THE BUSY BODY

Narrator Eva Kaminsky sets just the right snarky tone for the protagonist of this mystery, a misanthropic ghostwriter who has been hired to help a failed presidential candidate write her memoir. But when murder intervenes, the unnamed ghostwriter and Dorothy Gibson, the candidate, decide to become amateur sleuths. Much to our ghostwriter's surprise, the two not only solve the case but also become friends. Kemper Donovan, who hosts an Agatha Christie podcast, uses some of that writer's best known conventions, such as assembling the suspects in a drawing room to unveil the murderer. While some of the plot twists are a little far-fetched, the rapport between the main characters is engaging, and the protagonist is a wonderful guide for this debut series. Listeners will enjoy her pithy observations, trenchantly delivered by Kaminsky. L.W.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]