A really unique and engaging story from Liza Tully!

Olivia really wants to work with Aubrey, a well known detective. While it isn't everything she hoped for, she tries to make the best of it and asks to help with the most recent case. The writing was engaging, the story moved at a good pace, and I really liked Olivia. Merritt was more of an unlikeable character, but I am hoping we learn more about her and she grows if there are more stories to come from these characters.

Thank you to partner Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. #berkleypartner #berkleybookstagram

THE WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE AND HER JUST OKAY ASSISTANT by Liza Tully
Out now

Victoria Summersworth is dead. All the clues point to suicide, but one of her daughters has doubts so she hires famed private investigator, Aubrey Merritt, to find the truth. Aubrey is accompanied by her assistant, Olivia Blunt, who aspires to be solving cases instead of taking messages.

Told through Olivia’s point of view, we follow the clues to determine why a wealthy socialite with seemingly everything to live for would take her own life. There is no shortage of suspects. Victoria’s family and friends all seem to be hiding something and Olivia wants to be the one to solve the puzzle.

This is a cozy mystery with enough misdirection to keep the reader guessing. It’s a slow examination of clues until all the pieces come together in the final reveal. The ending leans heavily toward this being a series.

Fans of Murder, She Wrote and Agatha Christie will enjoys this character rich mystery. Aubrey Merritt is not nearly as likable as Jessica Fletcher, but her mentorship of Olivia has promise.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Liza Tully for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Can you imagine a world where Watson started out as "Just Okay"....BEFORE becoming an inimitable, essential part of a mystery-busting duo whose partnership would be so iconic it would not only stand the test of time, but would set the STANDARD for all detectives to come?

Well....Olivia Blunt certainly can. In fact, she is determined to make her dreams of second in charge greatness a reality...and she has just enough chutzpah to make it happen! After all, her boss Aubrey Merritt is known far and wide, and working side by side with her, a bit of that intrepid cleverness just has to rub off....right? Olivia is laser-focused on proving her worth...but Merritt prefers to have her taking all of the annoying phone calls and weeding through the hundreds of requests for the sort of detective prowess only the World's Greatest Detective can adequately provide them.

But when the case of Victoria Summersworth comes across her desk, Merritt can't help but take a closer look. Victoria plummeted to her death by falling over the balcony railing into Lake Champlain on the night of her 65th birthday party. What the police deem to be an obvious suicide doesn't seem so likely to her daughter, Haley...after all, Victoria was the matriarch of her family, had close and loving connections with those around her, and no history of mental illness to back up those actions. Haley implores Merritt to lean in to her theory and do a bit of digging...and after a bit of begging on Olivia's part, our Dynamic Duo gets involved with the case.

But as our newbie (and let's fact it, at this point, wannabe) detective Olivia does more than a bit of bumbling and fumbling, can she get along with Merritt AND make her mistakes work in their favor? Can these two stop squabbling and eye-rolling long enough to find the answers that seem so near and yet SO painfully far away? Or will the latest and greatest detective duo go their separate ways...AND allow the killer to escape, with the possibility of killing yet AGAIN?

If there's one thing that makes me more nervous than a cozy...it's a cozy by a debut author. This is no disrespect whatsoever to this author (OR to the genre), it just is always a bit all over the place for me as a reader. I either latch on to the mystery or become frustrated by it pretty quickly, and if there isn't enough action, are too many characters, OR if it just takes TOO LONG to get to the bottom of things, it often leaves me wishing I was at a restaurant. You know, so I could say "Check please!" and hightail it on out of there. (I realize I could DNF...but that feels like a bit more of a dine and dash, if you're still on board with the metaphor!)

And when it came to this particular debut cozy, I was indeed looking for the check and a quick exit...but NOT for the reasons I expected.

For starters, the book starts off in what I felt was a very clunky way. Poor Olivia gets all but brow beaten by Aubrey...over and over and OVER again. Yes, we get it - she's kind of a jerk. She also basically talks down to Olivia in a haughty sort of way, and treats her more like a flighty servant than a potential partner. If I were Olivia, I don't care how great of a detective Aubrey supposedly was...I would have been OUT the door. This got a bit monotonous and one-note to me, and no part of their conversations back and forth really felt like banter to me....you know, the kind that would make that verbal abuse sort of palatable. I honestly wished Olivia would start freelance detectiving (no, that's not a word - but I think it should be!) on her own and leave Merritt behind (and who knows, maybe in the future she will!)

