Liza Tully — The World’s Greatest Detective And Her Just Okay Assistant

Admittedly, this mystery and I made it to the register mainly because the title elicited a laugh. Undoubtedly, just as the author, agent, and publisher planned. Happily, the title wasn’t the only clever thing about this book.

The World’s Greatest Detective And Her Just Okay Assistant is not only a solid mystery, but it also shows the growing pains between a seasoned detective and a shiny new assistant. Bringing to mind how Watson struggled with Sherlock’s tactics, before he started understanding the method behind the madness.

Which brings me to my only real criticism of the book.

Somewhere along the way, someone decided to boil this dynamic of an amateur, mystery-book-loving, eager assistant and a seasoned, exacting, famed detective down to a prosaic Gen Z vs. Boomer dynamic. Luckily, this trope only really reared its head once. In a clunky encounter, our two ladies, Olivia Blunt and Aubrey Merritt, actually discuss this generational friction over lunch. Though this episode only lasts a couple of pages and Tully lands the dismount pretty well whilst making some good points — the discordant note did forcibly eject me from the narrative.

But don’t let this bit of criticism hold you back from reading The World’s Greatest Detective And Her Just Okay Assistant.

Watching Olivia cope with Merritt’s demands, leap to conclusions, and stumble over clues is a lot of fun! Making it plain to see that devouring mysteries, thrillers, and true crime books doesn’t necessarily prepare their readers for a real-life investigation, and I cannot underscore enough the hilarity that this chasm creates.

Even better? Tully gives her audience a couple of breadcrumbs to spark curiosity about who exactly is Merritt’s housekeeper and who is sending the detective romantic notes. Plus, the chaos that will undoubtedly ensue in the run-up to Olivia’s wedding.

I would recommend The World’s Greatest Detective And Her Just Okay Assistant to anyone looking to get in on the ground floor (I’m hoping) of a new mystery series that will only get better with time.

My 52 Weeks With Christie: A.Miner©2025