What do you think?
Rate this book
Merry Wrath Mysteries #12
Make Believe Murder
From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a former CIA agent turned Girl Scout troop leader and a laugh-out-loud mystery!
Merry Wrath’s summer plans didn’t originally include an unexpected visit from her old friend, Hilly—a quirky CIA assassin who’s been forced by HR to take her first vacation in…forever. The fact that Hilly chose a small town in Iowa for vacation doesn’t bother Merry or her scout troop (especially since Hilly’s teaching them how to kill a man with one punch), but her former handler, Riley, believes something sinister is afoot.
After all Lana, Merry’s arch-nemesis, is sighted all over town, and when a Chinese operative ends up murdered in her backyard, Merry starts to wonder if Riley is right and Hilly is secretly on the job. It doesn’t help that a group of cosplaying teenage druids have targeted Merry for a misguided ritual sacrifice, or that Medea Jones, cub reporter, constantly harasses Merry, seeing the former spy as her Pulitzer Prize winning vehicle out of Who’s There, Iowa.
Merry wonders if her strange friend really is on vacation, or if she's after another target? Is it Lana? Was it the Chinese operative? Or is it Merry Wrath?
Merry Wrath’s summer plans didn’t originally include an unexpected visit from her old friend, Hilly—a quirky CIA assassin who’s been forced by HR to take her first vacation in…forever. The fact that Hilly chose a small town in Iowa for vacation doesn’t bother Merry or her scout troop (especially since Hilly’s teaching them how to kill a man with one punch), but her former handler, Riley, believes something sinister is afoot.
After all Lana, Merry’s arch-nemesis, is sighted all over town, and when a Chinese operative ends up murdered in her backyard, Merry starts to wonder if Riley is right and Hilly is secretly on the job. It doesn’t help that a group of cosplaying teenage druids have targeted Merry for a misguided ritual sacrifice, or that Medea Jones, cub reporter, constantly harasses Merry, seeing the former spy as her Pulitzer Prize winning vehicle out of Who’s There, Iowa.
Merry wonders if her strange friend really is on vacation, or if she's after another target? Is it Lana? Was it the Chinese operative? Or is it Merry Wrath?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2019
269 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Langtry
97 books725 followersLeslie Langtry is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Merry Wrath Mysteries and the Bombay Family of Assassins Greatest Hits series. She lives in the Midwest with her family and is an active Girl Scout volunteer. Her dream is to someday invent calorie free cake.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 28, 2020
The series is such great fun. This installment was a fun ride. I will be getting to the next book sometime soon.
October 17, 2019
What do teenage druids, a stuffed mouse mobile, girl scout troop, bird goddess, Chinese spy and Whovians of Who's There, Iowa have in common? They are all part of former CIA agent Merry Wrath's crazy life. This is another fun, laugh-out-loud story from Leslie Langtry. Merry Wrath Mysteries is my favorite crazy fun series.
October 14, 2025
As always it was a quick giggle filled read. Hilly and Betty are the best!! 😂
February 4, 2020
always a great choice when you want something easy to read with a bit of silly
August 18, 2019
Merry Wrath comes up against an old foe and an old acquaintance in this exciting book involving bodies and Girl Scouts. I have yet to read a Merry Wrath book where I didn’t get a lot of laughs. Her Girl Scout Troop is getting more precocious. The cats are darling and daring. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
December 8, 2022
Leslie Langtry provides another great read. This series never fails to make me laugh and gives a great mystery read. I love these books and always look forward to the next one in the series!
November 4, 2019
Make Believe Murder earns 5/5 Cosplaying Teens...Totally Engaging Fun!
