Not quite dead yet by Holly Jackson
After enjoying A good girl's guide to murder by Holly Jackson and The reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson, I had no hesitation in picking up the Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2025) for Not quite dead yet, Holly Jackson’s debut adult mystery. Jackson introduces Jet Mason, who has been attacked and suffered severe head injuries. She is not expected to live for more than 7 days, and in this time, she is determined to find her murderer, proving to her mother that she can finish one last important job. With her childhood friend Billy by her side, she begins to collect evidence, trying to work out who might hate her enough to kill her. Is it her former best friend, now her sister-in-law, or her ex-boyfriend who wants to re-unite with her? Does her brother hate her because he might not get control of the family construction business? Does the new chief of police really care about finding the killer? As the countdown continues, I held my breath wondering if Jet would solve her own murder.
Although objectively it was hard to imagine a young woman with an impending aneurysm leaving her hospital bed and investigating her own murder, Jackson manages to convince the reader of that happening. The countdown begins with chapter headings naming the day, and the reader becomes increasingly involved in Jet’s search and her character development. Initially not a very pleasant character, Jackson cleverly shows how a person might change when faced with their own death, and become more aware of the people around her and their motivations. Her humorous asides about her condition also provide relief from the tension in the story. Billy her sidekick was sweet and easy to relate to, while her family members were richly drawn with strengths and weaknesses. There are plenty of red herrings and I found the conclusion surprising, even though it made sense when I traced back to the clues that were laid down.
Even though this was written for adults, older teen fans are sure to enjoy it.
Triggers: Swearing, Family disfunction.
Themes: Mystery and thriller, Brain damage, Murder.
Pat Pledger