I’m probably not the best reviewer of this book because I didn’t realize that it was a prequel to a series that I actually haven’t read, so due to that, take my review with a grain of salt. I found the concept to be interesting, a murder mystery among high school friends. I, however, did not know much about the characters because the reader is likely supposed to get the character development from the series they’ve already read. It was interesting, but it wasn’t something that I will likely remember at this time next year. I’m sure it hits better if you are already familiar with all the players in this game.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to return to Pippa’s world, having loved 'A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder' series. This novella, set before the events of the first book, takes us on a fun adventure where Pippa and her friends solve a murder mystery by dressing up in 1920s-style fashion and uncovering clues to solve the fictional murder of Reginald Remy. The story highlights Pippa's sharp detective skills and showcases her determination and cleverness in connecting everything together. It's a lighthearted, entertaining read and was a fun, as a fan of this series I enjoyed it.

I read the first book in the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and while I loved the aspect of creating a podcast to investigate the murder of a classmate, I found the storyline too YA for my taste.
I figured reading Kill Joy would pique my interest into reading the rest of the series, but it’s just a bunch of kids playing a fake murder game. I almost DNF’ed it, but it was a short read and I stuck to it.
I’m trying to figure out why this book was needed because it made me lose my patience with Pip and I’ll never get back into the series.

This quick novella gives readers a glimpse of how Pip found the inspiration for her senior capstone project. A great intro to the series that might actually be best read before the others.

I absolutely love this series! This novella was the perfect introduction to the Good Girls Guide to Murder series. It was such a good preview of what is to come (even though I read it after the series was finished) it was a quick read that got my attention from the start and had a perfect ending!

3.5 rounded to 4
Reading this after finishing the entirety of the Good Girls Guide to Murder universe was a fun flash back. Little name drops here and there and getting to see the way Pip gathers informations and puts it together in a logical way. I've always wanted to do a murder mystery dinner! That was a fun aspect of the story. It allowed us to see Pop's process and what made her decide to choose the Andie Bell case for her project. I do agree with Pip, though. The ending of the case was way too easy. Good on her for seeing what no one else did, and then seeing the holes in the Bell case. It was a fun way to go back to Pip and the gang.

My first book by Holly Jackson and I really enjoyed it
So much going I was so engrossed I read it in one sitting
Loved the characters and getting to know them
This was fast paced and completely twisty
Loved it

What a fun little novella to introduce you to the characters in the Good Girl series. Pip is always thinking things thru and hates to be wrong! I have already read the 1st in the series so this was a quick read and added some more to the story. I also liked how it gave her the project idea.

Holly Jackson's Kill Joy is a clever way to show fans of the A Good Girls' Guide to Murder trilogy how Pip got her start in solving murder mysteries! With hints at characters and plot lines that play a role in the trilogy, Kill Joy is full of Easter eggs that give a nod to the series that so many readers know and love. Only after you have devoured the three books in the trilogy, pick up this prequel novella - it is just so much more satisfying that way!

In this prequel, Pip is having a night of fun with her friends before she gets serious about her senior year and selects the topic of her capstone project (if you have read the series, you know she ends up investigating the Andi Bell murder mystery.) She finds inspiration after spending an intriguing night with her friends taking part in a Murder Mystery Dinner party. Pip discovers she has found her niche in analyzing a situation and seeing what no one else does, which lays the groundwork for the rest of the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series.

I listened to Kill Joy on audio, and I'll admit I had a lot of trouble keeping the details of the murder mystery game straight. To be honest, I had no idea what was happening in the game and who all of the characters were, so I was hopeless in solving the mystery. Luckily, I had Pip as a player and this story's narrator, so she put it all together for me! The nitty gritty of the murder mystery aside, it was a lot of fun to watch Pip hone her talents and grow and blossom into the teen detective we come to know and love.

Recommended only to readers who have already read and enjoyed the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series - do not read this book first or you won't get as much satisfaction out of it because you won't catch the nods to the rest of the series.

I had to DNF this as it did not hook me right away. I wish I had been into the story, but took took long to get into it.

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson is a captivating short story that serves as a perfect prequel to the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. It introduces us to Pip and sets the stage for her investigative prowess. With its intriguing plot and well-crafted suspense, it's a quick, enjoyable read that leaves you eager for more of Pip's adventures. If you love mystery and are a fan of the series, this is a must-read!

I tried so hard to really get into this book but I just could not connect with the plot line or the characters, It was a quick read but overall did not leave an impact on me.

Kill Joy; A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Novella by Holly Jackson was a fun and quick read. I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

This was a fun and quick little prequel novella for the AGGGTM series ! I do wish I had maybe reread the books because I legit didn’t remember who any of the characters were besides Pip 😂

3. 5 stars. This prequel novella tells the story of Pip and her friends playing a costume murder mystery game. Pip gets really wrapped up in it and, ultimately, it helps her decide what she will do her senior capstone project on. Of course, the capstone project is the vehicle for her investigation in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. It was a fun, quick read but not necessary.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - Holly Jackson doesn't ever let me down!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun prequel to the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (AGGGTM) trilogy!

In Kill Joy, Pip and her friends have a murder mystery party. It's set on an island in the 1920s and each person has a character to play. Someone ends up being "murdered" and the friends play along and sift through clues and red herrings in order to figure out "whodunnit."

I loved the concept of this story. Each person showed up in an old-fashioned costume and acted out their role and it was such a fun idea. In order to play the game, Pip and her friends use a game set where each character has their own booklet which gives them information to share at specific points throughout the game. It periodically reveals their motives, secrets, and alibis. I thought the concept of the game itself was really cool and I'm definitely going to see if I can find one in real life to play with my own friends.

I thought the mystery itself was really interesting and I enjoyed playing along and trying to figure out who the murderer was. Since it was a fake murder, the stakes felt much lower than the very high stakes in the original trilogy, but that didn't take away from the excitement and just made Kill Joy feel more cozy. It was also really nice to be back with Pip and her friends one last time.

Whether you're already a fan of AGGGTM and want more of Pip and her sleuthing, or you're interested in reading the trilogy, I would highly recommend picking up this fun prequel.

this was good! just maybe a bit iffy because nothing much really happened but! i do love the whole thing about the mystery game and the red string at the end. it was a nice touch

Flew through this one in no time! What a great novella and a must read if you loved A Good Girls Guide To Murder as much as I did!

I found this story to be a little slow, but the author did an amazing job. This ties into the trilogy almost seamlessly, read this first!