Yun's Reviews > As Good As Dead
As Good As Dead (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #3)
by
To be fair, this book wasn't bad. But up till now, this has been my favorite YA mystery series for very specific reasons. And unfortunately, I feel like this last book in the trilogy completely jumped the shark.
One of the reasons I adore this series is because of Pip. She's smart, fearless, and snarky, the perfect rendition of a modern-day Nancy Drew. But not in this book. In this book, she is angry and traumatized, and has turned into my least-favorite trope of all time: a pill-popping, freaking out, paranoid, therapy-is-not-for-me female narrator.
Of course she's traumatized by what happened to her in the last two books. Who wouldn't be, if this was real life? But I don't always want darker and grittier and more realistic in everything I read. One of the main reasons I escape into books is to take comfort in strong characters who can kick ass again and again, rising from the ashes no matter what happens to them. So the fact that this book shat all over its strong female character is a huge disappointment.
My other problem is the mystery, or lack thereof. In books 1 and 2, we follow Pip as she investigates, talks to suspects, gathers clues, and makes deductions. In other words, your standard Nancy Drew brought to life. But in this book, the mystery is just a small subset of the whole story, and it is over quickly, with barely any detecting.
So what is this story taken up with? Well, the first 100 pages is devoted to Pip raging and popping pills. Then we mercifully get into the core mystery of this book, but that's wrapped up pretty quickly by the end of Part I. At that point, the book takes a turn in a direction I don't even recognize for this series and its characters. It is so out of left field that I was just stunned (and not in a good way).
And to make matters worse, the entirety of Part II is obvious. It's clear what is going to happen, and the book just takes 200 pages to spell it out in long form. I don't have to have surprise after surprise in my books, but I'm not a fan of reading hundreds of pages when things can only go one way.
Also, at the risk of sounding like an old fogey, I don't think this book is YA-appropriate. Books 1 and 2 were Young Adult, yes, but not this book. The fact that Pip skulks around and procures drugs from the neighborhood drug dealer, then inhales said drugs in order to take the edge off her trauma, not to mention what happens in the second half of the book, makes this one of the darkest books I have ever read, not just in YA.
If you're thinking about reading this series, I still recommend it, especially books 1 and 2. Thankfully, each book is self-contained, with a mystery that's all wrapped up by the end. Each subsequent book does reference what happens in earlier ones, so read them in order for maximum spoiler-free enjoyment.
If the other two books in this series didn't exist, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this and found very little cause for complaint. But they do, and I can't just erase them from my mind. I fell in love with the Pip and the mysteries of those books, so in comparison, this book was a shock and a disappointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
#1. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
#2. Good Girl, Bad Blood
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
by
Is it normal for one person to have this many enemies?
To be fair, this book wasn't bad. But up till now, this has been my favorite YA mystery series for very specific reasons. And unfortunately, I feel like this last book in the trilogy completely jumped the shark.
One of the reasons I adore this series is because of Pip. She's smart, fearless, and snarky, the perfect rendition of a modern-day Nancy Drew. But not in this book. In this book, she is angry and traumatized, and has turned into my least-favorite trope of all time: a pill-popping, freaking out, paranoid, therapy-is-not-for-me female narrator.
Of course she's traumatized by what happened to her in the last two books. Who wouldn't be, if this was real life? But I don't always want darker and grittier and more realistic in everything I read. One of the main reasons I escape into books is to take comfort in strong characters who can kick ass again and again, rising from the ashes no matter what happens to them. So the fact that this book shat all over its strong female character is a huge disappointment.
My other problem is the mystery, or lack thereof. In books 1 and 2, we follow Pip as she investigates, talks to suspects, gathers clues, and makes deductions. In other words, your standard Nancy Drew brought to life. But in this book, the mystery is just a small subset of the whole story, and it is over quickly, with barely any detecting.
So what is this story taken up with? Well, the first 100 pages is devoted to Pip raging and popping pills. Then we mercifully get into the core mystery of this book, but that's wrapped up pretty quickly by the end of Part I. At that point, the book takes a turn in a direction I don't even recognize for this series and its characters. It is so out of left field that I was just stunned (and not in a good way).
And to make matters worse, the entirety of Part II is obvious. It's clear what is going to happen, and the book just takes 200 pages to spell it out in long form. I don't have to have surprise after surprise in my books, but I'm not a fan of reading hundreds of pages when things can only go one way.
Also, at the risk of sounding like an old fogey, I don't think this book is YA-appropriate. Books 1 and 2 were Young Adult, yes, but not this book. The fact that Pip skulks around and procures drugs from the neighborhood drug dealer, then inhales said drugs in order to take the edge off her trauma, not to mention what happens in the second half of the book, makes this one of the darkest books I have ever read, not just in YA.
