A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Season 1: review

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder adapts Holly Jackson’s bestseller into a young-adult series. Its combination of thriller and drama explores the darker side of a British small town. Despite a promising premise, the execution falls short of expectations.

Pip reopens an old case

Pippa ‘Pip’ Fitz-Amobi, an excellent student and amateur detective, investigates Andie Bell’s murder five years after the case was supposedly closed. Andie’s boyfriend Sal was blamed, yet her body was never found. Pip is convinced that something does not add up and joins forces with Sal’s brother Ravi to uncover the truth.

Emma Myers and Zain Iqbal

Emma Myers is the main strength. She gives Pip a strong presence and convincingly charts her movement from sheltered ‘good girl’ to brave but vulnerable investigator. Her chemistry with Zain Iqbal’s charming, vulnerable Ravi adds considerably to the series. Their partnership and growing friendship become one of its emotional anchors.

The darker side of Little Kilton

The visual execution also impresses. Seppe Van Grieken and Michael Filocamo’s cinematography captures the dark atmosphere of Little Kilton. Moody lighting and careful set design underline the contrast between its idyllic exterior and the secrets Pip discovers. Night-time streets and abandoned spaces create an effective sense of unease and threat.

Too little space for characters

The screenplay by Poppy Cogan tries to fit the novel’s many turns and secrets into six episodes, making the action feel rushed. Characters with greater development in the book remain superficial on screen, which weakens emotional involvement. Andie and her sister Becca particularly suffer from insufficient attention to their histories and motives.

Uneven tension

The balance of drama and tension is uneven. Some episodes create an effective sense of danger, while other stretches lose momentum. Social media and modern technology belong to this world, but their use occasionally feels forced and distracts from the crime story.

Verdict

Despite these weaknesses, the series is worth a look, particularly for fans of the novel and young-adult fiction. A strong lead and appealing visual style sustain its dark atmosphere. More time for the story and deeper character development would have helped it realise its potential. It is a solid introduction to this screen adaptation, though its promising ingredients are not fully brought together.