Review: Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
LGBT

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.

View all my reviews

SYNOPSIS: "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 . . ."