Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for gifting me this ARC of the audiobook to review.

I don't know how this book is marketed, but I would categorise it as a "cosy mystery". The murders are gruesome, but the narrator keeps her wit throughout. She's not very close to any of the characters so she's not emotionally involved with the case apart from curiosity.

I really liked the narrator. She is smart and empathetic, she's very good at reading people and applying her knowledge from previous books that she has worked on. Her thought processes are logical and clearly laid out for the reader. At the same time, she's a real person with some awkward mishaps, like falling asleep in the car and spreading out a bit too much, without seeming ditzy or annoying. She's also quite funny in her inner dialogue. She's a very 'adequate' character in the best way possible. We learn that she is not in touch with her family at the beginning of the book, but not much more about it is elaborated. This is a loose thread that should be picked up in the coming books of the series.

Dorothee is another character that is just pleasant to read about, she has her quirks, but she's a smart powerful woman who knows how to talk to people.

The pacing of this book is a bit slow at times, it feels like we're experiencing everything that happens in real-time with the characters. This adds to the cosy mystery vibe, but in no way takes away from the suspense. Things are happening all the time after all and I really wanted to know "who'd done it?". Some of the interviews with Dorothee and the narrator are also really funny to read, a bit like getting juicy gossip.

To add some romance, the main character does have a love interest, which was a nice little add-on, but it was not explored too much. I hope the love interest reoccurs in the coming books otherwise this part of the story would be a bit disappointing.

A minor detail that annoyed me a little: There's a part where the FMC comments on the bodyguard's pants looking like they are from 2002. The bodyguard responds that he was 12 back then, which would make him 34 in 2024, yet the FMC deduces that he's in his late 20's. Following this section I looked up when the book was published. I thought maybe it was published a few years before the audiobook, but that doesn't seem to be the case. In addition, pants that are from 2002 are back right now, so the point of the conversation doesn't make any sense. I guess the book was originally written a while back and is only published now, but when things like this get overlooked it irks me.

Following my research I realised that the author was actually male. Listening to the audiobook (obviously narrated by a woman), it did not feel like a 'male' narration at all, so I think the author did an unexpectedly good job here. I can also really recommend the audio narration :)

I am looking forward to the next parts in this series :)

I had really high hopes for this book, and unfortunately they we're not met...in the slightest. I mean who wouldn't want to love an Agtha Christie inspired murder mystery, with a unnamed ghostwriter writing a memoir for a female Senator who failed to become President*hintHilaryClintonhint*.I trudged through this audiobook solely due to the narrator Eva Kaminsky performance of all the characters. I can see where the author wanted to go but the banter fell flat, the romance was null, the "twist" was seen miles away. There's potential but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for accepting my request to read and review.

This audiobook was just okay for me. While I enjoyed the narrator, I felt the momentum of the book was a bit meandering.

Dorothy Gibson, the most hated politician in country, is hiding out in her Maine home awaiting the dust to settle from an election she split as an independent candidate for president. We all know this story well and how it turned out, but this is a fictional retelling of what happened to the independent candidate after the election.

Dorothy hires a ghostwriter to assist her in creating a biography. The unnamed ghostwriter is our narrator and she's adept at peeling back the layers of ones life and asking the important questions. She travels to Maine to visit with Dorothy and promptly moves in with her, to work on the autobiography. The women, in need of provisions, go to the local liquor store where Dorothy bumps into her neighbor, Vivian, and a picture is taken. The next day the neighbor is found deceased under suspicious circumstances. Together, Dorothy and our narrator, will put their skills to use to solve this crime.

