A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder: Season 1 Review

Emma Myers stars in a murder mystery show in which her character, Pip, tries to solve a 5-year-old cold case in their small town.

Plot Summary

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder: Season 1 – Storyline Recap

It has been five years since the town of Little Kilton was rocked by the scandal of the assumed murder of Andie Bell, done by her boyfriend, Salil “Sal” Singh. To make matters worse, Sal soon committed suicide after the alleged murder, and the only reason we say alleged is that, at the beginning of the season, Andie’s body had yet to be found.

However, Pippa, aka Pip, a junior who grew up around Andie and Sal, finds herself deciding to personally investigate the case that no one else has been able to solve. With the help of Sal’s little brother, Ravi, this leads to many people’s closets rattling as their skeletons get disturbed.

Characters and Cast

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (TV Series): Character Guide and Noteworthy Information

Character’s Name	Actor’s Name
Andie	India Lillie Davies
Sal	Rahul Pattni
Pip	Emma Myers
Ravi	Zain Iqbal
Cara	Asha Banks
Naomi	Yasmin Al-Khudhair

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Stick Around)

Good If You Like

• Mysteries

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Highlights

Pip and Ravi

While “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” is by no means a romance, there is a chemistry between Ravi and Pip that becomes a special highlight of the season. It’s mostly in glances, banter, and a bit of teasing as they investigate, but as the only teen romance that gets notable focus in the first season, it’s hard not to love. Add in Pip has notably not had much in the way of crushes and seemingly has never dated anyone; it makes the possibility of Ravi being her first boyfriend, maybe her first kiss, all the more exciting.

But I should note that while both see something there, it doesn’t get in the way of the case, which is also appreciated.

How The Mystery Unfolds And What Is Revealed

With the case cold for nearly five years, it happening in a small town, and so many having some part in it, the list of witnesses or people who may have hurt, kidnapped, or were an accessory is notable. Did Naomi look at Sal almost lovingly in pictures and maybe do something to Andie or Sal? As we learn who Andie is, did she maybe fake her death? What about Sal? We’re told he killed himself, but is that true? The police don’t seem the most reliable, and if we go by what Ravi says, there is a subtle form of racism in the town when there is mixing romantically.

There are so many angles at play, and the reveal may contain a familiar culprit, but the build and end result are satisfying.

Low Points

Pip’s Friend Group, Sans Cara

While we meet three other members of Pip’s friend group, they are largely unremarkable. Yes, one wants to go to film school, and the other two are boys, but a little more than a week separated from finishing the season, I struggle to remember anything notable about them. In some ways, they feel like filler or maybe characters included to avoid the err of book fans.

On The Fence

Sometimes, You’ll Question How In The World Pip Could Solve The Mystery

Let’s take note: the murder of Andie and the suicide of Sal happened five years ago. That means five years for things to rot and move, people to get their stories straight, and make it so no evidence exists. Yet, Pip is able to come across things that could guide her way.

But, perhaps the wildest part of “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” is people opening up to Pip and no harm happening directly to her. Mind you, she is talking to and dealing with people after trespassing, tricking them, and some of the people she speaks with have assaulted others, trapped them, drugged them, all kinds of debauchery. Yet, Pip doesn’t get seriously harmed at all. Yes, she is threatened by multiple people, but outside of one incident towards the end of the season, no one lays a hand on Pip.

It doesn’t really make sense when you think about it since who is Pip? She comes from a middle-class family in a small town where people are born, grow up, and usually try to leave if they can. Her connection to Sal and Andie is knowing of them. So why would anyone who associated with Andie talk to her? Why is it that Sal’s friends, without Ravi being there, open up about the past? It doesn’t make any sense beyond the assumption that those involved have such an ego that they don’t think Pip could put the pieces together.

What I Hope To See Next

1. With the end of the first season mystery, there is another story set up for season 2 (if it happens). It’s not about a murder, but we are presented another case that deals with getting justice, and considering who is involved and what justice Pip would be fighting for, we are excited about what could come.

Background Information

Network	Netflix, BBC 3
Genre(s)	Crime Drama Mystery Young Adult
Renewal Status	To Be Determined
Series Page	A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
Character Guide	A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (TV Series): Character Guide and Noteworthy Information