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Busybodies Collection #5
One Lucky Subscriber
When a viral stunt goes off the rails, it’s chaos at the mall. Award-winning author Kellye Garrett explores how IRL the internet can get when someone almost dies in this taut and timely short story.
With sole custody of her brother, Kennedy has more to worry about than the antics of his favorite YouTube creators. But when one called Kidd launches an absurd challenge—with a large payday—to celebrate ten million subscribers, she winds up playing high-stakes hide-and-seek in the mall. After the game gets dangerous, she has to wonder: Is someone really out for the ultimate unsubscribe?
Kellye Garrett’s One Lucky Subscriber is part of Busybodies, a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Calling all snoops! Read or listen to each arresting story in a single sitting.
With sole custody of her brother, Kennedy has more to worry about than the antics of his favorite YouTube creators. But when one called Kidd launches an absurd challenge—with a large payday—to celebrate ten million subscribers, she winds up playing high-stakes hide-and-seek in the mall. After the game gets dangerous, she has to wonder: Is someone really out for the ultimate unsubscribe?
Kellye Garrett’s One Lucky Subscriber is part of Busybodies, a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Calling all snoops! Read or listen to each arresting story in a single sitting.
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2024
432 people are currently reading
1119 people want to read
About the author
Kellye Garrett
8 books1,307 followersKellye Garrett’s crime fiction novels have been featured on the Today Show, won numerous awards, and named to Time Magazine’s 100 Best Mystery & Thrillers of All Time. After breaking into publishing with the Detective by Day lightweight mystery series, she transitioned into standalone suspense. The latest is Missing White Woman, a twisty thriller and "compulsive page-turner" (Harlan Coben) about a woman who thinks she’s waking up to a romantic vacation—only to find a body in her rental home and her boyfriend gone. It was an Apple Books Staff Pick, Amazon Editors’ Pick, Reader's Digest June 2024 Book Club selection and the CBS New York Club Calvi Spring Book Club pick.In addition, Kellye is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color, which received the 2023 Raven Award from MWA. You can learn more at https://kellyegarrett.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
October 23, 2024
Well, this was an exciting ride! Imagine a social media influencer setting up a wild challenge in a mall—sounds intriguing, right? The concept is super unique. Honestly, this could’ve been stretched into a full-length novel (I would've loved that), but as a short story, it totally works! It packs enough punch to keep you hooked.
November 20, 2024
the setup…
Kennedy has sole custody of her little brother DJ so her time is valuable. But when Kidd, his favorite YouTube creator, comes up with a crazy challenge to celebrate reaching 10 million subscribers, she gives in and participates because the payoff is insane…and so is the challenge.
the heart of the story…
I’m not sure. Frankly, I was lost most of the time until the end. Kennedy teams with another player, all identified with a number on their yellow outfits, ten of them in all. I never quite grasped how to win the challenge. But, someone was trying to sabotage the game.
the narration…
I liked Jordan Cobb who seemed to be perfect in the role of Kennedy, clearly capturing the cynicism of the character. She was a great storyteller.
the bottom line…
I’m not the audience for this one. I don’t follow anybody on YouTube and don’t understand that world or the common vernacular. If you do, I think you’d find this interesting because there is a message here.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
Kennedy has sole custody of her little brother DJ so her time is valuable. But when Kidd, his favorite YouTube creator, comes up with a crazy challenge to celebrate reaching 10 million subscribers, she gives in and participates because the payoff is insane…and so is the challenge.
the heart of the story…
I’m not sure. Frankly, I was lost most of the time until the end. Kennedy teams with another player, all identified with a number on their yellow outfits, ten of them in all. I never quite grasped how to win the challenge. But, someone was trying to sabotage the game.
the narration…
I liked Jordan Cobb who seemed to be perfect in the role of Kennedy, clearly capturing the cynicism of the character. She was a great storyteller.
the bottom line…
I’m not the audience for this one. I don’t follow anybody on YouTube and don’t understand that world or the common vernacular. If you do, I think you’d find this interesting because there is a message here.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
November 22, 2024
3.5★
“ ’What video you from, 4?’
It took me a second to realize the guy was talking to me, but only because he was competing with my internal monologue of questioning why I was standing smack-dab in the middle of the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford at eleven o’clock. It had three million square feet, one-hundred-plus stores, five floors, two mini-golf courses, one indoor theme park, and way too much white.
Then I remembered: $50,000.”
