Image Source: IMDb Profile of “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder”
Lillian Anderson, Staff Writer for the Powderhorn
When Holly Jackson began writing at the age of 15, she hardly expected any of her work to become a success. Nearly two decades later after her first attempt at publishing her work, her book series “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” has become a New York Times #1 bestseller and sold over 7 million copies worldwide. The novel was even recently adapted into a TV show by the BBC and approved for a second season.
“A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” follows the story of 17-year-old Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a young girl determined to solve the years-old murder of Andie Bell, all under the disguise of a school project. Pippa eventually teams up with the brother of the so-called murderer and they follow the clues to a shocking ending. Pippa’s story has become beloved by some readers worldwide, and where others have differing views of the story.
To prepare for the book's US release Jackson wrote a different version of the originally British story that would appeal to American audiences. The U.S. version is filled with small changes, such as town names or how certain words are spelled, but there were also certain changes in content leading to two slightly different versions of the story and the characters.
The TV adaptation of “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” is based on the UK version, as the BBC is a British domain and the UK version is the original. Overall, the show featured a great cast with great chemistry. Emma Myers’s performance as Pippa Fitz Amobi truly felt as if it was streaming straight from the page and Zain Iqbal as Ravi truly sealed the deal as he perfected the dynamic between Pip and Ravi. Even side characters with limited screen time such as Max Hastings or Naomi Ward were perfectly portrayed and brought the beloved book series to life.
Due to the slight differences in content from the US to UK versions of the novel, certain American viewers were left disappointed as many of their favorite moments from the story were left out. In any book-to-screen adaptation, it is close to impossible to please every reader and to include every detail. Overall, the TV show is filled with iconic moments from both versions of the novel, with the added new elements that make the show all the more entertaining for both new and old fans.
As more fans flock to join the ever-growing fandom surrounding Holly Jackson, her projects continue to improve and the TV adaptation of “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” is no exception. The show features an amazing cast with as much love for the project as the fans. The storyline remains relatively unchanged, while throwing in a few twists of its own, helping to attract fans from outside the current fandom. Whether viewers are fans of the books or the show, there is a strong chance they will follow Pippa’s story with as much passion as she follows Andie Bell’s.
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