Sweet Spot - (Ghostwriter Mystery) by Kemper Donovan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The USA Today bestselling host of the "All About Agatha" podcast injects the spark and fizz of a Golden Age Murder Mystery into the present day, as a ghostwriter-turned-sleuth must find a devious killer who's transforming her new assignment into a real-life thriller...

Ghostwriters, just like ghosts, shouldn't exist. Knowing that the latest juicy memoir was penned by a stranger for a paycheck tends to ruin the illusion of intimacy. But not every ghostwriter is in it for the money alone.

For Belle Currer--as the ghostwriter extraordinaire prefers to be known--Genevieve Caraway's memoir is an irresistible project, a tale of tragedy overcome. At 14, Genevieve was abducted from her bedroom by a couple and held hostage for three months. She's now a happily married mother with a flourishing career, a poster child for thriving after trauma. Still, the scars haven't entirely faded.

Genevieve's lavish Utah home, "Soft Spot," is a guarded compound impregnable to outsiders-- theoretically, at least. But Belle's arrival coincides with the parole of Deirdre Gregory, one of Genevieve's kidnappers. When Deirdre shows up at Soft Spot begging to see Genevieve, she is refused. The next day, Deirdre's dead body is found on the grounds.

How did Deirdre get in? More importantly, who killed her? Belle soon joins Detective Kay Adams, the pregnant Mormon cop assigned to the case, in sifting through the suspects. The compound is filled with family and friends--and also with secrets, including one the ghostwriter has been carrying for far too long. She knows how guilt, remorse, and love can drive people to do unthinkable things. And that no matter how much you try to keep the world at bay, the best and worst of it may find a way to get in . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Kemper Donovan' Ghostwriter Mysteries:

"Lively, clever storytelling without outsize energy." --Kirkus Reviews on Loose Lips

"Readers will love this witty, fast-moving story that ends with the typical Christie gatherings of subjects." --Booklist on Loose Lips

"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 on Loose Lips

"Don't say I didn't warn you. This book will have you quickly rearranging your life so that you can get to the all-so-worth-it ending ASAP and without any distractions." --firstCLUE on Loose Lips

"The senator knows all about scandal and political posturing; the ghostwriter knows how to ask the right questions. Together they make a sharp, sassy pair, even if one of them does end up as a prime suspect along the way." --People.com on The Busy Body

"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

"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

"You won't be able to put down The Busy Body once you start reading. Kudos to Kemper Donovan for this surprising, and very much-of-the-moment mystery." --Criminal Element

About the Author

Kemper Donovan is an acclaimed author and host of the "All About Agatha" podcast. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, he worked at the literary management company Circle of Confusion for a decade before transitioning to writing full-time. He is a member of the New York Bar Association, PEN America, and Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his husband and daughters in Los Angeles and can be found online at KemperDonovan.com.