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Ghostwriter Mystery #1
Constable The Busy Body.
It's a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she's retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her.
Her collaborator is impressed by Dorothy's work ethic and steel-trap mind, not to mention the stunning surroundings (and one particularly gorgeous bodyguard). But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. And when Dorothy Gibson asks if you want to team up for a top secret, possibly dangerous murder investigation, the only answer "Of course!"
The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories . . . two talents, it turns out, that also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy's political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working together, the two women are soon untangling motives and whittling down suspects, to the exasperation of local police. But this investigation-much like the election-may not unfold the way anyone expects.
Her collaborator is impressed by Dorothy's work ethic and steel-trap mind, not to mention the stunning surroundings (and one particularly gorgeous bodyguard). But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. And when Dorothy Gibson asks if you want to team up for a top secret, possibly dangerous murder investigation, the only answer "Of course!"
The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories . . . two talents, it turns out, that also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy's political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working together, the two women are soon untangling motives and whittling down suspects, to the exasperation of local police. But this investigation-much like the election-may not unfold the way anyone expects.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2024
458 people are currently reading
29561 people want to read
About the author
Kemper Donovan
6 books459 followersKemper Donovan is a full-time writer who is currently publishing an ongoing mystery series via Kensington Books (The Busy Body is the first in this series). Previously, he published the standalone novel The Decent Proposal (HarperCollins). He is also the host of the podcast All About Agatha, dedicated to all things Agatha Christie, in which guise he has appeared on BBC TV and Radio New Zealand, and written for the official Agatha Christie website at agathachristie.com. Kemper attended Stanford University and Harvard Law School, and now lives in Southern California with his husband and two daughters. Learn more at www.kemperdonovan.com, @allaboutthedame on Twitter, @allaboutagatha on Instagram, and kemperdonovanbooks on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 861 reviews
December 29, 2023
The Busy Body
by Kemper Donovan is a somewhat old-fashioned mystery complete with an ending where everyone is gathered in a single room for the big reveal. However, there is a contemporary side to the story as well. An unnamed ghostwriter gets a dream assignment to collaborate on a memoir with former Senator Dorothy Gibson. Gibson ran and lost as an independent for U.S. President and is being blamed for the shocking result. As they collaborate on the memoir, a neighbor dies and Dorothy is determined to solve the case.
The story is told from the ghostwriter’s point of view. As she and Dorothy play sleuth in rural Maine, both ask lots of questions of those involved to the dismay of the local police. The characters are well-defined and there’s a bit of glamour of the rich and famous weaved into the story. Additionally, readers never learn the name of the ghostwriter narrator or her backstory. Maybe, that is being saved for the next book in the series. While I found the story somewhat slow, there are a few surprises along the way that kept me interested.
Overall, this story is a light and entertaining read. This is the first book in the Ghostwriter series.
Kensington Books, A John Scognamiglio Book provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is scheduled for January 23, 2024.
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My 2.89 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
The story is told from the ghostwriter’s point of view. As she and Dorothy play sleuth in rural Maine, both ask lots of questions of those involved to the dismay of the local police. The characters are well-defined and there’s a bit of glamour of the rich and famous weaved into the story. Additionally, readers never learn the name of the ghostwriter narrator or her backstory. Maybe, that is being saved for the next book in the series. While I found the story somewhat slow, there are a few surprises along the way that kept me interested.
Overall, this story is a light and entertaining read. This is the first book in the Ghostwriter series.
Kensington Books, A John Scognamiglio Book provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is scheduled for January 23, 2024.
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My 2.89 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
March 30, 2024
2.5★s
When the ghostwriter was informed of the memoir she was to write beside Dorothy Gibson, former Senator and closely beaten to become the President of the United States, said ghostwriter was ecstatic. On the plane and heading to rural Maine, where Dorothy was living after her shocking defeat, the ghostwriter made plans and notes in preparation for the upcoming event. As the two of them worked through the day, Dorothy's work ethic impressed. But when a neighbour died and Dorothy and her entourage went to the funeral, suspicions were raised. So Dorothy and her team investigated...
The Busy Body is the 1st in the Ghostwriter series by Kemper Donovan and also my first by this author. I mostly enjoy cosy mysteries, as well as Agatha Christie, but because of the fact that the ghostwriter isn't named - at all - and the story is narrated by this person, I had trouble getting my head around the fact that it was a female character. I found myself slipping back into the role of a male, constantly, which unsettled the flow. I think the way it was written, with the macho content from the ghostwriter, threw me off. Slow with too much detail in some places, and not enough in others - I doubt I'll continue the series.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When the ghostwriter was informed of the memoir she was to write beside Dorothy Gibson, former Senator and closely beaten to become the President of the United States, said ghostwriter was ecstatic. On the plane and heading to rural Maine, where Dorothy was living after her shocking defeat, the ghostwriter made plans and notes in preparation for the upcoming event. As the two of them worked through the day, Dorothy's work ethic impressed. But when a neighbour died and Dorothy and her entourage went to the funeral, suspicions were raised. So Dorothy and her team investigated...
