A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has taken audiences by storm with its intricate mystery and compelling characters. Based on the popular YA novel, the series plunges viewers into the chilling case of Andie Bell’s disappearance and presumed murder, a crime initially pinned on her boyfriend, Sal Singh. But as Pip Fitz-Amobi, our determined protagonist, delves deeper into the investigation for a school project, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies, and shocking truths that reveal the story is far from closed. If you’ve binged the series and are seeking a clear understanding of the tangled events and the ultimate answer to “who killed Andie Bell?”, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s unravel the mystery that grips the town of Little Kilton and discover the truth behind Andie Bell’s fate.
Alt text: A promotional image for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series featuring the main characters, Pip and Ravi, against a backdrop of crime scene tape and investigation clues.
Unpacking the Initial Suspicions and Sal Singh’s Alibi
The series opens with the shadow of a past tragedy – the apparent murder-suicide of Andie Bell and Sal Singh. Five years after Andie’s disappearance in 2019, Pip Fitz-Amobi challenges the accepted narrative for her school project. Everyone believes Sal confessed via text and then took his own life out of guilt. However, Pip is not convinced. Her investigation begins by scrutinizing Sal’s alibi, which immediately presents inconsistencies.
Sal claimed he was at a party with friends – Max, Naomi, and another unnamed individual – playing Super Mario Party on the night of Andie’s disappearance. Initially, his friends corroborated this story. However, they later recanted, stating Sal left around 10:15 PM when pizza arrived. This discrepancy became a key piece of evidence against Sal, as he didn’t return home until after midnight, placing him within the timeframe of Andie’s murder.
But the truth, as Pip uncovers, is that Sal was with his friends until after midnight. A photograph, subtly revealed by Naomi, time-stamped at 12:06 AM, proves Sal’s presence. This begs the crucial question: why did Naomi and Max lie about Sal’s alibi?
The Dark Secret and Elliot Ward’s Blackmail
Naomi eventually confesses the disturbing reason behind their false alibi. The trio, excluding Sal, were involved in a hit-and-run incident on New Year’s Eve. Max contacted Dan Da Silva, Andie’s best friend Nat’s brother and a police officer, to cover it up and avoid legal repercussions. Da Silva agreed, but in return, he blackmailed Max due to his illicit relationship with a 15-year-old Andie – a clear case of statutory rape.
This revelation ties into the blackmail that forced Naomi and Max to lie about Sal’s alibi. They received a threatening letter, promising to expose the hit-and-run if they didn’t implicate Sal in Andie’s murder by falsifying their statements to the police. Naomi carries immense guilt, believing their lie contributed to Sal’s suicide by reinforcing the narrative of his guilt.
But who was behind this blackmail, exploiting their secret to frame Sal? It wasn’t Dan Da Silva, who was already complicit in covering up the statutory rape. The answer lies closer to home. Naomi inadvertently revealed the hit-and-run in her diary, which her father, Elliot Ward, secretly read. Elliot, driven by his own dark secret and motives, became the blackmailer.
Unmasking the “Older Guy” and Elliot Ward’s Deception
Early in Pip’s investigation, it’s revealed Andie Bell had been secretly seeing an “older guy.” Her friends were unaware of his identity. Andie and this man used aliases – “Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan” – when checking into a hotel, leaving a specific phone number. Pip attempts to call this number but initially hits a dead end, saving it for later.
After a devastating blow – the murder of her dog, Barney – Pip receives a call from that saved number. Shockingly, it’s Naomi. However, the twist is that the phone isn’t Naomi’s; it’s an old phone of her father, Elliot Ward, which Naomi had found. Further investigation of the Ward family’s printer history reveals Elliot printed the threatening note Pip found earlier.
The pieces fall into place: Cara and Naomi’s father, Elliot Ward, was the “older guy” Andie was involved with. He was her tutor, and their relationship turned sexual. Andie eventually ended the affair. On the night of her death, Andie went to Elliot demanding £5,000. An argument ensued, and in a fit of rage, Elliot shoved Andie against a wall. She was severely injured and bleeding. Elliot claims he intended to call an ambulance, but Andie fled.
Elliot Ward, believing he was responsible for Andie’s death, manipulated events to frame Sal. He blackmailed Naomi and Max, ensuring Sal appeared guilty, to divert suspicion from himself.
