Definitely Maybe Not A Detective

This one pulled me in faster than I expected — 'Definitely Maybe Not a Detective' is a rom-com mystery centered on Emersyn Gray, a twenty-eight-year-old who absolutely insists she isn’t a detective, even as the plot keeps pushing her into that exact role. She’s juggling guardianship of her seven-year-old niece after family tragedy, dealing with an ex who stole their savings, and living in a bargain-basement, seniors-only apartment building that’s falling apart at the seams. A well-meaning but wild friend cooks up a plan: print fake PI cards to scare the ex into returning the money. Of course, fate supplies a handsome stranger named Wyatt who volunteers to play the detective, and suddenly a joke business card becomes a real problem. Things escalate when the building’s superintendent ends up dead the day after the fake PI scheme goes live. The residents find one of those phony Wyatt Investigations cards and start asking Emersyn for help, assuming she’s the real thing. Emersyn and Wyatt decide to lean into the chaos and investigate to clear a neighbor who’s been arrested, but the more they dig, the more everyone in the building looks suspicious — and Emersyn herself draws police attention as a potential suspect. The book mixes cozy whodunnit beats with simmering chemistry between Emersyn and Wyatt, plus a cast of quirky neighbors who each have something to hide. It’s funny, fast, and feels like a clever mash-up of warm neighborhood drama and romantic tension.

If you're after a cozy rom-com mystery that reads like a warm, snarky hug, 'Definitely Maybe Not a Detective' might be exactly your kind of guilty pleasure. It's by Sarah Fox and was published January 6, 2026; the story follows Emersyn Gray, a twenty-eight-year-old who, after getting swindled by an ex, ends up posing as a fake private investigator and then—surprise—gets pulled into a real murder in her run-down, seniors-only apartment building. Those publication details and the basic setup are listed by the publisher and retailers, and the book is presented as the start of the Wyatt Investigations series. I found the voice breezy and immediate: the protagonist is likable without being saccharine, the dialogue snaps, and the found-family vibe with the building residents felt cozy in that comforting, slightly chaotic way that makes you root for everyone. The romantic thread—Emersyn and the very conveniently named Wyatt—has chemistry but never overwhelms the mystery, so if you enjoy a slow-burn meet-cute wrapped in sleuthing shenanigans, you'll grin a lot. Critics picked up on the tonal mix too; Publishers Weekly noted the book leans on kooky characters, simmering romance, and a solid whodunit structure, even calling it a good fit for cozy mystery fans. That blend is exactly what sold it for me: equal parts laughs, small stakes community drama, and just enough clue-chasing to keep momentum. If you care about pacing and stakes, be ready for a comfort-first mystery rather than gritty detective work—this is closer to light-hearted caper than to a procedural. Accessibility is solid: it's available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats through major retailers, so you can pick the format that fits your reading habits. If you love 'Only Murders in the Building' vibes, quirky neighbors, and a heroine juggling real-life responsibilities (she's raising her niece while trying to get back on her feet), give it a shot. I finished it smiling and already curious to see where the author takes the Wyatt Investigations series next.

By the time you turn the final page of 'Definitely Maybe Not a Detective', the book has tied up its mystery in a way that feels both snappy and emotionally earned. Emersyn and Wyatt dig through a surprising amount of dirt on their neighbors, and the story makes full use of the Deco Mirage’s weird little community to plant clues and red herrings. The police initially arrest an elderly neighbor after a bloody croquet mallet is found, which sends Emersyn into full-tilt amateur-sleuth mode because she refuses to let an innocent person be railroaded. That setup and the plant of eccentric residents is in the publisher’s blurb and early excerpts, and it’s the engine that drives the rest of the book. The reveal is sharper than the cozy voice lets on. The real killer turns out to be someone who’s been playing a charming, trusted role in Emersyn’s life, and the confrontation climaxes on a rooftop where Emersyn has to fight for her life. It’s intense, unexpected, and personal in a way that lands—the betrayer’s motive ties into greed and the hidden speakeasy subplot, and the scene ends with the murderer being stopped and taken into custody. After the dust settles, Emersyn’s fake PI label becomes a genuine business, Theo the teen hacker helps pull off some crucial maneuvers, and loose ends like Emersyn’s stolen money get resolved through clever, if morally flexible, moves by the team. Those specifics about the killer, the roof fight, and the neat wrap-up are laid out in spoiler summaries and reader write-ups of the novel. What stuck with me was how the ending balances justice, found family, and a hopeful soft landing for Emersyn and her niece. The romance thread with Wyatt doesn’t erase the stakes; instead it feels earned because they’ve been through danger together. Emersyn also comes away more in control of her life, and the community that once looked like a liability becomes the foundation for her next steps. That mix of cozy warmth and a real, adrenaline-filled reveal is why the last chapters left me smiling and a little breathless.

Can't resist recommending a cozy rom-com mystery when one lands on my radar — 'Definitely Maybe Not a Detective' is exactly that kind of fun, and you can read a legal excerpt right from the publisher if you just want a taste. Penguin Random House (and the Random House product page) lists the book with a 'Read Sample' / 'Look Inside' feature, so you can legally read part of the opening online to see if the voice hooks you. If you want the whole thing without paying, your best, completely legal route is a public library digital loan. Many US libraries put new releases into Libby (OverDrive’s reading app) or Hoopla when they acquire digital copies; with a valid library card you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free through those services, subject to availability or publisher lending rules. Libby explains how to find your library, sign in with a card, place holds, and borrow titles to read on your device or even send to Kindle in the U.S. — it’s the standard way most of us borrow new novels digitally. Hoopla can also have titles available as instant borrows through participating libraries, though what your local system carries varies. Check Libby or your library’s Hoopla page to see if 'Definitely Maybe Not a Detective' is in their catalog and either borrow it or place a hold. If those options don’t show the full book right now, retailers often let you preview a longer excerpt via 'Look Inside' on retailer pages (Barnes & Noble, Amazon) and publishers sometimes post sample chapters on their site — useful if you’re deciding whether to buy. The Random House / Bantam listing also notes ebook and audiobook editions exist for purchase or library lending. If you prefer not to buy immediately, putting a hold through Libby (or asking your local library to purchase a copy) is usually how new popular titles get into rotation quickly. I love this kind of rom-com/mystery mashup, so me telling you to try the publisher sample and then your library is genuinely because it’s the cleanest, fastest way to read legally and for free — hope you enjoy Emersyn’s wild ride through faux PI antics and an actual murder, it’s perfect beach-or-bath reading for a cozy weekend.

My recommendation is to follow authors, not just books. Authors like Stuart Turton, Janice Hallett, and Lucy Foley consistently play with detective conventions and narrative structure. Their latest works will likely scratch that itch for something different from the standard police procedural.