The Busy Body is the 1st in the Ghostwriter series by Kemper Donovan and also my first by this author. I mostly enjoy cosy mysteries, as well as Agatha Christie, but because of the fact that the ghostwriter isn't named - at all - and the story is narrated by this person, I had trouble getting my head around the fact that it was a female character. I found myself slipping back into the role of a male, constantly, which unsettled the flow. I think the way it was written, with the macho content from the ghostwriter, threw me off. Slow with too much detail in some places, and not enough in others - I doubt I'll continue the series.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2023
"The Busy Body" by Kemper Donovan is the first in a series revolving around a nameless narrator who finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery.
The narrator is a ghostwriter who sees herself as Lady Cyrano. She has no close friends and is cut off from her family by her choice, and she likes it that way. She doesn't like to associate with others and keeps to herself. When asked to write the memoir of Dorothy Gibson, a former Senator who lost the Presidential Elections, she gladly agrees. Many admire Dorothy’s work ethic and steel-trap mind, and so does the narrator. The plot thickens when a neighbor they met once is found dead in her bathtub. When suspicion of foul play arises, both ladies team up to solve the mystery.
Overall, it was a well-put-together mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I liked the homage to Agatha Christie (one of my favorite authors), the setting, and the eloquent writing. I also liked the dynamics between the characters, the dialogues, and the puns. The romance was also a nice touch.
The book kept me engaged in most parts. However, it started very slow with over-detailed descriptions of surroundings and a stream-of-consciousness streak that further slowed down the pace. Luckily, the pace increased after the finding of the body.
I have to say that the overuse of name-dropping - of real and fictional characters - and pop culture references threw me off. Also, the repeated references to the failed campaign and badmouthing the candidate that won were a bit too much.
I also didn't like the lack of backstory on the nameless narrator which leaves us in the dark about her history. Maybe it will be revealed in the next book. While I liked the ending, Hercule Poirot style, I didn't like the choice the narrator made in the end. It makes her seem too inflexible and set in her ways, not a characteristic I like in my heroines.
The ending seems to imply that the next book will be with the ghostwriter only, which is odd. Here she was just the sidekick to the senator, and the senator was the one who cracked the mystery. Overall, it is a decent start to the series but could do better with some tightening of the plot and another round of editing (there were format issues). I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to less fussy readers who enjoy whodunits with a Golden Age atmosphere.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
The narrator is a ghostwriter who sees herself as Lady Cyrano. She has no close friends and is cut off from her family by her choice, and she likes it that way. She doesn't like to associate with others and keeps to herself. When asked to write the memoir of Dorothy Gibson, a former Senator who lost the Presidential Elections, she gladly agrees. Many admire Dorothy’s work ethic and steel-trap mind, and so does the narrator. The plot thickens when a neighbor they met once is found dead in her bathtub. When suspicion of foul play arises, both ladies team up to solve the mystery.
Overall, it was a well-put-together mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I liked the homage to Agatha Christie (one of my favorite authors), the setting, and the eloquent writing. I also liked the dynamics between the characters, the dialogues, and the puns. The romance was also a nice touch.
The book kept me engaged in most parts. However, it started very slow with over-detailed descriptions of surroundings and a stream-of-consciousness streak that further slowed down the pace. Luckily, the pace increased after the finding of the body.
I have to say that the overuse of name-dropping - of real and fictional characters - and pop culture references threw me off. Also, the repeated references to the failed campaign and badmouthing the candidate that won were a bit too much.
I also didn't like the lack of backstory on the nameless narrator which leaves us in the dark about her history. Maybe it will be revealed in the next book. While I liked the ending, Hercule Poirot style, I didn't like the choice the narrator made in the end. It makes her seem too inflexible and set in her ways, not a characteristic I like in my heroines.
The ending seems to imply that the next book will be with the ghostwriter only, which is odd. Here she was just the sidekick to the senator, and the senator was the one who cracked the mystery. Overall, it is a decent start to the series but could do better with some tightening of the plot and another round of editing (there were format issues). I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to less fussy readers who enjoy whodunits with a Golden Age atmosphere.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
January 17, 2024
1 stars
This is my first major disappointment of the year. The main detective duo in this book were extraordinarily bland and could have come from any book/mystery. Their “witty” banter really didn’t rise above the usual stuff you read in cosy mysteries. I also never really understood why they got along so well. The romance had zero chemistry and zero development other than the romance interest being described as attractive.
I also disliked the writing style. It was overly descriptive of surroundings and the main character's inner monologue was rambly and pointless. I was forgiving of all this because I found the main mystery engaging, unfortunately I hated the final solution.
