The small screen adaptation of Holly Jackson’s novel, ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder‘, is finally here! After captivating readers since its release, the young adult mystery novel has made a splash on Netflix. The novel gained massive popularity, thanks to the BookTok community on TikTok, and fans have been anxiously waiting for the show to drop.
The story follows Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi, played by Emma Myers, as she dives into a murder investigation that the local authorities consider solved. However, Pip is convinced there’s more to the case than meets the eye. But, how true to the book is the new TV series?
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Different Settings: England Vs. Connecticut
One of the first noticeable changes is the setting. The Netflix series, following the U.K.’s lead, sets the show in England. Pip attends school in the fictional town of Little Kilton and dreams of attending Cambridge University.
Contrast this with the U.S. version of the novel, where Pip resides in Fairview, Connecticut, with aspirations of studying at Columbia University. This shift in locale adds a different flavor to the story, impacting Pip’s environment and interactions.
Nat Da Silva: Friend Or Foe?
Nat da Silva’s character undergoes a significant transformation from page to screen. In the TV series, Nat is one of Andie Bell’s best friends. Pip confronts her after a tennis match, leading Nat to reveal secrets about Andie.
In the novel, however, Nat is one of Andie’s enemies. Andie, ever the master manipulator, pretends to be a boy Nat likes, tricks her into sending a topless video, and makes it go viral all over school. Andie even blackmails Nat, threatening to expose her brother’s statutory rape if Nat doesn’t drop out of the school play. Later Nat gets arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The show’s portrayal of Nat’s character is considerably softened.
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Pip’s Family Drama Gets A New Twist
The TV adaptation introduces a subplot about Pip’s parents that isn’t in the novel. When Pip and Ravi investigate the hotel where Andie met an older man, Pip discovers that her father, Victor, had checked into the hotel during a period when he claimed to be visiting family in Nigeria.
Pip confronts her mother and learns her parents were having marital problems. Victor lies about his trip and spent time away to regroup. Though Pip initially suspects an affair, Victor reassures her.
Social Media Savvy Pip
The series incorporates social media into the investigation, a modern twist not present in the novel. Pip posts a video claiming she has solved the case. The killer then sneaks into Pip’s house to steal her dog, Barney. To make sure Barney is safe, Pip goes online and rebukes her video, but the dog still gets killed.
In contrast, the novel’s pivotal moment involves the killer directly kidnapping Barney and threatening Pip to destroy her evidence. Despite her compliance, Barney is killed anyway. In both versions, Barney’s fate is tragically the same.
Elliot’s Dark Secrets
An important turning point in the novel and the show occurs when Pip learns that Elliot, her friend Cara’s father, is involved. Elliot’s relationship with Andie and subsequent actions are uncovered by Pip. Shortly before she died, the two had an argument, where Elliot pushed Andie and injured her. Later, Elliot spots a lady on the side of the road that he thinks is Andie as he is driving. She is abducted by Elliot and held captive in the attic of his second house.
However, the show changes the outcome of Elliot’s kidnapping victim. In the novel, the kidnapped woman believes she is Andie due to a mental disability. In the show, she is aware she’s not Andie and has attempted to escape. This change alters the dynamic of Elliot’s guilt and the resolution of his storyline.
A Show-Down With Becca
The climax involving Andie’s sister, Becca Bell, differs significantly. In the novel, Pip confronts Becca at her home, and gets to know Becca murdered Andie shortly after she was injured at Elliot’s house. Becca admits her crime and tells that she was upset because Andie didn’t help her after Andie’s friend, Max, raped her at a party. Becca then drugs Pip’s drink and attempts to kill her but she narrowly escapes – thanks to Ravi and her father!
The series opts for a more dramatic location, with Becca taking Pip to where she dumped Andie’s body. Ravi and Cara save Pip in this version, adding more tension to the final showdown.
Unresolved Consequences: What’s Left Open
The consequences of Pip’s investigation are more thoroughly explored in the novel. Elliot pleads guilty to murder and kidnapping, Becca faces trial, and Max is charged with sexual assault. Pip also presents her findings to the community, giving Ravi a chance to speak about his brother.
The series, however, leaves some of these outcomes ambiguous. Elliot’s arrest is confirmed, but the fates of Becca and Max are left ambiguous. Pip’s presentation of her research is omitted, and ends with Pip and Ravi reuniting and sharing a kiss, leaving some viewers wondering about the fates of the other characters.
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