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Not a Detective Mysteries #1
Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective
For anyone seeking to satisfy their Harriet the Spy, Encyclopedia Brown, or Nancy Drew nostalgia, this charming, entertaining debut based on the popular @katiefliesaway TikTok series stars a twentysomething former kid detective who’s coaxed out of retirement for one last case.
The downside of being a famous child detective is that sooner or later, you have to grow up . . .
As a kid, Charlotte Illes’ uncanny sleuthing abilities made her a minor celebrity. But in high school, she hung up her detective’s hat and stashed away the signature blue landline in her “office”—aka garage—convinced that finding her adult purpose would be as easy as tracking down missing pudding cups or locating stolen diamonds.
Now twenty-five, Charlotte has a nagging fear that she hit her peak in middle school. She’s living with her mom, scrolling through job listings, and her love life consists mostly of first dates. When it comes to knowing what to do next, Charlotte hasn’t got a clue.
And then, her old blue phone rings . . .
Reluctantly, Charlotte is pulled back into the mystery-solving world she knew—just one more time. But that world is a whole lot more complicated for an adult. As a kid, she was able to crack the case and still get her homework done on time. Now she’s dealing with dead bodies, missing persons, and villains who actually see her as a viable threat. And the detective skills she was once so eager to never use again are the only things that can stop a killer ready to make sure her next retirement is permanent . . .
The downside of being a famous child detective is that sooner or later, you have to grow up . . .
As a kid, Charlotte Illes’ uncanny sleuthing abilities made her a minor celebrity. But in high school, she hung up her detective’s hat and stashed away the signature blue landline in her “office”—aka garage—convinced that finding her adult purpose would be as easy as tracking down missing pudding cups or locating stolen diamonds.
Now twenty-five, Charlotte has a nagging fear that she hit her peak in middle school. She’s living with her mom, scrolling through job listings, and her love life consists mostly of first dates. When it comes to knowing what to do next, Charlotte hasn’t got a clue.
And then, her old blue phone rings . . .
Reluctantly, Charlotte is pulled back into the mystery-solving world she knew—just one more time. But that world is a whole lot more complicated for an adult. As a kid, she was able to crack the case and still get her homework done on time. Now she’s dealing with dead bodies, missing persons, and villains who actually see her as a viable threat. And the detective skills she was once so eager to never use again are the only things that can stop a killer ready to make sure her next retirement is permanent . . .
372 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2023
About the author
Katie Siegel
3 books257 followersKatie Siegel (she/they) is a former wannabe kid detective who eventually realized that writing mysteries was more fun than trying (and failing) to solve them. When she's not writing books, she’s either reading, listening to comedy podcasts, or playing TTRPGs with her friends. Online she’s at katiefliesaway.com, and offline she's in central New Jersey, which is real and exists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 733 reviews
June 28, 2023
2.5 stars
This is a cute story about a girl who was a detective as a child and now is in her mid-20s and is a bit directionless. She gets pulled into a new mystery and together with some friends and family begins to investigate again.
I liked this book but didn't love it. Mostly because I wasn't a fan of the whole union organizing plot point that drove the mystery. There were too many people involved and their connections with supporting/helping out with the union organizing was a snooze fest for me. I had to force myself to stay invested to finish the story. I see that the author is writing another book in the series, I hope the mystery is more compelling and interesting in the next one.
What I did like was the friendship storyline and the humor throughout, as well as the various snooping investigative techniques that Charlotte and her friends used. Once Charlotte got over the "I'm not a detective anymore" (which took WAY too long and got too repetitive) the pacing improved. But again, in the next book we need a better mystery to move things along.
If you like cozy mysteries, this one might appeal.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a cute story about a girl who was a detective as a child and now is in her mid-20s and is a bit directionless. She gets pulled into a new mystery and together with some friends and family begins to investigate again.
I liked this book but didn't love it. Mostly because I wasn't a fan of the whole union organizing plot point that drove the mystery. There were too many people involved and their connections with supporting/helping out with the union organizing was a snooze fest for me. I had to force myself to stay invested to finish the story. I see that the author is writing another book in the series, I hope the mystery is more compelling and interesting in the next one.
What I did like was the friendship storyline and the humor throughout, as well as the various snooping investigative techniques that Charlotte and her friends used. Once Charlotte got over the "I'm not a detective anymore" (which took WAY too long and got too repetitive) the pacing improved. But again, in the next book we need a better mystery to move things along.
If you like cozy mysteries, this one might appeal.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2024
Catching Up…
Grow up Charlotte. You are, after all 25 years old. Living in your childhood home with your mother. Once even considered a celebrated Nancy Drew in your earlier years. Easy life, right?
Well, maybe it might be a bit unexciting, but when Charlotte is given an opportunity for a missing case investigation by her brother, she thinks, maybe this might liven things up a bit.
But what happens when this missing person case turns into an actual dead person found?
So, readers are probably wondering by this point what it might take for Charlotte to move her life forward. Will her lack of confidence in her former investigative instincts help her realize maybe she still “has it?” Or will regaining the friends she thought had “left her behind” help her grow up?
