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The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan Review


Welcome back to Jenn's Reading Corner! 

Title 

The Busy Body 

Author 

Kemper Donovan 

Synopsis 

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. Now 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 mysterious 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, meanwhile, has become an expert at recognizing lies and double dealing. 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. 

Review 


The most intriguing book I've read in a long time. I couldn't resist this book when I saw the beautiful cover. The Busy Body definitely does not disappoint. As a fan of Agatha Christie this book is as close to an Agatha Christie book as you will find. With interesting charismatic characters that come to life straight off the pages and a mystery that will keep you guessing all the way to the reveal.  Typically I devour a book in one sitting, however this book was so good that I stretched it out over the course of several days because I didn't want it to end. I knew from the first chapter it would be a long time until I found another book I would enjoy as much as this one. 

I highly recommend reading The Busy Body. This will be one of those rare books that I will be rereading for years to come. 

About the Author 

Kemper Donovan is the author of the novel The Decent Proposal, and the host of the podcast All About Agatha, dedicated to the one and only Agatha Christie, in which guise he has been featured in the L.A. Times, made appearances on BBC TV and Radio New Zealand, lectured at multiple festivals and conferences, and written for the Official Agatha Christie website 


He attended Stanford University and Harvard Law School, and now lives in Southern California with his husband and two daughters.

Connect with Kemper Donovan 

To have your book reviewed/ featured on the blog contact readingcorner.jenn@gmail.com

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