Once the mystery got going, though, I was pleasantly surprised at my level of investment in the whodunit. There are probably no less than 10-15 characters as well, and while this is ANOTHER pet peeve, in this book I didn't seem to mind. Not sure if it was because most of them were pretty tame and palatable...or if they just seemed that way because of Merritt's 'tude...but either way, I never felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep up, and that kept this cozy on the lighter side of the street. And in a Christie-esque denouement, Merritt rounds up the cast once she has solved the case and eliminates her suspects one by one before revealing the murderer. (Sorry - in my mind, I will ALWAYS see Tim Curry in Clue doing this instead...can you tell I STILL haven't read an Agatha Christie book?)

And while there is no word quite yet whether or not Liza Tully was setting this duo up to solve a Series of Unfortunate Mysteries down the line, I'd happily provide an updated title for this one that feels a LOT more fitting in context: "The World's Most Overrated Detective...and the Assistant who FINALLY Got Her Due."

3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading the start of a new series by an author that is new to me. Olivia Blunt is hired to work for the famous detective Aubrey Merritt. Initially, she is assigned menial tasks. Then, a new case comes to them. Wealthy Victoria Summersworth has fallen to her death after her birthday party. Her daughter, Haley, is not convinced that the police finding of suicide is accurate, and hires Merritt to find her mother's killer.
The duo travels to Vermont to interview the family and friends at the resort Victoria owned. Many have motive, but was it murder?
A nice start to a new series.

This book has major The Devils Wears Prada vibes except there is a possible murder mystery to be solved.

Aubrey Merritt (basically Meryl Streep/Amanda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada) and her assistant, Olivia Blunt (so Anne Hathaway/Andrea “Andy” Sachs) have been hired to investigate a death in which the police has ruled as suicide and help determine if it was, in fact, a suicide or if foul play was involved.

I quite enjoyed this light mystery and love the nods to The Devil Wears Prada (I mean, some of the character names like Blunt and Tucci have to be inspired by Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, right?). There is a very large cast of suspects which is great as it kept me guessing about potential motives. Although the reveal for not one, but two of the mysteries was unsurprising, this reads like a fun classic detective novel with a full monologue explanation about how the mystery was solved.

Well, this one was just meh.
These cutesy little cozy mysteries really are a hit or miss for me. Honestly, the writing in this one wasn’t bad. It was a well told story, but it just lacked something special. It was a very basic cut and dry mystery. Nothing special and nothing to make it stand apart.

The two lead characters were completely one dimensional in my opinion. While the lead detective, Merrit could have been unique and quirky, I found her to be very dull and flat. Her assistant…well I can’t even remember her name at this point.

I think this would be entertaining for someone who occasionally picks up a mystery, someone who wants a little change of pace. But for people like me who read mostly thrillers, mysteries, and crime fiction, this one was just not special enough, it didn’t stand out.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Olivia was starting her new job as assistant to a famous private detective, Aubrey Merritt, hoping to prove herself. Their first case together involved the death of Victoria Summersworth; the duo was hired by the dead woman’s daughter who did not believe it was a suicide, as the police determined. There are siblings and step siblings, employees of the hotel the Summersworths owned, and other characters creating many red herrings. The PI character was quirky in many ways, and a good foil to the inexperienced Olivia. I would give this new series another try, but would hope that the next book would be a little shorter than the 400 pages, which at times felt a bit drawn out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A sharp-tongued Boomer sleuth teams up with her eager Gen Z assistant to solve a suspicious death at a wealthy family's estate on Lake Champlain. What looks like suicide might be murder—and the deeper they dig, the messier it gets. Full of wit, twists, and intergenerational tension, this feel-good mystery proves even “just okay” assistants can surprise you. This was an enjoyable read and with a great cast of characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Fun mystery with dual generational sleuthing team. This is a great start to what can be a fun series!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book!

This was pitched as a cross between Hacks and Knives Out, but it felt a more like The Devil Wears Prada meets Knives Out (which, in my humble opinion, is a better combination)… and if you’re eagerly awaiting the new Devil Wears Prada 2 movie to come out, this will help fill the void!