This is an identity crisis kind of a book that might appeal more to a YA audience. And even saying that, I don’t mean to sound insulting to that age group. I feel like this book tries too hard to be entertaining with a mystery it wants to solve. And, with its diverse cast of characters populating this novel, I’m still not sure it is enough to rescue it.
I thought the cover was cute though, does that help?
2.5 stars rounded up for diverse characters and book cover art.
Grow up Charlotte. You are, after all 25 years old. Living in your childhood home with your mother. Once even considered a celebrated Nancy Drew in your earlier years. Easy life, right?
Well, maybe it might be a bit unexciting, but when Charlotte is given an opportunity for a missing case investigation by her brother, she thinks, maybe this might liven things up a bit.
But what happens when this missing person case turns into an actual dead person found?
So, readers are probably wondering by this point what it might take for Charlotte to move her life forward. Will her lack of confidence in her former investigative instincts help her realize maybe she still “has it?” Or will regaining the friends she thought had “left her behind” help her grow up?
This is an identity crisis kind of a book that might appeal more to a YA audience. And even saying that, I don’t mean to sound insulting to that age group. I feel like this book tries too hard to be entertaining with a mystery it wants to solve. And, with its diverse cast of characters populating this novel, I’m still not sure it is enough to rescue it.
I thought the cover was cute though, does that help?
2.5 stars rounded up for diverse characters and book cover art.
April 5, 2024
Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective by Katie Siegal
New Adult mystery, cozy mystery. Diverse characters.
Charlotte Illes was a childhood sleuth and minor celebrity. She gave up the practice of investigating in high school, planning for new adventures. Now at twenty five and not yet finding the right career or even job, Charlotte is feeling a little desperate and yes, just a smidge depressed. Fortunately she has friends that won’t just let her sit back and wallow. Charlotte has a mystery to solve and to prove that she still has the skills.
Charlotte has some really supportive friends and family that went above and beyond to help her, even though she had distanced herself from them. The story is cute but reads more as YA to me with attitudes and repetitive details. There are diverse character traits included as if it’s a list to fill. I found more interest in the secondary characters. Charlotte proves she has an eye for detail. The friends prove they shouldn’t be forgotten.
🎧 I alternated between a paperback and an audiobook copy which is performed by the author. The recording is professionally done and includes some emotional pitch but reinforces the YA feeling.
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
New Adult mystery, cozy mystery. Diverse characters.
Charlotte Illes was a childhood sleuth and minor celebrity. She gave up the practice of investigating in high school, planning for new adventures. Now at twenty five and not yet finding the right career or even job, Charlotte is feeling a little desperate and yes, just a smidge depressed. Fortunately she has friends that won’t just let her sit back and wallow. Charlotte has a mystery to solve and to prove that she still has the skills.
Charlotte has some really supportive friends and family that went above and beyond to help her, even though she had distanced herself from them. The story is cute but reads more as YA to me with attitudes and repetitive details. There are diverse character traits included as if it’s a list to fill. I found more interest in the secondary characters. Charlotte proves she has an eye for detail. The friends prove they shouldn’t be forgotten.
🎧 I alternated between a paperback and an audiobook copy which is performed by the author. The recording is professionally done and includes some emotional pitch but reinforces the YA feeling.
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
October 15, 2024
loved the TikTok mini-series! The book was also a delight. I love Charlotte so much, autistic coded queen and her adult friendship and feeling distant was something really related to. A very sweet found family and wholesome sibling relationships.
July 27, 2023
LGBT
I'm sorry, but I just don't know what to say about this book. Don't get me wrong; it is a cute book and gives me a different perspective on people. However, this book could not keep me engaged at all. I love mysteries, but this one was too forced for my tastes. The ages of the main characters have me wondering if this is the problem I'm having. I normally love learning about the younger generation and what they think of life and relationships. Not this time.
Charlotte came off as unlikeable, clueless, and whiny. One of her friends is trying to be an influencer, and a lot of people in my generation may think that this is just another way of saying, "My job is all about wanting/expecting stuff for free and taking no responsibility for your life."
I guess that I am just the totally wrong audience for this type of book.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Kensington, the author, and NetGalley.
I'm sorry, but I just don't know what to say about this book. Don't get me wrong; it is a cute book and gives me a different perspective on people. However, this book could not keep me engaged at all. I love mysteries, but this one was too forced for my tastes. The ages of the main characters have me wondering if this is the problem I'm having. I normally love learning about the younger generation and what they think of life and relationships. Not this time.
Charlotte came off as unlikeable, clueless, and whiny. One of her friends is trying to be an influencer, and a lot of people in my generation may think that this is just another way of saying, "My job is all about wanting/expecting stuff for free and taking no responsibility for your life."
I guess that I am just the totally wrong audience for this type of book.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Kensington, the author, and NetGalley.
March 24, 2024
3.5
Very sweet and funny, but repetitive at times and overly millennial quirky
Thank you libro.fm ALC program !
