Audiobook Review | Kill Joy

I always enjoy coming across a little extra in a series.

Kill Joy
Holly Jackson

Find out where it all started for Pip in this prequel novella to the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind.

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I didn’t realise that there was a prequel to this series until I came across it in my library and I was excited to see where it all started for Pip. I was also hoping that it would capture the heart of the first book as that was my favourite of the series, and whilst for me it didn’t quite manage to do that, it was still an entertaining couple of hours.

Having never experienced a murder mystery it was fun to hear the clues and try and figure out who could have possibly killed Reginald Remy, whilst also seeing a little more of characters that we have come across in the series. I loved that they all put effort into it and tried to stay in character, especially Cara, and how invested Pip gets into the game. It kind of comes back to bite her in the end but you can really see where that analytical eye starts to make sense of the facts she’s been given and I really liked her thoughts on what happened.

I loved getting to hear the voice of the characters again through the brilliant narration by Kristin Atherton, unfortunately, though there was one thing that bugged me throughout the book and I think it is possibly because I listened to the audiobook. The way it was read reminded me of the last two books in the series, which were more intense and Pip was scared a lot of the time.

Whereas this was set before she even decided to look into the Andie Bell case so I felt like it should have been in a slightly more lighthearted tone. There are a few scenes where yeah I would be scared out of my mind but the suspicion and slight paranoia just didn’t feel quite right, it felt like the voice of Pip from book two rather than before it all began.

Nevertheless, it has put me right in the mood for a murder mystery, and it was still enjoyable, I don’t think it adds anything to the series but is a nice way to reconnect with the characters.