Review by Booklist Review
This homage to Agatha Christie is a tale told by a woman ghostwriter. She has just received her dream assignment, working with Dorothy Gibson, a retired U.S. Congress member, on her memoir. Dorothy finished her late husband's term and served several more before running for president as an independent. This split the vote with disastrous results, so she retired to her home in rural Maine. The writer, attracted by both her subject and a hunky bodyguard, goes to Maine to work on the book. While she is there, a neighbor goes missing, and a body is found near the river, soon identified as Vivian Davis, wife of Walter Vogel. The couple were staying at a building called the Crystal Palace not far from Dorothy's house. The mystery, however, is far more complex, and Dorothy and the ghostwriter are determined to solve it. They must sort through a number of suspects including Walter's angry ex-wife and some investors in Walter's "miracle product." Readers will love this witty, fast-moving story that ends with the typical Christie gathering of subjects.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT For the unnamed narrator of Kemper's first novel, being hired to ghostwrite the memoir of former Maine senator (now failed presidential candidate) Dorothy Gibson is the opportunity of a lifetime. The key to crafting a best seller is getting and staying as close as possible to her new subject, which means following Dorothy everywhere she goes, including to a memorial service for a neighbor. However, when the question arises as to whether the neighbor's death really was a suicide, the narrator quickly finds herself playing Captain Hastings to Dorothy's Poirot. 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. VERDICT 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.--John Charles
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A larger-than-life Maine politician drags her ghostwriter into a no-stakes--well, no personal stakes--murder investigation. The narrator, an appropriately unnamed freelancer to the stars, is requested by indomitable politician and personality Dorothy Gibson to collaborate on a memoir now that Dorothy's Independent Party race for the presidency has officially ended in defeat. The ghostwriter prepares for the spin zone that politicians often put up as a front, but Dorothy's shtick is that she's a down-to-earth straight talker keeping a low profile as she licks her wounds in her Sacobago home. From being picked up at the airport by Dorothy's devoted assistant, Leila Mansour, to having a run-in with an overly zealous fan at Betty's Liquor Mart, the ghostwriter experiences Dorothy as downright likable and as genuine as she seems--though she must admit she hopes Dorothy's bodyguard will turn into more than he seems (wink wink). When Dorothy's closest neighbor at the tricked-out Crystal Palace takes the big sleep in her bath, Dorothy can't resist doing some amateur investigation into the suicide--or is it murder? Since Leila refuses to serve as Dorothy's sidekick for the misadventure, the ghostwriter fills the niche, duly compiling material on her nominal subject while learning about the life and death of Vivian Davis. Vivian and her physician husband, Walter Vogel, who seems to be auditioning for the role of mad scientist, are as complicated as Dorothy is straightforward. The ensuing inquiry unearths more questions than answers, creating a satisfying puzzle that only Dorothy can solve. Lively, clever storytelling with outsize energy that just barely misses its mark. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
