Someone solving their own murder? Honestly, that concept alone had me immediately intrigued. Not Quite Dead Yet is Holly Jackson’s first foray into adult fiction, and while it carries the same addictive, twisty energy as her YA novels, this one definitely cranks up the intensity.

We follow Jet Mason, who learns she has seven days to live after a brutal attack leaves her with a ticking time bomb in her brain, which is a rupturing aneurysm. Jet’s response? Use what little time she has left to figure out who tried to kill her. And that setup is genuinely brilliant.

I loved the urgency built into the plot. The whole thing feels like a thriller on borrowed time, and it really keeps you flipping pages. Jet’s partnership with childhood friend Billy was a highlight because he’s a cinnamon roll of a character, and you just want to give him a hug. I also really appreciated the depiction of Jet’s deterioration; it added a raw, emotional layer to the mystery that made it feel more grounded and visceral.

But as much as I was on board with the premise, I can’t lie. I struggled with parts of the execution. The mystery, while engaging, started to feel predictable pretty early on. There were a lot of moving parts (some of them too many), and at times it felt like scenes were added to pad the length rather than move the story forward. The resolution, particularly the ending, felt rushed and didn’t quite hit the payoff I was hoping for, especially with some plot threads just kind of… left hanging.

And Jet as a main character? It’s complicated. She’s understandably messy, but I found myself getting frustrated with some of her choices, like refusing to involve the police meaningfully even when it would have made sense to. The supporting characters, like her awful brother and emotionless mom, were clearly meant to be hateable, and they definitely succeeded there.

Still, even with its flaws, this was a fun ride. Holly Jackson’s signature pacing, twists, and emotional punches are all here, just in a slightly rougher adult debut form. I didn’t love it the way I loved A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, but I’m still glad I read it and I’d absolutely recommend it to others, especially fans of twisty small town thrillers with a dark emotional core.

Mixed feelings, but a killer concept. Some pacing and character issues, but emotionally gripping and unique enough to stand out. I’ll keep reading whatever Holly Jackson writes next.

Rating: 3.5/5