The way fat characters were displayed seemed insensitive for a book released in 2024. I definitely suggest you avoid this book if that bothers you.
I received this book from NetGalley.
January 24, 2025
Rounded up to 4 stars because I love an acerbic female narrator in a whodunnit! This was a solid murder mystery with a flawed Watson (the Ghostwriter) to the effervescent Holmes (ex-presidential candidate Dorothy Gibson). Deaths abound, enquirers are held, the cast assembles in the drawing room for the final conclusion.
Looking forward to seeing where this series leads.
Looking forward to seeing where this series leads.
January 30, 2024
This was an interesting book. It says it is book one in the ghosterwriter series and I am not sure it will work for a series I am intrigued enough I will check out the second one. This book is a mix of contemporary lit and Agatha Christie style mystery. I’m a big an of Agatha Christie and I love a good locked room mystery, but I could have done with a little less of the political comparisons and I didn’t need a character that let inspired by Hillary Clinton playing Nancy Drew (it was as weird as it sound). The ghostwriter (I don’t believe her name was ever revealed which is also weird for me) has a dream assignment. A woman who fell into politics has just run for president and lost and wants help writing her memoir. The ghostwriter comes for an interview and ends up staying as her client, Dorothy, wants it to be an authentic as possible. When Dorothy’s neighbor is killed Dorothy and the ghostwriter get caught up playing amateur sleuth and all kinds of twisty chaos occurs. I started this one b audiobook and I thought the narrator did a good job. I switched to physical book because the mystery was moving slowly for me and I wanted to read it faster to get to the good and twisty mystery solution bit I was hoping to find. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars which I rounded up for star selection.
January 23, 2024
The Busy Body is an interesting take fully inspired by Agatha Christie’s writing style.
While this will definitely be enjoyed by many, I was not the biggest fan. I thought the storyline was very ridiculous, a Hillary Clinton-inspired character that decides they want to moonlight as a detective partnering with a self-absorbed ghost writer who is so arrogant and tries to sound interesting but is painfully bland. There’s a lot of heavy dialogue and wannabe ‘witty’ banter that falls flat. Additionally, the big reveal was a little obvious by the time it was “revealed.”
I was honestly kind of bored by the end and not that interested in the drama that the author was trying to drum up between the characters. I also didn’t love the audio narration that seemed like the narrator was trying a little bit too hard, but that is probably a personal preference.
That being said, I can appreciate what the author was trying to do and I do think this could be a fun read for those who enjoy Agatha Christie. All in all, this was a 2.5 ⭐️ read for me, rounded down to 2.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Busy Body is available on January 23, 2024.
While this will definitely be enjoyed by many, I was not the biggest fan. I thought the storyline was very ridiculous, a Hillary Clinton-inspired character that decides they want to moonlight as a detective partnering with a self-absorbed ghost writer who is so arrogant and tries to sound interesting but is painfully bland. There’s a lot of heavy dialogue and wannabe ‘witty’ banter that falls flat. Additionally, the big reveal was a little obvious by the time it was “revealed.”
I was honestly kind of bored by the end and not that interested in the drama that the author was trying to drum up between the characters. I also didn’t love the audio narration that seemed like the narrator was trying a little bit too hard, but that is probably a personal preference.
That being said, I can appreciate what the author was trying to do and I do think this could be a fun read for those who enjoy Agatha Christie. All in all, this was a 2.5 ⭐️ read for me, rounded down to 2.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Busy Body is available on January 23, 2024.
September 4, 2024
The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan will appeal to readers of cozy mystery’s, in the style of Agatha Christie. In essence it is a locked room story, where a neighbour is said to have taken her own life, but noisy neighbours have their suspicions and start their own investigations.
This was a quick and easy ready, but I did find that it was a bit slow and drawn out at times. The ghost writer, who’s name you never learn, and the US senator made an interesting duo, and came out with some cracking one liners, usually when alcohol was involved. I liked the banter between them a lot. The setting was great, in rural Maine, with most people either being house staff or wealthy.
It was a fun escape from reality with an ending that I didn’t see coming. 3.5*
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group I’ll for my copy of this book to read.
This was a quick and easy ready, but I did find that it was a bit slow and drawn out at times. The ghost writer, who’s name you never learn, and the US senator made an interesting duo, and came out with some cracking one liners, usually when alcohol was involved. I liked the banter between them a lot. The setting was great, in rural Maine, with most people either being house staff or wealthy.
It was a fun escape from reality with an ending that I didn’t see coming. 3.5*
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group I’ll for my copy of this book to read.
June 21, 2023
This was my first book by this author but not the last. It really kept my attention and was overall a fun read.
It’s a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her.
#TheBusyBody #NetGalley
It’s a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her.
