I loved everything about this book. It has all the best elements of Nero Wolfe and The Spellman series with a special charm though all it's own. The voice is absolutely charming and so easy to get sucked into and you end up rooting for Olivia even as you shake your head at some of the dumb moves she makes. But I love how smart she is and how she doesn't try to hide it. Highly recommended!

The World's Greatest Detective is a classic whodunit that follows the two main characters--a veteran detective and her newly hired assistant --as they are hired to determine the cause of death (murder or suicide) of a family matriarch. I did enjoy the banter between the two main characters, but I do wish that there was more character development. Overall, this cozy mystery was a quick read and provided some levity from some of the books I am currently reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group I received an eARC copy of The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully! Detective mysteries are not my normal reading territory but I found myself enjoying the adventure of the world's greatest detective Audrey Merritt and her just okay Gen Z assistant Olivia Blunt way more than I expected I would. Tully delivers a feel-good detective mystery full of murder, intrigue, and logical deduction that kept me guessing whodunit until the very end. I loved the interesting dynamic between the main characters Blunt and Merritt and the strong set of supporting characters. I strongly recommend that anyone who is a fan of detective mysteries or is looking for a feel-good story to lose themselves in pick up a copy from your local library or bookstore ASAP!

Olivia Blunt has always dreamed of becoming a detective, but when she gets her chance with the notorious Aubrey Merritt, will she be able to impress Merritt or will her eagerness to do a good job be her downfall?

I loved the premise of this bo0k, the Holmes-like detective taking the Watson-like apprentice under her wing, but that wasn't quite the case here. Merritt is a hard as nails detective with little patience for assistants who she feels aren't up to the job, and Olivia is determined to prove that she has what it takes. She gets her chance when Merritt finally takes her along on a case where they are hired to prove whether a death ruled a suicide is actually a suicide or if it could have been a murder, as the client suspects. I thought these two characters were both very interesting as they were polar opposites, at least at first glance. The suspects were many, but it was pretty easy to learn who each of them was and how they fit into the story. The scenery was described beautifully, and the mystery was intriguing enough to keep me interested until the very last page. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I'd learn another piece of information that would send me in a different direction. The pacing was a little off at times, with it dragging in some places and then speeding through others, but overall, this wasn't a huge problem. The characters were well written and the ending was satisfying.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and hope that it is the first in a new mystery series I look forward to reading.

4/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Liza Tully for the opportunity to read and review The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant.

Olivia Blunt tires of her fact checking job and is thrilled to land a coveted position as assistant to private detective Aubrey Merritt. At first she is relegated mostly to administrative duties, but things heat up as the women are called away to Vermont's Lake Champlain resort area to investigate a fatal fall that has been designated a suicide but may be something quite different. Olivia is learning from the exacting, humorless Merritt and begins to sharpen her analytical and investigative skills, but her eagerness to prove herself leads her to situations that put her in danger.

It's an interesting case, well developed with many suspects, but it requires a lengthy (too long?) scene toward the end of the book where Merritt presents the investigation step-by-step and confirms the guilty parties to the victim's family and friends. I was entertained by the book, which appears to be the first in a series, and I'm hoping that the two main characters will be fleshed out in future series entries. We don't yet know enough about them and their histories to be fully engaged. The title is attention-grabbing but seems misleading--why is Merritt the "world's greatest detective"--we haven't seen any proof--and why is Olivia "just okay" (after all, she is new at this)? I would also like to see more about Olivia's actor fiance, Trevor, and their relationship. It's a solid mystery, although devoid of much emotion, and debut author Liza Tully has the potential to make it more appealing.

My thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Olivia Blunt just scored her dream gig—assistant to legendary private eye Audrey Merritt—but can she survive the trial period? Two months of coffee runs and grunt work say “maybe not,” until a real case finally lands on her desk. Socialite Victoria Summersworth is ruled a suicide; her daughter refuses to believe it. Olivia now has one shot to impress Merritt… or join the long line of ex‑assistants who didn’t measure up.

