There’s a reason murder mysteries have taken up permanent residence on our bookshelves and televisions. It may be a simple premise, but the edge-of-your-seat thrill only a whodunnit can deliver has stood the test of time. I mean, what other genre has dinner parties solely dedicated to it? Whenever I feel a reading slump coming on, I always know that a classic murder mystery thriller is the perfect antidote. So, when my Kindle hadn’t been picked up in a suspiciously long time and I saw one of my favorite YA authors had released her first adult thriller, I knew I had to pick it up. Below, my full review of Holly Jackson’s Not Quite Dead Yet.
Not Quite Dead Yet
Jet is 27 years old and still waiting for her life to begin—until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic head injury, and the doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm. She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates, she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something: Jet is going to solve her own murder.
What is Not Quite Dead Yet about?
Not Quite Dead Yet isn’t your typical murder mystery. The main character, Jet, is actually solving her own murder—and she only has seven days to do it. Jet survived an unknown attacker, but just because she woke up in the hospital doesn’t mean she’s in the clear. Her doctor is certain that her injury will cause a fatal aneurysm and that she only has a week (at most) to live. While some might choose to spend their final days with their family or doing their favorite things, Jet has only one objective: to find the person who did this to her.
My review of Not Quite Dead Yet
One of my favorite aspects of young adult thrillers is that they have all the mystery without the lingering nightmares that often come with adult thrillers. Don’t get me wrong, I love a truly terrifying book, but scary isn’t a requirement for a story to be full of tension and anticipation. Not Quite Dead Yet proves that. It has all the charm of Jackson’s YA books, with a few more swear words and a couple of mentions of sex.
Recently, it seems like all thrillers cover genuinely disturbing topics (not that murder is light, per se), so this book was a welcome change. I appreciated how Jackson’s style made the story feel fun, and even a little comical at times, without erasing the essential tension. So much of that tone came from Jet’s completely charming personality. Sure, she had flaws, but when she laughed at her own situation, it gave the reader permission to laugh too. While the story did feel less heavy at times, the book never strayed too far from the high-stakes thriller energy.
“I quite literally read this book in one sitting, in the exact same position, without getting up for a single break, so it’s safe to say it held my attention.”
Unlike other genres where plots can be meandering and slow, if the plot and twists aren’t there in a thriller, I’m going to be disappointed. I was immediately hooked by Not Quite Dead Yet’s premise, and it kept me intrigued until the very last page. As an amateur Sherlock Holmes, I read every book with the intention of figuring out the twists before they happen. Even so, this one actually shocked me. I only saw the final twist coming a few chapters before it landed—it wasn’t until the foreshadowing turned into full-on shadowing that I caught on. Not Quite Dead Yet kept me guessing until the end, and even after it was over, I still found myself hoping for one last twist to save me from heartbreak. Plus, for all my romance girls, there’s a small romance subplot that I also loved.
Beyond the gripping plot, I loved how atmospheric the setting was. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a cozy mystery, but its fall setting definitely feels like curling up on the couch to watch a scary movie. If your FYP is already full of fall nostalgia TikToks instead of coastal grandma content, you’ll eat up the setting, despite the fact that it’s still July.
My one qualm with the book is that while Jet and Billy felt distinct and well-developed, Jet’s family did not. They were integral to the plot, but we rarely spent meaningful time with them. In the scenes we did get, it was mostly Jet telling us about their dynamic, rather than letting readers experience those relationships firsthand. The mom and dad both felt a bit one-note, and with a little more fleshing out. I think it could have enhanced the plot, deepened those characters, and given us even more insight into Jet’s childhood. Given how important these relationships were to the entire book (including the big twist), I think they could have been a little more developed.
Should you read Not Quite Dead Yet?
I quite literally read this book in one sitting, in the exact same position, without getting up for a single break, so it’s safe to say it held my attention. I think every kind of reader, from fantasy fanatics to thriller junkies, will enjoy Not Quite Dead Yet. The only people who might not enjoy it are those seeking a fully terrifying experience. It’s the perfect entry point into the thriller genre. It reads similarly to Holly Jackson’s YA books, but not so young that seasoned thriller fans won’t enjoy it, too. I will warn you: you’ll probably close the book feeling a tad depressed. But, hey, the best books make us feel, don’t they?
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
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