The Busy Body

By: Kemper Donovan

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

In this fresh, fast-paced modern murder mystery—the first in a wildly funny and inventive new series—a ghostwriter is chosen to collaborate on a presidential candidate’s memoir, only to discover just how much trouble a smart woman with time on her hands can get up to …

“I tell other people’s stories for a living. … I’ve always been a snoop where other people are concerned, and I discovered in my late twenties I have a knack for spinning tales about them, and for making these tales sing.”

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 is: “Of course!” The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories … two talents, it turns out, that come in handy for sleuthing. 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 …

©2024 Kemper Donovan (P)2024 Recorded Books

Page turner!

Excellent read! Really drew me in and I love how it played in various ways with the conventional murder mystery and especially tropes of golden age work.

Entertaining

This book was well written, funny, fast-paced, entertaining, and wonderfully narrated. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Loved it!

The narration, the story telling, the characters… it’s all so well done! Plus I’ve known (of) Kemper for a while now thanks to his podcast (All About Agatha (Christie)) so, naturally, I loved that, and it makes sense that I’d love this, too!

Hard to put down - I loved it.

The perfect balance of suspense and comedy, set in our modern day chaos. I recommend to murder mystery gurus and new fans alike. Enjoy.

Enjoy fun, escapist fiction without feeling stupid!

The plot is far-fetched, consistent with the genre, yet offers insightful observations about human nature, clever asides, and a sense of hopefulness about women’s capacity to right the wrongs of the world.

Disappointed

Obviously launched from reality— a woman loses the Presidential race to a man vaguely described as awful, incompetent, a nightmare. She retreats to a cabin in the north, hires a ghostwriter, and then together they solve a murder. Prose is competent, but ending disappointing. New info half-revealed about narrator’s past torpedoes her budding relationship with a security guard (which seemed kinda junior high and extraneous all along) but sets up possible sequel.