If you're thinking about reading this series, I still recommend it, especially books 1 and 2. Thankfully, each book is self-contained, with a mystery that's all wrapped up by the end. Each subsequent book does reference what happens in earlier ones, so read them in order for maximum spoiler-free enjoyment.
If the other two books in this series didn't exist, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this and found very little cause for complaint. But they do, and I can't just erase them from my mind. I fell in love with the Pip and the mysteries of those books, so in comparison, this book was a shock and a disappointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
#1. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
#2. Good Girl, Bad Blood
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
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As Good As Dead.
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Reading Progress
January 9, 2022
–
Started Reading
January 9, 2022
– Shelved
January 12, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 259 (259 new)
message 1:
by
Kay
(new)
Jan 17, 2022 10:25AM
Excellent review Yun. I still have book #1 to read. It's too bad after part I, it sorta went downhill.
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KaY wrote: "Excellent review Yun. I still have book #1 to read. It's too bad after part I, it sorta went downhill."
Thanks, Kay! I hope you get a chance to read book 1... it's a really fun series! Will be curious to see your thoughts! :)
Thanks, Kay! I hope you get a chance to read book 1... it's a really fun series! Will be curious to see your thoughts! :)
Lori wrote: "Fantastic review Yun! I hope your next read is amazing!"
Thanks, Lori! I have high hopes for my current read, but I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately lol! :)
Thanks, Lori! I have high hopes for my current read, but I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately lol! :)
Terrific review, Yun! I love this thought... "One of the main reasons I escape into books is to take comfort in strong characters who can kick ass again and again, rising from the ashes no matter what happens to them." I totally relate to that. Sorry this book wasn't as satisfying as the other two in the series.
Baba wrote: "Cool review Yun, it's a shame that the trilogy didn't maintain its quality throughout."
Thanks, Baba! This book took the series in a direction I'm not a fan of, unfortunately.
Thanks, Baba! This book took the series in a direction I'm not a fan of, unfortunately.
Lisa wrote: "Terrific review, Yun! I love this thought... "One of the main reasons I escape into books is to take comfort in strong characters who can kick ass again and again, rising from the ashes no matter w..."
Thanks, Lisa! Sometimes it feels like every other book eventually devolves into pill-popping, nutty female narrators. I just want to escape that lol! :)
Thanks, Lisa! Sometimes it feels like every other book eventually devolves into pill-popping, nutty female narrators. I just want to escape that lol! :)
Excellent review, Yun! I prefer kick ass female characters too. It’s too bad that this was the weakest of the three! I think I’ll still try them though.
i felt the same way, i didn't love the ..twist in the middle of the book and then the rest of the story after that, i wish the author would've wrapped up the series in a different way. it is definitely not YA, not at all.
Jasmine wrote: "Excellent review, Yun! I prefer kick ass female characters too. It’s too bad that this was the weakest of the three! I think I’ll still try them though."
Thanks, Jasmine! Definitely still worth a try! I loved books 1 and 2! I'll be curious to see your thoughts! :)
Thanks, Jasmine! Definitely still worth a try! I loved books 1 and 2! I'll be curious to see your thoughts! :)
Madeline wrote: "i felt the same way, i didn't love the ..twist in the middle of the book and then the rest of the story after that, i wish the author would've wrapped up the series in a different way. it is defini..."
Thanks, Madeline! Yes!! Glad you felt the same! It's a bummer the series ended this way.
Thanks, Madeline! Yes!! Glad you felt the same! It's a bummer the series ended this way.
Enjoyed your thoughts on the book, Yun! Good point: "darker and grittier" does not equal a better book. Sorry this series took such a turn. Hopefully, you'll find another favorite series soon. 💛
Wonderfully written review, Yun :) Kind of a bummer that this third instalment wasn't as great as the other two, or I suppose, didn't live up to the flow. Hopefully your next read is 5-start! Overall, I enjoyed reading your thoughts even if it wasn't a full winner read for you!
Akona wrote: "Yup. Pip nose-dived in the last book. Awesome review, Yun"
Thanks, Akona! Glad you felt similarly!
Thanks, Akona! Glad you felt similarly!
Anne wrote: "Enjoyed your thoughts on the book, Yun! Good point: "darker and grittier" does not equal a better book. Sorry this series took such a turn. Hopefully, you'll find another favorite series soon. 💛"
Thanks, Anne! I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who doesn't want darker and grittier in all my stories lol. I'm just in it for the fun, you know? ;)
Thanks, Anne! I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who doesn't want darker and grittier in all my stories lol. I'm just in it for the fun, you know? ;)
Chantel wrote: "Wonderfully written review, Yun :) Kind of a bummer that this third instalment wasn't as great as the other two, or I suppose, didn't live up to the flow. Hopefully your next read is 5-start! Overa..."
