"A delight from start to finish. If you like Agatha Christie, you’ll love this.” –Alex Michaelides, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient Fans of Veep and readers of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, and Nita Prose will love this intelligent, wildly funny, literary mystery from the host of the "All About Agatha" podcast as a ghostwriter is chosen to collaborate on a presidential candidate’s memoir, only to end up as a prime suspect in a twisted murder investigation… "Kemper Donovan’s voice is original, captivating, and assured." —Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six “I tell other people’s stories for a living. . . . I nip and tuck their excesses, soften their hard edges, polish whatever an armada of editors and publicists deem unsightly till it sparkles.” 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. After her very public defeat, 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 suspicious 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 also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy’s political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working 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 . . . "Kemper Donovan has created a hugely entertaining character, a ghost writer and amateur sleuth, who is wry, gossipy and completely compelling. The investigation into a murder disguised as a suicide is full of twists and turns worthy of a classic mystery novel." —Alex Michaelides, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient "A gripping and highly entertaining mystery, with ingenuity and flair aplenty, and a wonderful detective character that readers will be dying to meet again." —Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author "A thoroughly modern, Agatha-Christie-esque mystery set in a sumptuous corner of moneyed, Maine wilderness. It's a delightfully escapist, page-turner." —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Friends Like These Praise for The Busy Body: A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books Selection A January 2024 Library Reads Pick A February 2024 IndieNext Pick " The Busy Body is a thoroughly modern, Agatha Christie-esque mystery set in a sumptuous corner of moneyed, Maine wilderness. It's a delightfully escapist, page-turner." —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Friends Like These “Kemper Donovan has created a hugely entertaining character, a ghost writer and amateur sleuth, who is wry, gossipy and completely compelling. The investigation into a murder disguised as a suicide is full of twists and turns worthy of a classic mystery novel. The Busy Body is a delight from start to finish. If you like Agatha Christie, you’ll love this.” —Alex Michaelides, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient “Given Kemper’s knowledge and admiration of Agatha Christie—he cohosts the podcast All About Agatha —it isn’t surprising that he displays a similar flair for clever cluing and crafty characterization, not to mention the ability to throw in a killer plot twist at the end that would make Dame Agatha proud. Fans of David Handler’s equally entertaining Stewart Hoag series or those in search of a modern take on classic crime fiction will snap up this stellar mystery debut, which delivers an addictive mix of Dorothy Parker’s waspish wit and Agatha Christie’s deft hand at ingenious plotting.” — Library Journal STARRED REVIEW “A gripping and highly entertaining mystery, with ingenuity and flair aplenty, and a wonderful detective character that readers will be dying to meet again.” —Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author “Lively, clever storytelling with outsize energy.” — Kirkus Reviews “There are overtones of Agatha Christie and Knives Out, both in the unlikeliness of the mystery and the cleverness of its solution. This is, I guess, no surprise as Donovan hosts the podcast ‘All About Agatha.’” — BookPage “Readers will love this witty, fast-moving story that ends with the typi