Yeah, she remembered all right. $50,000 prize money for anyone who can complete whatever the task is for the day. Video star Kidd runs and broadcasts events live to his rapt followers. There is money given away or won, and the contestants in this one have all appeared in the previous videos, except for her. How did she get here?
“Kidd was continuing with his spiel. ‘I’m extremely excited about today’s challenge. There’s nothing I love more than my subscribers.’ He paused, then: All ten million of you. That’s right. We just hit ten million subscribers on my channel! To celebrate, I wanted to do something special. Highlight how we all became one big, happy ten-million-strong family. If you’re one of the twenty-five million who viewed our most popular video, then you know where we are. Back at the American Dream Mall. And I also brought back these babies that you all loved so much in the comments.’”
He means the gold briefcases full of money. The contestants are wearing bright shirts with numbers on them, which is why the young woman narrating the story was addressed as “4”. But what’s ahead?
Hide-and-seek for 24 hours in the mall is the challenge. Anyone who is not found gets to keep the golden briefcase they’ve been carrying (and hiding) which has $50,000 in it.
During the hunt, someone is accused of attempted murder – not something Kidd had a contingency plan for.
I imagine there actually are influencers running strange competitions, so this didn’t seem too far-fetched. It was a quick, light read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a review copy of the #BusybodiesCollection.
I’ve read and reviewed the others here:
My review of Staged by Elle Cosimano
My review of The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My review of Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum
My review of The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose
My review of A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson
“ ’What video you from, 4?’
It took me a second to realize the guy was talking to me, but only because he was competing with my internal monologue of questioning why I was standing smack-dab in the middle of the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford at eleven o’clock. It had three million square feet, one-hundred-plus stores, five floors, two mini-golf courses, one indoor theme park, and way too much white.
Then I remembered: $50,000.”
Yeah, she remembered all right. $50,000 prize money for anyone who can complete whatever the task is for the day. Video star Kidd runs and broadcasts events live to his rapt followers. There is money given away or won, and the contestants in this one have all appeared in the previous videos, except for her. How did she get here?
“Kidd was continuing with his spiel. ‘I’m extremely excited about today’s challenge. There’s nothing I love more than my subscribers.’ He paused, then: All ten million of you. That’s right. We just hit ten million subscribers on my channel! To celebrate, I wanted to do something special. Highlight how we all became one big, happy ten-million-strong family. If you’re one of the twenty-five million who viewed our most popular video, then you know where we are. Back at the American Dream Mall. And I also brought back these babies that you all loved so much in the comments.’”
He means the gold briefcases full of money. The contestants are wearing bright shirts with numbers on them, which is why the young woman narrating the story was addressed as “4”. But what’s ahead?
Hide-and-seek for 24 hours in the mall is the challenge. Anyone who is not found gets to keep the golden briefcase they’ve been carrying (and hiding) which has $50,000 in it.
During the hunt, someone is accused of attempted murder – not something Kidd had a contingency plan for.
I imagine there actually are influencers running strange competitions, so this didn’t seem too far-fetched. It was a quick, light read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a review copy of the #BusybodiesCollection.
I’ve read and reviewed the others here:
My review of Staged by Elle Cosimano
My review of The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My review of Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum
My review of The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose
My review of A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson
November 3, 2024
I can honestly say I hadn’t a clue what was going on in this. Call me confused.com or maybe I’m just too old. Don’t answer that 🤣
December 29, 2024
Best for a younger reader!
Kennedy participates in a YouTuber’s challenge in order to win a large sum of money. Kidd is celebrating achieving 10,000,000 subscribers with a high stakes hide-and-go-seek game in a mall. Kennedy is hoping to win the money to help support her brother who is a huge fan of Kidd. But then the game gets dangerous! Who is out for the ultimate unsubscribe?
I think I am of the wrong age group to fully appreciate this short story. While I recognize that this is a decent plot, I’m not sure that I 100% understood everything that happened.
Jordan Cobb’s audiobook narration is questionable. It was way too slow at 1.0 so I sped it up to 1.6. But then it sounded like a robot! This was the only audible narration in the entire series that I didn’t really enjoy.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Kennedy participates in a YouTuber’s challenge in order to win a large sum of money. Kidd is celebrating achieving 10,000,000 subscribers with a high stakes hide-and-go-seek game in a mall. Kennedy is hoping to win the money to help support her brother who is a huge fan of Kidd. But then the game gets dangerous! Who is out for the ultimate unsubscribe?
