The narrator of this modern-day cosy mystery is a ghostwriter who has landed a dream assignment: to write the memoir of Dorothy Gibson, an independent candidate who has just missed out on being elected US President. Holed up in her rural Maine house, she is ready to tell her story.
The ghostwriter moves in. She enjoys the work – and the fact Dorothy has a very handsome bodyguard is an added bonus. A work break to buy wine in town brings them in contact with Vivian Davis, who is staying next door in the Crystal Palace, a residence and event space rented out by the very rich. Dorothy allows Vivian to take a selfie and thinks no more of it – until a few days later when it’s reported that Vivian has committed suicide.
Of course, it turns out to be murder, not suicide. And Dorothy and the ghostwriter prove to be two perfect sleuths.
Kemper Donovan is the host of the ‘All About Agatha’ podcast, and this story is a tribute to the golden age of crime, crossed with modern-day politics. An entertaining read, with plenty of suspects and red herrings for the reader to puzzle through.
Reviewed by Melinda Woledge
Read an extract from The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kemper Donovan is the host of All About Agatha, a highly successful podcast dedicated to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, and the inspiration behind The Busy Body.
He has lived in Los Angeles for most of my adult life. Starting out, he worked at a wonderful company called Circle of Confusion (no, really) representing film/television screenwriters and comic books. His very first client wrote the screenplay for the feature film Hanna. (If you haven’t seen it, watch it; you won’t be sorry.)
Before that I went to college at Stanford University, and law school at Harvard. Technically, I am a retired lawyer, which means I passed the New York Bar and then immediately switched my status to ;retired’ to avoid fees and continuing education requirements….
I began writing my first novel, The Decent Proposal, when I was still a manager. After an extremely long gestational period and an even longer process acquiring representation and then selling the book for publication, I turned to writing full-time.
I am married, and my husband and I have two daughters who keep us extremely busy. When I’m not with them, or chattering into a microphone, or staring at a laptop with my head in my hands, I enjoy doing things that have a more obvious/tangible/short-term payoff such as running and attempting to play the violin (emphasis on the attempt).
The Busy Body is the first book in ‘The Ghostwriter’ series.
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