Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox is a cozy and funny mystery about Emersyn, who took in her niece and tries to solve a murder.
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective is a funny and cozy murder mystery where a single woman, Emersyn, who is grieving her brother’s death while adjusting to raising his daughter, happens upon a murder in her building and is enlisted to solve the mystery. No, she isn’t a detective, but thanks to some hijinks with a handsome stranger, everyone thinks she is. Can she solve the murder with the help of this stranger? Can they ignore the attraction they feel?
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Definitely Maybe Not a Detective Overview
Title: Definitely Maybe Not a Detective
Author: Sarah Fox
Pages: 352 Pages
Publish Date: January 6th, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars! (It was a good book and I think everyone will enjoy it.)
Get Your Copy Here: https://amzn.to/3XnmwG5
Synopsis From Amazon
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 savings: 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 ex: 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 agency 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 is, Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other?
My Review of Definitely Maybe Not a Detective
First, I want to thank Sarah Fox, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for this advanced reading copy of Definitely Maybe Not a Detective. I honestly loved reading this book.
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective is a cozy mystery with a very lovable and quirky cast of characters. It feels like you’re reading a season of Only Murders in the Building. The best part is that even I had no idea who the murderer was until it was revealed! I was blown away.
I found myself smiling while reading this book and laughing out loud at some parts. Sarah Fox writes from Emersyn’s point of view, and I loved it. Her wit and humor in times when life is getting really hard are refreshing. Also, I enjoyed her questioning her parenting skills (given that she took in her niece after her brother died, I felt like she was doing a great job).
This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading books where the vibes are feel-good and loves a cozy mystery. There are some very funny and sweet moments in the book. Great for fans of Finlay Donovan. You’ll wish for more books with Emersyn and Wyatt. I hope there are more books to come.
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Final Thoughts
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was a funny and quirky book that I really enjoyed reading. I loved the humor and the mystery combination. If you have any questions about this book, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you.
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Thanks for reading,
Kel
