A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder presents a twisty whodunnit that’s far from a “cute little story.” This article delves into the complex mystery surrounding Andie Bell’s death, exploring the secrets, lies, and tragic events that led to her demise.
The series starts with the disappearance of Andie Bell in 2019. Five years later, Pip, a determined student, decides to investigate Andie’s murder for a school project. Everyone believes Andie was killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who confessed via text and then committed suicide. Pip, however, suspects foul play, and teams up with Sal’s brother, Ravi, to uncover the truth, ultimately disrupting the lives of everyone involved.
Image of the book cover for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, hinting at the complex mystery.
Unraveling Sal’s Alibi: The First Layer of Deceit
Sal told the police that on the night of Andie’s disappearance, he was with his friends Max, Naomi, and another friend, playing Super Mario Party. Initially, they corroborated his story, but later recanted, claiming he left when the pizza arrived around 10:15 PM. This inconsistency became a key piece of evidence against Sal, as he didn’t return home until after midnight, during the estimated time of Andie’s murder.
However, it’s revealed that Sal was with them until after midnight. A photo, vaguely pointed to by Naomi, shows the time as 12:06 AM. The question then becomes: why did they lie?
Naomi eventually confesses that the group, excluding Sal, was involved in a hit-and-run on New Year’s Eve. Max contacted Dan Da Silva (brother of Andie’s friend Nat and a police officer) to cover it up. Dan was being blackmailed for his relationship with Andie when she was underage. The group received a threatening letter demanding they lie about Sal’s alibi or the hit and run would be exposed. Naomi feels guilty, believing her lie led to Sal’s suicide.
The “Older Guy” and the Blackmail
Who was blackmailing the group? Not Dan Da Silva, the only person who knew about the accident. Except Naomi documented the accident in her diary, and her father, Elliot Ward, read it. Elliot then used this information to blackmail the group, framing Sal for Andie’s murder.
Andie was seeing an older man, with whom she checked into a hotel using the aliases “Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan,” leaving a specific phone number. This number leads Pip to Naomi, who reveals it’s an old phone belonging to her father. Elliot Ward was the “older guy” involved with Andie, having an affair with her while tutoring her. Andie ended the relationship, but on the night of her death, she demanded £5,000 from him. He refused, they argued, and he pushed her against a wall. Seeing her bleeding badly, he pretended to call for help, but she fled.
Elliot, believing he was responsible for Andie’s death, blackmailed Sal’s friends to ensure Sal looked guilty.
Did Sal Actually Commit Suicide?
Initially, it’s believed Sal killed himself after sending a confession text. However, Ravi points out the text’s perfect grammar and spelling, contrasting with Sal’s usual texting habits.
The text was written by Elliot Ward. He drugged Sal, suffocated him, used his phone to send the confession, and left his body in the woods. Elliot escalated from believing he caused Andie’s death to becoming a full-fledged murderer.
The Woman in the Attic: Isla’s Story
While following Elliot, Pip discovers a woman being held captive in his attic. This woman, Isla, was abducted by Elliot. Isla, who was homeless, was offered shelter for the night. During her stay, Elliot confessed to murdering Sal. When Isla attempted to escape, he locked her up in the attic.
Pip alerts Ravi, leading to the police arriving, freeing Isla and arresting Elliot.
How Did Andie Bell Really Die? The Truth Revealed
The investigation leads to the shocking truth: Andie’s death was the culmination of multiple factors, a grim echo of 13 Reasons Why, with everyone playing a role.
Andie was a drug dealer, hiding drugs in her stuffed bunny, saving money to escape her dysfunctional family. She sold drugs at a rave called Calamity. One night, her younger sister, Becca, was roofied and raped at Calamity. Andie refused to help Becca report the rapist, Max Hastings, because Andie was the one who sold him the roofies. She then tells Becca she is leaving town the next day, abandoning Becca to their father.
Enraged, Becca shoves Andie into a wall, exacerbating her head injury, causing her to seize and die. Becca, shocked and upset, hides Andie’s body.
Later, Becca leads Pip to Andie’s burial site, after drugging her. However, Ravi and Cara arrive, saving Pip.
Who Killed the Dog? The Final Twist
Becca was the one sending threatening text messages to Pip, fearing she was getting too close to the truth. She also murdered Pip’s dog, Barney, after Pip posted a TikTok attempting to lure the killer out. Justice for Barney.
In conclusion, Andie Bell’s death was not a simple murder case but a complex web of lies, secrets, and tragic events, culminating in a shocking revelation of family betrayal and accidental manslaughter.