The Engineered Suicide and the Woman in the Attic
Initially, Sal’s suicide seemed to confirm his guilt. He sent a confession text message before his death. But Ravi, Sal’s brother, points out a crucial detail to Pip: the text message is impeccably written, unlike Sal’s usual casual texting style.
Pip realizes the confession text is too perfect to be Sal’s. The truth is far more sinister. Elliot Ward, not content with simply framing Sal through the false alibi, orchestrated his suicide. Elliot, an English teacher capable of crafting perfect prose, wrote the confession text. He drugged Sal, suffocated him, used Sal’s phone to send the fabricated confession, and then staged his body in the woods to appear as a suicide. Elliot’s actions escalated from attempted cover-up to full-fledged murder when he eliminated Sal.
Pip’s relentless pursuit of the truth leads her to Elliot’s old house. While confronting him, she hears tapping sounds within the walls. Following the noise, she discovers a hidden attic where she finds a woman locked away. This woman is not Andie, though she mentions it’s not the first time she’s been mistaken for her. This is Isla, another victim of Elliot Ward.
Isla, who was homeless (“living rough” in British slang), was offered shelter by Elliot. He then confessed to murdering Sal and, when Isla attempted to escape, imprisoned her in the attic. This explains Elliot’s secretive absences and his cryptic comment about having “many mouths to feed” when his daughter complained about finances – a chilling reference to Isla’s captivity. Pip had alerted Ravi before going to Elliot’s house, and the police arrive, freeing Isla and arresting Elliot.
The Shocking Truth: Who Actually Murdered Andie Bell?
While Elliot Ward is undoubtedly a villain responsible for Sal’s murder and Isla’s abduction, he isn’t Andie Bell’s killer. The series masterfully layers the mystery, revealing a final, devastating truth.
Andie Bell was not simply a victim; she was also involved in darker activities. She was a drug dealer, hiding drugs in a stuffed bunny, saving money to escape her troubled home life with her father. She sold various substances, including ketamine and roofies, often at a rave called Calamity. Tragically, Andie’s younger sister, Becca Bell, attended Calamity, was roofied, and subsequently raped by Max Hastings – the same Max who provided a false alibi for Sal.
On the night of her death, after her confrontation with Elliot Ward, Andie returned home to Becca. Becca, wanting to report her rape, pleaded with Andie to go to the police with her and accuse Max. However, Andie refused, revealing a horrifying confession: she was the one who sold Max the roofies he used to drug Becca. In a moment of callousness, Andie also announced her plans to leave the next day, abandoning Becca to their difficult home situation.
Overwhelmed with anger, betrayal, and despair, Becca shoved Andie forcefully. Already injured from Elliot’s assault, the push caused Andie to collapse, suffer a seizure, and vomit. Becca watched in shock as Andie died.
In a chilling confession to Pip, Becca recounts the events, stating, “It was awful.” Pip, initially feeling sympathy for Becca’s trauma, is soon confronted with Becca’s true nature. Becca offers Pip a drink and suggests showing her where Andie’s body is hidden. Pip realizes too late – Becca has roofied her. Becca leads Pip to the burial site, intending to leave her there to die as well. A struggle ensues, but fortunately, Ravi and Cara, tracking Pip’s phone, arrive just in time to save her.
The Final Twist: Justice for Barney
The series adds one final layer of cruelty: the death of Pip’s dog, Barney. While Elliot Ward sent the initial threatening note, he wasn’t responsible for the menacing text messages or Barney’s murder.
Becca Bell, fearing Pip was getting too close to the truth about Andie’s death, was the one sending the threatening texts. In a desperate attempt to stop Pip from revealing everything, Becca tragically murdered innocent Barney after Pip posted a TikTok vowing to expose the killer.
In conclusion, while Elliot Ward played a significant role in the unfolding tragedy and committed terrible crimes, Becca Bell is the one who killed Andie Bell. Her actions, fueled by a complex mix of trauma, anger, and a desire to protect herself, ultimately led to Andie’s death and set off the chain of events that Pip so bravely unravels. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder delivers a shocking and heartbreaking answer to its central question, reminding us that sometimes, the truth is far more complicated and devastating than we could ever imagine.
