The eagerly awaited youth crime thriller A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is now streaming on BBC iPlayer and will be released on Netflix on August 1st. The six-part TV series is based on Holly Jackson’s popular young adult novel and aims to capture the essence of the first book in the trilogy. Here are the key differences between the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Book vs. TV show.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows high school student Pip Fitz-Amobi, played by Emma Myers, who faces the challenge of solving the murder of her classmate Andie Bell, played by India Lillie Davies. The crime occurred five years before the events of the novel and left the residents of Little Kilton traumatized. These residents and the police believe that Andie’s boyfriend Sal Singh (played by Rahul Pattni) was responsible. Their proof: After confessing in a questionable text message, Sal committed suicide. However, Pip is not convinced of his guilt and teams up with Sal’s brother Ravi, played by Zain Iqbal, to find the real culprit.

While the television series largely follows the plot of the book, there are some notable changes. For example, Facebook has been replaced by Instagram to keep up with current trends. Additionally, Pip’s dog Barnie, a golden retriever in the book, is instead portrayed by a white English sheepdog in the series. These minor changes do not have a significant impact on the viewing experience. However, there are some more noticeable differences between the BBC television series and the book version of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. We reveal them below.

Note: The story contains spoilers for both the book and the series.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Book vs. TV series: What are the biggest differences?

Pip’s stepfather doesn’t call her “chicken”

In the series, Pip’s stepfather affectionately calls her “Chicken,” which seems a little odd for an amateur detective who is brave, intuitive, and brilliant. This pet name doesn’t fit her personality. In the book, he calls her “Pickle” and “Pipsicle,” both of which rhyme with her name and make more sense. While it’s a small change, it’s still kind of jarring.

Pip’s investigation goes much deeper

Considering the showrunners were trying to squeeze a 433-page book into a six-episode series, it’s understandable that certain parts were left out. The BBC show had a much faster pace than its literary counterpart. On screen, Pip’s investigations sometimes seem a little rushed. She either stumbles upon evidence or is just gently given it. In the books, her investigation is much more in-depth; she interviews many people multiple times and digs deep into their pasts. This builds tension and leads the reader to suspect multiple characters as Pip’s investigation goes deeper and deeper.

The TV series speeds up this process, causing some nuances to be lost in translation. But that’s understandable, as reading a book and watching a series convey two different emotions. Some of Pip’s breakthroughs are shown in the series, and she ultimately comes to the same conclusions, albeit in different ways.

No Stanley Forbes

In the book series, Stanley Forbes is a journalist who plays a minor role in the first book but has a much larger role in the later ones. He reports on the Andie Bell murder case as it develops. In the television series, however, we don’t see Stanley Forbes or any other journalist. The show’s creators will likely introduce the character if the series is renewed for a second season.

Pip doesn’t see Andie and Sal before Andie’s disappearance

In the book, Pip knew Sal and believed in his innocence because he was always kind and friendly to her. This made her want to prove that he didn’t commit the crime. In the series, however, a younger Pip sees Andie crying at school before she disappears. Andie signals Pip to keep her whereabouts a secret, but almost immediately Sal asks if she’s seen Andie, and Pip points him in Andie’s direction. Although Pip believes Sal is innocent, she feels guilty for not keeping Andie’s secret, which is another reason she is so determined to clear Sal’s name.

Nat da Silva is Andie’s best friend

In the TV series, Nat da Silva is one of Andie’s best friends, but Andie betrays her by posting nude photos of her on social media. In the books, Andie’s best friends are Emma and Chloe. While Chloe is in the series, Emma is absent. In the book, Nat is also known for her criminal record and for being one of Max Hastings’ sexual assault victims.

The showrunners’ decision to make Nat a close friend of Andie’s in the series further heightens her betrayal and gives her more credibility as a suspect.

Andie and Sal’s story

In the book, there are no scenes with Andie and Sal together. However, in the series, there are many flashbacks with Andie and Sal that give a better understanding of their relationship as a couple.

Ant Lowe is Pip’s friend

In the book, Ant Lowe is part of Pip’s circle of friends, but in the series, Lowe is introduced as Lauren’s new boyfriend, which seems to be a positive change for the next chapter of the story.

Watch the show here

(Main and featured image: IMDb)