Sweet Spot

Ghostwriter Mystery #3

by Kemper Donovan

The USA Today bestselling host of the “All About Agatha” podcast injects the spark and fizz of a Golden Age Murder Mystery into the present day, as a ghostwriter-turned-sleuth must find a devious killer who’s transforming her new assignment into a real-life thriller…

Ghostwriters, just like ghosts, shouldn’t exist. Knowing that the latest juicy memoir was penned by a stranger for a paycheck tends to ruin the illusion of intimacy. But not every ghostwriter is in it for the money alone.

For Belle Currer—as the ghostwriter extraordinaire prefers to be known—Genevieve Caraway’s memoir is an irresistible project, a tale of tragedy overcome. At 14, Genevieve was abducted from her bedroom by a couple and held hostage for three months. She’s now a happily married mother with a flourishing career, a poster child for thriving after trauma. Still, the scars haven’t entirely faded.

Genevieve’s lavish Utah home, “Soft Spot,” is a guarded compound impregnable to outsiders— theoretically, at least. But Belle’s arrival coincides with the parole of Deirdre Gregory, one of Genevieve’s kidnappers. When Deirdre shows up at Soft Spot begging to see Genevieve, she is refused. The next day, Deirdre’s dead body is found on the grounds.

How did Deirdre get in? More importantly, who killed her? Belle soon joins Detective Kay Adams, the pregnant Mormon cop assigned to the case, in sifting through the suspects. The compound is filled with family and friends—and also with secrets, including one the ghostwriter has been carrying for far too long. She knows how guilt, remorse, and love can drive people to do unthinkable things. And that no matter how much you try to keep the world at bay, the best and worst of it may find a way to get in . . .

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

Kemper 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.

Reviews

[Amy Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghostwriter Belle Currer is back for a third book---this time she's set to write the memoir of Genevieve Caraway, who was abducted and held hostage as a teenager. Currer travels to Caraway's home in Utah, where right off the bat one of the kidnappers is paroled, shows up at Genevieve's house, and then is found murdered. Currer partners with a local detective to figure out who's the killer.

This latest title in the Ghostwriter series reminds me of the first title, The Busy Body, and I have some of the same criticism--I wasn't as thrilled with the meat of the investigation that mostly consisted of Belle & the detective interviewing the suspects--I would have liked a little less dialogue and more action. I didn't think this book was as funny or snarky as Loose Lips, and the killer was somewhate transparent due to Belle's blind spot/questionable decisions. Recommended if you're ok with a mystery that's mostly conversation.

[Patty Abarno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghostwriter Belle Currer returns in this third novel which brings her to Utah to write a memoir for a woman named Genevieve Caraway. Genevieve, at age 14, was kidnapped and held hostage for three months by a couple who are now serving time at the local prison. Upon arriving at Genevieve’s lavish home “Sweet Spot”, Belle discovers that one of the kidnappers, Deirdre Gregory, has been released from prison. Then Deirdre shows up at “Sweet Spot” trying to warn Genevieve that she is in danger once again. The next day, Deirdre is found murdered on the property and Detective Kay Adam’s shows up to begin an investigation. Everyone at the house is considered a suspect except Belle, who is asked to aid in the investigation. I love the snarky, entertaining way this author writes. I really enjoyed this novel and I’m looking forward to more in this series!

[Barbara Mates · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator , Belle, speaks directly to the reader as she relates the harrowing adventure she experiences when she accepts a job to ghostwrite the life story of a famous survivor of a heinous abduction. The book moves very quickly with the last 100 pages being impossible to put down. This reader was indifferent to Belle when I started the book, but, grew to like her (warts and all) and root for her to get a win as the story unfolds. This would make a great movie.
Thanks to Kensington for the ARC

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment in Kemper Donovan's ghostwriter series. Belle Currer travels to Utah to write a memoir for a women who was abducted at age 14 and held hostage for 3 months. Her kidnappers are now in prison nearby. A closed circle murder ensues with tones of Agatha Christie. Belle talks directly to the reader which annoyed me at first but I got used to it. The author gives very detailed descriptions of the rugged Utah landscape and the compound where the book takes place. I could totally picture everything clearly. There are many different suspects for the murder and I was not able to guess the conclusion. This is my favorite book of the series and I hope there will be more.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC e-book.