Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holly Jackson does it again with Not Quite Dead Yet—a sharp, twisty thriller that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. If you loved A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, you’re in for another wild ride, though this one leans even harder into dark humor and heart-pounding suspense.

The story kicks off with 17-year-old Bel, who wakes up in a morgue after being declared dead. Yep—dead. Turns out, she was drugged and buried alive, and now she’s determined to find out who wanted her gone. What follows is a fast-paced, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse as Bel and her friends try to solve the mystery before her would-be killer strikes again.

Jackson’s writing is, as always, super engaging. She balances snappy dialogue with serious stakes, and somehow manages to make you laugh even in the creepiest scenes. Bel is a fantastic lead—fierce, flawed, and way more emotionally complex than you'd expect in a teen thriller. Her relationships, especially with her dad and her best friend, add some real emotional weight to all the action.

The mystery itself is tight. Every time you think you know what’s going on, the story flips on you. It’s full of red herrings, misdirection, and that signature Jackson style where every character seems suspicious at some point. And even with all the suspense, the book still sneaks in commentary on family, trust, and survival.

Not Quite Dead Yet is just pure fun. Creepy, clever, and full of energy—it’s the kind of book you finish in a day because you have to know what happens next. A perfect pick for fans of YA thrillers who want something that’s both smart and unputdownable.

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