About the Book
Good Girl, Bad Blood is the second book in Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. It picks up after Pip Fitz-Amobi and Ravi Singh solved the Andie Bell murder case, a story Pip turned into a true-crime podcast that's since gone viral. Despite having publicly declared her investigating days over, Pip is pulled back in when Jamie Reynolds, someone she knows, goes missing on the night of a town memorial marking six years since Andie Bell and Sal Singh's deaths.
The police aren't treating the disappearance as urgent, so Pip starts digging on her own. The case builds on the existing social dynamics, relationships, and town history established in the first book, which means listeners who haven't read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder will likely find themselves lost. This is a sequel that expects you to know the characters and context going in.
The podcast-within-the-story format that shaped the first book continues to influence how Pip approaches investigation here. It's a YA mystery that leans into procedural elements, timelines, interviews, evidence, which gives it a structured, methodical quality compared to most books in the genre.
Narration & Audio Performance
Bailey Carr handles narration duties throughout the series, which gives the audiobook a sense of continuity for listeners who started with the first book. Her delivery is steady and clear, well-suited to the methodical pace of the investigation sequences.
Carr does a reasonable job distinguishing between characters, though some voices are closer together than others. The narration suits Pip's determined, analytical personality without veering into melodrama. For a YA mystery with a lot of dialogue and interview-style scenes, that restraint works in the production's favor.
If you're unsure whether the narration style suits you, the Audible sample is a practical way to check, Carr's tone is consistent enough that the opening minutes are representative of the full experience.
The Audible Verdict
The audiobook is a functional and enjoyable way to experience this sequel, especially if you already listened to the first book with Bailey Carr narrating. The audio format suits the linear, procedural mystery structure well. That said, the narration doesn't add anything particularly distinctive, it's competent and consistent rather than a standout production. A free trial credit is the right call unless you're already committed to the series in audio.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Mystery and thriller fiction generally translates well to audio, and this book is no exception. The plot moves in a linear direction, built around interviews, timelines, and evidence-gathering, all of which work naturally in an audio format. There's nothing here in terms of charts, maps, or visual formatting that you'd miss by not reading the print edition.
The podcast framing within the story is a minor bonus for audio listeners, it's a format that already has a spoken, conversational quality. Listeners doing commutes or household tasks will find the pacing manageable without needing to refer back to the text.
One consideration: this is a sequel, and some of the payoff depends on remembering character relationships and backstory from the first book. If it's been a while, you may want to refresh before starting. That's a content issue rather than a format issue, but worth noting.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to read the first book before this one?
Yes. Good Girl, Bad Blood builds directly on the events of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Characters, relationships, and plot threads from the first book are central to this story, and the sequel doesn't spend much time recapping.
Is this book appropriate for younger listeners in the YA age range?
The book is marketed as YA and is written with teenage protagonists, but the content, murder, missing persons, and some darker themes, is on the more mature end of the genre. It's consistent with the tone set in the first book.
Is Bailey Carr the same narrator as the first book in the series?
Yes. Bailey Carr narrates both this book and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, so the listening experience carries over with the same voice and tone.
Is this a standalone story or does it end on a cliffhanger?
The missing persons case in this book reaches a resolution, but the series continues with a third installment, As Good as Dead. There are threads left open that carry forward.
Similar Audiobooks
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Direct predecessor, necessary context for this book, same narrator and tone.
Continues Pip's story and wraps up the overarching narrative of the trilogy.
YA mystery with a similar procedural edge and high school social dynamics at the center of the case.
The Inheritance Games
YA mystery with puzzle-driven plotting that appeals to the same audience drawn to Pip's methodical investigations.
Another YA mystery series with an amateur teenage investigator and a similarly structured, evidence-based approach to the central case.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Good Girl, Bad Blood |
|---|---|
| Author | Holly Jackson |
| Narrator | Bailey Carr |
| Genre | Young Adult Mystery |
| Year | 2022 |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Good Girl, Bad Blood is available on Audible, a reasonable choice for a free trial credit, particularly if you've already listened to the first book in the series.
Open on Audible