3.75 stars

I am not certain if this is a series debut, but it's worth a reader's time. Young Olivia Blunt has a celebrity crush on mysterious private investigator Aubrey Merritt and manages to get hired as her assistant. Ollie is a great character -- a little inept at times but spunky, smart and persistent. Merritt is acerbic and impatient and not always easy to get along with.

They have been employed by the daughter of a rich woman to discover the true details of her death. The police are calling it a suicide -- she fell off a balcony -- but the daughter thinks she was pushed. The local police are surprisingly cooperative about working with Merritt, especially after she promises to share info and to give them full credit.

The dead woman's family situation gives rise to all sorts of theories. The grown kids and stepkids don't get along, there are business problems, personal vendettas, a possible addiction issue, etc. There's some light comedy along the way as Ollie gamely starts her investigative career.

She and Merritt have an honest and sometimes critical working relationship. A fun whodunit and if it's a new series, I will read on. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a lot of fun. I had a difficult time getting into the story, but once it found its groove, I was scrambling to solve the mystery. I’m looking forward to the next investigation of this very unlikely duo. Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.

This is a great new cozy mystery which I hope will become a series. The two main characters have an interesting dynamic and it feels like a very fresh take on the sort of Watson/Holmes dynamic. The settings were well mapped and the cast of suspects were interesting. I felt the mystery was a little muddy but I would love to read more of this author!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

In THE WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE AND HER JUST OKAY ASSISTANT, Liza Tully uses a light, lively touch to give us the mystery of a well-loved socialite who supposedly, and without any obvious reason, has committed suicide. Enter the formidable Sherlock Holmesian lady private (dare we say "consulting?") detective Aubrey Merritt ("Call me Merritt") and her brand new assistant Olivia Blunt, who is determined to learn the art and science of criminal detection straight from the master. And she has much to learn, especially hot to follow and apply Merritt's insistence on using keen observation to build a solid case brick-by-brick, rather than resorting to premature speculation. (Sound familiar? Let there be any residual doubt that this is an homage to the great Holmes, one of the possible suspects is actually named Arthur Doyle!) Whatever the genre, the reader is in for a triple threat: a mystery fairly buzzing with suspects and possible motives; the brilliant workings of the magnificent Merritt; and the development of her eager-to-learn assistant to someone who is more than "Just Okay." Best Bravas to Liza Tully!

I laughed out loud more than a few times reading this book. I hope this is the beginning of a series with Olivia Blunt & Aubrey Merritt.

Liza Tully's "The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant" is an easy summer murder mystery read. The book starts off with insecure, twenty-something-year-old Olivia Blunt ("Ollie") fretting over whether or not to marry her long-time boyfriend. The opportunity to work with stereotypically seasoned, stoic, and polished female detective Aubrey Merritt distracts Ollie from wedding woes and takes her onto an increasingly complex and twisty adventure. The plot is well established and keeps the reader second-guessing who could be behind the trail of bodies. In the end, the story was entertaining, but the lengthy conversations spurred me to want to get to the conclusion.

Starts a little slowly but is soon moving along. My only reservation is that it is slow to develop the main characters. I felt like I knew more about the inner workings of the suspects than our leads. That said, the mystery kept me reading.

The title was enticing enough for me to request an ARC from Book Browse when offered the opportunity. The read did not disappoint.
Told in the voice of "the just okay assistant," who was just hired by the self-named "World's Greatest Detective." WGD is called by the daughter of a woman whose death was determined to be a suicide which the daughter has trouble accepting.
The number of people of interest does get a little confusing but that is a minor issue. Most compelling to me was the sandpaper abrasiveness of boss and employee (see title).
I'm thinking that this is probably the first of a series. I'll be along for the ride with comes later.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7431011466

A very fun mystery with strong female leads that takes you for a solid and well-thought out ride! The characters work great together and the plot is captivating. Anyone who loves a good whodunit will truly enjoy this one!

Oliva is a young mystery reader who is eager to prove herself to her new boss, an older & successful detective. Olivia soon learns that reading mysteries doesn't necessarily translate into skills for the job but she does have enthusiasm and a very focused attitude. This fun and cozy mystery involves many suspects, lots of clues, and a number mishaps by the young dectective. I greatly enjoyed this book & am looking forward to the next in what I hope is a series.
Thanks to BookBrowse.com for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Two powerful women investigating what appears to be something more than a suicide. I liked the characters and the setting in Vermont. It was well done. I had my guesses but I wasn’t sure before the end. I hope this is number one in a series because I’m looking forward to the next one if it is.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review4⭐️

Aubrey Merritt makes detective work look easy. In fact, she’s so good at her work that that she’s in demand and needs to take on an assistant to help her get everything done. Enter Emily Blunt, a young news fact-checker who is tying to make her rent and prepare for a wedding to her equally poor fiancée. She thinks she has no chance at working with Aubrey Merritt, but applies anyway. Not only is she hired, but Emily manages to outlast Merritt’s prior two assistants by a month when the famous detective invites her on a detecting trip to the Wild Goose resort on Lake Champlain.

The death of matriarch Victoria Summersworth casts a shadow on her stepchildren, workers in the resort, accountant, and recent romantic interest. Olivia knows that she must prove herself to the brilliant detective, but her instincts need some honing. After several botched detecting moves, Olivia finds herself in over her head.