#TheBusyBody #NetGalley
December 7, 2024
A nice cozy mystery, with a little romance side that I disliked.
July 7, 2023
WOW ! I LOVED THIS BOOK!
When a ghostwriter is asked to write a story for the defeated female presidential candidate it's a dream come true. The GW is a glib, sarcastic and witty woman, she lets us in on her innermost thoughts which aren't always kind or nice. It's a surprise to all when she clicks with the Former Senator and Candidate immediately. The two are similar to Thelma and Louise as they head directly into a whirlwind of a murder mystery without much of a thought for safety. This story is unique as the quick and clever talk was never "too" and the coziness of the mystery did not detract from the thrills and mystery. Kemper Donovan has written an excellent homage to Agatha Christie while maintaining his own voice and style. I cannot wait for the next in the series and would love to see the movie as well!
#KensingtonBooks #TheBusyBody #KemperDonovan
When a ghostwriter is asked to write a story for the defeated female presidential candidate it's a dream come true. The GW is a glib, sarcastic and witty woman, she lets us in on her innermost thoughts which aren't always kind or nice. It's a surprise to all when she clicks with the Former Senator and Candidate immediately. The two are similar to Thelma and Louise as they head directly into a whirlwind of a murder mystery without much of a thought for safety. This story is unique as the quick and clever talk was never "too" and the coziness of the mystery did not detract from the thrills and mystery. Kemper Donovan has written an excellent homage to Agatha Christie while maintaining his own voice and style. I cannot wait for the next in the series and would love to see the movie as well!
#KensingtonBooks #TheBusyBody #KemperDonovan
January 17, 2024
I should have loved this book. It was an Agatha Christie (my all time favorite) mystery set in present day with a really cool female politician that was robbed of the presidency. It has me written all over it, I should have loved it. But I don't know that I even liked it.
I think it might be the narrator. I hate that she doesn't have a name. I know it's part of the ghostwriter thing, I get it, but writing a review is really frustrating when I don't have a name. She was, for lack of a better word, cringey. She had me actually feeling second hand embarrassment sometimes (like the terrible romance) and I didn't find myself rooting for her at all.
I liked Dorothy, but the whole thing just seemed a little too far fetched. She didn't really exude "politician" energy, if that makes any sense. This is a woman who just lost a presidential election weeks ago and has been doing this most of her life, but here she is running around doing the opposite of what the police say and trying to solve a murder? On top of that, she blindly trusts this random ghostwriter to be by her side every step of the way. Could be the NDA, but it was still just too much for me.
After all that, I really hated the ending.
I think it might be the narrator. I hate that she doesn't have a name. I know it's part of the ghostwriter thing, I get it, but writing a review is really frustrating when I don't have a name. She was, for lack of a better word, cringey. She had me actually feeling second hand embarrassment sometimes (like the terrible romance) and I didn't find myself rooting for her at all.
I liked Dorothy, but the whole thing just seemed a little too far fetched. She didn't really exude "politician" energy, if that makes any sense. This is a woman who just lost a presidential election weeks ago and has been doing this most of her life, but here she is running around doing the opposite of what the police say and trying to solve a murder? On top of that, she blindly trusts this random ghostwriter to be by her side every step of the way. Could be the NDA, but it was still just too much for me.
After all that, I really hated the ending.
July 8, 2024
I had very much looked forward to this and in the end, it was just okay for me. I liked the setup (ghostwriter with sleuthing ex-politician) but had a few problems. I picked this up for the mystery so I was not thrilled that I figured out two pivotal plot points by 40% in. I do read many mysteries so I can allow that this is not a problem with the story necessarily. It did diffuse the fun for me as I really just felt after that that much of the rest until the reveal was stalling.
Our unnamed narrator, I found, was a bit off-putting but I can usually hang with unlikable characters. Still, if she doesn't need a name, I certainly don't need to hear about her flirtation/hook-up with the security guy. Keep that remove going and keep it moving. The other characters were mostly well done and the descriptions of the locations and environs were vivid. This was a fairly quick read so I think a good choice for vacation to dip into. I read it over a weekend at home.
I will likely pick up the next book in the series and hope for a tighter mystery. I read this through Kindle Unlimited.
Our unnamed narrator, I found, was a bit off-putting but I can usually hang with unlikable characters. Still, if she doesn't need a name, I certainly don't need to hear about her flirtation/hook-up with the security guy. Keep that remove going and keep it moving. The other characters were mostly well done and the descriptions of the locations and environs were vivid. This was a fairly quick read so I think a good choice for vacation to dip into. I read it over a weekend at home.
I will likely pick up the next book in the series and hope for a tighter mystery. I read this through Kindle Unlimited.
March 9, 2024
The Busy Body is a solid locked-room mystery with plenty of suspects, a couple of good twists, and very evocative prose. Donovan even leaves a nice little thread dangling for the next book in the series without leaving this one feeling unfinished, a very tricky balance to achieve.
