Emersyn Gray is definitely not a detective.
Really, she’s an unemployed twenty-eight-year-old raising her beloved niece in the only place she can afford after her ex-boyfriend ran off with her life a run-down, seniors-only apartment complex that was desperate for tenants. But never fear—her wild best friend has the perfect plan to get Emersyn back on her feet and stick it to her thieving scare him into returning her money by hiring a private investigator to prove he stole it. Only, there won’t be an actual detective, just a fabricated business card from Wyatt Investigations. . .and a ridiculously hot stranger who steps in to play the part—a stranger whose name is, coincidentally, Wyatt.
Emersyn can’t help but notice the real-life Wyatt is capital H-O-T hot, even though she’s wary of his intentions. But her ex does seem flustered, and if she can get her money back and regain control of her life, maybe it’ll finally prove to her parents that she can be a responsible caregiver to her niece.
But the day after they set their plan in motion, the superintendent of Emersyn’s apartment building winds up dead, and her neighbors turn to her fake detective for help after finding one of the phony business cards. With so many eyes on them—or maybe just their eyes on each other—Emersyn and Wyatt agree to take on the case. Now the question Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was reminiscent of Only Murders in the Building, but with a little more spunk and sass. I really appreciated how open and honest Emersyn is, a real “call it like she sees it” kind of character. She can’t seem to hold a steady job. She’s been plagued by unsavory love interests, the latest an ex who ran off with a large chunk of her money and has no intentions of giving it back. The only constant in her life is her niece, bequeathed to her by her late brother, and it’s that constant that drives Emersyn to do better and be better, no matter the cost.
Only, after losing yet another job, she has to think on her feet–and fast. She comes up with a scheme to scare her ex into giving the money back, but in the process, she runs into Wyatt, a man who just so happens to share the same name as the fabricated company Emersyn invented. She could have left it there, but when the super in her building is found dead and there are no obvious suspects, everyone turns to Emersyn–the girl with a detective business.
Wyatt is involved in the investigation, too. Little by little, Emersyn discovers who Wyatt is and how instrumental he can be in solving murders–even when it’s through a fake business. Running concurrent with the murder mystery storyline is the risk that Emersyn might lose her niece, despite all of the efforts she’d made. And on top of that, she somehow becomes one of the suspects accused of murdering the super.
It’s all one big crazy ride, but figuring it all out becomes a really fun journey into mystery, intrigue, and hidden secret passageways that deliver answers, in all the best ways. I loved the sidekicks for Emersyn–neighbors (and Wyatt) who want to help solve the crime, too. My favorite character was Theo, a teenager who lives in Emersyn’s building and practically bulldozes Emersyn into continuing on with the investigation. She has a strong, authoritative personality, much needed given how laid back Emersyn can be. She needs some structure and direction, even if it’s being doled out by a high schooler. Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was suspenseful and fun, particularly if you’re a fan of cozy comical murder mysteries.
Really, she’s an unemployed twenty-eight-year-old raising her beloved niece in the only place she can afford after her ex-boyfriend ran off with her life a run-down, seniors-only apartment complex that was desperate for tenants. But never fear—her wild best friend has the perfect plan to get Emersyn back on her feet and stick it to her thieving scare him into returning her money by hiring a private investigator to prove he stole it. Only, there won’t be an actual detective, just a fabricated business card from Wyatt Investigations. . .and a ridiculously hot stranger who steps in to play the part—a stranger whose name is, coincidentally, Wyatt.
Emersyn can’t help but notice the real-life Wyatt is capital H-O-T hot, even though she’s wary of his intentions. But her ex does seem flustered, and if she can get her money back and regain control of her life, maybe it’ll finally prove to her parents that she can be a responsible caregiver to her niece.
But the day after they set their plan in motion, the superintendent of Emersyn’s apartment building winds up dead, and her neighbors turn to her fake detective for help after finding one of the phony business cards. With so many eyes on them—or maybe just their eyes on each other—Emersyn and Wyatt agree to take on the case. Now the question Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was reminiscent of Only Murders in the Building, but with a little more spunk and sass. I really appreciated how open and honest Emersyn is, a real “call it like she sees it” kind of character. She can’t seem to hold a steady job. She’s been plagued by unsavory love interests, the latest an ex who ran off with a large chunk of her money and has no intentions of giving it back. The only constant in her life is her niece, bequeathed to her by her late brother, and it’s that constant that drives Emersyn to do better and be better, no matter the cost.
Only, after losing yet another job, she has to think on her feet–and fast. She comes up with a scheme to scare her ex into giving the money back, but in the process, she runs into Wyatt, a man who just so happens to share the same name as the fabricated company Emersyn invented. She could have left it there, but when the super in her building is found dead and there are no obvious suspects, everyone turns to Emersyn–the girl with a detective business.
Wyatt is involved in the investigation, too. Little by little, Emersyn discovers who Wyatt is and how instrumental he can be in solving murders–even when it’s through a fake business. Running concurrent with the murder mystery storyline is the risk that Emersyn might lose her niece, despite all of the efforts she’d made. And on top of that, she somehow becomes one of the suspects accused of murdering the super.
It’s all one big crazy ride, but figuring it all out becomes a really fun journey into mystery, intrigue, and hidden secret passageways that deliver answers, in all the best ways. I loved the sidekicks for Emersyn–neighbors (and Wyatt) who want to help solve the crime, too. My favorite character was Theo, a teenager who lives in Emersyn’s building and practically bulldozes Emersyn into continuing on with the investigation. She has a strong, authoritative personality, much needed given how laid back Emersyn can be. She needs some structure and direction, even if it’s being doled out by a high schooler. Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was suspenseful and fun, particularly if you’re a fan of cozy comical murder mysteries.
Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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