This who-done-it is a slow burn with many characters and suspects, twists, and confounding storylines. The action is believable with only one cliched instance of a hiding character accidentally making a noise that gives them away—a pet peeve of mine. Aside from that, I enjoyed the narrative and character development of the family, but I wished for more relationship building between Olivia and Merritt. Aubrey Merritt is a tough nut and while she does have a soft spot for her protege, she is a critical parent figure to Olivia where she could be more of a mentor.

Still, there is some redemption at the end of the book that is worth the wait and the possibility of another book with the pair continuing to strengthen their working relationship. I would read a sequel to follow their adventures.

First of all, I love the title of this book! It definitely drew me in and made me want to find out more. I also enjoyed the fact that both of the main characters were women. And the dynamic between them (older, cranky boss and younger, insecure assistant) was well-developed. While the plot was fairly standard, the character development places it a cut above other mysteries. I'm hoping there will be further Merritt/Blunt adventures!

Olivia Blunt has always wanted to be a detective. At last, she has her chance. Famed private detective, Aubrey Merritt, is interviewing for a new assistant. Olivia gets the job, but she's off to a shaky start. Merritt isn't an easy person to work with. Her last two assistants didn't last long. But Olivia is going to make it work.

Following some dull, administrative duties, Olivia gets her chance. Merritt is hired to investigate a suicide that looks suspicious. It requires Olivia to miss her fiancee's theater debut. But, at last, she has her chance.

I loved this book. The characters are engaging. We are rooting for Olivia the whole time. The solution was tough to work out. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks, NetGalley and Berkley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love when detectives team up, and this one has that age gap and different perspectives going on. The characters are so different, but it's fun to watch them work together. I just wished there was even more interaction between them.

The book is narrated by the young and overly confident Olivia Blunt, who becomes the assistant to the demanding detective Aubrey Merritt. They head to a resort on Lake Champlain to investigate a murder that’s been ruled a suicide. Olivia, being a bit inexperienced, jumps to conclusions, while Merritt relies on his expertise.

The book is packed with funny moments and sharp dialogue, creating a light and entertaining vibe. It’s an intriguing mystery with beautiful scenery and comical interactions, making it a perfect read for some downtime.

The style and Merritt reminded me of Agatha Christie, where at the end everyone’s gathered, and the detective reveals who the culprit is.

The plot felt a bit cliché, with a woman dying, everyone assuming it’s suicide, and just one woman hiring a detective. But honestly, I didn’t guess all the twists or who the villain was!

• Mentor/Student
• Good cop/Bad cop
• Did she take her own life or was she murdered
• Generational differences

This was fun and lighthearted but i think the characters lacked a little depth. Maybe too light of a "mystery". Had fun while reading it but kind of forgettable.

I really enjoyed The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liz Tully. The book had everything I look for in a mystery. The characters were well-rounded and believable. I especially liked the main characters. Aubrey Merritt instantly appeared in my mind as Helen Mirren, both for her appearance and manner. Olivia Blunt could be played by any reasonably attractive young actress with smarts and snark. The setting came alive for me, even though I have never been to that part of the country. The clues were well distributed between suspects, keeping me guessing on the final outcome. I will definitely recommend this book for the Mystery Discussion group I facilitate at the local library, when it comes out, and I look forward to sequels!

This book is an absolute delight. The dynamic between Merritt and Olivia is the beating heart of the story, and it is perfection. Their interactions are filled with dry humor, reluctant mentorship, and a simmering tension that makes every scene sparkle. Beyond the character dynamics, the mystery itself is layered and compulsively readable. It has the perfect balance of intrigue and charm, with twists that are satisfying without feeling forced. The writing is crisp, intelligent, and effortlessly engaging, pulling you into the tangled web of family secrets and deadly ambition. The atmosphere of the old-money estate adds a deliciously gothic touch, making every revelation even more tantalizing. If you love mysteries with character-driven depth, razor-sharp dialogue, and a touch of warmth beneath all the snark, this one will completely steal your heart.

What a rollicking fun mystery as the delightful title portends! With renowned and snooty Aubrey Merritt and inexperienced but eager Olivia as the awkward crime solving duo, this novel rolls along at an excellent pace. Is the case a murder or a suicide? I particularly liked the chapter titles (fun to speculate) and "Ollie's" written questions to herself as she did her very best to impress her new boss. The locale and character descriptions were apt.

Told through Ollie's perspective, possible suspects pile up, while Merritt reveals nothing. I almost cheered when we had a classic reading of the will when Merritt revealed all - much more than a murder…and like Ollie I missed an obvious clue and only get C for deduction skills…but this book gets an A with me. I'm looking forward to a sequel and a long series!

Thank you to Book Browse and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

The writing in this novel is clear, and especially evocative of the beautiful Vermont setting where the action occurs. However, as the title might predict, the opening involves some rambling and wordiness, which recurs at some points in the story.

Olivia Blunt, 25-years-old, narrates the story of her becoming the assistant to well-known and successful Private Investigator Aubrey Merritt, a formidable woman in her sixties. The fastidious Ms. Merritt has very high standards for all behavior and work, and is vocal when these standards are not met. Olivia is enthusiastic and dedicated, but untrained, and somewhat clumsy interpersonally. Her only experience is as a company’s fact checker, a skill she puts to good use in their sleuthing.

A clever murder in a Vermont resort setting involves complicated family and business dealings. It also tests Olivia’s talents and commitment, and her ability to stand up to Merritt’s criticism and condescension. It seems a new detective partnership has begun, which hopefully will be followed up in other books, though with fewer pages.