Set in the fictional English town of Little Kilton, Buckinghamshire, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is full of twists and turns and lots of mystery at every corner. Adapted from Holly Jackson’s fan-favorite book series of the same title, the BBC and Netflix show, directed by Dolly Wells, follows 17-year-old Pippa Fitz-Amobi (Pip) as she unveils the truth behind the 5-year-old local murder of town sweetheart, Andie Bell. Though it was ruled that the demise of Andie Bell was in the hands of her now-deceased boyfriend, Sal Singh, Pip isn’t convinced. Pip, along with Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, work together to find the evidence to clear Sal’s name and bring the case to justice.
The new show has caused contention over whether it lives up to its book counterpart. In particular, viewers are questioning the showrunners’ setting choice. Author Holly Jackson initially set the book in a small English town called Little Kilton. However, in hopes of connecting with more American audiences, she later released an American version of the book set in a small town in Connecticut. While some viewers are rather displeased with the series’ choice to stick with Jackson’s original setting, I think the showrunners made the right choice. The idyllic and overcast colored buildings and old English flair gave the fictional town a picture-perfect facade in contrast to the unnerving plot, giving the events an even more shocking appeal. Additionally, the English setting separated the series from other teen dramas that most American viewers are used to, giving it a nuanced and unique feel.
In addition to the setting’s appeal, the show offered an engaging plot with many shocking twists and turns. Admittedly, the mystery was at some points predictable and did follow some cliches of the genre, but the show ultimately did a good job of meeting the expectations of a young adult mystery while emphasizing a dramatic effect to keep me on my toes at every turn.
The show was also not afraid to include the many disturbing aspects of the mystery and broached controversial and triggering topics like sexual assault, drug abuse, and, most obviously, murder. These inclusions also brought an awareness to these subjects and their devastating effects.
Many viewers also criticize the show’s casting, particularly regarding the protagonist, Pip. However, I would argue that Netflix star Emma Myers was an excellent pick for the role. Myers’ portrayal of Pip stayed very accurate to the book. Not only did she accurately match Pip’s physical description, but she also did a good job of bringing Pip’s determined and curious persona to life. Myer’s performance also excellently conveyed the emotional strain of Pip’s guilt, possibly more so than the book.
However, while Myers had an exemplary performance in many regards, her forced British accent in the show was occasionally distracting. As an American actress playing a British character, Myers was tasked with performing a British accent, but with the short amount of time she had to practice, her attempt, at some points, was hard to believe–especially when compared to her British castmates. Nonetheless, I don’t think the accent took away from her overall performance.
Along with Myers, some of her castmates also stood out. Zain Iqbal, who played Ravi Singh, Pip’s partner on the case and eventual love interest, also had an outstanding performance. He exceptionally embodied Ravi’s sweet and caring personality, and I wish that we could have gotten more of Ravi and his relationship with Pip. That being said, the limited deep dive into Ravi’s plotline does raise hope for a new season and even more of Pip and Ravi.
Overall, the show did not fail to impress me. From the perfect setting to the outstanding performances of its stars, the adaptation of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder definitely met the book’s high reputation. Being only six episodes and with its shocking twists and turns, the series is a binge-worthy watch.