First, I liked the narrator, I felt like she did a good job of embodying her character, so that worked for me. What didn't work was the pacing of the novel and the amateur sleuthing that the story was based on with a lot of investigating but only a little action. I liked the characters and it was well done in some areas but it just wasn't fully my taste. Overall I'd rate it 3.5 🌟🌟🌟✨, rounding up to 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you #Netgalley for providing me with this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
#TheBusyBody

When former Senator, Dorothy Gibson, heads to her Maine home after losing her bid for president, she hires a ghostwriter to write her memoir. When the two meet an avid fan at the local liquor store, they have no idea how the meet and greet is about to change everything. When a body turns up, soon Dorothy and the unnamed ghostwriter go into full on sleuth mode. This book (on audio), a cozy Agatha Christie type mystery, was a fun listen from start to finish and I’m looking forward to the ghostwriter’s next assignment! Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

Thank you RB Media, Recorded Books for accepting my request to read and review The Busy Body on NetGalley.

Stars: 2.5

From the first page to the last, I was bored and didn't connect. Staying focused was impossible. I'm bothered that at no point in the 300+ pages did I find a sliver of hope. There were times in the ten hour audiobook that I wondered if I had a rough draft. Time went on, I tried to engage hoping this was a writing style that would reveal itself later on; it didn't happen.

The review I'm submitting now would be the same if I threw in the towel at 30%. I did strongly consider turning the book back in. The synopsis stayed with me and I wanted the ghost writing trope to work for me.

As far as, Eva Kaminsky, she was okay. Her performance dragged unlike others where she was amazing. She can only read what is written and remains a notable favorite narrator of mine.

In the event this becomes a series, I will not be picking it up. I do suggest trying for yourself and considering a different format if one isn't working. I will ponder if dropping the audio and going physical or E-book would have made a difference.

I enjoyed listening to Eva Kaminsky reading this locked room murder mystery which I suspect is the first in a series featuring the nameless ghostwriter narrator. Some elements of the plot stretched my belief, but all told, this was an entertaining, easy listen. I would certainly read or listen to more in this series by Kemper Donovan, and will also look out for other books narrated by Kaminsky.

The Busy Body is a whodunnit mystery that is, unfortunately, unremarkable. At first, the euphemisms for real-life people and the snarky narrator were fun, but it all eventually became very...irritating. I'm mystified that this book is the first of a series about a ghostwriter, given the ghostwriter was unnamed and didn't do a whole lot of sleuthing (or writing). In fact, she didn't do a whole of anything other than offer some out-of-pocket commentary that was trying too hard to be funny.

These types of mysteries are only enjoyable if the investigation is entertaining. The plot of The Busy Body is drawn out, boring, and unsuspenseful. The main characters weren't in danger (they had no relevance to the mystery), and there weren't any red herrings or substantial unveilings to keep my interest. The final "here's what happened" was far too long and not nearly shocking enough to be considered a grand reveal. Adding the cliche and abhorrently cringey romance was unnecessary icing on an already inedible cake.

Needless to say, the best part of this book is the cover art.

I received an advanced audiobook copy from NetGalley and RB Media in exchange for an honest review.

**As an aside, I think it is important to note that the audio's narrator was quite good. She captured the personalities of the characters well and had a lovely cadence.

This was a hard one to get through because it was boring for me. I can often extend disbelief for a story line, but this was unbelievable in a bad way.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
A former Presidential Candidate turned amateur sleuth, Dorothy Gibson, is a delightful character who is witty and entertaining. This cozy mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I thought it was a fun read with engaging writing.

The political gripes were a bit excessive and it felt like the author was pandering to a specific extreme audience.

The Ghostwriter wasn’t as dynamic of a character as the others, so I hope we’ll get more insight into her backstory in Book 2.

Thank You to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has it all! From the wit to the mystery, this is like if Agatha Christie and Richard Osman had a baby. Character development and the plot were well thought out. I thought the narrator did a fantastic job delivering the book.

This book was a little slow at first, but it quickly drew me in. I love a good mystery, and this one kept me guessing until the twisty reveal! The audiobook narration was great! I liked the way the author wrote the ghostwriter’s inner monologue! Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook copy in échange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting book. When I saw that it was being talked about as an Agatha Christie book mixed with Veep I know i had to ready it. There were times that I thought it was slow, but overall I'm excited to see where the series go and what comes next for The Ghostwriter.

