Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective: A Modern and Witty Mystery

"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

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

Author: Katie Siegel
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Published: 06/27/2023
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.50w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781496740984


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2023
Library Journal 04/01/2023 pg. 86
Publishers Weekly 05/08/2023
Booklist 07/01/2023 pg. 22

About the Author
Katie Siegel is a former wannabe child detective who eventually realized that writing mysteries was more fun than trying (and failing) to solve them. In addition to writing the Charlotte Illes books and creating content for @KatieFliesAway on Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube, she writes and produces the fantasy radio advice show podcast, Dear Liisphyra. She graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in journalism and currently lives in New Jersey. Visit her online at KatieFliesAway.com.