Not Quite Dead Yet ending explained: Who killed Jet in Holly Jackson thriller?

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Once more, Holly Jackson delivers a thrilling murder mystery filled with unexpected twists, engaging turns, and captivating personalities.

In the book chosen for the TopMob Book Club (sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante) during August, we delve into the narrative of Jet, a vibrant young woman brimming with life who, granted, may not experience it all at once. However, an unfortunate Halloween incident results in her acquiring a peculiar brain injury that has a seven-day expiration date.

Jet finds herself in an extraordinary situation, as she’s given the chance to investigate her own murder, hoping to restore her family’s pride before her impending demise.

Interwoven within the murder narrative is a historical subplot that revolves around the mysterious death of her childhood sister, an event shrouded in unanswered questions. Additionally, she finds herself deepening her relationship with her long-time companion, Billy, as romantic feelings begin to unfold.

It’s fair to assume that Not Quite Dead Yet is quite complex, and it might have left you wondering about its conclusion.

Fear not, because TopMob has the solutions you seek! Keep reading to unravel the mystery behind the ending of ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’.

Not Quite Dead Yet ending explained: Who killed Jet?

In the story “Not Quite Dead Yet,” the primary mystery revolves around the identity of Jet’s attacker, the person who intended to take her life. As the narrative unfolds, Jet interrogates various suspects who may have had a hand in her potential demise, even questioning her own brother, as you’ll discover later on.

Jet’s family had numerous adversaries due to their line of work in construction, as they were frequently involved in tearing down homes that belonged to other families.

Throughout the novel, there were significant pieces of evidence that emerged, proving vital for understanding the entire story’s progression. However, establishing connections between these evidence points was challenging not only for Jet, but also for us as readers.

Among the items was a hammer that belonged to a larger collection, a segment of synthetic hair dyed red, reminiscent of Halloween wigs, a lost tea towel from the kitchen, and the unfortunate incident of our family business going up in flames.

Following an exhaustive investigation of all the hints, Jet found herself at a loss and, upon returning to Billy’s house, decided to talk to her brother Luke, suspecting that their father might be connected to her demise. In preparation, she headed off to collect some supplies, such as duct tape, which she thought she might require later on.

Billy told her the roll of tape was near the toolbox, yet Jet couldn’t locate it. However, what she found instead left her astonished: it was the entire toolkit, minus the deadly hammer. A chill ran through her when she understood this meant Billy might have been involved in her murder.

As Billy maintained his innocence, Jet found herself at the end of her rope. In a desperate attempt to make her believe she had solved the murder, Billy pretended to confess that he was indeed the culprit.

The truth emerged following Jet’s funeral, as Billy ultimately confronted the person responsible for Jet’s death: Jack (who was also Luke’s biological father). It turned out that Jack had been having a long-term affair with Jet’s mother, leading to the birth of Luke. On the day Emily died, Jack visited Luke and Emily, only to discover that his son had fatally struck Emily, the daughter of the woman he had loved deeply. To shield his son from the consequences, Jack chose to conceal the truth.

As a cinephile reflecting on a recent film, I must say that the wife of the protagonist, Jack, had figured it all out long ago. Therefore, when Jet casually mentioned Emily’s name in their later years, her inability to carry the burden of guilt any longer led her to make the decisive move of leaving the family home.

On All Hallows’ Eve, Jack learned a heavy double burden: his son Luke wouldn’t succeed in the Mason construction business, and Dianne, Jet’s mother, had cast her vote against Jack for the chief of police position. Overwhelmed by these revelations on one fateful night, Jack felt compelled to seek retribution. Unfortunately, this led him to commit a murder – killing Jet, hoping it would help him seize control of the company (unbeknownst to him, it was already destined for someone else).

In simpler terms, after an earlier altercation where he acquired Jet’s red hair, he strategically hid the tool set containing the hammer in Billy’s apartment. His actions following the attack on Jet mirrored those of a police officer, as he was focused on solving the crime. He was provided with a significant clue when Jet’s former partner appeared suspicious before her untimely death, which might have been an attempt to conceal the crime.

As a movie lover, I might rephrase that as: “Facing my dad about his wrongdoings, I found myself with a gun in hand, ready to bring an end to this ordeal. But I’m no fool, and so I set the gun on the table instead. In a twist of events, it turned out Luke had been listening all along, hidden away. He seized the gun, aiming it at my dad, Jack, while I pleaded with him to flee. I was desperate for him to escape.

In simpler terms, Jack hurriedly went to Jet’s home and requested entry, but Luke was merciless and fatally shot him right at the front door of the residence.

READY FOR MORE? This month’s midweek indulgence saw Joanna settle in to enjoy the gripping thriller, Not Quite Dead Yet. To complement this intense read, she chose a scrumptious Pepperoni-Salame pizza from Dr. Oetker Ristorante.

Stay updated with the newest developments from the RT Book Club, including author interviews, Q&A sessions, book reviews, and more. Visit The TopMob Book Club, proudly brought to you by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.

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2025-08-19 09:36