Narrator Eva Kaminsky did a great job balancing the ghostwriter character with the mystery of the storyline. I thought it was a fast listen and found 2.0x to be the sweet spot for listening.

Thank you for the gifted ALC.

Woah this audiobook just blew me away! I was completely hooked from the very beginning, and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!

I enjoyed this Agatha Christie-ish story. The main character is a ghostwriter working on her biggest project to date. Dorothy is a famous politician who just lost her bid for president. While Dorothy and the Ghostwriter visit a neighbor, they are pulled into a murder investigation.

I liked the main character even though we never learned her name. She sometimes seems fearless but isn't willing to commit to any relationship. She is funny and willing to emerge into Dorothy's life.

The ending is in true Agatha Christie style, with all suspects in one room when the murderer is revealed. I guessed the twist early, but the journey with the author was entertaining. If Donovan continues this series, I will read the next book to see where he will take the ghostwriter.

I love Eva Kaminsky, the narrator. I know Kaminsky from other books she narrates. She has a pleasant voice and can change slightly for the different characters.

3.5 stars story
4.5 stars narrator

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan has all the vibes of a classic Agatha Christie with a contemporary flair! A blended mix of mystery, political intrigue and humor. Let's not forget that the author is the host of the podcast "All About Agatha!" 

I enjoyed how each woman in this novel is flawed and yet powerful in their own way. A ghostwriter landing the assignment of a lifetime, a former Senator who lost a Presidential run and the side characters that help build the plot. The mystery was intriguing and I can't deny I enjoyed the sleuthy ways of our MCs.

The writing style is modern, witty and wonderfully sarcastic. I also had the ability to listen to the audio from Recorded Books thats narrated by Eva Kaminsky. Between the accents and hints of twang and delivery of sarcasm, I adored the audio rendition too. I don't think I can pick a favorite format, both equally come alive whether in written or audio.

Huge thank you to recorded books for the gifted ALC. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves Agatha Christie type mystery! True rating 3.5/5.

This was a fun read! So many details from today's current society made this more interesting. I can't wait to see what our Ghostwriter gets up to in the next installment of this series. This was my 1st book by Kemper Donovan and it did not disappoint!

#TheBusyBody
#NetGalley

I wanted to love The Busy Body but unfortunately, it did not work for me. I had a hard time staying interested in the storyline and deciphering the intended tone.

Thank you Kensington Books & RB Media for the advanced copies.

This was SO FUN. I greatly enjoyed the writing style and overall humorous tone. I really vibed with the main character. I enjoyed the classic mystery elements of this story and how it still meshed with modern elements. The political component of the story was definitely interesting and I think an accurate representation of how people would act towards her.

The narrator was absolutely perfect and really made the humor of the story come alive. If you like Agatha Christie and classic mysteries, you will like this.

This was an interesting book. It says it is book one in the ghosterwriter series and I am not sure it will work for a series I am intrigued enough I will check out the second one. This book is a mix of contemporary lit and Agatha Christie style mystery. I’m a big an of Agatha Christie and I love a good locked room mystery, but I could have done with a little less of the political comparisons and I didn’t need a character that let inspired by Hillary Clinton playing Nancy Drew (it was as weird as it sound). The ghostwriter (I don’t believe her name was ever revealed which is also weird for me) has a dream assignment. A woman who fell into politics has just run for president and lost and wants help writing her memoir. The ghostwriter comes for an interview and ends up staying as her client, Dorothy, wants it to be an authentic as possible. When Dorothy’s neighbor is killed Dorothy and the ghostwriter get caught up playing amateur sleuth and all kinds of twisty chaos occurs. I started this one b audiobook and I thought the narrator did a good job. I switched to physical book because the mystery was moving slowly for me and I wanted to read it faster to get to the good and twisty mystery solution bit I was hoping to find. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars which I rounded up for star selection.