Not Quite Dead Yet

Scene: This was a simple setting, a small town with a few destinations. The author didnt over complicate the narrative overtaking the story, which made it very easy to follow. ****
Characters: Well written characters, with well rounded arcs. I wish the "culprit" has a bigger slice of the story, as I felt it was only a chapter at the end, and I wanted to have suspicions and growing tension throughout. ****
Story: This was a very interesting story, from a unique perspective. I enjoyed the almost incomplete end, I like that not every ending has to be a happy one - makes it seem more realistic. ****
Recommend?: Yes, I would recommend this book. Its very fast paced, picks up straight away in the first chapter and keeps the momentum. Perfect for a read-a-thon.

I like the concept of the book but the book is quite slow

Rating: 4.5 stars.I can finally say it: Holly Jackson didn’t just write a book, she orchestrated an experience. This book sat on my shelf like a quiet omen, daring me to pick it up, and I ignored it far too long. That version of me had no idea what she was depriving herself of. Tragic, really.I stepped into this story with casual curiosity and mild expectations. I emerged completely consumed. From the opening chapters, the atmosphere is thick with unease, the kind that settles under your skin and refuses to leave. The narrative moves with purpose, every scene tightening the tension, every detail feeling intentional. There is no filler, no wasted breath, only momentum.The mystery unfolds like a carefully set trap. Clues hide in plain sight. Conversations carry double meanings. Trust becomes a fragile thing, easily shattered. I found myself pausing just to process, replaying moments in my head, trying to stay one step ahead, and failing spectacularly.What struck me most is the emotional weight beneath the suspense. The stakes feel personal. The danger feels close. You’re not just reading events unfold, you’re inside them, sharing the urgency, the fear, the racing thoughts.And the pacing? Relentless. Chapters end like slammed doors. “Just one more page” becomes fifty. Sleep becomes optional. Sanity becomes questionable.This was my first Holly Jackson novel, and I am now fully convinced: she does not write stories, she designs obsessions. this book earns every ounce of its reputation.A masterpiece. I rest my case.── .✦I went into this book expecting a fun thriller mystery, nothing too heavy, just a woman trying to solve her own case. That’s what the premise suggested, and I thought, okay, this will be entertaining. But oh my goodness. What actually unfolded on these pages? I was stunned. Completely and repeatedly. Every time I thought I understood where the story was going, it shifted, twisted, and pulled the rug out from under me. I was constantly desperate to know what would happen next, unable to stop turning pages.I came for a casual thriller. I got a relentless, mind-consuming experience. And I loved every second of it.The pacing was absolutely perfect. There wasn’t a single moment to get bored, something was always happening, always pushing the story forward. Every chapter pulled me deeper, every page gave me a reason to keep going. I found myself genuinely enjoying every part of the journey. No dragging scenes, no unnecessary pauses, ust constant momentum that made it impossible to put the book down. It was the kind of reading experience where time disappears, and suddenly you’re at the end wondering how you got there so fast.── .✦Jet Mason:Jet Mason is the kind of protagonist that slaps you awake the second you meet her. She’s sarcastic, messy, chaotic, and somehow impossibly brave, even when life has literally handed her a death sentence. There’s this tension between her dark humor and her vulnerability that makes her so alive, and you can’t help but root for her even when she’s doing the most reckless things. Jet doesn’t just react to the world, she confronts it head-on, pulling you into her whirlwind of fear, frustration, and determination. Every snarky comment, every impulsive decision, feels like a heartbeat you can’t stop reading. You laugh, you gasp, and sometimes, you just want to shake her and scream, “Jet, please survive, but also… chill a second!”Peloma:Then there’s Billy, Jet’s childhood best friend, the calm in her storm. If Jet is fire, Billy is grounding earth, loyal, patient, endlessly caring. He sees Jet for who she is, not for the chaotic mask she throws on the world. There’s a quiet kind of heartbreak in his devotion; he carries so much of the emotional weight of the story without ever demanding attention. Watching their dynamic unfold is agonizing and beautiful at the same time, because you feel the tension of what they’ve been through, what’s unspoken, and what might be left unsaid forever if Jet doesn’t survive her own investigation. But I'm sorry I hate him so much…ifykyk.One thing that really frustrated me was how the actual murderers never ended up in jail. Like… what do you mean they got away? Meanwhile, someone who just happened to be near the scene gets arrested? That makes no sense!It’s maddening to watch justice slip through the cracks like that. Seeing a real human being commit a murder and not face consequences just didn’t sit right with me. I get that the story isn’t always about neat endings, but this one hit me in a way that felt genuinely unfair.It’s the kind of thing that makes you pause and go, “Wait… are we really celebrating the wrong people here?”── .✦I did get emotionally attached to this points cause it isn't just a book for me.1. Life is fleeting, and time is precious.From the very first page, Jet is staring down the end of her life, and it’s terrifying, but also clarifying. It forces her, and through her us, to see that every moment matters. We get wrapped up in routines, grudges, and waiting for “the right time” to do things, but Jet reminds us that if we wait too long, we might miss the chance entirely. There’s a brutal beauty in that urgency, a pulse that makes every choice feel heavier and more vital.2. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s acting despite it.Jet’s bravery isn’t perfect or polished; it’s messy, impulsive, and sometimes reckless. But that’s the point. Courage isn’t some shiny, heroic ideal, it’s deciding to stand up and face what terrifies you, even when your life is literally on the line. Her journey shows that real bravery often comes with mistakes, failures, and heartbreak, but it’s the only way to grow and to take control of your own story.3. Relationships define us, but they don’t define who we can become.From Billy’s unwavering loyalty to the tensions with her family, Jet is constantly navigating how the people around her shape her world, and yet, she still chooses her own path. The story teaches that connections are essential, but at the end of the day, you are responsible for your choices. Love, friendship, and family are anchors, not chains, and recognizing that can be both freeing and terrifying.4. Secrets and past mistakes can’t be ignored.Every character in this story carries baggage, guilt, regrets, hidden truths. The suspense of the mystery mirrors a deeper life lesson: hiding from your past doesn’t protect you. Confronting it, facing the consequences, and seeking truth is painful, but it’s also the only way to heal. Jet’s investigation isn’t just about finding a killer, it’s about untangling the lies and shadows in her own life.5. Humor and resilience are survival tools.Even in the darkest moments, Jet’s wit keeps her alive, emotionally and mentally. It’s a reminder that even when life is falling apart, finding small joys, laughing at the absurd, and refusing to be swallowed by despair can make all the difference. Resilience isn’t about being unshakable; it’s about keeping some part of yourself alive no matter how heavy the world gets.>>> ──────── .✦‧₊˚ ⛲️ ‧₊