I think I am of the wrong age group to fully appreciate this short story. While I recognize that this is a decent plot, I’m not sure that I 100% understood everything that happened.
Jordan Cobb’s audiobook narration is questionable. It was way too slow at 1.0 so I sped it up to 1.6. But then it sounded like a robot! This was the only audible narration in the entire series that I didn’t really enjoy.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
November 3, 2024
Acclaimed author of “Missing White Woman” and a “new to me” author, this was my least favorite of the Busybodies collection. (six stories)
Busybodies, is described as a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases, but this seemed more like HUNGER GAMES than a quirky mystery.
You can read or listen to each cozy story in a single sitting. AVAILABLE NOW for free on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited.
Which will be your favorite?
Busybodies, is described as a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases, but this seemed more like HUNGER GAMES than a quirky mystery.
You can read or listen to each cozy story in a single sitting. AVAILABLE NOW for free on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited.
Which will be your favorite?
October 16, 2024
So, I am old. I have to this day never watched Squid Game. That said, I get the whole let's watch people debase themselves for money angle that Garrett takes on here. It just didn't work for me because the mystery as it was, felt low stakes to me and I honestly didn't agree with what the main character does in the end. It just felt very flat. I will say Garrett did a great job with the "cozy mystery" elements even if there wasn't a murder.
"One Lucky Subscriber" follows Kennedy who is one of several people competing to win a $50,000 prize on a popular Youtube subscribers game of hide and seek. The location is the American Dream Mall that is located in New Jersey. The people competing can hide anywhere in the mall. If they somehow avoid being found, they win the money.
That's the plot, the flow is pretty slow. We get Kennedy hanging out with another contestant and I was getting romance vibes a bit, but that seemed to not be the case. I just didn't really engage with this one that much because we didn't get much time to even settle in with Kennedy as a character outside of hearing about doing things for her younger brother.
"One Lucky Subscriber" follows Kennedy who is one of several people competing to win a $50,000 prize on a popular Youtube subscribers game of hide and seek. The location is the American Dream Mall that is located in New Jersey. The people competing can hide anywhere in the mall. If they somehow avoid being found, they win the money.
That's the plot, the flow is pretty slow. We get Kennedy hanging out with another contestant and I was getting romance vibes a bit, but that seemed to not be the case. I just didn't really engage with this one that much because we didn't get much time to even settle in with Kennedy as a character outside of hearing about doing things for her younger brother.
November 1, 2024
I genuinely can’t believe Amazon published Mr Beast fanfiction. I can’t believe Amazon published this in general. Like what the absolute fuck is this.
The only good thing I can really say is that it was under 40 and didn’t have suffer more then like 20 minutes
The only good thing I can really say is that it was under 40 and didn’t have suffer more then like 20 minutes
November 5, 2024
This story, fifth in the Busybodies Collection, is a confusing mess!
My least favourite so far (obviously).
My least favourite so far (obviously).
December 14, 2024
This one didn’t hit like the other stories in the series did 🤷🏽♀️ first half was boring, second half was decent until it was disappointing💀
August 20, 2025
Ehhh todo este libro fue igual de absurdo que el challenge de Kidd.
January 7, 2025
So the story is about influencers and challenges.. great concept just poorly executed. Did not enjoy the ending but well put together story…. Just lack luster on the content in the story.. 2.5 ⭐️
October 16, 2024
One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett is short story number five of six in the Busybodies Collection where "There’s A Mystery Around Every Corner!"
This was a fun little mystery centering around a social media broadcasted game of hide and seek in a mall after hours. Garrett's writing had a sinister edge, feeling atmospheric and slightly claustrophobic. Main character Kennedy remained true to her greater goal, making each and every decision to benefit her younger brother. The ending felt a bit anti-climactic, but I enjoyed the flip-flop a couple of the contestants made during the story!
Jordan Cobb did a really great job narrating, continuously manipulating her voice to depict the qualities of the various characters!
This series features 40-ish page/hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
This was a fun little mystery centering around a social media broadcasted game of hide and seek in a mall after hours. Garrett's writing had a sinister edge, feeling atmospheric and slightly claustrophobic. Main character Kennedy remained true to her greater goal, making each and every decision to benefit her younger brother. The ending felt a bit anti-climactic, but I enjoyed the flip-flop a couple of the contestants made during the story!
Jordan Cobb did a really great job narrating, continuously manipulating her voice to depict the qualities of the various characters!
