"Loose Lips" By Kemper Donovan: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

The synopsis for Loose Lips, book two in Kemper Donovan’ “Ghostwriter Mystery series, said this book was perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, Nita Prose, and Agatha Christie, and I’d have to agree. This engaging mystery can be read as a standalone if readers are new to the series.

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Main character and ghost writer/author Belle Currer (pen name) has agreed to be a part of the “Get Lit Cruise.” The cruise is being organized by Payton Garrett, a very popular, bestselling author—and the ghostwriter’s long-time frenemy from back in their MFA days. The guests, all female, will receive personalized instruction from experts in five different writing genres, including Belle herself.

It’s not long into the cruise when an attendee is found dead under suspicious circumstances and several others suffer symptoms of poisoning. This locked room mystery provides many twists and turns, as well as numerous suspects and motives to choose from. There’s also a mixture of humor throughout, which makes for a compelling read.

What I most enjoyed about the mystery, though, were the characters. So many were eccentric and dramatic, adding much flavor to the story. Others were deeply flawed and competitive, but I was entertained by them all. Watching them interact on the limited space of the cruise ship brought them all to life. While I didn’t necessarily think the actions of Belle were the best choices she could make, she and her choices certainly made for good reading.

My only small quibble with the book is who gets to make the big reveal at the end. It’s not who I wanted, but it was still well crafted and made for a satisfying resolution. An entertaining and well-voiced mystery!

To enter to win a copy of Loose Lips, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "loose lips,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 22, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.