Praise for Kemper Donovan:
"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 on The Busy Body
“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 on The Busy Body
“Given Kemper’s knowledge and admiration of Agatha Christie, 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..” —Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW for The Busy Body
“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 on The Busy Body
“Lively, clever storytelling with outsize energy.” —Kirkus Reviews on The Busy Body
“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 on The Busy Body
“Readers will love this witty, fast-moving story that ends with the typical Christie gathering of subjects.” —Booklist on The Busy Body
“Sometimes it’s the setting that grabs you. Often it’s the plot. But here, it is two fabulous characters who come together and through sharp dialogue create a story that both cozy and traditional-mystery readers will love.” —firstCLUE on The Busy Body
“As clever as it is hopeful. Whether talking about the secret menu at In-N-Out or matters as grand as life and death, Kemper Donovan’s voice is original, captivating, and assured. This book is both a moving love letter to Los Angeles and a thoughtful rumination on what people can mean to one another.” —Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six on The Decent Proposal
“Delightful…Peopled by appealing characters and filled with lush descriptions of the diverse L.A. landscape, Donovan’s winning first novel offers up a page-turning tale brimming with heart.”—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW on The Decent Proposal
“A romantic tale with a heart and a brain—and a mystery that will keep you turning the pages.” —W Magazine on The Decent Proposal
“A sharp, wise, and hilarious novel. Think ENTOURAGE meets Tom Wolfe with a touch of INDECENT PROPOSAL. . . We loved it!” —Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza, authors of The Knockoff on The Decent Proposal
“Full of heart and humor, Donovan’s debut is a classic LA love story.” —J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest on The Decent Proposal
“Impossible to put down, this character-rich, breakout novel will make your heart burst with love. You’ll turn the pages so fast you might get a paper cut.” —Claire Bidwell Smith, author of The Rules of Inheritance on The Decent Proposal
“Smart and observant. . . A strong, omniscient narrator anchors Donovan’s deconstructed, opposites-attract love story where emotional stakes deepen as the story unfolds. References to pop culture, classic literature and movies—along with snappy dialogue and well-drawn characterizations, especially in the cast of supporting players—infuse a clever plot filled with surprising twists that will keep readers entertained and in suspense.” —Shelf Awareness on The Decent Proposal
