Berkley kindly sent over an early copy of The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant, and while I enjoyed it, I did feel it could have been leaner in places.

Olivia Blunt, a former fact‑checker eager to break into detective work, becomes the assistant to Aubrey Merritt, the country’s most renowned private investigator. Their first big case takes them to Vermont’s Lake Champlain after Victoria Summersworth falls off her balcony during a birthday party. The police deem it a suicide, but Victoria’s daughter insists it was murder. Olivia and Merritt wade through a tangled web of suspects, including family members, resort staff, and mysterious outsiders, gradually uncovering decades-old secrets and motives

I enjoyed this one overall, especially the last 50%, which moved much faster than the interview-heavy first half. Things really picked up around the midpoint, and from there, I didn’t want to put it down. I did guess the ending around 60%, but watching it unfold was still satisfying. The characters are compelling, and I love a book with multigenerational friendships.

The main character Olivia felt slightly younger than her stated age, though I appreciated her personal growth over the course of the story. I wish there had been more comedic banter between Merritt and Olivia, but their tentative, “getting-to-know-you” dynamic works and I expect their rapport will grow more in future installments given this story clearly lays groundwork for sequels.

At around 400 pages, the dialogue-heavy setup slows things down early on, but once the investigation takes hold, the story really gets going. Overall, a fun, cozy mystery with strong potential for a series.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★

The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant comes out July 8, 2025. Huge thank you to Berkley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.