A Good Girl's Guide to Murder: Sherlock Holmes Meets Veronica Mars In Netflix’s 10/10 Detective TV Show

Published Sep 5, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Netflix and the BBC iPlayer partnered up to create a ten-out-of-ten-star detective TV show that’s the perfect blend of Sherlock Holmes and Veronica Mars. The amateur sleuth subgenre is robust, ranging from child detectives to PIs. They all work outside the bounds of police bureaucracy to solve cases others haven’t cracked. The best-known example of this is Sherlock Holmes from Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. The private detective works outside Scotland Yard with the help of his buddy Watson to solve cases. Sherlock Holmes has had countless adaptations, with some bringing the books to life while others modernize the character. However, plenty of newer amateur sleuths have made a name for themselves, with many of the standouts being younger and more brash. Perfect examples in writing are The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. On-screen, the notable example in this group is Veronica Mars, played by a young Kristen Bell. The show ran for three seasons before getting canceled. The creator, Rob Thomas, wrote a feature film that Warner Bros. declined to fund. Thomas and Bell took to Kickstarter to raise the money, and they set the record for most money raised for a feature film on the platform, which they held until The Guild: Ren Faire’d beat it in August 2026. The movie was released in 2014, and the fourth season returned in 2019. The legacy of the new teen mystery show is indisputable. Sherlock Holmes and Veronica Mars are top-tier detective franchises. For those who enjoy the genre, Netflix and the BBC iPlayer’s co-produced TV show A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a must-watch, blending traits of the two iconic characters and their stories. A Good Girl’s Guide Borrows Narrative Elements Of Sherlock Holmes & Veronica Mars Image via MovieStillsDB Based on the books by Holly Jackson, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi, a British high school student living in the fictional small town of Little Kilton, who decides to do her EPQ—an independent research project to qualify for college in the UK—on the disappearance of Andie Bell. She was a high school student who disappeared five years earlier, with her boyfriend Sal Singh being accused of her murder. He was found dead in the woods after the disappearance, following a supposed written confession, which the police took as confirmation. However, Pip is determined to prove Sal's innocence and uncover the truth. A Good Girl's Guide Book Series Chronological Number Book Title Publication Year #0.5 Kill Joy 2021 #1 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder 2019 #2 Good Girl Bad Blood 2020 #3 As Good As Dead 2021 Netflix’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a brilliant blend of Sherlock Holmes and Veronica Mars, even referencing Sherlock and Watson in season 1, episode 3. Sherlock Holmes and Pip Fitz-Amobi share an attention to detail that others miss, a sharp mind, and an unrelenting drive for the truth. They view people and situations as puzzles. They both have grounding, loyal partners in John Watson and Ravi Singh. Ravi and Watson are both smart in their own right and remain composed under pressure, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the investigations. Both stories involve the investigators uncovering secrets that others would rather be left alone. While Pip’s abilities match those of Sherlock, her personality and motivation align more closely with the beloved teen sleuth Veronica Mars. Both TV shows feature a tenacious, fearless teen girl who takes on a local murder case the police have mishandled. Both hyperfixate on their detective work to the detriment of themselves and others. They share a rigid sense of justice, blunt honesty, and an understandable cynicism about those in charge. They also have personal connections to their first cases, which makes the cases feel more urgent. As Pip and Veronica solve their cases, they uncover dark secrets about their small towns. A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder Season 3 Is Already On The Way Image via Netflix When it comes to Netflix shows, viewers have a healthy skepticism about getting emotionally invested, as the streamer is notorious for canceling really incredible TV shows too soon. This gets especially frustrating when the writers include cliffhangers. However, potential audience members don’t need to be concerned in this case. Now is the perfect time for new viewers to invest in both the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder books and the TV show, as Netflix and the BBC are completing the story onscreen. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder features three books and a novella. The Netflix series will have three seasons, and the writers wrapped the novella into season 2. Viewers won’t need to wait too much longer, either. The team behind A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder season 3 secretly filmed back-to-back with season 2. Netflix announced the renewal just days after the second season debuted. Each season has been six episodes long, but it will be reduced to four. However, Holly Jackson wrote the script, and Emma Myers joined her as an executive producer. If anyone will be capable of pulling off the dense and action-packed As Good As Dead book in four episodes, it will be Holly Jackson and Emma Myers. Both consider the third book their favorite, so they will do it justice. What’s more, Jackson reassured audiences about the upcoming season on Instagram, saying, “Yes, it’s 4 episodes. But trust me when I say - we more than pulled this off. Season 3 doesn’t feel like a TV show. It feels like an event, at breakneck speed.” Ultimately, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will get a proper conclusion, and trust me when I say, as a fan of the books, that the story will be worth your time. The third book is truly epic and will make for great TV. Release Date July 10, 2024 Network BBC Three Directors Tom Vaughan, Dolly Wells Cast Adam Astill Toby Hastings Annabel Mullion Rosie Hastings Writers Zia Ahmed, Poppy Cogan, Ruby Thomas, Ajoke Ibironke Creator(s) Poppy Cogan, Holly Jackson