Leslie Langtry has penned another entertaining “spy-not-spy” romp with a writing style filled with vivid description, lively dialogue, and the kind a “snark” that makes this a favorite series. The mystery is incredibly engaging and complex with loads of who’s who and misdirection and an “I didn’t see that coming” end where the bad guys are thwarted. Right off readers are thrown in the deep end with, for Merry, an oddly familiar predicament of being trapped, secured to a chair, a hood over her head, but it turns just annoying to discover it’s not her past but some teens engaged in cosplay. Even odder is the surprise arrival of an assassin-not-an-assassin and vacation-challenged former colleague who just wants to hang out. Merry is reminded by her former handler, now private detective, that her friend is always on the job and doesn’t do vacations turning the situation from odd to suspicious. A possible motive for her friend’s interest in “hanging out” is revealed when credible evidence is found to validate Merry’s feelings that her nemesis Svetlana “Lana” Babikova is really in town...then, of course, the dead body in the backyard and another for good measure confirms all is not what it seems.
Take that! In a first-person narrative, I was totally engaged in how Merry’s past exploits with the CIA are deftly intertwined to punctuate her skill, illustrate motivations, and explain how trouble just can’t leave her alone. Adding a delightful, quirky twist is her legendary Girl Scout back-up who revel in the suspense, hone their own skills, and often suggest outlandish ideas. Ok, I don’t see parents really allowing their daughters to be trained as super spies at such a young age, even if Merry tries to limit the sharing of her assassin friend’s how-tos, but it is the most fun..so, suspend your disbelief and enjoy! Other intriguing stories include Merry and her husband Rex, who’s tried to keep Merry from getting involved with very limited success, her friend county examiner Soo Jin and her new boyfriend State Trooper Ruiz, along with teen druids, a missing special corn crop, a nosy journalist, and a vulture and two cats! Wow! What a marvelous book!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Leslie Langtry has penned another entertaining “spy-not-spy” romp with a writing style filled with vivid description, lively dialogue, and the kind a “snark” that makes this a favorite series. The mystery is incredibly engaging and complex with loads of who’s who and misdirection and an “I didn’t see that coming” end where the bad guys are thwarted. Right off readers are thrown in the deep end with, for Merry, an oddly familiar predicament of being trapped, secured to a chair, a hood over her head, but it turns just annoying to discover it’s not her past but some teens engaged in cosplay. Even odder is the surprise arrival of an assassin-not-an-assassin and vacation-challenged former colleague who just wants to hang out. Merry is reminded by her former handler, now private detective, that her friend is always on the job and doesn’t do vacations turning the situation from odd to suspicious. A possible motive for her friend’s interest in “hanging out” is revealed when credible evidence is found to validate Merry’s feelings that her nemesis Svetlana “Lana” Babikova is really in town...then, of course, the dead body in the backyard and another for good measure confirms all is not what it seems.
Take that! In a first-person narrative, I was totally engaged in how Merry’s past exploits with the CIA are deftly intertwined to punctuate her skill, illustrate motivations, and explain how trouble just can’t leave her alone. Adding a delightful, quirky twist is her legendary Girl Scout back-up who revel in the suspense, hone their own skills, and often suggest outlandish ideas. Ok, I don’t see parents really allowing their daughters to be trained as super spies at such a young age, even if Merry tries to limit the sharing of her assassin friend’s how-tos, but it is the most fun..so, suspend your disbelief and enjoy! Other intriguing stories include Merry and her husband Rex, who’s tried to keep Merry from getting involved with very limited success, her friend county examiner Soo Jin and her new boyfriend State Trooper Ruiz, along with teen druids, a missing special corn crop, a nosy journalist, and a vulture and two cats! Wow! What a marvelous book!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
October 7, 2020
More fun with Merry as she entertains an assassin friend Hilly from the CIA (not that the CIA does that) on vacation. Or is Hilly really here to kill someone. Is that someone Merry? Or is it the body of yet another dead spy in Merry's yard. Or is Lana the killer. Or is Lana the target? Or is Hilly really just taking a break. And who stole an entire field of experimental corn? Hilly was delightfully odd - kinda like Merry is odd so that was fun. Naturally the girls are as thrilled with a visiting assassin and what she can teach them as Kelly is horrified. There was not enough of the troop in this one but Merry also manages to become bird goddess to a crazy teen druid cult that kidnaps her.