Very sweet and funny, but repetitive at times and overly millennial quirky
Thank you libro.fm ALC program !
December 4, 2022
If Encyclopedia Brown and Harriet the Spy had a love child it would be Lottie Illes. What began in grade school solving mysteries involving lost crayons progressed and Lottie soon became famous. We all know what happens to child stars when they become adults (unless they are Ron Howard) - they never get past their moment in the sun. Jumping from job to job and relationship to relationship Charlotte lives with her mom and is feeling a bit lost at twenty five. When her brother and girlfriend ask her to visit and solve a mystery she is pushed into taking the case. Her best friend joins the little group as the mystery becomes much more serious and deadly. Perfect for armchair detectives and those of us who still think walking around with a notebook and your best friend solving crimes is the best day ever, this is a KNIVES OUT and FINLAY DONOVAN madcap mystery with a side of warm sibling support. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
July 30, 2023
This had a younger audience geared toward young adult feeling adult book I have read in a bit. While these characters are supposed to be in their mid-20s, they felt more like high school Sophomores.
There is a ton of repetition and lots of repeated passages rehashing the same simplified clues and theories that were unnecessary for this age of reader.
This book would have been better suited for a young adult with younger characters. Their issues are primarily juvenile, and even the murder seems to be an afterthought.
Charlotte's lack of confidence got tedious as it was constantly brought up.
The series has potential if Katie Siegel adds significant character growth in later novels. The concept itself is good, and I like the friends.
Overall it's about a 2.5 star.
There is a ton of repetition and lots of repeated passages rehashing the same simplified clues and theories that were unnecessary for this age of reader.
This book would have been better suited for a young adult with younger characters. Their issues are primarily juvenile, and even the murder seems to be an afterthought.
Charlotte's lack of confidence got tedious as it was constantly brought up.
The series has potential if Katie Siegel adds significant character growth in later novels. The concept itself is good, and I like the friends.
Overall it's about a 2.5 star.
June 9, 2024
Definitely more of a character driven book. Not that the plot was necessarily bad but it definitely didn’t stand out or really hook me into the story. The pacing was also a little confusing as we get random flashbacks to the MCs childhood for… no reason? 🤨 BUT the characters (especially the two MCs besties) were so funny and enjoyable to read about!
Definitely would recommend if you just need a little mindless palette cleanser book or something not so serious
Definitely would recommend if you just need a little mindless palette cleanser book or something not so serious
May 28, 2023
Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel is a book that checked every single box for me.
I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and this book was everything I needed and wanted.
This cozy mystery with LGBT rep is so well written. This is what the cozy mystery genre needs.
Charlotte Isles is in her 20's and a former child detective, which has seemed to shape her life no being unemployed and a bit lost. Her brother asks her to solve a mystery for his girlfriend and though she isn't really interested initially, she does it for her brother.
The friendships in this book are so real. Charlotte is queer and Gabe is bi trans and this was so relatable to me, I absolutely loved this. As a queer person, seeing this rep in a book always makes me so HAPPY and SEEN.
The mystery which involved the corporate world and unions was really well written.
I felt as if I was going on an adventure with Charlotte and her friends.
This book was SO good , I just can't say enough good things about this book!
I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and this book was everything I needed and wanted.
This cozy mystery with LGBT rep is so well written. This is what the cozy mystery genre needs.
Charlotte Isles is in her 20's and a former child detective, which has seemed to shape her life no being unemployed and a bit lost. Her brother asks her to solve a mystery for his girlfriend and though she isn't really interested initially, she does it for her brother.
The friendships in this book are so real. Charlotte is queer and Gabe is bi trans and this was so relatable to me, I absolutely loved this. As a queer person, seeing this rep in a book always makes me so HAPPY and SEEN.
The mystery which involved the corporate world and unions was really well written.
I felt as if I was going on an adventure with Charlotte and her friends.
This book was SO good , I just can't say enough good things about this book!
September 10, 2023
"Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective" is an interesting addition to the "adult" genre — as I was reading it, I couldn't help but think how perfect of a middle-grade book this would be if it were not for a few instances of swearing and the drug/alcohol references. I also struggled a bit with the pacing; it starts strong, drags in the middle a bit, and by the end, I found I simply did not care much for solving the mystery. Charlotte's "trauma" that causes her to avoid her friends felt flat, immature, and unbelievable — ultimately like it belonged firmly in the YA genre.
September 29, 2024
From the book jacket: For anyone seeking to satisfy their Harriet the Spy, Encyclopedia Brown, or Nancy Drew nostalgia, this charming, entertaining debut based on the popular @katiefliesaway TikTok series stars a twentysomething former kid detective who’s coaxed out of retirement for one last case.
My reactions
The premise sounded cute for a cozy mystery, but I just never got into this book. What should have been a fast, entertaining read, turned into a drudge that took me more than a month to read, as I kept getting bored and putting it aside for more interesting books.
If I had read the blurb and realized this was based on a TikTok series, I probably would have passed on it entirely. But I didn’t read it in advance. My bad.