This series features 40-ish page/hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
October 22, 2024
Busybodies Collection
Source: Audible via KindleUnlimited
Dates Read: 10/18/24 - 10/22/24
Average Stars: 3 Stars
Staged - Elle Cosimano - 2.5 Stars - Lyda, Dani - This may have suffered from being too quick. There’s only so much you can do in 43 pages so the mystery was figured out very quickly.
The Reunion Dinner - Jesse Q. Sutanto - 4.5 Stars - Josephine Ying and Family - Now THIS is how you do a short mystery. I was hollering in the car at the twists. And my jaw dropped at the conclusion. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Crime of Fashion - Emma Rosenblum - 2 Stars - ??? - Way too many characters and they were boring. I will admit the fashion world is not my thing so it is difficult to get my interest.
The Nosy Neighbor - Nita Prose - 3 Stars < /i> - Marge, Doris - This one had me messed up. Imagine living across from a psychopath ".
One Lucky Subscriber - Kellye Garrett - 3 Stars - Kennedy, other players, “Kid” - Another meh story for me. The premise was interesting but the characters feel flat. I did like the twist though.
A Classic Case - Alicia Tompson - 3.5 Stars - Audrey, Grant, Mr Hoffman - This one leaned a lot more romance than thriller to me, even with the “missing” Character. The characters were cute and it was nice to learn a little something about them.
Source: Audible via KindleUnlimited
Dates Read: 10/18/24 - 10/22/24
Average Stars: 3 Stars
Staged - Elle Cosimano - 2.5 Stars - Lyda, Dani - This may have suffered from being too quick. There’s only so much you can do in 43 pages so the mystery was figured out very quickly.
The Reunion Dinner - Jesse Q. Sutanto - 4.5 Stars - Josephine Ying and Family - Now THIS is how you do a short mystery. I was hollering in the car at the twists. And my jaw dropped at the conclusion. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Crime of Fashion - Emma Rosenblum - 2 Stars - ??? - Way too many characters and they were boring. I will admit the fashion world is not my thing so it is difficult to get my interest.
The Nosy Neighbor - Nita Prose - 3 Stars < /i> - Marge, Doris - This one had me messed up. Imagine living across from a psychopath ".
One Lucky Subscriber - Kellye Garrett - 3 Stars - Kennedy, other players, “Kid” - Another meh story for me. The premise was interesting but the characters feel flat. I did like the twist though.
A Classic Case - Alicia Tompson - 3.5 Stars - Audrey, Grant, Mr Hoffman - This one leaned a lot more romance than thriller to me, even with the “missing” Character. The characters were cute and it was nice to learn a little something about them.
May 20, 2025
2.5⭐️
Honestly I didn't even understand what was happening here
Honestly I didn't even understand what was happening here
October 17, 2024
Why is this short story rated so low when it's been the best I've read from the collection thus far? It has a mystery set in it and it's thrilling (the other two I've read felt more light mystery with not much thrill).
Rhetorical question.
4/5
Rhetorical question.
4/5
December 22, 2024
2.8 stars (Kindle). Maybe I'm just not a short-story person because this one has left me wanting to know more about Kennedy + her situation.
EDITED 12-22-24
Thought this would be better on Audible, but actually felt more like a 2.5 stars in that format.
EDITED 12-22-24
Thought this would be better on Audible, but actually felt more like a 2.5 stars in that format.
November 24, 2024
Kennedy is responsible for her younger brother DJ. They live in a 1 bedroom apt, so when DJ's favorite You Tuber has a contest to win 50,000, Kennedy decides to try and win that money. Kidd (the You Tuber) is a bit of an asshole and has a history of sabotaging his contests for increased views.
Something happens and Kidd thinks someone tried to kill him (by pushing him into something). He films it while accusing just about everyone still in the game. Meanwhile, someone is stealing the prize money.
Anyway, this was nicely paced and Kennedy figured out the thief and they were caught.
Something happens and Kidd thinks someone tried to kill him (by pushing him into something). He films it while accusing just about everyone still in the game. Meanwhile, someone is stealing the prize money.
Anyway, this was nicely paced and Kennedy figured out the thief and they were caught.
January 23, 2025
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book five of six.
She is at a game of hid and seek in a mall. It is all going well until the game host gets hurt. But the money 💰 is missing! Why,by whom?
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2025 👒😤
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book five of six.
She is at a game of hid and seek in a mall. It is all going well until the game host gets hurt. But the money 💰 is missing! Why,by whom?
