Pip spirals into her darkest descent yet. The final installment is raw, gut-wrenching, and terrifyingly real.
There’s no returning to the girl we met in Book One. This Pip is older. Angrier. And willing to cross lines she once swore she’d never touch.
As Good As Dead is more than a finale. It’s an emotional reckoning. It’s the kind of book that leaves you hollow in the best way.
4. Kill Joy (2021 – Prequel Novella)
Genres: YA Mystery, Short Fiction
Before she was Pip the investigator, she was just Pip—heading to a murder mystery party.
But even in a game, Pip can’t help but notice the inconsistencies, the motives, the lies. This novella shows the moment her detective instincts awoke—and how one night of make-believe ignited a life-changing obsession.
Kill Joy is a delightful, clever prequel that’s essential reading for fans of the trilogy. It adds dimension and context to a character we already love.
STANDALONE THRILLERS
After Pip, Holly Jackson left Fairview behind. But the danger only got bigger, the stakes higher. And the twists? Even sharper.
1. Five Survive (2022)
Genres: YA Survival Thriller
Six friends. One RV. No way out.
Red’s spring break road trip takes a deadly turn when the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere—and a sniper opens fire. Someone wants something. Someone has secrets. And not everyone will make it out alive.
This story unfolds over eight blood-chilling hours and is told in real-time. Claustrophobic, pulse-pounding, and morally complicated, Five Survive reads like a slasher-mystery hybrid that forces every character—and the reader—to ask: who deserves to live?
This was the first of the Holly Jackson books that made me put it down for a breather… and immediately pick it back up.
2. The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)
Genres: YA Mystery, Family Drama
Bel Price grew up with a hole in her story. Her mother, Rachel, vanished when she was a baby. Now seventeen, Bel’s making a documentary about the disappearance.
Then Rachel comes back.
The woman claiming to be Rachel sets off a whirlwind of media attention and personal confusion. Is she really Bel’s mother? If not—who is she? If yes—why did she leave?
This haunting, slow-burn thriller is Jackson’s most emotional yet. It’s less about solving a crime and more about rewriting a family’s truth. Rachel Price proves that Holly Jackson books don’t just rely on action—they thrive on psychological nuance.
3. Not Quite Dead Yet (2025)
Genres: Adult Thriller, Suspense
Jet Mason was always a procrastinator. She had time—until she didn’t.
After surviving a brutal attack on Halloween night, doctors inform Jet she has a catastrophic head injury. A fatal aneurysm is inevitable—within a week.
But instead of giving in, Jet makes a chilling decision: she’s going to solve her own murder before it happens.
Her list of suspects is chilling: a sister-in-law who was once her best friend, an ex-boyfriend with secrets, and a family with money—and motives. Only Billy, her childhood friend, believes her.
Jackson’s first novel for adults, Not Quite Dead Yet is poised to be her most gripping yet. The premise alone sends shivers down my spine.
Fans of books by Holly Jackson will recognize the layered mystery and high tension—but now with adult themes, stakes, and emotional weight.
THEMES THAT UNITE HOLLY JACKSON BOOKS
Beneath the mysteries, Jackson’s work is tied together by deeper threads:
- Justice vs. Obsession: Pip’s arc is a masterclass in how far we’ll go for the truth—and what it can cost.
- Media & Morality: From podcasts to documentaries, her characters navigate public storytelling and private pain.
- Smart Girls in Dangerous Worlds: Whether they’re detectives or dying, Jackson’s heroines are brilliant, flawed, and unforgettable.
- Teen Voices That Matter: She writes teenage girls not as caricatures, but as complex, powerful forces capable of rewriting narratives—especially their own.
ALL HOLLY JACKSON BOOKS IN ORDER
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series:
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
- Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)
- As Good As Dead (2021)
- Kill Joy (2021 – Prequel)
Standalone Novels:
- Five Survive (2022)
- The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)
- Not Quite Dead Yet (2025)
FINAL THOUGHTS: WHY HOLLY JACKSON BOOKS STAY WITH YOU
Reading Holly Jackson books isn’t just thrilling—it’s consuming. She builds stories like crime scenes: every detail matters. Every chapter tightens the noose.
Her books changed how I read YA. They made me expect more. Smarter plots. Bolder characters. Real consequences.
Whether you’re investigating with Pip, racing the clock with Jet, or piecing together family secrets with Bel, Jackson will hold you in suspense until the final, breathtaking reveal.
So here’s your warning: once you start reading the books by Holly Jackson, you won’t stop. And you’ll never trust a small town again.