THE PROBLEM WITH MURDER

by Brody Butcher

Doug Hanson isn’t a killer—just an underpaid, overworked manager with a minor embezzling habit and a major plan to disappear.
But then Carson—the smug coworker with perfect hair and a hero complex—finds out. And just like that, Doug’s plan crumbles… along with Carson’s skull.

Now there’s a corpse in the apartment and a ghost on the couch. Doug’s desperate to clean up the mess, but his undead sidekick has other ideas—and a front-row seat to his slow unraveling.

Covering up a murder is hard enough. Being haunted by your victim? That’s a whole new level of hell.

Twisted, tense, and wickedly funny, The Problem With Murder is a horror-comedy for anyone who’s ever wanted to kill their coworker... and ended up with way more than they bargained for.

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2025

Reviews

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANT

This book gives you vibes of a male, more morbid version, of ghost whisperer! I’m obsessed, gimme more! Luckily it’s a series and I AM HERE FOR IT! A thriller with murder and humor, what more could you ask for?!

[Taylor Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug has a plan Carson isn’t going to let him get away with it. It’s twisted and wickley fun.

[Elise Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story follows Doug, a man who has quite literally lost his mind in more than one way. Haunted by guilt, he becomes the embodiment of how devastatingly heavy consequences can be when they finally catch up.

Spoiler

Doug’s unraveling takes a dark and violent turn. After his lies at work are uncovered, he murders his assistant manager—the one who exposed him. But his descent doesn’t stop there. In the chaos of that moment, he also kills an innocent bystander, all while being tormented by visions of Carson, a man long gone, whom Doug continues to see as if he were still alive.

I would rate this story 3.5 stars. It’s well written and kept me hooked all the way through. The author has a strong storytelling voice and knows how to maintain tension, making this a solid short read. That said, while I appreciated the experience, it’s not a story I see myself rereading.

[Kimberly Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butcher places words delicately on the pages, fine tuning the emotions that he can pull out of his readers. This will make you laugh, grimace, and re-think every thing you think you know about murder. It has just enough gore, intertwined with playfully placed comic relief, to ensure you won’t ever forget about Doug and Carson. 10/10 recommend this to anyone and everyone.

[Nikki Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

mystery with dark humor

I have read this twice already because I love the writing. Doug is losing it and Carson is just so dark and funny to me.

Doug Hanson is losing his mind after his accidental escapades and Carson is not gonna let him forget what he’s done.
I highly recommend this if you want some dark humor and mystery in your life

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, if you can’t stop to flirt while you have a dead body rotting in your house, when can you?

This short (50 page) novella made me laugh, gag, and internally gasp, and that is no mean feat. As the bodies pile up and the horror mounts, this story finds new and exciting ways to catch you off-guard, and I loved that.
I’ll definitely be reading more from Brody Butcher

[Larae Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug has plans. Carson isn't going to let him get away with them. Doug gets rid of the problem, he thought. When Carson starts speaking to him. Doug thinks he is losing his mind.

Very interesting take on this book. The main character is a ghost talking to the man who killed him. I actually really like the way the author wrote this book. I really hope there is a book 2 coming soon.

[Jaime Tragesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Problem with Murder made me think about the old saying about lies. You have to lie more to cover the original lie.

The details were just enough to make me imagine the images I did NOT want to see 😂 I loved the comedy that was sprinkled throughout as well.

[Megan Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slippery slope into madness

Murder is wrong because like potato chips they can't do just one.
Doug lost himself in a moment of rage and now he will pay for it. But it isn't justice that is on his tail. Nah just a ghost with a plan.

[Tina Transformation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty, dark, and wickedly fun! The Downfall is a masterclass in chaos. Sharp writing, great pacing, and a killer twist—literally. Couldn’t put it down. 5 stars all the way!

[Nikki Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Entertaining!