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2025 👒😤
November 29, 2024
It's my least favourite in this series! I disliked the characters, and the concept of hide and seek for likes just didn't entertain me. Plus, I thought the crime was weak.
BUT the writing was good, and I'd read longer, more of her longer books.
BUT the writing was good, and I'd read longer, more of her longer books.
October 9, 2024
Entertaining short story YA and adults too. If you are familiar with you tube channels, influencers and reality TV.
As a contestant on an youtubers channel playing hide and seek. A mystery unfolds of whodunnit when the creator is found injured. Cute story. I will be sure to read the other books in the series.
As a contestant on an youtubers channel playing hide and seek. A mystery unfolds of whodunnit when the creator is found injured. Cute story. I will be sure to read the other books in the series.
October 23, 2024
Ehhh not for me. I can not even remember what it was about and it was finished less than 3 hours ago. The one thing that I did like was that it was set at a mall. That is it.
October 27, 2024
this was fun & a good listen!!
December 6, 2024
I didn’t even know what was going on half the time.
December 17, 2024
Honestly zero stars
January 27, 2025
Not the worst in this series but not great. It’s basically a Mr. Beast video but the ending just falls flat. Pretty slow read despite it only taking an hour since not a lot happened.
October 23, 2024
This was a fun little mystery. Kind of was on edge the whole time.
August 7, 2025
es war besser als die anderen, aber ich hass mrbeast videos mit einer großen passion
November 2, 2024
Mr. Beast FanFiction at its worst... Mystery at its... no, it's pretty bad there, too.
Poor execution of a mildly interesting premise. Grammar was all over the place. Perspective and #relatablity were non-existent. Insufferable characters and difficult to follow plot, with the conclusion you can smell from a mile away.
Arguably, this whole collection is the worst Amazon has put out. All of these are riddled with grammar errors, are incredidly choppy reads, and suffer from a blah sameness.
Poor execution of a mildly interesting premise. Grammar was all over the place. Perspective and #relatablity were non-existent. Insufferable characters and difficult to follow plot, with the conclusion you can smell from a mile away.
Arguably, this whole collection is the worst Amazon has put out. All of these are riddled with grammar errors, are incredidly choppy reads, and suffer from a blah sameness.
March 21, 2025
One Lucky Subscriber was an enjoyable read with an interesting premise.
Kennedy doesn't really understand her younger brother's fascination with his favorite YouTube creator Kidd but when she finds herself invited to join his latest challenge, she can't say no after she sees the grand prize. To celebrate ten million subscribers, ten contestants will play high-stakes hide-and-seek in the mall with the winner walking away with $50,000. But when the game takes a dangerous turn, she has to wonder how far are these people willing to go to win.
One Lucky Subscriber was the first book I've read by Kellye Garrett and it was the one in the Busybodies Collection where the premise immediately caught my eye. Not so much the whole YouTube influencer aspect but the high-stakes game of hide-and-seek in the mall sounded like so much fun. Kennedy is the only participant who has not been in one of Kidd's previous videos/challenges so she's at a bit of a disadvantage. Soon after the game starts, someone is hurt and believes a player is responsible. It was interesting seeing how things played out and who ended up being behind what happened. The ending went in a direction I wasn't expecting and although I didn't love how it played out, it was an interesting choice.
Overall One Lucky Subscriber was a fun read and I would recommend it along with Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto's stories in the collection.
Kennedy doesn't really understand her younger brother's fascination with his favorite YouTube creator Kidd but when she finds herself invited to join his latest challenge, she can't say no after she sees the grand prize. To celebrate ten million subscribers, ten contestants will play high-stakes hide-and-seek in the mall with the winner walking away with $50,000. But when the game takes a dangerous turn, she has to wonder how far are these people willing to go to win.
One Lucky Subscriber was the first book I've read by Kellye Garrett and it was the one in the Busybodies Collection where the premise immediately caught my eye. Not so much the whole YouTube influencer aspect but the high-stakes game of hide-and-seek in the mall sounded like so much fun. Kennedy is the only participant who has not been in one of Kidd's previous videos/challenges so she's at a bit of a disadvantage. Soon after the game starts, someone is hurt and believes a player is responsible. It was interesting seeing how things played out and who ended up being behind what happened. The ending went in a direction I wasn't expecting and although I didn't love how it played out, it was an interesting choice.
Overall One Lucky Subscriber was a fun read and I would recommend it along with Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto's stories in the collection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews