Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson : A Sharp, Suspenseful YA Thriller That Keeps You Guessing (2025)

Book Summary

If you’ve been craving a thriller that messes with your head and heart, Not Quite Dead Yet is it.

Author Name	Holly Jackson
Published Date	17th July 2025
Genre	Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological thriller
Amazon	Not Quite Dead Yet
Goodreads	Not Quite Dead Yet
Format	Kindle/Paperback
Pages	400
Language	English

In this latest twisty masterpiece, Holly Jackson brings her razor-sharp storytelling into the Young Adult genre with a bang. The novel follows a teenage protagonist swept into a murder investigation where nothing is as it seems, not even the people she trusts the most. The pace is breathless, the stakes are sky-high, and every chapter ends with a reason to keep reading.

With a storyline that unfolds like a puzzle, Jackson expertly weaves together threads of suspense, emotional vulnerability, and chilling discoveries. As the title suggests, this isn’t just about death, it’s about survival, truth, and the terrifying realization that sometimes, the dead don’t stay gone… and the living aren’t always innocent.

Character Dynamics

As usual, Jackson doesn’t do cardboard cutouts. The protagonist, though unnamed in the reviews, appears to be whip-smart, emotionally complex, and possibly caught between personal safety and moral duty. Readers familiar with Pip from A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will feel echoes of that intelligence and grit here too.

There are secrets among the friend group (classic Holly!), and likely a romantic undercurrent that’s either tragically entangled or deliciously tension-filled. Even the supporting characters are written with nuance, their motives muddied in ways that leave readers constantly second-guessing. Who can be trusted? No one, it seems, and that’s the thrill of it.

Favorite Tropes & Elements

“The killer is closer than you think” trope
Unreliable narrators
Plot twists that make you go back and reread
Emotional stakes blended with high tension
Female protagonist with moral complexity
Found footage/texts/clues used to unravel the case (a Jackson signature)

What Readers Are Saying

Om Prakash Srivastava couldn’t contain his love for this novel:

“One of the best books I’ve ever read. Holly always doing the best “

His review captures what long-time fans feel, Holly Jackson never disappoints. For readers who’ve followed her since A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this latest book seems like a worthy addition to her growing legacy of addictive mystery writing.

Amazon Customer was practically counting the days:

“I have been waiting and waiting for it to come out! So damn happy for Holly! She’s forever been my star in books and no one has replaced her. I am absolutely thrilled for her debut in Young-Adult books.”

This review highlights a key moment in Holly’s career, the transition into a true YA space with fresh depth. Her fans are clearly loyal, and this book seems to have delivered the chills, tension, and satisfaction they hoped for.

Country Girl, while rating the book positively, was careful not to spill secrets:

“I had some reservations but I can’t voice them here without giving away the plot and the murderer!”

This cryptic comment only adds to the book’s appeal, clearly, there’s a major twist or reveal that readers are hesitant to spoil. It’s the kind of thriller that makes you want to talk about it but forces you to stay quiet just so others can enjoy the ride.

Reader Consensus

What Works Well:

Tightly plotted mystery with layered secrets
Jackson’s signature pacing and structure
Emotional engagement with morally grey characters
A gripping, unputdownable narrative
Satisfying (and possibly shocking) ending

Minor Critique:

Some readers may find one or two twists a bit too convenient
Not every clue may land for all, but isn’t that the fun of a good thriller?

About the Author : Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson is a British author best known for her bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series. She has a talent for crafting intricate plots with morally grey characters and jaw-dropping twists. Her books often explore justice, truth, and the teenage experience in the most suspenseful ways. With Not Quite Dead Yet, Jackson continues her reign in YA mystery and proves once again that no one writes modern whodunits quite like she does.

Final Verdict

Not Quite Dead Yet is a gripping, clever, and emotionally loaded YA thriller that reminds us why Holly Jackson is one of the most exciting voices in the genre today. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to her books, this one is worth diving into. With layered tension, high-stakes mystery, and a web of characters you’ll suspect until the very last page, it’s a chilling, thrilling read from start to finish.