Review: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 2024

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

Bel's motther went missing when she was s toddler.  Now, Bel is ready to graduate high school and a true crme film maker wants to tell Bel and her family's story.  Halfway into filming, her mother comes back.  Bel has an inkling that Rachel can't be rsuted and vows to get to the bottom of waht really happened.

Not going to lie, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one in the beginning  I didn't like Bel and found her a bit whiny.  I felt for her, but hated her attitude.  Also, they were making money off of the documentary, so I didn't feel too badly.  It was their choice to do it.  The attraction between her and the camera man kind of gave me the ick and felt it wasn't necessary. Once Rachel showed back up, I found myself sucked in and began to really enjoy the book.  There were so many twists to this book that it will make your head spin. I did not see that ending coming.  It's best to go into the book only knowing what is shared in the synopsis. Stick it out and you won't be sorry. I definitely recommend this one.

Review: Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Delcourte Press
Publication Date:  November 2022

Eight hours.
Six friends.
One sniper . . .

Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There’s no mobile phone reception and nobody around to help. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there in the dark watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for.

A game of cat-and-mouse plays out as the group desperately tries to get help and to work out which member of the group is the target. Buried secrets are forced to light in the cramped, claustrophobic setting of the RV, and tensions within the group will reach deadly levels. Not everyone will survive the night.

Five Survive follows six friends who are on an RV trip for spring break.  After getting lost, they break down with a flat tire.  After fixing that, all four tires become flat.  They quickly realize that someone has followed them and has shot out their tires.  It seems someone in the RV has a secret that the sniper wants revealed.  It's a race against time to see who will be brave enough to tell.

I really enjoyed this one.  The first 15% was a slow burn but once they break down, the tension is at an all time high and never lets up.  The story is told through one person's perspective.  I think it worked better that way because having to follow all six people would have been too much.  I liked the twists although I did call one of them.  I also liked the ending.  The one person I was hoping not to survive, didn't so that made the ending worth it.   It is a bit violently graphic, so I would probably keep this to the upper YA crowd.  I do recommend this one.

Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Date of publication: March 2021

 Pip is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.

The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?

Good Girl, Bad Blood is the sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.  This one takes place a few months after the events of the first book.  There are major spoilers for the first book, so I would not treat this one as a stand alone book.  You will regret it.  I loved the first book and was so excited to finally dive into the sequel.  I thought this one was a very solid follow up.  I listened to the audio version of the book.  It has a full cast and was a great way to consume the story.

This time around, Pip and Ravi are dealing with the aftermath of all of the secrets that were revealed in the first book.   Pip has hung up her detective hat only to be sucked back into a new mystery by a friend whose brother has gone missing.  Since the police don't seem to take his disappearance seriously,  Pip decides she has no choice but to help.  The mystery was just as good as the first one.  Just when you think all has been revealed, another twist shows up.  I really love how this author writes mysteries.  I love when I am kept guessing until the end. 

One of the things I appreciated was the portrayal of the aftermath of the first book and how it affected the remaining characters.  It came across as realistic and not all peaches and cream.  Even when all of the truth comes out, there is not always closure or relief for everyone. Especially when it came to Pip.  She has shown a lot of growth since the first book and learns even more about herself through this one.  I know there is another book coming, so I can't wait to see what mystery comes Pip's way next.    I highly recommend this one.  

Review: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: February 2020

Everyone in Fairview knows the story.

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.

This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect.

I am always on the hunt for a great mystery with surprise after surprise.  A Good Girl's Guide to Murder fits the bill.  The story involves Pip, who decides to try to solve a murder for her Capstone senior project.  She believes that Sal was innocent of murdering his girlfriend.  She teams up with Sal's brother to find the truth.

As I said, I really enjoyed this mystery.  I listened to the audiobook and didn't want to stop listening until it was over.  There are so many twists in this book.  I definitely was surprised as each one was revealed.  The author did a great job at keeping me engaged and on the edge of my seat.  The characters were enjoyable and teens I actually cared about.  I felt like they were well fleshed out and not flat generic YA characters. I loved Pippa's intellect and drive to find the truth.  But I also loved her loyalty to her family and friends. Apparently, this is the first in a series and Pippa and Ravi will show up again in another book.  I look forward to reading it.  This is a really enjoyable debut novel and I highly recommend it.