Media Made Murder

Merry Wrath Mysteries #33

by Leslie Langtry

From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a laugh-out-loud new Merry Wrath mystery...

Merry Wrath's hometown of Who’s There, Iowa may be a nice, if quirky, place to live, but it’s also the murder capital of Iowa—a fact that’s somewhat known only regionally. But all that’s about to change, when a film crew with murder on its mind arrives in town to make a documentary. The team aren’t killers themselves, but they are a bit too eager that a death will happen around the murder-adjacent, ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout Leader, Merry.

Only when a dead body finally does show up, Merry can’t get anyone in town to believe the man didn’t die of natural causes. It doesn’t help that the documentary’s focus on Detective Rex Ferguson’s 100% solve rate changes when a rumor starts that a major streaming studio is interested. Then every kook in town wants in on the action, and the film crew starts looking into some very fictional reenactments that include explosives.

Things get worse when an anonymous family member of the victim shows up to claim the body for immediate cremation, and Merry realizes that she’s running out of time to solve a murder...before everything blows up in her face.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Leslie Langtry is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Merry Wrath Mysteries and the Bombay Family of Assassins Greatest Hits series. She lives in the Midwest with her family and is an active Girl Scout volunteer. Her dream is to someday invent calorie free cake.

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we go again with another murder in weird and wacky Who's There, Iowa. This time, Merry discovers a body that for appearances seems to be a natural death. Which is a problem for the documentary film crew that is following her and her husband Rex around. but Merry thinks something is wrong with the body and it is only through her pushing that they discover that the man was actually murdered. While trying to hold the film crew in check, deal with the over-enthusiastic teenage mayor and council, she actually does figure everything out. This is an insanely funny series of cozy mysteries with unbelievable characters and situations that boggle the imagination.

If you don't mind weird characters and even weirder situations, pick this series up - but be prepared to completely suspend your belief in anything sane or believable.

Recommended.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craziness has erupted in Who's There, Iowa! A documentary company is coming to capture the most "murdery" city on film. This reeks of the mayor and the rest of the scout troop, and catches Merry in the middle. Why? The focus is supposed to be on Rex and his 100% solved crime rate. So much wackiness ensues as the documentary troupe is hoping for a murder and generally being unhelpful. Then there's Hillary who even kidnaps her best friend (Merry of course) with reasons only she could begin to understand. Fundraising for the zoo, girl scout cookies, and Kevin (hamsters in tow) add to the fun.
As always, the book goes full speed ahead drawing me in until I finish it. I am constantly amazed at the author's ability to make this one of the funniest and most unusual mystery series ever! Don't miss this incredible addition to the fantastic series!

[Carole Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome book in the Merry Wrath series! A documentary is being filmed in Who's There featuring the town's murderous reputation and Rex's 100 percent solve rate, and of course Merry the murder magnet! The film crew are hilarious and just a bit too hopeful for an actual murder to happen while they are there filming. But when there really is a murder, things get tricky for Merry and Rex, and they find themselves trying to juggle keeping the film crew entertained along with solving a murder! Of course, everyone in town wants to play their part, and with Betty and Ava in charge things get a little crazy… I really enjoyed this one, and laughed and giggled through the whole book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry and her troop are back again with a new mystery. The town of Who’s There is hosting a movie production documentary. It’s supposed to be about Rex and his 100% crime solving rate, but they are more interested in Merry and the murders she’s solved. The production team is hoping for a murder during filming, but they begin to focus on Merry and the Museum of Murder. The production crew is just as quirky as the townspeople. When the school janitor is found dead, the production team is thrilled. As he was a loner and not well liked, it’s difficult to find suspects. When a mysterious person sets up the funeral arrangements with immediate cremations, suspicions rise. Time is of the essence to get this murder solved!

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Media Made Murder there is a film crew in town supposedly to feature Rex's 100% solve rate. They really want Merry to discover a body. When she does find a body, it appears to be natural causes. Come along and be drawn into these wildly funny mysteries featuring the town's teen mayor, Merry's girl scouts, Merry's friends and her CIA contacts and buddies. I always set aside time to just immerse myself in the latest caper because I cannot conceive of putting the book down. I am amazed at Ms. Langtry's ability to concoct these insane plots and yet write a book that makes complete sense! I love these characters.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful, kooky Merry Wrath book! I just love this series! From the main character being an ex-CIA agent and now is a hometown Girl Scout leader to the name of the hometown, Who’s There, Iowa! This book is full of craziness, as usual. Merry gets involved in another murder and winds up investigating. This story has a really good ending, lots of twists and turns. I didn’t see any of that coming! Loved it!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite author writes about my favorite characters. The stories are always funny but the characters are like my special circle of friends. The craziness is so funny and how do I just expect that the hamsters will be trained to sniff out drugs? Of course they will just like they wear little uniforms. This series is the best antidepressant in my house. Thank you, Ms Langtry for another great contribution to my life.

[M.A.SPRIGGS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

Another entertaining and enjoyable cosy murder mystery. I loved catching up with these weird and wacky characters and the hijinks of the girl scout troop. Lots of laughs out loud moments while Merry tries to solve a murder that nobody believes is a murder. Highly recommend.

[Vicki Tibbitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a delight

I really enjoy the Merry Wrath murder mysteries. The characters are over the top and laugh out load funny. There was one loose end in this book and it had to do with an unknown claiming the body. I have a suspicion of who it was, but that was never clarified. Thank you for another entertaining read.

[Michelle Zuravin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, Another perfect installment!

Can't get enough of these books, after 35 the books are still going strong, the storylines are still fresh and exciting. I hope we see the troop through their high school years. Merry and her friends make each story more thrilling than the last. This series is my favorite!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Camera, Murder

A documentary team comes to town hoping for a murder while they are there. That might seem strange, but they are in Who's There and it's the most murdery town in the state. Much chaos ensues san Merry tries to figure out what exactly happened. A lot of twists and a lot of laughs. This was another great book in the series. I look forward to reading the next one.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie has outdone herself with this one. Oh my gosh it was hilarious. More than one twist I didn’t see coming. Excellent story. The last pages had me laughing so hard I cried. Excellent.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader of this book provided by the publisher.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from the publisher.
This is one of my favorite series and favorite authors. If you haven't read any of the books in this series, you are truly missing out. This latest book is hysterical with a really baffling mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Karen greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

more fun times!

I do enjoy this series. You never know who will get murdered or why until the end. But a long the way you enjoy a wild and crazy group of characters that always will bring a smile to your face as you read. A great story, great writing and great laughs.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The gang is back in a plot filled with twists. The girls weren't as prominent in this book, but Ava and Betty made multiple appearances. Humor, action, and the Hamlets. I'm eager for the next book!

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

It's fun and as always you think its one thing and it does a flip on you. Can't wait to get he next book and she what Merry and the girls get up to.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. I do enjoy the twists and turns in all these books. A surprising ending.

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and fun