While I’m primarily a romance reader, I don’t mind the occasional murder mystery - and this one was a fantastic choice to break up my usual reading routine.

I loved the central mystery, the cast of characters, and the setting. The writing flowed and kept me engaged as new clues were revealed and I tried to solve the mystery along with the main character.

This is out now - and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a new mystery!

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: fried gherkins/pickles

“The waitress returned, setting down our drinks and putting the plate of fried gherkins in the middle of the table. Haley and I immediately dug in. Merritt abstained. It occurred to me that I'd never seen her eat.”

TRIGGERS: suicide, murder, death, homophobia, addiction, infidelity

I didn’t expect to enjoy this cozy mystery book as much as I did. But I flew through it in two sittings. The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant has all the ingredients I love: a clever mystery, a sharp and seasoned brilliant boomer detective, and just enough emotional tension to keep the pages turning.

The setup is irresistible: Victoria Summersworth, a happy woman and matriarch of the preeminent Summersworth family, dies after falling from her balcony railing at her sixty-fifth birthday party. The police ruled it a suicide, but daughter Haley thinks otherwise. When investigator Aubrey Merritt—a dry, emotionally unreadable, nationally renowned investigator—reluctantly agrees to take the case, her new assistant, Olivia Blunt, is desperate to prove herself.

And here's where I struggled: Olivia was deeply frustrating. She rushed through the whole detective thing, made one apparent mistake after another, and constantly ignored Merritt’s advice. I found myself wanting to shake her. But I also understood her. Her desperation felt real—messy, but honest. She’s not polished. She’s not clever. She wants this career so badly that it clouds her judgment. And honestly? That felt refreshingly human.

What worked best for me was the dynamic between Merritt and Olivia. Merritt is calm, exacting, and unwilling to spoon-feed the truth. Olivia’s ego crashes up against that, and the tension that results is what kept me hooked. The mystery itself was layered with enough clues and reveals to keep things interesting, though I found the final act a bit underwhelming. By the time the reveal came, I’d emotionally checked out. But the journey getting there? Sharp, engaging, and full of small moments that lingered.

If you like flawed characters, dry humor, and a cozy mystery with bite, this one’s worth your time. Perfect for a book club or a quick Fall read.

The World’s Greatest Detective and her Just Okay Assistant by Liz Tully made me laugh out loud several times. Olivia was a fun character and Merritt was a pain in the ass but definitely evened out by Olivia.

A funny and charming mystery that sets up a good framework for a series! The marketing around this is very “Boomer vs. Gen Z” but I didn’t find that to be quite accurate in the pages. If anything class seemed to be the bigger differentiator. Very fun read!

Blend Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson you'll have the characters in this fine mystery. In upstate Vermont, a wealthy resort owner woman is dead and everyone accepts that it was suicide. That is until the Greatest Detective 60-someting Aubrey Merritt is called to the case from New York City. Twenty-something Olivia Blunt is thrilled to be hired as assistant Merrit but finds her new boss difficult to work with as Merrit is ultra-critical of Olivia. Putting the conflict away the unlikely pair arrive in Vermont to find a large group of people who could be the murderer (they quickly determine the death was not a suicide). What follows becomes an intricate investigation where young Olivia finds herself in danger for her life. It takes some time for the author to catch her stride but the final resolution will satisfy most mystery readers.

This book is another excellent find of mine from my cozy mystery book seeking journey. This is also my first book from this author. I was approved for the ebook from NetGalley and when I found the audio through the @prhaudio app, I eagerly downloaded it. The audio narrator is excellent. Her range of voices was so well done. I especially enjoyed her take on Merritt. Ladji’s tone for her character was spot on.

Speaking of Aubrey Merritt, she was so well done. The book is told from Olivia’s point of view and the way it was written left me wanting more from Merritt, since she was a mystery herself. Olivia is Aubrey’s new assistant and when a mystery of the murder or suicide of Victoria Summersworth is presented, Olivia feels it warrants the great detective’s attention.

There is family drama, scorned characters, secrets, lies, all the delicious delights of an excellent mystery story. The story is laid out so well with hints and important details given throughout. I can’t wait for another book with these characters.

Thank you to the publisher for the ebook approval and access to the audio through the app. All views and opinions are my own.

