As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

 As Good As Dead

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Review:

A brilliant ending for a trilogy! The plot was fascinating for the reader, keeping them on the edge of their seat as they followed Pip through the dangerous plan, ensuring Pip wasn’t a dead girl walking.

This story begins a couple of months after Stanley Forbes was shot six times in front of Pip. The book is much darker than the last two, showcasing the mental health effects a distressing scene can cause someone to spiral, in this case, Pip, who is dealing with PTSD. The way this topic is told in the story is fantastic. You can feel how much Pip is struggling by the description of these scenes, flowing through until the end, which was great. It can get easier, but it doesn’t completely go away, and I’m glad Jackson kept mentioning that Pip sees these effects and how she deals with them in her day-to-day life.

After noticing strange occurrences happening outside her house, she finds out from a solved, old murder case that maybe the wrong person is in prison. A terrifying serial killer may still be lurking through the streets, and Pip may be the next victim. Their kill count topping towards number six.

Pip finds this troubling, linking all of the evidence to the old case by investigating and contacting the victims' families, and the wrongfully convicted killer’s mum. After speaking with Ravi, her number one supporter, she goes to see D.I Hawkins at the police station (known as the bad, bad place). I was shocked and confused why Hawkins refused to act and didn’t believe her frustration. After all, Pip solved two major mysteries: the murder of Andie Bell and the missing person case of Jamie Reynolds. I don’t understand why this officer wouldn’t act upon her words when she is known as a major figure and a big target in the town; her suspicions and evidence should be a reason to show concern. So, Pip must stop this stalker and mustn’t be two steps behind at all times, otherwise she will be wondering who will find her when she disappears.

The first half of the book was amazing, and I felt anxious every time I turned the next page. However, the second half was annoying. I didn’t understand why, after the major plot line, Pip didn’t ask for help from the police, given the scenario. It made the story unnecessary, although I did enjoy following Pip’s suspenseful plan.

The characters were great, finding it interesting to see how distinct the shift in Pip’s behaviour came after the main part of the story. Ravi was supportive of Pip and made sure she was safe and helped out whenever he could.

Overall, this book was fantastic. I liked the darker shift from the last two books, making the reader feel worried about Pip. The investigation was amazing, and I liked that this case was about saving Pip this time instead of others, since it gives the reader anxiety that she has to fight; otherwise, her life would be on the line. Although I thought that the first half was great, I’m still unsure about the second. I felt annoyed at the main character multiple times. However, the ending was sweet, and I’m glad this was how the trilogy closed, so the reader can imagine the possibilities.