The plot begins with a plea from her brother to help solve who is stalking his girlfriend, Olivia. Charlotte quickly discovers that is just a ruse to get her to come to the city and hang out. Oh, but a person in Olivia’s office has been murdered, and another colleague goes missing. Isn’t it a wonderful coincidence that Charlotte happens to be in town; bring on the sleuthing! There doesn’t seem to be any police involvement so who else will solve the case(s)?
All of that sounds ridiculous enough, but Charlotte and her friends use the most irritating (to me, at least) dialogue. Other than going to clubs, they act more like middle-schoolers than the mid-twenties young adults that they supposedly are. They frequently repeat themselves and state the obvious. I had ceased to care long before Charlotte figured out who the culprit was, so the reveal was both a letdown and a relief that the thing was finally over.
I give it one star for the cute premise.
My reactions
The premise sounded cute for a cozy mystery, but I just never got into this book. What should have been a fast, entertaining read, turned into a drudge that took me more than a month to read, as I kept getting bored and putting it aside for more interesting books.
If I had read the blurb and realized this was based on a TikTok series, I probably would have passed on it entirely. But I didn’t read it in advance. My bad.
The plot begins with a plea from her brother to help solve who is stalking his girlfriend, Olivia. Charlotte quickly discovers that is just a ruse to get her to come to the city and hang out. Oh, but a person in Olivia’s office has been murdered, and another colleague goes missing. Isn’t it a wonderful coincidence that Charlotte happens to be in town; bring on the sleuthing! There doesn’t seem to be any police involvement so who else will solve the case(s)?
All of that sounds ridiculous enough, but Charlotte and her friends use the most irritating (to me, at least) dialogue. Other than going to clubs, they act more like middle-schoolers than the mid-twenties young adults that they supposedly are. They frequently repeat themselves and state the obvious. I had ceased to care long before Charlotte figured out who the culprit was, so the reveal was both a letdown and a relief that the thing was finally over.
I give it one star for the cute premise.
December 10, 2023
I just could not keep going with this one. The mystery was not very interesting, the descriptions of Charlotte's actions were excruciatingly detailed (how she got dressed, what she ate, etc.), and the whole vibe was reminiscent of Encyclopedia Brown--except that Encyclopedia Brown seems more mature. Plus the introduction of every single character with a thumbnail description of their ethnic origin, appearance, and clothing was irritating. Even as a five-year-old, Charlotte describes the girl who will become her best friend as "Five. Latine. Long brown hair and dark eyes, stern look on her face." What five-year-old identifies anyone by perceived ethnicity (and using a term that was probably not yet common in Charlotte's childhood)? The author seemed to be working off of some kind of diversity checklist (also including every letter of lgbtq+). It all just felt a little forced. That said, the relationship between Charlotte and her two best friends was nicely portrayed, and I liked the cover.
July 20, 2023
I was so excited about the premise for this book. A former child detective trying to figure out her life as an adult. I found the story to drag quite a bit and this is one I had to force myself to return to more than I would have liked. I did think the book was funny, although it could have been a little more humorous. I did love Charlotte and her best friends. I didn’t think he mystery was so great, but the book overall was enjoyable. I think for the most part this book set the stage for a potential series and I am inclined to believe the rest of the series will be better than this one. Charlotte struggles to get past her child detective days, any prospective date looks her up and can’t focus on anything else. Charlotte is determined to put her detective days behind her but isn’t sure what else her future holds.
June 7, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an Arc for honest review. I really wanted to love this book and from its Goodreads ratings it is loved by many!! I am led to believe that this book has evolved from a TikTok video series so the main character is already loved by many! Not having seen any of the videos myself I found it difficult to like Charlotte, I just found her extremely frustrating. I love a good mystery but I found most of the book hard work to get through and just so unbelievable in parts but maybe that is the point! Maybe the book is suited to much younger readers and those with a familiarity of Charlotte Illes child detective, but the book was definitely not for me.
February 15, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.
I'm torn on this one. Sometimes I enjoyed it, and sometimes it dragged on. It will probably appeal to a younger crowd, especially as this grew out of a TikTok video series. I enjoyed the trio of main characters who set out to solve a mystery. I did not enjoy the mystery, which revolved around a corporate workplace and a union. The scenes set in the office were not exciting and the mystery felt underdeveloped.
I'm torn on this one. Sometimes I enjoyed it, and sometimes it dragged on. It will probably appeal to a younger crowd, especially as this grew out of a TikTok video series. I enjoyed the trio of main characters who set out to solve a mystery. I did not enjoy the mystery, which revolved around a corporate workplace and a union. The scenes set in the office were not exciting and the mystery felt underdeveloped.
January 8, 2026
Way too long & completely unbalanced. Why is Charlotte not a detective anymore? Half way through the book I gave up. I don’t care. Pretty frustrating to not have that explained by this point …..since it’s the TITLE of the book. Plus the “cases” she “works” are very boring and her friends only add filler to the story. There is absolutely no momentum in this dud.
