I really struggled to get into this book. I’m not sure if it was because it was a male writing a FMC but I just couldn’t connect and it felt forced and fake

Fans of contemporary mysteries will enjoy this. Interesting and fun characters, easy to read and will keep you guessing.
Not my usual genre but enjoyed it.

I did enjoy the book, for me though, it was just a little too unbelievable. I absolutely was not able to solve the mystery, so great job on that.

A great murder mystery, a fun and cosy read, this is a book that will keep you entertained. It is Agatha Christie-ish, it is contemporary, has quirky characters and is enjoyable and fun. It has a great dialogue that will leave you smiling. It is an easy read but I don't think the romance did anything for the story itself.

Well written, keeps you reading and there is a mystery that needs solving so that will keep you intrigued. I would give this one a 3 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

“The Busy Body” gives off strong locked room murder classics, think the mousetrap or a good Agatha Christie. More recently, it is very similar to Ernest Cunningham’s “Everyone on this Train is a Suspect”, both featuring authors writing their next book. Our unnamed narrator is much more likeable, having realistic traits such as an avoidance of phone calls, and relatively satisfied with her life.
This book starts off slow with adequate descriptions of places, sometimes delving into them too much. We met our murder victim fairly early, but it almost seemed too unlikely. Our narrator and Dorothy insert themselves into the investigation, initially with a sense of duty, then almost blow the investigation apart.
The willingness of the secondary characters to talk about the murder seemed unnatural. Most were sharing more secrets than revealed to the police, negating the value of the secret. Additionally, the narrator is not the one to solve the mystery, so it feels like some clues are missing until the final reveal.
Overall, this is a well written book with an engaging mystery. As a reader unfamiliar with American geography and time zones, the travel across the country could have been clearer.

This was a nice enough read but i think pushing it as the 'next" Thursday Murder Club creates expectations that don't match the style, characters or delivery of this title, so i was a little disappointed with it. It didn't grab me buut i did enjoy it enough. Thansk!

I enjoyed this read and was engaged most of the way through. There are parts which are fun to puzzle together, characters and suspects who are entertaining, I liked the ‘nameless narrator’, particularly the cynicism and sarcasm, and the conversational storytelling style. I thought the short chapters helped to build urgency, even though it’s a cozy mystery. It felt like a game of Cluedo (or Clue, depending on where in the world you live), which I loved. I LOVED the Christie-esque references, which are unsurprising considering the author.

Some of the things that were a bit of a mixed bag for me though were the initial need to investigate: one meeting at a shop and they know someone well enough to second guess a cause of death? Was the romance necessary? I felt like tension was built in a good way, but then dropped quickly by giving too much information (the alibis sometimes were so long). There are quite a few pop culture references which may date the book.

I will look forward to the next one.

Thank you so much to Hachette Australia & NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a step out of my usual genre choice, but I'm glad I gave it a go. The Busy Body is the story of a ghost writer who teams up with a Former Senator to solve a murder. The MC is witty and hilarious, and she comes out with some very funny dialogue.

The interplay among the characters, the engaging dialogues, and the clever use of puns were all very enjoyable. Additionally, the inclusion of romance added a delightful element to the overall experience.

This story was well crafted, maintaining an air of intrigue that captivated me until the very conclusion.

For lovers of contemporary, Agatha Christie style cosy mysteries!