My full review of The Busy Body is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of The Busy Body is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
November 5, 2023
I did not want to put this book down! By the last 100 pages, I thought the ending was predictable but well written. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a whodunnit.
January 16, 2025
Literally what? This book was?? The idea that a character CLEARLY inspired by Hilary Clinton (yes, that Hilary Clinton) decides to go on a fun little crime solving spree and play Agatha Christie for a local murder….is both the most creative and uninteresting idea I’ve ever heard. It absolutely missed the mark for me. Not only was the style incredibly narrative to a point of boredom (seriously the first 5 chapters I was yawning at how much unnecessary descriptions there were of a house), there were jokes that had no place still existing. I mean, COME ON. ITS 2024, do we REALLY need to be making fatphobic jokes about a sloppy lazy character eating two pieces of cake????? I’d normally be worried about an author reading this, but I hope they do because SHAME. REALLY??????
The only positive for me was the main character (who isn’t named for some reason…felt pointless). She was fairly witty and I enjoyed a lot of her asides. However, the plot she was thrown into, and how clearly pointless her career set up was (SHE DOESNT EVEN WRITE) made her lacklustre in the end.
Sadly this one didn’t work for me.
The only positive for me was the main character (who isn’t named for some reason…felt pointless). She was fairly witty and I enjoyed a lot of her asides. However, the plot she was thrown into, and how clearly pointless her career set up was (SHE DOESNT EVEN WRITE) made her lacklustre in the end.
Sadly this one didn’t work for me.
August 13, 2023
A failed female presidential candidate teams with her memoir ghostwriter to solve a dangerous murder. Smart, hilarious, and perfect for lovers of contemporary mysteries with the gloss of Golden Age whodunits. Penned by the All About Agatha podcast host. A winner!
December 16, 2023
A fun puzzle with some references to the classic style, but modern with a heavy dose of pop-culture. My nitpick is the nameless narrator sounds too much like the author, himself. I was having trouble imagining a woman saying these things.
March 5, 2025
Liked the main character just not digging the whole sidekick angle. The fourth wall could have been put back up also imo. Humor was ok kind of like dad jokes lol. I guessed it though, and I never guess endings. I hear the next one is better and we finally learn her stinking name.
January 11, 2024
Podcaster (All About Agatha) Kemper Donovan's THE BUSY BODY features a former senator and a no-name ghostwriter as they team up to solve a cozy murder mystery whodunit with a twisty mix of Dorothy Parker and Agatha Christie contemporary classic.
Set in a small town in Maine, the narrator is a ghostwriter (GW) and teams up with a former Senator, Dorothy Gibson (Hillary Clinton), who lost the Presidential election, to write her memoir.
She moves in, and shortly thereafter, when they go to a wine store, they run into a neighbor, Vivian, and a selfie is snapped.
The next day, the woman is dead in the bath (by suicide), or so it appears. The duo starts their sleuthing and investigation to solve the crime mystery.
We do not get any backstory of the nameless narrator, leaving readers in the dark, so you feel removed and distant from this character.
While THE BUSY BODY will appeal to a certain audience, it was not for me. I prefer less dialogue and more action and did not care for conversational style with the asides and the romance part.
I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries and would not be interested in the series. I will pass on this one—not worthy of the hype, in my opinion.
FORMATTING: I will have to concur with some of the other reviewers on the topic of the digital ARC provided. It had very bad formatting, making it very challenging to read, and I found this very distracting and unenjoyable. There were NO chapter breaks, words strung together, sentences ending in the middle of the page with large spaces after, and continued on the next line with no double-spaced paragraph breaks.
AUDIOBOOK: I attempted to switch to the audiobook, and the narrator was so boring I had to stop as it ground on my nerves. It was like some robotic voice reading line after in the same tone with no emotion narrated by Eva Kaminsky.
Thanks to Kensington Books (John Scognamiglio Book) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Set in a small town in Maine, the narrator is a ghostwriter (GW) and teams up with a former Senator, Dorothy Gibson (Hillary Clinton), who lost the Presidential election, to write her memoir.
She moves in, and shortly thereafter, when they go to a wine store, they run into a neighbor, Vivian, and a selfie is snapped.
The next day, the woman is dead in the bath (by suicide), or so it appears. The duo starts their sleuthing and investigation to solve the crime mystery.
We do not get any backstory of the nameless narrator, leaving readers in the dark, so you feel removed and distant from this character.
While THE BUSY BODY will appeal to a certain audience, it was not for me. I prefer less dialogue and more action and did not care for conversational style with the asides and the romance part.
I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries and would not be interested in the series. I will pass on this one—not worthy of the hype, in my opinion.