I wanted to like this book. But, this is nothing like the comparisons used to sell it. This is not like the classic Nancy Drew or contemporary Veronica Mars. Don’t waste your time.
I wanted to like this book. But, this is nothing like the comparisons used to sell it. This is not like the classic Nancy Drew or contemporary Veronica Mars. Don’t waste your time.
October 19, 2023
Charolotte Illes is NOT a Detective
Katie Siegel
I was a bit disappointed, but not a lot. I enjoyed it, but not a lot. I read it all, and didn't stop.
It is all about a girl who was a detective when she was a child, now she is an adult and still not a real detective.
2.2 stars (it was better than 2 but not as good as 3)
Happy Reading!
Katie Siegel
I was a bit disappointed, but not a lot. I enjoyed it, but not a lot. I read it all, and didn't stop.
It is all about a girl who was a detective when she was a child, now she is an adult and still not a real detective.
2.2 stars (it was better than 2 but not as good as 3)
Happy Reading!
June 22, 2023
Charlotte Iles is Not a Detective is the debut novel from Katie Siegel.
"Charlotte Iles was a famous child detective - sort of a female Encyclopedia Brown. Now she's bouncing from job to job and living at home with her Mom. She's lost her way. Her friends try to get her to jump back into detective work but she's not having it. That's not who she is anymore. Or is it?"
Charlotte has a lot of the same questions we all do as we look for our purpose and place in life. She does learn the importance of friends and family. And comes to an understanding of who she is.
This is an NYC-centric story. There are issues and obstacles specific to living in a big city. I do love when they mention the High Line.
It is a debut so there are so stops-and-starts in the narrative but It's still easy to follow the story.
There was one thing that bothered me but I don't feel like I'm the right person to bring it up. You'll figure it out.
There has been zero buzz for this book but it would be a nice beach read. Hope we get more Charlotte Iles stories. Nice debut from Siegel.
"Charlotte Iles was a famous child detective - sort of a female Encyclopedia Brown. Now she's bouncing from job to job and living at home with her Mom. She's lost her way. Her friends try to get her to jump back into detective work but she's not having it. That's not who she is anymore. Or is it?"
Charlotte has a lot of the same questions we all do as we look for our purpose and place in life. She does learn the importance of friends and family. And comes to an understanding of who she is.
This is an NYC-centric story. There are issues and obstacles specific to living in a big city. I do love when they mention the High Line.
It is a debut so there are so stops-and-starts in the narrative but It's still easy to follow the story.
There was one thing that bothered me but I don't feel like I'm the right person to bring it up. You'll figure it out.
There has been zero buzz for this book but it would be a nice beach read. Hope we get more Charlotte Iles stories. Nice debut from Siegel.
January 12, 2024
I just wrote a review and then Goodreads crashed. This has been happening soooo frequently it’s driving me crazy. I will try again in a bit.
Hopefully I can repeat what I wrote the first time. I did manage to finish this book despite my initial inclination to DNR. It did redeem itself somewhat as I enjoyed the banter between the 3 friends. However, it felt like the author had a checklist to be sure to include a trans, a bisexual, a person using the pronouns they/them, a gay person, etc and for the most part this did not in any way add to the story or seem remotely necessary to the plot. I found it annoying. Ok beat me up now. The other thing I really didn’t like that almost had me DNR by 25% was the MC’s whiny tone and her inability to forge some type of path or stay in touch with the people that care about her. They had to go to some pretty silly lengths to get her to communicate with them despite no real reason for distancing herself. Just seemed too contrived for me. But it did become more interesting as I slogged along and I did enjoy the dialogue with Charlotte and her friends. So it wasn’t awful but I would have been totally fine missing this one. I think the audience is just younger than me. And that’s ok.
Hopefully I can repeat what I wrote the first time. I did manage to finish this book despite my initial inclination to DNR. It did redeem itself somewhat as I enjoyed the banter between the 3 friends. However, it felt like the author had a checklist to be sure to include a trans, a bisexual, a person using the pronouns they/them, a gay person, etc and for the most part this did not in any way add to the story or seem remotely necessary to the plot. I found it annoying. Ok beat me up now. The other thing I really didn’t like that almost had me DNR by 25% was the MC’s whiny tone and her inability to forge some type of path or stay in touch with the people that care about her. They had to go to some pretty silly lengths to get her to communicate with them despite no real reason for distancing herself. Just seemed too contrived for me. But it did become more interesting as I slogged along and I did enjoy the dialogue with Charlotte and her friends. So it wasn’t awful but I would have been totally fine missing this one. I think the audience is just younger than me. And that’s ok.
April 30, 2024
This was cute and fun! It was a great mix of Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars for me. I'm a huge fan of Veronica Mars, so jumping into a story about a former child detective that gets pulled back into mystery solving was a blast. To sweeten the pot, our lead is queer! I typically lean toward darker mysteries, but this was a delightful, light read. I will definitely be checking out book 2. I highly recommend, especially if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
October 27, 2024
This was fun! Maybe more thoughts later.
Read Harder Challenge 2024: Read a book that went under the radar in 2023.