3 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC. Publishes July 2025

Many murders in this book - all done by different people. But who did-in who? And why?

Although I really don't care for books that have a lot of characters, this book did really well introducing them so that I didn't notice them mounting up.There must have been close to 20 throughout the story, but I didn't realize that while reading it.

Although this book was long - 400 pages - it didn't seem to bog down at any point, there wasn't a time when I did not want to pick it back up and read more. There were a few twists and turns throughout the novel that I was not expecting, which added to the enjoyment. A few unlikable characters added meat to the plot and the detectives unwillingness to mollify her critique of her assistant kept the girl on her toes.

This was a first read of this author and although I really think this will end up being a series, I would like to read something else by Tully. Something besides a cozy. Which is very possible since Tully is a pseudonym for Elisabeth Brink, who writes dark thrillers under the name Elisabeth Elo, as well as literary fiction under the name Elisabeth Panttaja Brink.

This was a change in pace for me and I really enjoyed it! While Merrit could have been a bit nicer, the dynamic between her and Olivia was super fun to see develop. I’d read more of these two for sure.

As an Executive Assistant myself, within the first 15 pages I was wondering why I never thought of being an assistant to a PI 😂. I particularly enjoyed the way Olivia tried hard and cared deeply. Even if that caring blinded her sometimes lol.

One thing I didn’t like was how she really disregards Trevor. I could have done without knowing anything about their relationship. It didn’t feel like it added to this story at all.

Overall that’s my biggest gripe! And while the culprit seemed a bit obvious, the journey to get to the big reveal was a good one.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties Program. In full transparency I did end up listening to the audiobook via my library, but as usual all opinions are my own.

This was such a fun cozy mystery. I hope this ends up being a series, I would love to go on future cases with Olivia and Merritt. Aubrey Merritt is a renowned Private Investigator, and she is looking for an assistant. Enter Olivia Blunt, a fact checker for an online news outlet with no investigative experience but a fascination in detectives and mysteries. Eager to learn the business and earn the respect of the famous PI, Olivia is determined to do her best and become a PI herself.

When a case takes them to Vermont, Olivia and Merritt must determine if a socialite and matriarch of the Summersworth family took her own life or was murdered. Olivia's empathy for the family, the deceased, and the suspects often leaves her questioning Merritt's tactics and investigative practices. She often jumps to conclusions and goes with the easiest solution instead of slowing down and looking at the bigger picture, something Merritt coaches her on. As the duo questions friends and family members the case has many red herrings and slowly reveals several different motives. Olivia makes lots of mistakes and thinks she is doing a terrible job on the case, however she uncovers several key clues that Merritt is able to use to solve the case.

I thought this was really entertaining and fun. Olivia at times bumbles around trying to please Merritt and ultimately displeases her grumpy boss, but she learns new skills and finds clues at every turn. Merritt was very gruff and stoic and essentially impossible to impress, so nothing Olivia ever does is going to be right which adds to the humor of the book. The banter and sarcasm isn't going to be to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed it. I expect if the series continues these two are eventually going to get along swimmingly. I liked how the author kept you guessing who-dun-it with all of the characters and plot lines. I wasn't sure until the very end, I was close, but who I thought ended up not being the culprit.

Overall if you are looking for a fun, cozy mystery, I highly recommend this one.

I think this book will be hit or miss, depending on what you are looking for in a mystery. For me, it was a bit in between. I loved the classic mystery vibes and the idea of a pairing between a famous PI and a newbie assistant. However, that's the aspect that fell flat for me and why it was hard for me to love this book. Instead of an experiences and hilarious grumpy PI, we got someone who demeans and talks down to her assistant. I HATE this kind of boss. No exceptions. Some playful ribbing to the unexperienced ala Poirot, totally fine. But the rude and down talking tone that Merritt uses on Olivia just left a bad taste in my mouth. The way Olivia simpered over her boss also got old. Yes I get that she wants to keep her job, but to want to keep working with someone who did not even blink an eye when you were in mortal danger? Nah.

The mystery was slow moving, but interesting. All very unlikable characters, which is totally fine and leads to a love of easy suspicion. I was truly shocked by the reveal, though again the condescending tone that the grand reveal was conducted in, was just not for me.

Had fun and appreciated this couple of investigators.
Well plotted and entertaining
REcommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine