#TheWorldsGreatestDetectiveandHerJustOkayAssistant #NetGalley
On the day that I am writing this, Tully’s novel is an e-book bargain so I wanted to make readers aware of it.
I ejoyedthis long (400 pages or so) traditional mystery. The two protagonists come together with little in common-the detective has been successfully solving cases for many years while the assistant is still finding her way. Still, Aubrey and Olivia develop respect for each other as they solve Aubrey’s latest case.
A wealthy socialite has died at an amazing sounding resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. Was Victoria murdered or did she commit suicide? One of Victoria’s children wants to know. Not everyone agrees, however, that the case should be investigated.
Tully creates a wide cast of characters/suspects. They include family members, employees, friends, guests, resort staff-just so many.
One thing I enjoyed is that some of the early chapters in the book featured parts of New York City that I know well. This helped me to picture scenes even more than usual.
The book moves slowly but was not boring. I enjoyed this title and will surely read the next in the series that comes out later in 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 08 July 2025
Post first published on 4 January 2026
Description:
A brilliant Boomer detective and her ambitious Gen Z assistant try to get along in this delightful feel-good mystery.
Olivia Blunt is thrilled to be hired as assistant to the nationally renowned investigator Aubrey Merritt. She longs to become a valued contributor to the great detective’s work, but Merritt is a difficult, exacting boss, and the learning curve is steeper than she expected.
After weeks of boring computer work, Olivia is finally invited to join Merritt on an important case. On the night of her sixty-fifth birthday party, Victoria Summersworth somehow fell over her balcony railing to her death on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain. She was a happy woman—rich, beloved, in love, and matriarch of the preeminent Summersworth family. The police ruled her death a suicide, but Victoria’s daughter Haley thinks it was murder.
Merritt and Olivia soon discover that the Summersworth family is complicated web of lies, ambitions, and resentments. As the list of suspects grows, Olivia makes one apparent mistake after another. When she blunders into a truly dangerous situation, she realizes Merritt might be right: she might be in over her head with this whole detective thing…or she might be unravelling a mystery even bigger than the one they started with.
From the Publisher:
Editorial Reviews:
“This novel succeeds through memorable characters at odds with each other (and sometimes themselves) across generational divides. A solidly entertaining read, especially for lovers of traditional mysteries.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A traditional mystery full of quirky characters and humorous situations… The ending may be totally surprising as Aubrey delivers quite the denouement in the tradition of Agatha Christie.”
—FirstClue
“This is a classic wealthy-family whodunit centered on a funny and smart pair of women who are opposites in just about every way. Readers will love spending time with this investigatory duo.”
—Library Journal
“Readers will be eager for a sequel”
—Publishers Weekly
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 
I liked this one too, but not “loved”! It felt slow and I found myself getting distracted a lot
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I can understand that. A second one is coming
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