REVIEW: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

I have received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through the publisher. This has not affected my rating or review in any way.

Thank you to Bantam for sending me an Advance Reader’s Copy of Not Quite Dead Yet!

I think I'm still in shock that I got to read my most anticipated release of the year early. If you recall, Holly Jackson's young adult series A Good Girl's Guide To Murder was my favorite series of the year in 2024- and spoiler alert: The Reappearance of Rachel Price is one of my favorite standalones of this one. I'd been anxiously awaiting Jackson's adult debut, and Bantam providing a galley was simply a wonderful surprise.

Not Quite Dead Yet follows twenty-seven year-old Margaret "Jet" Mason after being the sole victim of a violent attack on Halloween night. Told she has just days left to live due to the extent of her injuries, Jet makes it her life's mission- literally- to find her own killer before it's too late. 

Right off the bat, I sunk into Holly Jackson's world. Jet is another great main character, with the dark cynicism of Five Survive's Red Kenny and the hot-tempered stubbornness of The Reappearance of Rachel Price's Bel Price. (Nothing like Pip though, and at this point I think Jackson will never make another main character as phenomenal as Pippa Fitz-Amobi- I say this with love, by the way.) I can't say I loved every character, but I loved the way Jackson wrote them; everyone had a reason to have murdered Jet, and it was just as hard to figure out who to believe for Jet as it was for me.

Something that Jackson excels at every time is pacing; Her writing has always been superb, slowly building up to the big twist while never losing the entertainment factor. She knows how to keep you guessing and suspecting everyone- and I mean everyone- until the bitter end. And speaking of endings, be prepared: Not Quite Dead Yet has Holly Jackson's darkest and most bittersweet ending yet.

Overall, this is another great entry into Holly Jackson's bibliography. I hope she continues to release both young adult and new adult mystery novels, as I thoroughly enjoy both. (Though if you have to ask me, my favorite Jackson mystery is still As Good As Dead.) I give Not Quite Dead Yet 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson will be available on July 22nd, 2025.

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