# Merit Badge Murder

By Leslie Langtry · Merry Wrath Mysteries, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/merit-badge-murder-b2ee876d/

Merry Wrath leaves the CIA for Iowa and a Girl Scout troop. Then an enemy agent turns up dead at camp, her old handler reappears, and the detective investigating her happens to be her new neighbor.

## What makes it funny?

Merry covers a corpse with a games parachute and steers the girls toward another activity. Her troop-leader tips arrive alongside the observation that the Girl Scouts demand more paperwork than the CIA.

### The comedy at work

Merry applies an operative’s habits to suburban responsibilities. Managing secrets comes naturally; remembering the girls’ names and sorting out her home prove less straightforward.

### Try this if…

Spy trouble, a suburban murder puzzle and romantic complications share the page. Readers who enjoy a capable investigator making a mess of ordinary life have plenty to follow.

### Good to know

The scouting setting comes with adult material: the opening includes strong profanity, a corpse at camp and sexual and religious jokes.

## What to expect

- Genre: Mystery
- On the shelf: Amateur sleuth · Cozy mystery
- Kind of humor: Dark comedy · Situational comedy
- Format: Novel
- Length: 285 pages (ebook)
- Published: 2014

## A few distinguishing details

- A former CIA operative leads a Girl Scout troop
- Troop-leader tips interrupt a murder case

## Sources & further reading

- Book information: [Merit Badge Murder by Leslie Langtry on Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/fr/book/merit-badge-murder/id926235788)
- Author commentary: [Author and first chapter](https://www.leslielangtry.com/books/merit-badge-murder)
- Review: [StoreyBook Reviews](https://storeybookreviews.com/2014/10/mysterymonday-merit-badge-murder-by-leslie-langtry)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.gemmahallidaypublishing.com/leslie-langtry)
- Book information: [Fantastic Fiction bibliography](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/leslie-langtry/merit-badge-murder.htm)
- Book information: [Fresh Fiction edition and excerpt](https://freshfiction.com/excerpt.php?id=77836)