As Good as Dead
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Gr 9 Up--This final installment in the series sees Pip about ready to head off to college. The podcast she created after solving the mystery of who murdered a girl at her high school is a phenomenon--one that Pip hadn't anticipated. She is hoping to leave it all behind when she goes to college but soon realizes someone isn't ready to let her go. Disturbing messages have become commonplace with the podcast's popularity, but one keeps appearing: "Who will look for you when you're the one who disappears?" When the threats escalate, Pip starts to see similarities to a serial killer who was arrested six years ago. She begins to wonder if the right person is in jail, and the police refuse to help, which forces Pip to take the investigation and her safety into her own hands. The book takes a huge, unexpected turn about halfway through, leaving the rest as an anxiety ridden self-examination by Pip as she struggles to keep it together. Some readers may find the repetitive nature of her inner turmoil difficult as the tone is unlike that of previous books. Readers will enjoy that Bailey Carr is back as the main narrator, and the additional cast of voice actors who read the transcripts of the recorded interviews give the plot a true podcast feel. VERDICT The first book in the series is highly recommended, though this finale may not be what fans hoped for as an ending to Pip's story.--Courtney Pentland

Everything comes full circle in this trilogy closer. It's not easy being Pippa Fitz-Amobi: Max Hastings, a teen rapist who was found not guilty, is suing her for defamation. She blames herself for the death of local journalist Stanley Forbes, who was revealed to be the child of a serial killer, but she also feels a kinship with his killer, Charlie Green, who is on the run. To cope with her PTSD, Pip takes Xanax purchased from drug dealer Luke Eaton, who indirectly supplied the late Andie Bell, the subject of her first case. Pip is used to online threats, but one message has been appearing again and again: "Who will look for you when you're the one who disappears?" Someone is leaving dead pigeons in Pip's front yard and mysterious chalk figures in her driveway, but Detective Hawkins doesn't believe there's a pattern and refuses to investigate. Research into her own stalker leads to an imprisoned serial killer who supposedly confessed, but the connections are striking, and Pip fears the police may have the wrong man. This volume centers on a psychologically traumatized Pip, whose actions inhabit morally gray areas till the very end. Her romance with Ravi Singh is a much-needed balm, but their love is tragically tested. A particular strength is the way elements in this novel connect with clues from earlier entries. Pip's mother is cued as White and her father, as Black; Ravi is of Indian descent. Intricately plotted and heart-pounding. (Mystery. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.