Reviews

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

trishcav2022's review

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funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mere_blair's review

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funny mysterious

3.5

shannon_marie's review

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medium-paced

2.5

tinyviolet's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

christyrannosaurus_rex's review

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

byrningup's review

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2.0

I read this, I guess. Tbh, I tuned out a lot of the audiobook. MC was way annoying.

lynguy1's review

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3.0

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan is a somewhat old-fashioned mystery complete with an ending where everyone is gathered in a single room for the big reveal. However, there is a contemporary side to the story as well. An unnamed ghostwriter gets a dream assignment to collaborate on a memoir with former Senator Dorothy Gibson. Gibson ran and lost as an independent for U.S. President and is being blamed for the shocking result. As they collaborate on the memoir, a neighbor dies and Dorothy is determined to solve the case.

The story is told from the ghostwriter’s point of view. As she and Dorothy play sleuth in rural Maine, both ask lots of questions of those involved to the dismay of the local police. The characters are well-defined and there’s a bit of glamour of the rich and famous weaved into the story. Additionally, readers never learn the name of the ghostwriter narrator or her backstory. Maybe, that is being saved for the next book in the series. While I found the story somewhat slow, there are a few surprises along the way that kept me interested.

Overall, this story is a light and entertaining read. This is the first book in the Ghostwriter series.

Kensington Books, A John Scognamiglio Book provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is scheduled for January 23, 2024.

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My 2.89 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.

adillard's review

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funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

annabellelee411's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kristinakg's review

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5