Book Review – Kill Joy

This will be a quick little review because this book is a lovely little novel, set prior to the events of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder. As part of the World Book Day books for 2021, Holly Jackson has written this lovely little prequel, which is a nice little snippet of Pippa before the release of the final book of the trilogy later this year.

Synopsis
Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder.

But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind …

Review
This was a lovely book to spend a couple of hours reading. I absolutely love AGGGTM and the sequel Good Girl, Bad Blood. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of As Good As Dead, book three, in August, and am also debating bribing the publisher with an offer of cat photos.

I’ve done a murder mystery party before, albeit years ago, and I’d like to hope that my brain is somewhere near as sharp as Pip’s. So as well as watching her following the steps of the game, I was thinking about what I would do next if I was the one playing along. This little backstory was brilliant to see as a starting point for Pip’s decision to investigate the murder as she does in AGGGTM, and her frustration with police work – fictional and not – was evident throughout.

It was really interesting to have a bit more insight to Pip, and also to her little circle of friends, who become features in the main books. Watching her brain at work, her competitive streak showing, and her love of puzzle solving, all underlined by a slight constant discomfort with the Andie Bell case at the back of her mind.

This fantastic little prequel is just what mystery lovers need, at whatever point they are at in the series. Now I’m off to find time to reread A Good Girl’s Guide and Good Girl, Bad Blood.