I ate this story up. Olivia is feisty and determined yet totally relatable as she ping‑pongs between swagger and panic. Merritt, all ice‑queen intimidation with the occasional thaw, makes the perfect PI/assistant combo. The mystery races along, delivers a couple of genuine “gasp!” twists, and wraps in a single, satisfying sitting. I laughed out loud more than once thanks to the sharp character banter.

If you like your crime clever rather than gritty, slide this cozy to the top of your TBR. It screams “series starter,” and I am totally here for book two.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SUCH a fun, cozy mystery. I'm super excited for, what I assume, will be a continuing series. Perfect for people who have been missing that Holmes/Watson dynamic. Can't wait to handsell this at my store :)

This was a pretty good read! I was expecting something that was a little more like Katie Siegel's Charlotte Illes series, but this went in a different direction. Olivia Blunt is a professional fact-checker in her mid-20s living in New York with her actor fiance when she gets her dream job - being the assistant to Aubrey Merritt, a famously successful private investigator. Their first big case together is a request from a grieving adult daughter to have Aubrey look into her mother's death, which has been ruled a suicide by local law enforcement in a small resort town near Burlington Vermont. I actually found Olivia and Aubrey both a bit annoying in their own ways, I think that their clashes have something interesting to say about intergenerational working relationship. Other than my usual "oh my god, why are you doing that??!!" reactions when Olivia goes sleuthing on her own, I enjoyed the mystery and was really interested in the Summerworths, the family in the middle of all of this who lost their matriarch.

🔍 A Delightful Duo: Solving Mysteries with Wit and Wisdom 🕵️‍♀️

1. A Dynamic New Duo: Boomer Meets Gen Z 🌟
The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully introduces us to an unlikely investigative duo with heaps of potential. Aubrey Merritt, a renowned detective, and her eager yet insecure assistant, Olivia Blunt, create a refreshing twist on the classic Holmes/Watson dynamic that is both entertaining and endearing.

2. Unraveling Secrets in Scenic Vermont: More Than Meets the Eye 🌲
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Vermont's Lake Champlain, the mystery revolves around the enigmatic death of a beloved family matriarch. As Merritt and Olivia delve into the complexities of the Summersworth family, they reveal a tapestry of lies, ambitions, and festering resentments that keep the pages turning.

3. Generational Clash with a Dash of Charm: Finding Their Stride 🔎
The chemistry between Merritt and Olivia is central to the story's appeal. While Merritt's stern mentorship might seem abrasive initially, the evolving relationship adds a compelling layer as they tackle the case. Watching Olivia grow and challenge her mentor's critical expectations keeps readers rooting for their partnership.

4. Twists, Turns, and Timely Revelations: A Mystery Worth Solving 🧩
Once the story finds its groove, it becomes a gripping who-dun-it full of twists and turns. The complex web of suspects ensures readers are constantly second-guessing, maintaining suspense while weaving an intricate narrative that keeps the mystery intriguing and satisfying right up to the end.

5. Room for Growth, Can’t Wait for More: The Start of a Promising Series 📚
While the novel’s pacing is initially slow, and there could be more depth given to the lead characters, the potential for future growth is evident. The redemption arc by the end suggests a budding series, and I, for one, am excited to follow Olivia and Merritt’s evolving partnership as they continue to navigate new cases.

Final Thoughts 📖
Liza Tully’s The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant is a charming debut that leaves readers eager for more misadventures of Merritt and Blunt. With its engaging premise, heartfelt character interactions, and a mystery that’s as elusive as it is entertaining, this book is a delight for anyone seeking a lighthearted escape into the world of crime-solving. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love mysteries with generational wit and a touch of humor, you won’t want to miss this delightful caper that is as much about personal growth as it is about solving crimes! 🔦

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⭐️