A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #3
As Good As Dead
by Holly Jackson
Contents
Eighteen
Overview
Pip receives another blocked call and arms herself with a caller-ID unmasking app, deciding to go to the police only once she has concrete proof. She advances her Green Scene theory, ruling out Max Hastings and focusing on Daniel da Silva’s fitting timeline. Outreach yields a crucial meeting with victim Julia Hunter’s sister, Harriet, setting up the next lead.
Summary
Ravi arrives to learn Pip has received another blocked call with only breathing. Pip demonstrates a new app, CallTrapper, which can unmask withheld numbers, testing it with Ravi to prove it works. Ravi worries how the stalker got her number, and Pip reminds him it was printed on Jamie’s missing posters.
Ravi urges Pip to return to DCI Hawkins with their findings, but Pip refuses after being dismissed before. She promises to go to the police once she has a concrete identifier—like the unmasked number—and otherwise will go public to deter harm. Internally, Pip frames the case as a way to fix herself by catching the DT Killer and freeing an innocent Billy Karras.
They revisit the Green Scene alarm on 20 April 2012, theorizing DT broke in for duct tape and rope before Jason Bell arrived. Pip rules out Max Hastings due to age and alibi, and shifts focus to Daniel da Silva, whose employment at Green Scene (2009–2011, office from early 2011) overlaps the first three DT murders. Pip notes Bethany Ingham likely supervised both Billy and Daniel, possibly the redacted name in Billy’s transcript.
To widen sources, Pip contacts former Green Scene/Clean Scene staff on LinkedIn and plans to speak with retired DCI Nolan. She also reaches out to victims’ families. The chapter ends when Harriet Hunter, sister of victim Julia Hunter, replies and agrees to meet the next day, which Pip takes as a strategic win in her escalating contest with DT.
Who Appears
- Pip Fitz-AmobiProtagonist; receives another blocked call, installs an unmasking app, refuses police until proof, advances Green Scene/DT theory.
- Ravi SinghPip’s boyfriend; urges involving police, tests the app call, discusses suspects and Green Scene timeline.
- DT KillerPresumed caller/stalker; suspected of 2012 Green Scene break-in and linked to murders Pip is reexamining.
- Daniel da SilvaFormer Green Scene employee; timeline overlaps first DT murders, potential redacted name in Billy’s interview.
- Jason BellOwner linked to Green Scene; refused to help Pip; his alarm response frames Pip’s DT break-in theory.
- Max HastingsPreviously suspected; ruled out by age and alibi on the relevant night.
- Billy KarrasMan convicted for DT murders; Pip believes he’s likely innocent and seeks evidence to exonerate him.
- Harriet HunterSister of victim Julia Hunter; responds to Pip and agrees to meet, offering a new lead.