A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #2
Good Girl, Bad Blood
by Holly Jackson
Contents
FRIDAY: Three
Overview
Pip accompanies Ravi to a crowded memorial vigil for Sal and Andie, navigating press attention and tense encounters, especially with Natalie da Silva. The community assembles, including Jason and Dawn Bell, amid rumors of reconciliation.
Speeches culminate in Mohan Singh playing Sal’s favorite Babe song as lanterns for Sal and Andie are released, offering communal catharsis and marking a poignant step in Ravi’s grieving.
Summary
Pip meets a nervous Ravi and walks with him to the memorial vigil on the common, where news crews and a large crowd have gathered. They slip through the pavilion area, discuss the day’s difficult trial testimony and Epps’s tactics, and Pip reassures Ravi about his legal ambitions.
Among friends and townspeople, they encounter Naomi, Jamie Reynolds, and Natalie da Silva; Nat rebuffs Pip’s apology, reflecting lingering resentment from the investigation. Pip and Ravi join Cara, Connor, Ant, Lauren, and Zach, hearing rumors that Jason and Dawn Bell are back living together. They also greet new neighbors Charlie and Flora, and note reporter Stanley Forbes’s presence despite his prior apologies.
As the vigil begins, a district councillor praises the town and police, followed by headteacher Mrs Morgan honoring Sal and Andie. Andie’s friends Chloe Burch and Emma Hutton read from Goblin Market. Jamie Reynolds slips past with focused determination, while Pip’s and Ravi’s families converge near the front.
Mohan Singh speaks emotionally about Sal, revealing his favorite film, Babe, and introduces the song from it. The music prompts laughter and tears as the crowd claps and sings along. Ravi, holding Pip’s and his mother’s hands, is visibly moved.
Mohan and the councillor distribute lanterns to the Singhs and to Jason and Dawn Bell. Ravi lights Sal’s lantern, and both lanterns lift into the night. Pip watches until they disappear, the moment providing communal release and a meaningful step in Ravi’s ongoing grief.
Who Appears
- Pip Fitz-AmobiProtagonist; supports Ravi at the memorial, navigates tense encounter with Nat, observes town dynamics and the ceremony.
- Ravi SinghAttends his brother’s vigil, anxious but comforted; moved by Babe’s song; lights and releases Sal’s lantern with family.
- Mohan SinghRavi’s father; delivers emotional speech about Sal and plays Babe’s song; helps release Sal’s lantern.
- Natalie da Silva (Nat)Avoids and rebuffs Pip’s apology at the vigil, reflecting strain after her trial testimony.
- Naomi WardGreets Pip and Ravi early at the vigil; part of the group from Sal and Andie’s year.
- Jamie ReynoldsMoves through the crowd with determined focus during the ceremony, briefly bumping into Pip.
- Jason BellAndie and Becca’s father; attends with Dawn; rumored to be living with her again; receives Andie’s lantern.
- Dawn BellAndie and Becca’s mother; tearful and quiet at the vigil; helps release Andie’s lantern.
- Mrs MorganHeadteacher; speaks about Sal and Andie’s lasting impact on the town.
- District councillorOpens the vigil with a speech praising town values and police; assists with lantern release.
- Stanley ForbesLocal reporter; photographs the event; previously apologized to the Singhs for past coverage.
- Cara WardPip’s best friend; offers measured perspective on the Bells; supports the group at the vigil.
- Connor ReynoldsCara’s friend; present with the group, converses quietly with his brother Jamie.
- AntFriend; attends with Lauren, speculates about the Bells living in the same house.
- LaurenFriend; spreads rumor about Jason and Dawn reconciling; attends vigil with Ant.
- Zach ChenFriend; jokes about a ‘toilet ghost’ with new neighbor Flora; part of the group.
- Chloe BurchAndie’s friend; reads from Goblin Market during the ceremony.
- Emma HuttonAndie’s friend; reads alongside Chloe, becomes emotional afterward.
- CharliePip’s neighbor; greets Ravi and Pip, lightens conversation about their house’s ‘ghost.’
- FloraPip’s neighbor; nervous at Zach’s ghost joke; offers condolences to Ravi.
- Nisha SinghRavi’s mother; stands with Ravi during the song and lantern release.