FORMATTING: I will have to concur with some of the other reviewers on the topic of the digital ARC provided. It had very bad formatting, making it very challenging to read, and I found this very distracting and unenjoyable. There were NO chapter breaks, words strung together, sentences ending in the middle of the page with large spaces after, and continued on the next line with no double-spaced paragraph breaks.
AUDIOBOOK: I attempted to switch to the audiobook, and the narrator was so boring I had to stop as it ground on my nerves. It was like some robotic voice reading line after in the same tone with no emotion narrated by Eva Kaminsky.
Thanks to Kensington Books (John Scognamiglio Book) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
February 22, 2024
2.5 Honestly, I was expecting to like this book much more than I did. I love Agatha Christie, and especially the Miss Marple series, so the premise of the book really intrigued me. I have to say that I really did enjoy the Senator’s character a lot and there are definitely people out there that would enjoy it because the mystery part of it was fine, but based on what didn't work for me, I really wasn’t the right person for this one.
Now onto the stuff I didn’t enjoy. Unfortunately, the MC just didn’t do it for me. They were slotted into the classic bumbling sidekick role, yet the entire time we’re constantly told that the MC is really smart and super into true crime, but the author doesn’t show us any ingenuity on their part at all.
I really struggled with the tone/voice of the MC a lot because many of the character descriptions were fatphobic. For me, it feels like lazy writing to try and get the reader to dislike a person based on how nastily you describe their appearance. The way someone looks is morally neutral and doesn’t determine what kind of person they are.
This next part really hurts me to say since I am leftist and agree with the ideas the characters bring up, but something about the way it was written made it seem like the AUTHOR was trying so hard to show how progressive THEY the writer are, so it came off just a bit heavy handed and inauthentic/white-knighting for my tastes. I got the vibe that the author really needed the reader to know that they are “a good liberal.”
And the romance aspect felt out of place and over the top. The objectification of the body guard was really out of left field.
Overall the whole thing was tedious and a bit smug.
***Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Now onto the stuff I didn’t enjoy. Unfortunately, the MC just didn’t do it for me. They were slotted into the classic bumbling sidekick role, yet the entire time we’re constantly told that the MC is really smart and super into true crime, but the author doesn’t show us any ingenuity on their part at all.
I really struggled with the tone/voice of the MC a lot because many of the character descriptions were fatphobic. For me, it feels like lazy writing to try and get the reader to dislike a person based on how nastily you describe their appearance. The way someone looks is morally neutral and doesn’t determine what kind of person they are.
This next part really hurts me to say since I am leftist and agree with the ideas the characters bring up, but something about the way it was written made it seem like the AUTHOR was trying so hard to show how progressive THEY the writer are, so it came off just a bit heavy handed and inauthentic/white-knighting for my tastes. I got the vibe that the author really needed the reader to know that they are “a good liberal.”
And the romance aspect felt out of place and over the top. The objectification of the body guard was really out of left field.
Overall the whole thing was tedious and a bit smug.
***Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 20, 2023
4.5 stars
The Busy Body is about a ghostwriter who is hired to write the memoir of a female senator who made an unsuccessful bid for president of the United States. The ghostwriter is invited to stay with Dorothy Gibson in her home in Maine to work on the book, but ends up also collaborating on a murder investigation. The premise of this book caught my attention from the beginning. Dorothy and the ghostwriter are both amateur sleuths, but I disagree with the descriptions that say this is a cozy mystery because I don't think it quite fits in that subgenre. However, it is fun to read and I recommend it to readers looking for something different.
The book is an excellent murder mystery written in an engaging, conversational style. I started reading a few pages to see what the book was like and didn't want to put it down. It is full of sarcasm, humor, and pop culture references that I enjoyed. I liked the fast pace of the book. The humor and the short chapters made this a quick read for me.
This is a unique mystery that was almost a five-star read for me. The resolution of the case was surprising, but overall, the ending fell flat. I couldn't relate to the decisions the main character makes at the end and wished things would have turned out differently. Some things about the ghostwriter (including the character's name!) remained vague and I hope there is a sequel to the book in which we get to know that character better and in a new adventure.
I received an advance copy of this book from Kensington Books and Between the Chapters, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
The Busy Body is about a ghostwriter who is hired to write the memoir of a female senator who made an unsuccessful bid for president of the United States. The ghostwriter is invited to stay with Dorothy Gibson in her home in Maine to work on the book, but ends up also collaborating on a murder investigation. The premise of this book caught my attention from the beginning. Dorothy and the ghostwriter are both amateur sleuths, but I disagree with the descriptions that say this is a cozy mystery because I don't think it quite fits in that subgenre. However, it is fun to read and I recommend it to readers looking for something different.
The book is an excellent murder mystery written in an engaging, conversational style. I started reading a few pages to see what the book was like and didn't want to put it down. It is full of sarcasm, humor, and pop culture references that I enjoyed. I liked the fast pace of the book. The humor and the short chapters made this a quick read for me.
