Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this audiobook.

I read the first book in this series after I was provided with Loose Lips. The good news is that the second book can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The bad news is that this book is not as good as the first one in the series. This novel starts off very promising with our favorite ghost writer Belle hired as a lecturer on a literary cruise. The supporting characters are well written and likable (or unlikable as required) and the setting is great for a locked room mystery. Unfortunately the book drags in the middle and the reader is about halfway through the novel before the first murder occurs. This build up is very similar to the pacing in the first novel but in the first novel, I found the sleuthing work completed by Dorothy and Belle added to the plot, whereas in this novel, there isn’t any added intrigue or build up. There are a lot of auxiliary characters (ie. Helen Sanchez and the students in Belle’s lecture) that add absolutely nothing to this novel. The ending is good and again, in a similar reveal to the first novel. I do appreciate the pop culture references that are in-line with my age group (ie. Mrs. Garrett in The Facts of Life) but it just went on too long.

The narration is easy to follow. This time the MC takes us on a cruise ship where she'll teach a group of women how to write. Cruise ship and classes!! Sing me up!!

A body is, of course, found, and the mystery begins!!

The Busy Body, the first book in the series, was great as well. I never guessed the murderer.

Recommended!!

Audio Book review - Eva Kaminsky delivers a wonderful lighthearted reading, which must be easier with a great script to indulge one's self in! Loose Lips takes you through the Whodunnit scenarios but with a clever and well thought through twist leading you around a cruise which introduces new levels of careless abandonment. Stylishly brought together and an ending that leaves one smiling!

In this latest mystery adventure, our anonymous author returns. But this time she is not on an isolated island, but aboard a secluded women's only cruise ship. Packed with the same wit and sharp humor that made the first installment so addictive, this story had me hooked from start to finish.
Eva Kaminsky’s narration stands out as she brings to life each character with such nuance and charm, it feels like you’re right there in the middle of the action.
I adored the Agatha Christie inspired setup with a cast of suspects, each with a motive, and a mystery that only our clever protagonist can solve. But this time, she’s not just playing sidekick, she’s at the helm with her unique way of sleuthing.
A fast paced, delightfully entertaining listen that will have you laughing, guessing, and eagerly trying to piece together the puzzle. Highly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries with a modern twist.

*Thank you to Kemper Donovan, RBmedia | Recorded Books and Netgalley for the audiobook copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It’s a great murder mystery, I did get my guess correct of who I thought it was but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that it was really fun and I loved the characters and the way it was written. Still the right amount of gore so it wasn’t just fun but yeah I recommend this !

This was a wonderful murder mystery with a brilliant twist at the end! The characters were interesting and unique, and I loved learning the motivations and agendas that each person had. The ending was unexpected but satisfying, and not something I could've ever seen coming!

Loose Lips was such a fun, clever read. I’m a sucker for a locked-room setup, and the cruise ship setting was chaotic in the best way. The characters were messy, dramatic, and entertaining, and I loved the ghostwriter POV, it kept things feeling fresh. Some parts were a bit slow, but overall it was sharp, funny, and totally kept me guessing. Solid 4 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Kemper Donovan and RBmedia for the audio Arc of Loose Lips
Narrated by Eva Kaminsky

This is my first read by Kemper Donovan and Loose Lips is the 2rd book of the Ghostwriter Mystery Series. Instantly, I knew Id like this book, told from the ghostwriters POV, we know, what they know as it starts to unfold. A great mix of Agatha Christie and Locked room ( although on a cruise ) we get a group of writers and a murderer. The plot has everything, tension, mystery and some great laugh out load moments. the pacing is medium and flows so well that the audiobook was very engaging. I loved the characters, the flaws, the double crossing, the unlikable, made for a great eclectic mix which worked well.

Eva Kaminsky narrated Loose Lips and she has a wonderful voice for this sort of book.

4 stars

Loose Lips is the second novel in the Ghostwriter series, and although I did not read the first novel, it worked well as a stand-alone. This one is a locked room mystery aboard a cruise ship. I do like a good locked room mystery. Brimming with eccentric characters and plot twists to keep the reader (or listener) engaged, there is a lot of time spent setting the scene, but be patient, it will pay off. This novel will be appreciated by those who like classic mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie or Knives Out.

I like the style of these books. This one was different from the first, but I still enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting to make a closed room mystery take place on a cruise ship. It also felt so real reading about adult female friendships. Overall this one was fun, and I would keep reading this series in the future. Also I liked the simplicity of the covers

⭐⭐⭐ A Fun but Flawed Cruise Mystery
"Loose Lips" offered an interesting premise: a locked-room mystery on a cruise ship with a writing workshop twist. I enjoyed the setup and the nod to classic Agatha Christie-style whodunits. The writing was engaging enough to keep me turning pages, and the characters, while a bit stereotypical, were entertaining. However, the plot felt a bit convoluted at times, and some of the red herrings were more distracting than intriguing. The resolution was ultimately satisfying, but it took a while to get there. Overall, a decent read for fans of light mysteries, but not quite a standout. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Loose Lips is the second novel in the Ghostwriter series and this time we find Belle on board a cruise ship when a murderer strikes.

