Holly Jackson writes mysteries that invite readers to follow the clues, distrust an answer and keep turning the pages. Her audience now spans young-adult and adult crime fiction, as well as viewers who have discovered her characters on television. A live conversation is a chance to hear the writer behind those puzzles.
Quick facts
Best known for
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Genre or subject
Young-adult crime fiction and adult thrillers
Latest book
Not Quite Dead Yet (2025; UK paperback 2026), Penguin Michael Joseph
Jackson’s fiction includes a continuing mystery series and standalone thrillers, with translations into more than forty-five languages. Her best-known series has reached BBC and Netflix audiences as well as readers. Its young investigator Pip begins with a cold case, a premise that puts curiosity and determination at the centre of the story.
Not Quite Dead Yet was her adult debut, first published in 2025 with a UK paperback in May 2026. Jet Mason tries to solve the mystery of her own violent attack before she dies. That race against time gives readers an adult thriller alongside the young-adult novels that first brought many fans to Jackson.
Where to start with their books
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Pip investigates a cold case, giving a familiar town’s accepted story another look. Begin with this opening book if you want to meet the young investigator on the page before exploring the later novels or adaptation.
Five Survive
Six friends on a road trip are trapped when their vehicle breaks down far from help, with someone outside determined to kill one of them. This standalone compresses its danger into a night, for readers who enjoy a tight setting and a ticking clock.
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Eighteen-year-old Bel’s mother returns while a documentary about her disappearance is being filmed. The explanation is hard for Bel to believe, leaving a mystery about the person who should be closest to her.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
At Hay on 25 May, Jackson spoke with novelist and screenwriter Fflur Dafydd on the Meadow Stage about taking the Pip-and-Ravi mystery to television. The book-to-screen conversation was recommended for ages fourteen and above.
Harrogate paired her with Gillian McAllister on 24 July at the Theakston Stage in the Old Swan Hotel. For fans, the two visits offered the pleasures of hearing about an adaptation and listening to two crime novelists together. A reader could follow the screen connection or make a wider crime-writing day of the summer visit.
Where to see them next
No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.
Plan your trip
If you and a teenager are planning a mystery-themed day, talk about spoilers before booking or watching an adaptation together. Let them choose which character or question has made them curious; keeping that enthusiasm at the centre is more rewarding than trying to finish a stack of thrillers for the visit.
Check the age guidance when buying tickets and make a separate note of any adult-accompaniment rules. Plan enough time for a meal or snack before the conversation, then use the festival guide to work out the return journey without a rushed exit.
The 2026 programmes featured Holly Jackson at Hay Festival, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival; follow those guides for event information and practical visit details.
Are Jackson’s events only for teenagers?
Her work includes young-adult mysteries and an adult debut, so readers come to her writing at different ages. Use the age guidance for the session you choose, especially when planning a visit with someone younger.
What if I know Jackson through the television series?
You already have a connection with the characters, and hearing about adaptation can be an enjoyable way into the books. If you want to read before a visit, the first mystery is a natural starting point.
Do I need to read the standalones in sequence?
You can choose a standalone by the mystery that most appeals. The books suggested here offer separate starting points, so there is no need to race through every novel before taking a seat at a festival.
How do I get tickets for a Jackson conversation?
Go through the host festival’s official box office. Keep the booking confirmation with the venue details, and ask the organiser directly about accessibility or accompaniment if either affects your plans for the day.
