A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #3
As Good As Dead
by Holly Jackson
Contents
Forty-Four
Overview
Pip endures days of anxious waiting until BBC News confirms Jason Bell’s body was found and DI Hawkins declares a homicide investigation. To appear normal yet protect herself, Pip resolves to launch a new podcast season, using it to gently nudge the police toward the framed suspect, Max Hastings.
Summary
Pip waits in escalating anxiety as no news breaks on Monday or Tuesday. She avoids searches to leave no digital trace, struggles to sleep, and shares silent, haunted visits with Ravi, both too afraid to speak until in private.
On Wednesday morning over breakfast, Pip’s mum receives a text from her colleague Siobhan urging her to turn on the news. BBC coverage recounts Little Kilton’s tragic history and announces that Jason Bell has been found dead, his death treated as suspicious.
DI Hawkins holds a press conference outside Amersham Police Station, confirming Jason’s body was found early Sunday at his Knotty Green workplace and appealing for witnesses from late Saturday evening. Pip notes the vague timing and silently reassures herself about the lack of witnesses.
Pip’s mum reacts with shock and warns Pip not to get obsessed or investigate. Internally, Pip recognizes she must play her expected role as a true-crime investigator to appear normal while protecting herself.
Pip and Ravi’s plan enters its final phase: interfere without leading. Pip decides to launch A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 3—Who Killed Jason Bell?—to subtly guide the investigation toward the person she framed, Max Hastings, and she already knows who she will interview first.
Who Appears
- Pip Fitz-AmobiAnxiously waits for discovery, watches the press conference, and decides to start Season 3 to subtly steer police toward Max.
- DI HawkinsLeads the press conference, confirms Jason Bell’s homicide, and appeals for late-Saturday witnesses.
- Pip’s mum (Leanne Fitz-Amobi)Shares breakfast, reacts with shock to the news, and warns Pip not to investigate.
- Ravi SinghVisits Pip; they communicate cautiously and finalize plans to interfere subtly via the podcast.
- Jason BellSubject of the broadcast; confirmed dead, his death investigated as homicide.
- BBC NewsreaderDelivers the breaking report linking recent Little Kilton tragedies and Jason Bell’s death.
- SiobhanPip’s mum’s colleague who texts to turn on the news, prompting the reveal.