Thanks, Chantel! I think a lot of other readers would enjoy this, but for me, it just feels so different from the previous two books. I want more of books 1 and 2 lol! :)
Thanks, Chantel! I think a lot of other readers would enjoy this, but for me, it just feels so different from the previous two books. I want more of books 1 and 2 lol! :)
Kelly • Kell of a Read wrote: "Great review as always, Yun! This was my least favorite of the trilogy, too."
Thanks, Kelly! Glad I'm not the only one who thought this one was a little underwhelming compared to the first two books.
Thanks, Kelly! Glad I'm not the only one who thought this one was a little underwhelming compared to the first two books.
Tina wrote: "Sorry this one was not as good as you anticipated it to be. Still, a great review and very honest!"
Thanks, Tina! Ah, always disappointing when a series ends on a low note.
Thanks, Tina! Ah, always disappointing when a series ends on a low note.
JustJJ wrote: "Nice review Yun! I felt the same way after reading this book"
Thanks, JustJJ! Sorry you felt letdown by this one too!
Thanks, JustJJ! Sorry you felt letdown by this one too!
As usual, your review is the crux of my horribly-long-TBR. Your reviews are amazing as usual, Yun! I'm still interested in Pip even though I'm not into book series. I'm glad you mentioned about them being self-contained! I'd probably just stick to reading the first 2 books :)
Atiqah wrote: "As usual, your review is the crux of my horribly-long-TBR. Your reviews are amazing as usual, Yun! I'm still interested in Pip even though I'm not into book series. I'm glad you mentioned about the..."
Thanks so much, Atiqah! Yep, you could totally read books 1 and 2 and stop at that! I think they're definitely worth a try, especially if you grew up reading Nancy Drew like I did. :)
Thanks so much, Atiqah! Yep, you could totally read books 1 and 2 and stop at that! I think they're definitely worth a try, especially if you grew up reading Nancy Drew like I did. :)
Oh no, what a let-down. I wonder what the author was thinking? I was thinking of adding this series, but something had me holding off - I think now, I might just sleeping dogs lie. Sorry the ending for you was so disappointing. I have my fingers crossed for your next read - you've got to get out of this disappointing reading slump ASAP!!!!!!!
Angela wrote: "Oh no, what a let-down. I wonder what the author was thinking? I was thinking of adding this series, but something had me holding off - I think now, I might just sleeping dogs lie. Sorry the ending..."
Thanks, Angela! I still highly recommend books 1 and 2 if you're in the mood for Nancy Drew-esque fun; you don't need to read book 3 since each book fully wraps up. I'm in some sort of January blues and it's affected my reading. I have high hopes for my current book, but then I've been saying that for the last four books too lol! :)
Thanks, Angela! I still highly recommend books 1 and 2 if you're in the mood for Nancy Drew-esque fun; you don't need to read book 3 since each book fully wraps up. I'm in some sort of January blues and it's affected my reading. I have high hopes for my current book, but then I've been saying that for the last four books too lol! :)
Sarah wrote: "A great review as always!
I agree because it wasn’t my favourite end to Pip & Ravi’s story either."
Thanks, Sarah! Glad I'm not the only one who felt this book was a little underwhelming. Too bad, as books 1 and 2 were totally fabulous!
I agree because it wasn’t my favourite end to Pip & Ravi’s story either."
Thanks, Sarah! Glad I'm not the only one who felt this book was a little underwhelming. Too bad, as books 1 and 2 were totally fabulous!
Wonderful review, Yun. After enjoying the first two books, I spoiled myself enough with book 3 to know that I don't want to read it. I like to think of book 1 and 2 as a pair...book 3 is some other beast that I'm happy to skip (unless I can let enough time pass that I forget it's connected to books 1 and 2). 😊
MarilynW wrote: "Wonderful review, Yun. After enjoying the first two books, I spoiled myself enough with book 3 to know that I don't want to read it. I like to think of book 1 and 2 as a pair...book 3 is some other..."
Thanks, Marilyn! Haha! You know, that seems like a wise plan! This is a case where I wish book 3 hadn't been written at all because it really takes away from books 1 and 2. I hadn't paid enough attention before going in. Otherwise, I probably would have done the same. :)
Thanks, Marilyn! Haha! You know, that seems like a wise plan! This is a case where I wish book 3 hadn't been written at all because it really takes away from books 1 and 2. I hadn't paid enough attention before going in. Otherwise, I probably would have done the same. :)
Ceecee wrote: "I’m sorry this was a big disappointment after loving the first two. Great review Yun ❤️"
Thanks, Ceecee! This seems to happen to me a lot with third books in a trilogy lol. 💖
Thanks, Ceecee! This seems to happen to me a lot with third books in a trilogy lol. 💖
What a disappointment! I read the first but didn’t continue as I think I have just outgrown any desire to read YA! 💕
Excellent review Yun! I'm sorry this series ended on a low note with you, especially since you had really enjoyed the previous two. Interesting that it takes such dark turns and is one of the darkest books you've read, considering its audience are young adults!