This is a unique mystery that was almost a five-star read for me. The resolution of the case was surprising, but overall, the ending fell flat. I couldn't relate to the decisions the main character makes at the end and wished things would have turned out differently. Some things about the ghostwriter (including the character's name!) remained vague and I hope there is a sequel to the book in which we get to know that character better and in a new adventure.
I received an advance copy of this book from Kensington Books and Between the Chapters, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
December 27, 2023
A fun read and great for fans of Agatha Christie. The characters were interesting and the humor was delightful. I couldn't help but chuckle at descriptions like "...I have never seen a more dessicated human being than Minna Hawley. Whole swathes of her chin and forehead were flaking off; her swollen lips had deep, painful-looking cracks in them; and when she gave mer her hand it felt as though I were grasping a cheese grater." Can't wait to read the next in the series!
January 31, 2024
2.5 stars, rounded down. I hope the author/editor reads my review. I am an avid mystery series reader (most recently Agatha Raisin and Ann Cleeves) but this missed the mark. The gimmicks made an otherwise potentially cute and fun mystery series feel false and forced. Maybe they can be improved for #2?
Gimmick 1: the narrator was a straight female, likely for marketing purposes, when she reads like a gay male. I had to remind myself she is supposed to be female, because the voice is so unconvincing. All her observations on men are so…male. I would have really enjoyed a gay male mystery narrator. But if this series continues, have a female editor!
Gimmick 2: don’t name the ghostwriter (because ghostwriters are, by definition, anonymous). How can I get attached to a character and want to read more when I don’t even know their name? This may have been more of an issue because her voice was so contrary to the basic demographic we were provided. (Late 30s female). Maybe reveal the name later in the book? It’s also unnatural that no character ever said her name in dialogue. When does that happen in life?
Gimmick 3: add Hillary Clinton as a character but name her Dorothy Gibson. I like HRC, but where is the creativity in basically copying her for this novel? It’s like fan fiction for HRC. Reminds me of that goofy Biden/Obama action novel.
Also, I am completely baffled why Dorothy trusted No Name so quickly and made her the sleuthing sidekick. And why was the narrator the sidekick anyway? She did so little of the sleuthing and yet she’s the character to continue the series?
And why did No Name and the bodyguard hit it off? They had a handful of interactions that mostly involved comments on their appearances. No foundation for that romance. Maybe because it was written by a male??
Yet, nonetheless, I persisted. (Which is actually a line in the novel, along with pantsuits and “lock her up” references). It had potential, but I will pass due to the lack of originality and authenticity. Bummer.
Gimmick 1: the narrator was a straight female, likely for marketing purposes, when she reads like a gay male. I had to remind myself she is supposed to be female, because the voice is so unconvincing. All her observations on men are so…male. I would have really enjoyed a gay male mystery narrator. But if this series continues, have a female editor!
Gimmick 2: don’t name the ghostwriter (because ghostwriters are, by definition, anonymous). How can I get attached to a character and want to read more when I don’t even know their name? This may have been more of an issue because her voice was so contrary to the basic demographic we were provided. (Late 30s female). Maybe reveal the name later in the book? It’s also unnatural that no character ever said her name in dialogue. When does that happen in life?
Gimmick 3: add Hillary Clinton as a character but name her Dorothy Gibson. I like HRC, but where is the creativity in basically copying her for this novel? It’s like fan fiction for HRC. Reminds me of that goofy Biden/Obama action novel.
Also, I am completely baffled why Dorothy trusted No Name so quickly and made her the sleuthing sidekick. And why was the narrator the sidekick anyway? She did so little of the sleuthing and yet she’s the character to continue the series?
And why did No Name and the bodyguard hit it off? They had a handful of interactions that mostly involved comments on their appearances. No foundation for that romance. Maybe because it was written by a male??
Yet, nonetheless, I persisted. (Which is actually a line in the novel, along with pantsuits and “lock her up” references). It had potential, but I will pass due to the lack of originality and authenticity. Bummer.
January 24, 2024
What an odd little book. For a story that has all the pieces I usually love - limited suspect pool, interesting investigator, a Poirot-like reveal at the end, I was really bored through most of it. Part of it was that I guessed the big twist very early on but also because I never quite connected with the narrator or the investigator.
The ghostwriter narrator (we never learn their name) is sent to write the book for Dorothy Gibson who has just lost a major election (a la Hillary Clinton). When she goes to her house in Maine, she finds herself dragged into a murder investigation because the next door neighbor has wound up dead. Dorothy is unwilling to let this mystery go so our ghost writer goes in this chaotic mission with her.
Something was missing and I think it might be humor. If we are going to get a faceless/nameless narrator then I need some tongue in cheek humor. This has potential to be interesting but this book didn’t quite get there. 3.5 stars rounded down.