Read Harder Challenge 2024: Read a book that went under the radar in 2023.
Did Not Finish
May 26, 2026DNF because of 2 words🤷🏻♀️
July 5, 2023
I was excited to get a copy of "Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective." As a 43 year old who loved Nancy Drew books as a preteen, I couldn't wait to read this.
It is a fun read, and excellently written. It is definitely best suited for teens and young adults, so I passed this on to my 15 year old daughter to read and enjoy ad well.
Much appreciation to the author and publisher for generously providing this free ARC copy for me to review.
It is a fun read, and excellently written. It is definitely best suited for teens and young adults, so I passed this on to my 15 year old daughter to read and enjoy ad well.
Much appreciation to the author and publisher for generously providing this free ARC copy for me to review.
June 6, 2026
Charlotte Illes is NOT a detective. Not anymore, not right now. She USED to be a kid detective, solving crimes adults couldn't figure out. All that is behind her now. She's 25, living in her mom's house, surfing job boards and dating apps trying to figure out life. The problem is everyone she tries to date Googles her and finds out she was a detective and wants to know all about it. Charlotte wants to move on. When her brother calls on her old landline detective hotline with a mystery to solve, Charlotte heads to northern New Jersey to stay with Landon and meet his girlfriend Olivia. What seems like a simple case to figure out who is leaving love notes for Olivia turns into an investigation to find a missing person. The case may be connected to a murder that happened a few days earlier. With her BFFs Lucy and Gabe, Charlotte sets out to find clues and figure out what happened but she is NOT a detective.
I picked this up at a Little Free Library near me. It's very much aimed at Gen. Z, based on a TikTok series. I am not the target market for this book and I know nothing about TikTok. I liked the story well enough but wasn't invested in it until later in the story when someone went missing. I didn't guess who the villain was until the last second. The writing style is OK but it was weird to have Charlotte describe everyone by their race and ethnicity and a description of their looks. She reads a bit autistic to me. The queer rep seems good and I appreciate the target market having a cozy mystery that speaks to them.
I also didn't feel invested in the characters. I thought I could relate to Charlotte and to some extent I can. Charlotte is struggling to adult and that's all that makes her relatable. She seems to have depression and anxiety. Adulting is hard. I struggle too. I just didn't like her. I found her exploits incredibly unbelievable. First, I expected her childhood cases to have been stolen lunch money, missing homework and kid stuff like that but apparently she solved cases like stolen artifacts from the British Museum? Um what? AND school stuff and she did this by climbing into the air vents at school? She conducts her current investigation in a similar manner but now she's an adult and what she does is not only illegal, anything she discovers would never be allowed in court. She distrusts authority and won't even involve the police.
Charlotte's BFFs are a mixed lot. I like Lucy, a middle school teacher, also struggling to adult in her own way. Lucy is Charlotte's partner in crime, her ride or die, the Watson to Charlotte's Sherlock. Lucy is more practical and level-headed during investigations but she goes along to keep Charlotte out of trouble. Lucy is a real friend. However, Lucy had poor taste in men. Her boyfriend is a sexist mansplainer jerk who ignores her and belittles Charlotte. I'm a little confused as to how Lucy has so much free time to help Charlotte during the week if she's a teacher. She even says she's supposed to be working on lesson plans. Gabe is supposed to be a fun character. A transgender, bisexual man, Gabe loves to flirt. He does most of his flirting with women suspects right now. Gabe is a social media manager for a mattress company and he is good at his job. They love him so much they apparently forgive a lot of slacking off to run around investigating murders. Gabe longs to be his own influencer and I found him rather annoying.
I did like Landon, Charlotte's brother. He's fun and supportive. He loves his little sister and is proud of her. He doesn't like seeing her stuck in a rut any more than their mom does so he reaches out to bring Charlotte a new investigation. Landon also loves his girlfriend, Olivia. She's very friendly, highly intelligent and kind. Olivia believes she has a stalker leaving her love notes on her apartment door and Landon wants Olivia to feel safe so he enlists Charlotte to help find the stalker. Olivia is not terribly freaked out but she'd like the notes to stop. She supports Charlotte's investigation any way she can and when the investigation goes beyond what she expected, she brings Charlotte into her workplace, a software start-up even though some of the employees are uncomfortable having Charlotte around.
Suspects include Eric, the pizza delivery dude. He seems to be a big fan of Charlotte Illes, girl detective. Maybe he thought leaving Olivia love notes would bring Charlotte into his orbit and he was stalking Charlotte by proxy? Annette, Olivia's ex-girlfriend, is Charlotte's guess for stalker of the week. Annette lives alone with a cat therefore she must be lonely and thus the stalker? Oh ew. Some people are happy living alone with their pets thank you.
Bernard, a former Scoop employee, was murdered before Charlotte arrived. He was a labor organizer trying to get the Scoop workers to unionize. That tells me a little something about the company management style and how employees are treated. Was Bernard killed because he was trying to unionize? Did he know something he wasn't supposed to know and got killed for it?