The audio book is narrated by Eva Kaminsky who does a superb job with this gossipy mystery novel. The narrator’s sarcastic and witty asides to the reader work particularly well in the audio version.

It’s a locked room mystery aboard a cruise ship. The trip has been organised by author Payton Garrett and when her one time friend, now sworn enemy, Flora makes an appearance on the ship uninvited, I was certainly getting Death on the Nile vibes.

Like all good mysteries there is an eccentric list of suspects and plenty of red herrings. There is quite a lot of time spent setting the scene, the first murder doesn’t happen until nearly half way through but from there the story really picks up pace.

Our narrator Belle still remains the biggest mystery of all, although we are given a little teaser of her back story at the very end. I’m beginning to realise that Kemper Donovan is not going to give up Belle’s secrets easily!

Loose Lips by Kemper Donovan is a delightful and engaging read. The storytelling and well-crafted characters make it an absolute page-turner. Donovan's ability to capture the intricacies of human relationships and workplace drama shines through, offering readers a clever and entertaining narrative.

The protagonist's journey is both relatable and refreshingly unpredictable, with plenty of twists that keep you guessing. The dialogue is snappy and full of charm, making each interaction feel authentic and memorable. Fans of sharp contemporary fiction with a dash of satire will find themselves hooked from the first chapter.

Overall, Loose Lips is a smart, fast-paced novel that offers a perfect blend of wit and warmth. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a humorous edge. I can't wait to see what Kemper Donovan writes next!

I adore Kemper Donovan's writing style and adding a voice made it even better. I listened to the audiobook and found it very entertaining. The story has the wit and humor that I've come to love and the characters all have their own interesting quirks. Without giving anything away, this is a must read for any Knives Out fan and I loved every minute.

I read a LOT of this style of light mystery, so I’m always impressed when I find one that stands out from the crowd.

I was both surprised by and pleased with how well structured the mystery was in this fun whodunit, as well as with how well the setting was rendered. I love a mystery that takes place on a ship or a train, and this one puts its environment to its best use.

I also really enjoyed the far more reflective role the protagonist takes on in this story. We get a lot of not just who she is but how she is, and the result is a very intriguing wrinkle in the plot in which our sleuth has to come to terms with how her own personal idiosyncrasies and tendencies allowed her to be taken in despite having both the smarts and the determination needed to solve this particular case.

In spite of that unusual-for-the-genre sense of self awareness by the protagonist (and indeed, most of the characters),this is a light read overall, humorous at times, charming, and built around a well plotted and supremely enjoyable mystery. I’m eager to see this series continue.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Enjoyable whodunit mystery with good narration. I enjoyed the first book in the series as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I sometimes find the second novel in the series is a bit of a sleeper, but I had nothing to worry about as Kemper Donovan took me back down the ghostwriter rabbithole in the best way. I really loved the setting and cast of characters. I was hooked from the beginning, and I had tons of laughs along the way. I am so looking forward to the next installment.

I received an ARC of the audiobook and I really enjoyed it! The narrator was great and the story was fast paced! This definitely felt like a Knives Out story mixed with a Murder Mystery Dinner & a Whodunnit on a Cruise Ship! I’d highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you can! I look forward to reading more books by this author, since this was my first, it definitely won’t be the last!

I liked the first book in this series, so I was very excited to get to read this second book. The narration is great, and the ending was so good. I need more to this story and more from this author. I will be sticking around for the next one whenever it comes out.

I hate DNFing books, I really try to trudge through and finish them, but Im afraid I had to with this one. I have to admit that I knew I wouldn't enjoy within the fist few minutes. I took me another 16% to finally relent and admit that this book just wasn't for me.

Loose lips is a mystery novel set on a cruise filled with millennial and older women, and that's who it is marketed towards. The tone, dialogue and writing are full of what I can only describe as millennial cliches, that had me rolling my eyes every couple minutes, my last straw was the Hogwarts houses joke. The Disney adult vibe, was too much for me, and although I'm sure I would have enjoyed it ten years ago, when this style was more popular and mainstream, in 2025 it feels dated, cringey, and a little out of touch. I cant even tell if this is genuine or a satirical criticism of the millenial cliches in storytelling, I didn't read enough to be able to tell, but I do know there are people that enjoy this style, its just not me.

I cant even talk about the plot itself because I didn't make it to any of the murders, at 16%, the story was still being set up, introducing characters and building tension. Focusing less on the story itself and more on the actual narration, I think Eva Kaminsky nails it and perfectly delivers the message the author intended.