January 27, 2022
Wonderful entertaining mystery listening 🔰😅
Another will written romantic thriller mystery adventure novel book twelve in the Merry Wrath Mystery Series by Leslie Langtry. A friend from Merry's past shows up on vacation or is it? Then a body is found in the backyard of Merry's house. Is it murder? And the mystery is on for Merry, Rex, and the rest of her friends to a successful conclusion. I would recommend this novel and series to readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or 🎶 listening to 👍novels 🔰🏡🐈🐕😇 2022
Another will written romantic thriller mystery adventure novel book twelve in the Merry Wrath Mystery Series by Leslie Langtry. A friend from Merry's past shows up on vacation or is it? Then a body is found in the backyard of Merry's house. Is it murder? And the mystery is on for Merry, Rex, and the rest of her friends to a successful conclusion. I would recommend this novel and series to readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or 🎶 listening to 👍novels 🔰🏡🐈🐕😇 2022
January 31, 2022
The CIA Has No Assassins
Another dead body shows up in Merry’s backyard. Then on of the CIA assassins that don’t exist shows up says she’s on vacation. Kidnappings and teenage druids are just some of the characters. Great series.
Another dead body shows up in Merry’s backyard. Then on of the CIA assassins that don’t exist shows up says she’s on vacation. Kidnappings and teenage druids are just some of the characters. Great series.
September 19, 2024
Assassin but not an Assassin
Merry found a former co worker and decided to show her around on her 1st vacation ever. When there was a body once again found at her house across the street she wondered if her friend did it. Following the clues pieces start to fall in place
Merry found a former co worker and decided to show her around on her 1st vacation ever. When there was a body once again found at her house across the street she wondered if her friend did it. Following the clues pieces start to fall in place
October 26, 2024
Liked all the characters, especially the Girl Scouts! If I ever get into abad
fix I’d want them to have my back. This mystery will keep you on your toes to
figure out who done it. A great clean, funny mystery. Get it now.
Debra H.
fix I’d want them to have my back. This mystery will keep you on your toes to
figure out who done it. A great clean, funny mystery. Get it now.
Debra H.
March 3, 2020
Absolutely NUTSO! 😵 Not at all sure how much more crazy this book could have gotten.
September 3, 2020
I love this series.
December 12, 2020
Not my favorite of the series but still enjoyable. My favorites are the ones where the girls are front and center.
September 25, 2022
Great read I laughed myself silly
Great read it kept entertained till the end.Love the girl scouts,can't wait for the next book enjoying the series immensely
Great read it kept entertained till the end.Love the girl scouts,can't wait for the next book enjoying the series immensely
December 30, 2022
Fun! I hope there will be more from Hilly future books.
September 23, 2023
Loving these books.
January 22, 2024
Entertain
Easy read, entertaining.,funny. Always a quick pick up light reading. I enjoy this author very much and especially the girls in the troop.
Easy read, entertaining.,funny. Always a quick pick up light reading. I enjoy this author very much and especially the girls in the troop.
June 27, 2024
Very entertaining. Love the girl scout troop, & all the quirky characters. Very similar writing to Jan's DeLeon, who I also enjoy reading.
October 26, 2024
Murder Hits It’s Mark
This book was Great! The characters were awesome. I love this book, because of its twist and turns. It really keeps you wondering who dun the deed.
Debra H.
This book was Great! The characters were awesome. I love this book, because of its twist and turns. It really keeps you wondering who dun the deed.
Debra H.
November 22, 2025
So good!
Best one yet! I loved the mystery of who done it. It kept me guessing the killer until the very end!
Best one yet! I loved the mystery of who done it. It kept me guessing the killer until the very end!
August 10, 2024
I do love this series. I'm playing catch up on getting to all of them. Can't wait until I get the next one. I just never know what's going to happen.
January 17, 2026
I really enjoyed the chaos and fun the Hilly character added. I found the Lana resolution a disappointment. It seemed written as an afterthought rather than the fully flushed out story line it deserved. As always, the Girl Scout Troop adds the humor and drama.
