Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

" Charming characters. It’s important in a series to have strong supporting characters, and Siegel achieves this. The mystery in average difficulty, but that’s plenty when the detective is an amateur sleuth, so that part of the story works well, too. The only thing I had a problem with was Olivia inviting Charlotte to her workplace. And then inviting Charlotte, Lucy, and Gabe. I’ve never worked anywhere that allowed employees to bring their friends to hang out in the break room and also just in the main work area, talking to employees. I suppose workplaces like that exist, but it struck me as unlikely. Still, once I grant that exception to my own experience, the story works well. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series....." " The great thing about coming late to the party (CHARLOTTE ILLES IS NOT A DETECTIVE came out a year ago) is that you don’t have a long, impatient wait for the next book in the series. And “party” is the perfect word for Katie Siegel’s fun, funny mystery. It opens with a wry, relatable, disastrous first date—and a great joke involving Sherlock Holmes that I won’t spoil. Charlotte Illes, a twenty-something, former “kid detective,” wishes her sleuthing days were in the rearview mirror. Happily for the reader, her brother concocts a scheme to draw her back. The “game’s afoot” when a company’s labor tensions end in murder. Will Charlotte figure out “who done it?” Will she crack the case of getting her life back on track (and maybe make it to a second date)? This delightful book is for you if you love a cozy mystery with fast-paced, witty dialog and an engaging cast of characters......"

코지 미스터리 계열의 작품이다. 개인적으로 좋아하는 장르이기에 작품에 대한 조사 없이 읽기 시작했는데 초반이 좀 강한 느낌(?)을 주는 작품이었다. 어린 시절에 명탐정으로 유명했던 여주인공이 25세가 넘어서는 과거에서 벗어나 새로운 삶을 살고자 하지만 취직이나 연애등에서 실패를 계속하고 방황하는 생활을 하고 있다. '미스터리한 편지'로 시작한 사건이 '살인' 같은 복잡한 사건으로 바뀌면서 미스터리적 요소가 강해진다. 게다가 다양한 개성(?)의 인물들이 등장하고 유머러스한 대사등이 작품의 재미를 더하지만 '산만'하다는 이유로 싫어하는 독자도 있는 거 같다. 문장이나 표현등이 난해하지는 않지만 쉽다고 말하기는 힘든 거 같다.