A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a six-part series that deviates from the typical high school storylines and focuses on murder, mystery and the traumatic impact of death in a community. The show, which first premiered on BBC and later on Netflix, follows Pippa Fitz-Amobi, played by Emma Myers, who instead of dealing with the typical high school problems, seeks to solve the mystery of a murder that has rocked her community of Little Kilton.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a television adaptation of Holly Jackson’s award-winning novel, which focuses on the murder of Andie Bell, allegedly committed by her boyfriend Salil Singh. The series was well received, ranking first on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list and scoring 82% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. However, the adaptation also exercises its own creative license, differentiating itself from the novel and giving it its own identity. The changes made to the source text have significantly affected the story, with some changes affecting it more than others.

Andie Bell’s character

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder changes the character of Andie Bell, focusing on her murder and the involvement of her boyfriend Salil. The series portrays Andie as the sweetheart of Little Kilton who is loyal to her friends and has a good relationship with her sister Becca. However, the series also introduces weaknesses in Andie’s character, such as her relationship with Elliot and her involvement in drug dealing. These weaknesses are somewhat justified by showing that Andie’s decision to stop dating Elliot and dealing drugs is a means of escaping her abusive father.

In contrast, the portrayal of Andie in the book is completely different. In the novel, Andie is more self-centered and does not treat her friends well. She is portrayed as jealous, deceitful, and tyrannical, and will do anything to remain the center of attention. For example, unlike in the series, Nat is never portrayed as Andie’s friend. Instead, the two have a bitter relationship, as Andie leaked Nat’s nude pictures in high school, earning her the nickname “Nude-Gate Nat.”

The death of book Andie is deeply felt by her community, although her actions are not seen as justification for her murder. The show’s portrayal of Andie as kind and loving makes her death even more poignant. Little Kilton is still mourning her five years after her death. The show’s sympathetic portrayal of Andie makes the revelation of her relationship with Elliot and her involvement in the drug trade even more shocking. The Golden Girl portrayal emphasizes that not everyone is who they seem.

The series weakens Pip’s detective skills

In A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pip is tasked with solving the mystery of Andie’s murder. Although it is her EPQ, the series downplays Pip’s detective skills. The investigation in the book is more intense and thorough, with Pip interviewing multiple people and gathering information. Her hard work and determination lead to the uncovering of questions that have haunted her community since Andie’s death.

Pip is assisted by several people in the series, sometimes stumbling upon answers by accident. Naomi suggests that Sal had an alibi for Andie’s death, and Jesse informs Pip of Becca’s assault. Although Andie’s murder is solved and Sal’s innocence is proven, the series downplays Pip’s detective skills, which could be damaging to the character. However, given the time and schedule constraints of adapting a novel into a series or film, it may be justified not to go into the specifics of Pip’s investigation in greater detail.

Place and time

The series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has changed its setting, as there are two versions of Holly Jackson’s novel, one in the US and one in the UK. US readers may have expected the series to be set in Fairview, Connecticut, but the series began in a charming English town. However, the BBC bought the rights to the series, suggesting it is likely set in the UK.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder also changes the story’s timeline, starting seven years earlier than the series. The novel is set in 2017 and deals with Andie’s death in 2014, while the series begins in 2024, five years before her death in 2019. This shift has led to minor changes in time-sensitive aspects, for example, Pip’s main social media channel in the series is Facebook, as opposed to Instagram in the novel.

The series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has undergone several changes, likely with the author’s approval. As executive producer, Jackson’s influence on the series allowed it to remain independent and offer a unique perspective on the novel. Although some changes affected the plot, the series’ success shows that viewers are happy with the content. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is now available on Netflix.

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