The ghostwriter narrator (we never learn their name) is sent to write the book for Dorothy Gibson who has just lost a major election (a la Hillary Clinton). When she goes to her house in Maine, she finds herself dragged into a murder investigation because the next door neighbor has wound up dead. Dorothy is unwilling to let this mystery go so our ghost writer goes in this chaotic mission with her.
Something was missing and I think it might be humor. If we are going to get a faceless/nameless narrator then I need some tongue in cheek humor. This has potential to be interesting but this book didn’t quite get there. 3.5 stars rounded down.
January 12, 2024
I really hate writing these types of reviews but I could not finish this book. I won an ARC and I had really high hopes for this book. While it may be appealing to some, I couldn't stand the narrator. I read other reviews where the reviewers said that they listened to this author's podcast and could hear his voice as the narrator. I have never listened to the podcast, but I did feel like the narrator was a poor caricature of a woman and what a woman's thoughts are.
January 25, 2024
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator played all the characters in this story perfectly! She seamlessly transitions and I always was able to know who was speaking. The story kind of felt drawn out for me at times but I’m glad I stuck with it because the conclusion was well worth the wait! I definitely didn’t see all the twists coming and look forward to future books in this series! If you like mysteries be sure to check this book out!
The narrator played all the characters in this story perfectly! She seamlessly transitions and I always was able to know who was speaking. The story kind of felt drawn out for me at times but I’m glad I stuck with it because the conclusion was well worth the wait! I definitely didn’t see all the twists coming and look forward to future books in this series! If you like mysteries be sure to check this book out!
February 24, 2024
Thank you Kensington Books for this ARC audiobook via Netgalley. This book had a great amateur sleuth duo rendered brilliantly by the narrator. The cast of characters provided an interesting conundrum as several of them were extremely unlikeable and might very well have done the deed. If there is one thing that I found incredibly jarring are some of the comments about one 'fat' character - the body descriptions - about jiggly arms or a voracious appetite - which were meant to induce dislike for the character. Is this fair? I don't know. I'm sure the author has the right to portray the people in the book as they see fit, but I find it problematic when being fat becomes associated with being necessarily ugly or 'less than' other people.
That being said, the ending did reserve a few surprises and an unexpected twist. Would I say this is a thrilling read? No, but it does follow in the illustrious vein of other recent cosy mystery writers, like Richard Osman or Nita Prose.
All in all, an enjoyable book.
That being said, the ending did reserve a few surprises and an unexpected twist. Would I say this is a thrilling read? No, but it does follow in the illustrious vein of other recent cosy mystery writers, like Richard Osman or Nita Prose.
All in all, an enjoyable book.
January 28, 2024
I love the modern Jessica Fletcher vibes. Curious if Dorothy will be in the next book, since she's the one who did the actual murder solving.
February 4, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher, narrator and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.
**This book is NOT a contemporary Agatha Christie!** This book has so much unnecessary filler and so many useless details, comparing it to any Golden Age Detective novel, let along Agatha Christie, is wrong, bad, and makes me mad.
I rarely enjoy newer mysteries or thrillers, but the description of this one sounded ok, and I made the mistake of believing it was written similar to my beloved GAD novels. I thought it would be ok. It was not.
The details of "the female politician who lost" was beyond irritating. The "ghostwriter" narrator seemed more of a sidekick than a ghost writer, and was long winded and boring. I hated every single aside we had to hear from her brain. And for the number of times the narrator tells us that she's "not going to go into that" I felt like I ended the book with an unbelievable number of details about this mostly unnamed person.
I really can't think of one single good thing to report about this book. The mystery was not thought out, the character developments made me hate them, and the descriptions of the surroundings made me want to scream. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone I know - would, in fact, urge them *not* to waste the time in reading this one.
1 star for 'hated it' and I wish I could rate lower.
**This book is NOT a contemporary Agatha Christie!** This book has so much unnecessary filler and so many useless details, comparing it to any Golden Age Detective novel, let along Agatha Christie, is wrong, bad, and makes me mad.
I rarely enjoy newer mysteries or thrillers, but the description of this one sounded ok, and I made the mistake of believing it was written similar to my beloved GAD novels. I thought it would be ok. It was not.
The details of "the female politician who lost" was beyond irritating. The "ghostwriter" narrator seemed more of a sidekick than a ghost writer, and was long winded and boring. I hated every single aside we had to hear from her brain. And for the number of times the narrator tells us that she's "not going to go into that" I felt like I ended the book with an unbelievable number of details about this mostly unnamed person.
I really can't think of one single good thing to report about this book. The mystery was not thought out, the character developments made me hate them, and the descriptions of the surroundings made me want to scream. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone I know - would, in fact, urge them *not* to waste the time in reading this one.
1 star for 'hated it' and I wish I could rate lower.
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