hOLLY JACKSON
Holly Jackson born in 1992 is a British author of mystery novels. She is best known for her book A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series.
She grew up in Buckinghamshire, near London in England and wrote her first novel when she was 15 years old. Later, she attended the University of Nottingham, where she first studied literary linguistics and creative writing, graduating with a first-class degree, then graduating with a master’s degree in English.
Jackson’s debut novel as a novelist A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was published in 2019, and it received the various accolades including
- American Library Association’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (2021)
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2020)
- Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize (2020)
- British Book Awards Children’s Fiction Book Winner of the Year (2020)
- Barnes and Noble Best Books of the Year (2020)
Jackson followed this up with two sequel novels and one prequel novel: Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020); As Good as Dead (2021); and Kill Joy (2021) respectively.Apart from Good Girl, Bad Blood, all books were published by Electric Monkey. Good Girl, Bad Blood was published by Delacorte Press and was shortlisted for the 2021 YA Book Prize.In 2022, Jackson released her first standalone novel titled Five Survive, published in the UK by Electric Monkey and in the US by Delacorte Press.In 2024, she released her second, and as of 2024, last standalone novel, The Reappearance of Rachel Price, published in the UK by Electric Monkey and in the US by Delacorte Press.
In October 2024, it was announced that Jackson’s debut adult suspense novel, Not Quite Dead Yet, will be published in July 2025 in the US by Ballantine Books, in the UK by Penguin Michael Joseph, and in Canada by Doubleday.
She lives in London and aside from reading and writing, she enjoys binge-playing video games and pointing out grammatical errors in street signs.
Background and Writing Inspiration
Holly Jackson entered the world in 1992 in Buckinghamshire, England where she developed a passion for storytelling and writing during her childhood. At the age of fifteen, she successfully completed her debut novel which illustrated her natural writing ability alongside her passion for creating stories. Holly completed her English degree and then continued for her master’s in English with an emphasis on literary linguistics and creative writing, all at the University of Nottingham.
Breakthrough with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Jackson made her debut in 2019 with a novel (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) that she later referred to as a “magical moment” when she was able to hold her book in print. The story follows Pip Fitz-Amobi, a convinced teenage girl investigating a murder case that has been closed in her hometown. Jackson used creative ways of storytelling that included interview transcripts and diary entries that gave readers an experience of true crime documentations and podcasts, both of which she consumed avidly as a fan.
The success of the book skyrocketed thereafter with various accolades including the British Book Awards Children’s Fiction Book of the Year in 2020, and generally became a trilogy with sequels, Good Girl, Bad Blood and As Good As Dead and a prequel novella, Kill Joy.
Expanding Opportunities with Standalone Novels
Wanting to stretch herself, Jackson branched out into standalone novels. In Five Survive, published in 2022, six friends are trapped in an RV being attacked and have to deal with secrets and loyalties that are tested. The novel is written in real-time, ratcheting up the tension and letting Jackson work her magic in suspenseful storytelling .
In 2024, Jackson published The Reappearance of Rachel Price, which examines the themes of identity and family secrets. The novel tells the story of Bel, who suddenly has her mother return after she has been absent for years, throwing the family off its already precarious balance .
Transitioning to Adult Fiction
Jackson’s journey as a writer is evolving again as she enters the world of adult mystery fiction. Her next title, called Not Quite Dead Yet will be released in July 2025. The main character, Jet, is 27 years old, and is given one week to solve her own attempted murder before dying of an aneurysm. This work will be “the best thing I’ve written yet,” Jackson states, noting it has her signature twists and ways to draw emotional responses from her readers .
Adaptations and Media Presence
The success of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder led to a BBC television adaptation with Jackson as an executive producer and she was heavily involved in the making of the series to make sure it stayed true to the original story. While she understands that adaptations can be a challenge, she very sympathetic to the critique from ‘fans’, emphasizing her motivation to maintain the spirit of the story .
Engagement with Readers and Writing Philosophy
Jackson’s relationship with her audience extends beyond just her books. She feels strongly about the role of TikTok in bringing attention to her work and believes it to be “the new word-of-mouth vehicle” . Jackson’s writing is hands-on; she creates scene maps on notecards, which she moves around to ensure the story flows—the same approach a person would take to create a good story .
Jackson is grounded despite the success as novelist. She continues to create from a simple home office and enjoys creating and being able to engage with her audience through her stories .
Legacy and Future Work
The journey of Holly Jackson began with childhood aspirations of writing yet she now stands as a bestselling author and a novelist after years of hard work. Through her creative abilities and dedication she achieved worldwide popularity by developing intricate plots and emotional connections that mirror human experiences. Her work in adult fiction literature will expand in the coming years which will generate inspiration for both readers and authors.
