Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones is a murder mystery that follows high school students Blair and Cameron as they embark on their journey of uncovering the cold case that made their little town infamous nearly twenty years ago. Popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell goes missing in the woods during a high school party. A case that hits national headlines but with no leads, and no body the case soon turns cold.
Blair and Clarissa, determined to impress in their college applications decide to tackle the mystery for their journalism class, and they start a true crime podcast to document their progress. Missing Clarissa is a very suspenseful and compelling read.
The writing here is incredibly refreshing. I enjoy the way the author went about sharing the role of the main character between the two girls. The perspective shifts can be abrupt, but I find that I can typically follow. It may take re-reading a line or two. I don’t mind that too much.
Relationships, Writing Style, & Character Building
Many things are done well with, Missing Clarissa. Ripley is great at writing some banter. The relationship between Irene and Cameron is great. It's lighthearted, it’s humorous. My favorite line in particular is on page 119 where Irene and Cam have that back and forth over the cooking.
I also like the way she slowly reveals aspects of these characters. The way we have this slow reveal of Blair wanting to be good enough, wanting to be a writer. The realization of Cameron being gay. I enjoy the ways they show these things without saying them. We are given these small slices of their past and their personalities. As readers, we begin to assemble the pieces we are given, and once we have enough information to discern a conclusion the answer is validated within the work. This allows the readers to feel like they are
I also appreciate how all these two main characters have very different internal voices. I think as a writer striking that balance can be difficult and Ripley does a marvelous job at matching them to the personality she has formulated.
One portion of the writing style I liked, in particular, is toward the end of the book when we have this moment that we would typically see in a movie. Where we get insight into the present moment of all the characters. This is on page 212, and I loved this so much, I thought it was executed well and added a great element to the story.
Everyone Loves A Dead Girl
For all the things I enjoyed about Missing Clarissa, there were also some major things I did not. For one the book opens up talking about how they needed a project for their journalism class and how solving Clarissa’s murder would be the perfect thing to go on their college applications. The lack of respect with which they approached the case didn’t sit well with me while reading. I’ve never liked the idea of sensationalizing murder. I mean I love a good true crime podcast but I think it’s important to remember that they’re still people. I think it is important to approach it with that modicum of respect. They didn’t have that.
The interview with Clarissa's mother is the perfect example of the result of someone investigating a murder they have no respect or care for. That whole interaction made me uncomfortable and it wasn't because of the mother. I could see the intention, which was that they’d interview people to grow more invested and serious about the case but when that transition did happen it felt abrupt and unbelievable. I didn't buy it.
Performative Activism
They wanted to solve it for fame, they talked about how everyone loves a dead girl. Many times, throughout the story they make the case that this case got as big as it did because Clarissa was an attractive white woman. White women are known to take precedence in calls for justice within the media. They acknowledge that as an issue and they make comments on how unfair it is to society, but they make these comments whilst feeding the beast themselves. It's giving very much performative activism. This book is written in a way that, in my opinion, is meant to make these girls out to be better than the masses. This is done by acknowledging how the media shows preference based on race. In reality, they are even worse than the masses because at least they're feeding into the issue unknowingly.
Lack Of Preparation
Their lack of preparation also gilts me as I read. Their interviewing techniques are laughable. They have no subtly whatsoever. They waste time asking ridiculous questions. Despite how smart we’re told they are, we are constantly faced with the reality of their stupidity. We hear them talking about how much they love this journalism class and how it's been their reprieve but they utilize none of those practices or techniques. I mean I'm not expecting them to be geniuses or some kind of mini-professionals but plain ol' common sense would do them some good as well.
Political Landfill
This book tries to do too much, it tries to tackle too many issues. The aforementioned one with Clarissa’s white woman privilege is already a big one considering they don’t do much to address it. I don’t mind a book with politics in it. Irene’s mom and her past felt reasonable to me but like much else it wasn’t developed enough. My biggest qualm was the insert about the issues with the prison system. It felt so out of place in the story. It felt like the author was trying to shove every single political problem into a single book and in doing so does every single one of them a disservice because you’re not able to educate people in a way they would be receptive to.
You’re spitting things out in a context that doesn't really make sense. I think if you’re going to have a story challenge a major issue you need to dig your heels in and really do it. Do right by it. Don’t throw it in there last minute to check a box.
This applies to Clarissa as well. They talk about how a woman should not have to be perfect in order for her story to be worthy of telling. Then Clarissa is practically made out to be perfect. We get small insights into a character, but I think she could have had a lot more depth than she was given.
A Good Girl's Guide To Murder Comparison?
This book is very often held in comparison to, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson. I mean I get where the comparisons come from, but I think it falls short in many ways of being what A Good Girls Guide To Murder was.
Now I may be biased because quite frankly Pippa Fitz-Amobi is my favorite sleuth but comparing them is borderline insulting. Pippa was excruciatingly well-prepared. She did not decide to take on her case with a light heart and she does her homework
For these girls, it was a whim. It was a tool used to one-up their classmates. Pippa treated her case with such respect and care. Cam and Blair bulldoze over theirs and go around asking everyone who killed Clarissa. For some kids who’ve taken a Journalism class all year, they are severely lacking the techniques an investigative journalist should possess.
Another major letdown was the amount of actual sleuthing that took place. Pippa solved the murder. More than interviews she did actual detective work toward figuring out the solution. Cam and Blair just happen upon all their information, or someone else does the detective work for them. The only time they actually do some detective work is when they look for other victims. Even then, it’s so easy for them. It makes me wonder why their journalist teacher who was so close to the truth didn’t solve the case himself.
The comparisons are stark though, one might even say Missing Clarissa was very heavily inspired by A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Both small-town cold case murders, both beautiful popular girls, both have a boyfriend being blamed for the disappearance, both are dead, and both girls had relationships with teachers. Clarissa Campbell and Andie Bell sound similar. Both blonde-haired and blue-eyed.
Overall
I give this book a 3.6 out of 10 stars. I like a lot about it but I dislike more.
