A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Netflix's teen mystery drama series based on Holly Jackson's 2019 novel, follows teenager Pippa Fitz-Amobi as she reinvestigates a five-year-old murder case in a small English town, believing the original suspect, Sal, was falsely accused.
Pip teams up with Sal's brother, Ravi, to uncover the truth behind the case, and the series is described as "true crime lite" centered on high-schoolers and puzzling plot twists.
The series features well-rounded characters, with Pip's friends and family playing active roles, and balances cute, funny, and cozy moments with dark themes like teen drug abuse and sexual assault.
The narrative pacing is praised for keeping audiences engaged, and the aesthetic contrasts the dark themes with a warm and vibrant backdrop.
Some critics found Pip's questionable choices puzzling, and the series manages to tell a complete narrative arc without unnecessary dramatic additions.
The series offers youthful energy and gripping suspense but faces challenges in living up to past teen thriller shows like Riverdale and Veronica Mars, lacking in embracing campy elements.
The chemistry between Pip (Emma Myers) and Ravi (Zain Iqbal) feels forced as the series pushes a romantic angle that distracts from the central mystery, according to some critics.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, trailer
(Netflix)
The series maintains the world and atmosphere it sets up, with vibrant palettes, upbeat music, and trendy outfits, gradually shifting to a more engrossing and serious tone as the mystery deepens.
While some critics found the series lacking in depth and potential due to the simplification of the source material, others praised it as a decent binge-watch for fans of teen dramas and light mysteries.
The series closely follows the storyline of the original book, with Pippa transforming her room into a murder board and delving deeper into the case, despite receiving threats, and teaming up with Ravi to investigate Andie's disappearance and Sal's death.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Indian Express, New Indian Express, LA Times, The Hindu, ScreenRant, High on Films, India Today, Plugged In, The Mary Sue, Paste Magazine, Yorkshire Post, Looper