Olivia works as a coder for an app company known as Scoop. Her co-workers aren't super friendly or helpful but Charlotte thinks she'll wear them down. Jensen, Olivia's manager, is horrid. He's a power hungry, sexist, egomaniac who keeps trying to tell everyone else what to do and how to do it even when they know what they're doing. He deliberately insults an intern by not referring to her by name and basically making her his flunky. He's rude to Olivia and does not want Charlotte poking around. Arielle, one of the higher-ups, is friendly and offers her assistance but won't allow access to the company boss, Candice. What is Arielle hiding or more precisely what is Candice hiding that Arielle doesn't want Charlotte to know? Candice founded the company with a college friend of hers, Jaya. Jaya mysteriously quit or was fired. No one is saying for sure what happened and Charlotte wants to get to the bottom of that mystery. She can't help herself! Candice is against the union and lying low. She isn't speaking to anyone and isn't about to reveal her cards. I think Arielle is Candice's gate keeper and is either hiding something Candice did or Candice asked her to be gate keeper or both.
Eric works at Scoop too. He is very private and doesn't like to talk about himself much. He is somehow mixed up in both cases and Charlotte wants to know how and why. Martín is another Scoop employee. He's quiet and doesn't like to talk. He won't talk to Charlotte and seems shy or maybe scared or both. Charlotte discovers a huge clue that Martín may be involved in something big! Jane in HR is very chatty but not to Charlotte. Only she knows what happened with Jaya and Charlotte comes up with a way to get answers. Jane enjoys talking about herself more than her job.
This story is a little long and complicated. It's similar to a traditional cozy mystery but a little more meandering. This just wasn't quite my cup of tea. I'll return it to the Little Free Library where I found it for someone younger to enjoy.
I picked this up at a Little Free Library near me. It's very much aimed at Gen. Z, based on a TikTok series. I am not the target market for this book and I know nothing about TikTok. I liked the story well enough but wasn't invested in it until later in the story when someone went missing. I didn't guess who the villain was until the last second. The writing style is OK but it was weird to have Charlotte describe everyone by their race and ethnicity and a description of their looks. She reads a bit autistic to me. The queer rep seems good and I appreciate the target market having a cozy mystery that speaks to them.
I also didn't feel invested in the characters. I thought I could relate to Charlotte and to some extent I can. Charlotte is struggling to adult and that's all that makes her relatable. She seems to have depression and anxiety. Adulting is hard. I struggle too. I just didn't like her. I found her exploits incredibly unbelievable. First, I expected her childhood cases to have been stolen lunch money, missing homework and kid stuff like that but apparently she solved cases like stolen artifacts from the British Museum? Um what? AND school stuff and she did this by climbing into the air vents at school? She conducts her current investigation in a similar manner but now she's an adult and what she does is not only illegal, anything she discovers would never be allowed in court. She distrusts authority and won't even involve the police.
Charlotte's BFFs are a mixed lot. I like Lucy, a middle school teacher, also struggling to adult in her own way. Lucy is Charlotte's partner in crime, her ride or die, the Watson to Charlotte's Sherlock. Lucy is more practical and level-headed during investigations but she goes along to keep Charlotte out of trouble. Lucy is a real friend. However, Lucy had poor taste in men. Her boyfriend is a sexist mansplainer jerk who ignores her and belittles Charlotte. I'm a little confused as to how Lucy has so much free time to help Charlotte during the week if she's a teacher. She even says she's supposed to be working on lesson plans. Gabe is supposed to be a fun character. A transgender, bisexual man, Gabe loves to flirt. He does most of his flirting with women suspects right now. Gabe is a social media manager for a mattress company and he is good at his job. They love him so much they apparently forgive a lot of slacking off to run around investigating murders. Gabe longs to be his own influencer and I found him rather annoying.
I did like Landon, Charlotte's brother. He's fun and supportive. He loves his little sister and is proud of her. He doesn't like seeing her stuck in a rut any more than their mom does so he reaches out to bring Charlotte a new investigation. Landon also loves his girlfriend, Olivia. She's very friendly, highly intelligent and kind. Olivia believes she has a stalker leaving her love notes on her apartment door and Landon wants Olivia to feel safe so he enlists Charlotte to help find the stalker. Olivia is not terribly freaked out but she'd like the notes to stop. She supports Charlotte's investigation any way she can and when the investigation goes beyond what she expected, she brings Charlotte into her workplace, a software start-up even though some of the employees are uncomfortable having Charlotte around.
Suspects include Eric, the pizza delivery dude. He seems to be a big fan of Charlotte Illes, girl detective. Maybe he thought leaving Olivia love notes would bring Charlotte into his orbit and he was stalking Charlotte by proxy? Annette, Olivia's ex-girlfriend, is Charlotte's guess for stalker of the week. Annette lives alone with a cat therefore she must be lonely and thus the stalker? Oh ew. Some people are happy living alone with their pets thank you.
Bernard, a former Scoop employee, was murdered before Charlotte arrived. He was a labor organizer trying to get the Scoop workers to unionize. That tells me a little something about the company management style and how employees are treated. Was Bernard killed because he was trying to unionize? Did he know something he wasn't supposed to know and got killed for it?
