Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective — Katie Siegel

For everyone who grew up wanting to be Harriet the Spy or Nancy Drew, this witty and charming series from a TikTok sensation offers a modern, millennial-friendly spin on cozy mysteries, featuring an irresistible heroine and one-time child detective who's now a directionless twentysomething -- until another mystery comes calling.

The downside about 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 25, 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 . . .