October 22, 2019
Merry Wrath seems to be a magnet for dead bodies! In Make Believe Murder, a dead body turns up in Merry’s back yard, right at the time an old friend and colleague from the CIA pays a surprise visit. But who is the victim and who murdered her? Was it Lana, the Russian agent who is still on the run and stalking Merry, or is it Hilly, the old friend and colleague who is a known assassin for the CIA (although the CIA does not have assassins…) and claims to be on vacation? Merry is also the victim of several kidnappings, mostly harmless by some local teenagers just having fun, but also by a very dangerous person out for revenge. Add in her very clever Girl Scout troop, who seems to be getting even smarter (and dangerous) in each book, along with a few pretty clever twists throughout, a vulture who is always a good listener, and a cat (who looks like Hitler) that always seems to know the inside scoop, and you have a sequel that is very hard to put down. Leslie Langtry is so witty in her writing, and she always has me laughing throughout her books. I always have a favorite quote from each book (although it has hard to pinpoint just one because there are so many clever lines). The one I chose for Make Believe Murder, “I slept for ten hours. Which was unusual for me. Normally after a kidnapping and torture, I merely needed a nap. Maybe I was just getting old.”
December 27, 2019
One word - AWESOME!
Another great book. The twists and turns in this one will have you laughing & glued to the book. The characters and action packed story will leave you wanting more. Looking forward to the next one.
Another great book. The twists and turns in this one will have you laughing & glued to the book. The characters and action packed story will leave you wanting more. Looking forward to the next one.
October 3, 2019
This is an excellent installment in the Merry Wrath mystery series. This may be #12, but the fun has not diminished at all. The crazy antics continue when a dead body is found in Merry's backyard. Plenty of suspects are running around Who's There Iowa including a former CIA colleague who claims to be on vacation, a teenage reporter after a story about Merry Wrath, and more Lana sightings. Old favorites are back in action, the girl scout troop never fails to entertain. Rex, Riley, and Soo Jin have their theories and each contributes to the story. Make Believe Murder would work great as a stand alone, but for those of us addicted to all things Merry Wrath this is a must read. It is hugely entertaining, laugh out loud funny, and will keep you guessing until the end.
I was provided with an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
I was provided with an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
September 2, 2019
Another funny and wonderful episode in the life of former CIA agent Merry Wrath. It has everything we have come to know and love about Merry and her eclectic followers. The Hitler look-alike cat, the Girl Scout troop, former CIA partner Riley, best friend Kelly, other best friend Hilly... Wait! What? What is CIA assassin (not that the CIA has assassins) Hilly doing in town? And who is the body in Merry's back yard?
Told in her hysterically funny style, Ms Langtry has woven kidnappings, assassins, and CIA agents into Who's There, Iowa and Merry;s life. The story is full of surprises and laughs. I could not stop reading...and I didn't want it to end. This is a series that gets better and better! I absolutely love the Merry Wrath series!!!
Told in her hysterically funny style, Ms Langtry has woven kidnappings, assassins, and CIA agents into Who's There, Iowa and Merry;s life. The story is full of surprises and laughs. I could not stop reading...and I didn't want it to end. This is a series that gets better and better! I absolutely love the Merry Wrath series!!!
October 21, 2019
Love this series. What do you do when a CIA Assassin shows up in your town and calls you her best friend? In Merry's case, she lets her stay at her house while she's on her first ever vacation. BUT, is she really on vacation? When bodies start popping up and Merry keeps getting kidnapped, she begins to think that Hilly is not on vacation, but rather on an assignment. Merry has her hands full escaping her kidnappings, keeping Hilly from teaching the girls in her troop assassin tips and locating her nemesis who is out to get her. Another fun read in the series.
October 14, 2019
An old colleague of Merry's is in town on vacation. Hilly is a quirky assassin, and while Merry is convinced she's really on vacation, others are not so sure. Especially when a dead body ends up in Merry's backyard. Merry, naturally, tries to figure out how this happened.
Love a new Merry story! This one made me laugh a lot - especially the CIA rules regarding assassins, and the girls' antics - and was such fun to read.
Love a new Merry story! This one made me laugh a lot - especially the CIA rules regarding assassins, and the girls' antics - and was such fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews