Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective

Written by Katie Siegel

Narrated by Katie Siegel

“An immensely fun, voice-y read with a twisty mystery.” –Mia P. Manansala, author of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo

“Charlotte is a delight.”—The New York Times

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 . . .
“Kept me guessing and left me with a warm and happy glow.” –Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning The Calculating Stars

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705090015

Reviews for Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Charlotte Illes is in a bit of a funk. She has recently lost her job in a call center and is at loose ends. She is distancing herself from her two best friends Gabe and Lucy and wondering why she can't get her life together. Both of her friends seem to be flourishing.When she was a child, she had a reputation for being able to solve all sorts of mysteries but gave it up when she got older. She was sort of famous at the time for her exploits. She wants to put her mystery-solving past behind her but doesn't know what she is supposed to do next. When the brother she has ghosted calls and asks for her help because his girlfriend Olivia has been receiving some creepy notes, she reluctantly decides to help him. Her friend Lucy who used to be her mystery-solving sidekick decides to help her out and reconnect with her. It doesn't take Charlotte long to figure out that the mystery was a scam engineered by her brother and her friend to get her out of her bedroom and back into life. However, the fake mystery becomes a real one when Olivia's co-conspirator who had been playing the part of the villain really does disappear and both Charlotte and Olivia are attacked by muggers.Enlisting the third of the best friend trio Gabe who wants to be a social influencer, the trio start looking into the company where Olivia works and discover that all is not well. There are rivalries and arguments and secrets being kept. This was an engaging story. I had some issues with Charlotte and wondered why she wanted to stop doing what had brought her so much pleasure as a child. She was an excellent problem solver and detective. It seemed like that would be an excellent career opportunity as an adult. She needed her friends' encouragement and support to see that she wasn't the failure she thought she was. This is also a modern story which throws in the current trend of sexual options. Charlotte is bisexual and her friend Gabe is trans. This is largely irrelevant to the plot of the story except that it begins with Charlotte at a speed dating event where she is meeting other women and rejecting them for being too fascinated with her childhood reputation. People who loved childhood detectives and wondered what their lives would be like when they hit adulthood will enjoy this story.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

coming-of-age, fiction, cozy-mystery, LGBT, situational-humor, verbal-humor, contemporary, amateur-sleuth****Come for the fun!The mystery didn't quite do it for me, but I laughed my sox off! Great stress reducer! Probably not a good beach read unless you don't mind people looking at you funny because you're laughing out loud (especially if you choose the audio with earbuds!).I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[cats57_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm sorry, but I just don't know what t 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.