In the quiet stillness of a suburban town or the cramped confines of an RV, in the glare of a documentary camera or the ticking clock of certain death—Holly Jackson books always begin with a question.
Who really did it?
Since her breakout debut, Holly Jackson has kept readers breathless with tightly woven mysteries, compelling female leads, and twists so sharp they draw blood. She doesn’t just write thrillers—she builds puzzles where every piece is laced with tension. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just stepping into her sinister universe, this comprehensive guide to all the books by Holly Jackson (so far) will take you through each chilling case and unforgettable heroine.
A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER SERIES
No discussion of Holly Jackson books can begin without the series that started it all. With a girl detective as sharp as she is relentless, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder redefined the teen crime genre. Pip Fitz-Amobi isn’t just curious—she’s obsessed with the truth. Even when it’s deadly.
1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
Genres: YA Mystery, Crime Thriller
Everyone in Fairview knows Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh—then he killed himself. End of story. But high school senior Pip Fitz-Amobi doesn’t believe it. For her final year project, she decides to investigate the case, determined to uncover what really happened.
What starts as research turns dangerous fast. Pip uncovers secrets people have buried for years—and someone is willing to kill to keep them that way. She may have started this journey for a grade, but it might cost her far more.
This bestselling debut introduced the world to Pip and to Holly Jackson books, setting a new gold standard for YA thrillers with podcasts, interview transcripts, and edge-of-your-seat pacing.
2. Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)
Genres: YA Mystery, Contemporary Crime
Pip swore she was done with investigating. But when her friend’s brother, Jamie Reynolds, goes missing and the police won’t help, she turns her true-crime podcast into a real-time search effort.
As Pip digs into Jamie’s disappearance, she finds herself facing darker secrets than before. The suspects are closer than she thinks—and this time, someone is watching her every move. The line between truth and performance blurs as the podcast grows, bringing both hope and danger.
A worthy sequel that raises the stakes, Good Girl, Bad Blood showcases Pip at her most vulnerable and determined. Among books by Holly Jackson, this one proves that even justice comes with consequences.
3. As Good As Dead (2021)
Genres: YA Psychological Thriller
This time, Pip isn’t chasing a killer. She’s running from one.
Now famous for her podcast, Pip finds herself haunted by anonymous threats. And when she connects the dots to an old case involving a serial killer, the hunter becomes the hunted. Is she losing her mind—or are her instincts dead right?
With a gripping psychological arc, As Good As Dead is darker, more mature, and emotionally intense. It asks what justice really costs—and whether Pip is willing to pay the price.
The trilogy finale is one of the most powerful and disturbing Holly Jackson books, cementing her status as a master of teenage suspense fiction.
4. Kill Joy (2021 – Prequel Novella)
Genres: YA Mystery, Short Fiction
Before the murders, Pip was just a girl going to a themed murder mystery party.
But even in make-believe, Pip can’t turn off her brain. While her friends slip into their roles, she analyzes the fake crime like it’s real. And in that moment, something awakens: a hunger for truth.
This short prequel is a delightful glimpse into Pip’s mindset before she stepped into the spotlight. Kill Joy is essential reading for fans who want to know what sparked the events of the trilogy—and how a murder mystery party became a turning point in one girl’s life.
STANDALONE NOVELS
After the Pip Fitz-Amobi trilogy, Holly Jackson expanded her universe with bold, standalone thrillers. Each of these books by Holly Jackson offers a new setting, a new kind of danger—and unforgettable tension.
1. Five Survive (2022)
Genres: YA Survival Thriller, Locked-Room Mystery
Six friends. One RV. A road trip gone horribly wrong.
Red and her crew are headed to spring break, but when the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere, things quickly spiral. A sniper has them trapped. Communication is cut. Someone knows a secret—and someone won’t make it out alive.
As tensions rise and alliances crumble, Red realizes this is more than a random attack. Someone among them isn’t who they seem.
Five Survive is a fast-paced, claustrophobic thriller that plays like Saw meets One of Us Is Lying. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and wildly unpredictable—making it one of the most riveting Holly Jackson books to date.
2. The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)
Genres: YA Mystery, Family Drama, Psychological Fiction
Rachel Price disappeared sixteen years ago, leaving her infant daughter Bel behind. Now, during the filming of a documentary about her disappearance, Rachel suddenly returns.
But something feels off.
Bel doesn’t recognize the woman claiming to be her mother. As the camera rolls, Rachel’s return sets off a media frenzy—and a quiet unraveling inside Bel. Secrets, lies, and a fractured family begin to surface. Who is Rachel really? And why now?
A more introspective entry in the books by Holly Jackson, this novel is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. It blends media scrutiny, trauma, and truth into a haunting, emotionally resonant thriller.
3. Not Quite Dead Yet (2025)
Genres: Adult Thriller, Psychological Mystery
Jet Mason has always said, “I’ll do it later.” She has time—until Halloween night, when an attacker leaves her with a catastrophic head injury. The diagnosis? A deadly aneurysm will end her life within a week.
Now Jet has seven days. Seven days to tie up loose ends. Seven days to figure out who tried to kill her.
As her mind sharpens and body deteriorates, Jet begins investigating her own murder. Her suspects include a cold sister-in-law, an evasive ex-boyfriend, and a family drowning in secrets. Only her childhood friend Billy believes her—but time is running out.
Not Quite Dead Yet marks Holly Jackson’s adult debut—and it might be her most daring yet. With echoes of Before I Go to Sleep and Sharp Objects, this book redefines the phrase “race against the clock.”
It’s already one of the most anticipated Holly Jackson books, promising the same addictive mystery with deeper emotional and psychological stakes.
WHY HOLLY JACKSON BOOKS STAND OUT
What makes books by Holly Jackson so irresistible?
It’s the way they mirror our world. Pip isn’t just a detective—she’s a podcast host, a student, a girl with trauma. Red isn’t just a survivor—she’s a girl trapped by poverty and past mistakes. Bel isn’t just a daughter—she’s a storyteller haunted by silence.
These are characters who ask the questions no one else dares to ask—and they pay the price.
Jackson weaves modern elements like social media, podcasts, and documentary culture into her plots seamlessly. But beneath the clever structures is a deep, relentless beating heart: justice, identity, truth, and the darkness we all carry.
COMPLETE LIST OF HOLLY JACKSON BOOKS (Chronological Order)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series:
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
- Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)
- As Good As Dead (2021)
- Kill Joy (2021 – Prequel)
Standalone Novels:
- Five Survive (2022)
- The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)
- Not Quite Dead Yet (2025)
FINAL WORDS: IN THE END, SHE ALWAYS FINDS THE TRUTH
From teenage sleuths to haunted daughters to dying detectives, the Holly Jackson books are bound by one thread: an unflinching pursuit of the truth.
They’re fast-paced, emotionally layered, and sharply modern—perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus, Ruth Ware, or Tana French. But Jackson’s voice is entirely her own: bold, unafraid, and wickedly clever.
If you haven’t picked one up yet, start with Pip. If you have—get ready for Jet. Because the truth never stays buried for long. Not in Jackson’s world.
And once you enter it, you’ll never look at a red herring the same way again.