Olivia works as a coder for an app company known as Scoop. Her co-workers aren't super friendly or helpful but Charlotte thinks she'll wear them down. Jensen, Olivia's manager, is horrid. He's a power hungry, sexist, egomaniac who keeps trying to tell everyone else what to do and how to do it even when they know what they're doing. He deliberately insults an intern by not referring to her by name and basically making her his flunky. He's rude to Olivia and does not want Charlotte poking around. Arielle, one of the higher-ups, is friendly and offers her assistance but won't allow access to the company boss, Candice. What is Arielle hiding or more precisely what is Candice hiding that Arielle doesn't want Charlotte to know? Candice founded the company with a college friend of hers, Jaya. Jaya mysteriously quit or was fired. No one is saying for sure what happened and Charlotte wants to get to the bottom of that mystery. She can't help herself! Candice is against the union and lying low. She isn't speaking to anyone and isn't about to reveal her cards. I think Arielle is Candice's gate keeper and is either hiding something Candice did or Candice asked her to be gate keeper or both.
Eric works at Scoop too. He is very private and doesn't like to talk about himself much. He is somehow mixed up in both cases and Charlotte wants to know how and why. Martín is another Scoop employee. He's quiet and doesn't like to talk. He won't talk to Charlotte and seems shy or maybe scared or both. Charlotte discovers a huge clue that Martín may be involved in something big! Jane in HR is very chatty but not to Charlotte. Only she knows what happened with Jaya and Charlotte comes up with a way to get answers. Jane enjoys talking about herself more than her job.
This story is a little long and complicated. It's similar to a traditional cozy mystery but a little more meandering. This just wasn't quite my cup of tea. I'll return it to the Little Free Library where I found it for someone younger to enjoy.
August 26, 2023
Had the book the smartest mystery? No. But I really enjoyed following Charlotte and her friends on their adventure trying to solve the case. I had so much fun with the characters and really thought that it was like a reunion of well known childhood sleuths whose adventures I used to follow. Kind of like the Veronica Mars movie (but in good). Which is just mindblowing to me because clearly there are no previous adventures by Charlotte which I used to read. But there is just something so familiar with this book and its characters. I think this says a lot about the great reading experience I had.
October 10, 2023
Did not finish / barely started - too much mention of trans/ lgbtq+ barely into the book - what does any of that have to do with solving a mystery
February 8, 2024
I apologize to those of you who read this book and liked it. We can still be friends and agree to disagree on this one thing. I didn't enjoy this book. The characters were not believable, not likeable and generally annoying. Did any of them actually work?? How could they afford to go out all the time? Hanging out at a friend's job? Thin and unbelievable plot and that is saying something considering I like cozy mysteries (the characters in those mysteries are likeable though). The ending was ridiculous. I pretty much finished the book because it is the book of the month for my book club. I also didn't think the trans/homosexual leanings enhanced anything in the book. It wasn't necessary to the story line and either needed to be left out or completely reworked so it served a purpose in the story (sorry to those who disagree). Don't waste your time reading this.
December 4, 2023
A cute story that is geared toward a younger audience imo so it overall did not quite work for me but again I don't think I was the right target.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the digital copy to review.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the digital copy to review.
July 23, 2023
I probably don't understand genre labeling enough, but in my mind, this was clearly a young adult book. Which isn't bad in and of itself, it just wasn't really what I was expecting.
The pros: I like the concept of this series. Harriet the Spy was one of my favorite books growing up and I recently read it as an adult and still very much enjoyed it. So a book in that vein would definitely interest me even as an adult. Representation and diversity was a big pro of the book although I feel like the author could have done more with it. The diversity of the characters was pretty flat and wasn't really incorporated into character development -- it felt more like the author was working off of a diversity checklist.
The cons: I may be too old to enjoy a book about this generation but the main characters and their behaviors/choices really were aggravating to me. The mystery itself was convoluted and frankly, just not very interesting. As such, the first half of the book really dragged for me and at times I didn't know if I would finish it. The second half picked up the pace but I also ended up doing a good bit of skimming.
Overall, this was definitely a 'meh' for me and I doubt I'll read any more of the series.
The pros: I like the concept of this series. Harriet the Spy was one of my favorite books growing up and I recently read it as an adult and still very much enjoyed it. So a book in that vein would definitely interest me even as an adult. Representation and diversity was a big pro of the book although I feel like the author could have done more with it. The diversity of the characters was pretty flat and wasn't really incorporated into character development -- it felt more like the author was working off of a diversity checklist.
The cons: I may be too old to enjoy a book about this generation but the main characters and their behaviors/choices really were aggravating to me. The mystery itself was convoluted and frankly, just not very interesting. As such, the first half of the book really dragged for me and at times I didn't know if I would finish it. The second half picked up the pace but I also ended up doing a good bit of skimming.
Overall, this was definitely a 'meh' for me and I doubt I'll read any more of the series.
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