A new mystery novel by Liza Tully pairs a green assistant with a seasoned detective
NPR's Book of the Day introduces readers to a new murder mystery novel from Liza Tully, featuring the unlikely pairing of Detective Aubrey Merritt and her assistant Olivia Blunt. The seasoned private investigator and her young fact-checker bring contrasting approaches to their work: Merritt relies on observation and psychological insight, while Blunt contributes strong research skills and a more empathetic perspective.
The summary explores their investigation of a wealthy widow's death at a Vermont resort, which initially appears to be suicide but may be murder. Beyond the case itself, the text examines Tully's insights into why murder mysteries captivate readers, suggesting that these stories reveal how ordinary people can be driven to commit terrible acts by basic human emotions like greed, anger, and lust.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Aug 11, 2025 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
Detective Aubrey Merritt and Assistant Olivia Blunt's Dynamic
Detective Aubrey Merritt, a seasoned private investigator with 30 years of experience, brings a no-nonsense approach to her work, relying on observation, logic, and psychological insight. Her methods include adapting her interviewing tactics based on social status, often taking a harder stance with lower-class suspects while being more manipulative with wealthy witnesses.
In contrast, her new assistant Olivia Blunt, a 25-year-old fact-checker, approaches cases with empathy and humanitarian concern. Despite their conflicting styles—evidenced when Olivia scolds Merritt for being too harsh with a housekeeper—Blunt's impressive research skills earned her the position as Merritt's assistant.
Mystery, Investigation, Suspicious Suicide, Clues To Foul Play
The duo investigates the death of Victoria, a wealthy widow whose apparent suicide at a Vermont resort raises suspicions. Victoria's friends and daughter Haley insist that suicide would be out of character for the seemingly content woman. A key piece of evidence emerges: a mysterious light spotted near the resort on the exceptionally dark night of Victoria's death. This observation leads Liza Tully to revise her work, suggesting the death was more likely murder than suicide.
Themes and Appeal of Murder Mysteries: Exploring Human Nature and Motives
Tully explores how murder mysteries do more than simply restore order to chaos. She suggests their enduring appeal lies in examining how ordinary people can be driven to commit horrific acts by powerful emotions like greed, anger, or lust. By making killers relatable, Tully notes that these stories prompt readers to reflect on the fine line between those who resist dark impulses and those who succumb to them.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can enhance your observation skills by playing "detective" during your daily routine, such as trying to deduce a stranger's profession or mood from their appearance and behavior while you're at a coffee shop or on public transit. This practice can sharpen your ability to notice subtle details and patterns in your environment, much like a detective would.
- Develop your adaptability in conversations by role-playing different scenarios with friends where you consciously adjust your communication style based on their "assigned" social status or background. This can help you become more versatile in your interactions and better understand how to approach people from various walks of life.
- Cultivate empathy in your daily life by volunteering for a cause you care about or simply by listening actively and without judgment when someone shares their problems with you. This can improve your ability to connect with others on a human level and may enhance your interpersonal relationships.
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Detective Aubrey Merritt and Assistant Olivia Blunt's Dynamic
Detective Aubrey Merritt and her assistant Olivia Blunt form an intriguing duo, each bringing unique skills and approaches to their investigation work.
Aubrey Merritt: Seasoned, No-nonsense Private Investigator Skilled in Observation, Logic, and Psychological Insight
Aubrey Merritt is always punctual and expects the same from others, demonstrating a no-nonsense and possibly judgmental attitude that speaks to her disdain for people who are not on time. Her reaction of horror and snobbish disgust to seeing Olivia Blunt's old car is another manifestation of this attitude, although she ultimately resigns herself to it. Merritt, with her sophisticated demeanor, does not tolerate fools or ineffectual assistance. Her style of detecting is rigorous, rooted in observation, logic, and psychological insight. Despite her 30 years on the job, facing murder and malevolence has left her weary and possibly less empathetic than when she began, but she believes she can pass on her skills to anyone, including Olivia Blunt.
Merritt Adjusts Interviewing Tactics: Harsh With Lower-Class Suspects, Manipulative With Wealthy Witnesses
In one particular scene, Merritt demonstrates her ability to adjust her interviewing tactics based on her interlocutor's social status, being harsh with a housekeeper during an interview and justifying it by emphasizing the goal of finding a murderer over acting like a social worker.
Olivia Blunt, an Idealistic Fact-Checker, Lands the Assistant Job With Merritt Despite a Disastrous Interview, Impressing Merritt With Her Research Skills
Olivia Blunt, in contrast, is a 25-year-ol ...
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Detective Aubrey Merritt and Assistant Olivia Blunt's Dynamic
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Counterarguments
- Aubrey Merritt's punctuality and high expectations might be seen as a sign of professionalism and respect for others' time rather than just a no-nonsense or judgmental attitude.
- Merritt's reaction to Olivia Blunt's old car could be rooted in concerns about reliability and professionalism rather than snobbishness.
- Merritt's rigorous style of detecting, while effective, might overlook the nuances of human behavior that do not fit neatly into logical or observable patterns.
- Adjusting interviewing tactics based on social status could be interpreted as a pragmatic approach to communication, ensuring effectiveness rather than reflecting bias or unfair treatment.
- Olivia Blunt's empathy, while commendable, might sometimes interfere with the objective nature of an investigation if not balanced with a focus on results.
- The tension between Merritt's and Blunt's approaches could be a source of gr ...
Actionables
- Enhance your observation skills by playing "detective" during your daily routine. Pretend you're solving a mystery by observing details around you, whether it's people's behavior at a coffee shop or the arrangement of items in a store, and make mental notes or jot them down in a notebook. This practice can sharpen your attention to detail and analytical thinking.
- Practice punctuality by setting personal deadlines for everyday tasks. If you aim to be on time, try setting your clocks 10 minutes ahead or give yourself a time buffer when planning your schedule. This can help you develop a habit of punctuality and respect for others' time, much like Merritt values.
- Develop empathy through volunteer work or by engaging in act ...
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Mystery, Investigation, Suspicious Suicide, Clues To Foul Play
An older, wealthy widow named Victoria allegedly commits suicide at a resort, but contradictory details about her personality and the circumstances surrounding her death prompt an investigation by Merritt and Blunt.
Case: Widow Victoria's Apparent Suicide at Vermont Resort
Contradictory Details About Victoria's Personality and Death Raise Doubts About the Suicide Ruling, Prompting Merritt and Blunt to Investigate
Victoria's friends and her daughter Haley vehemently assert that suicide would be completely out of character for Victoria, casting doubt on the official ruling of her death. These inconsistencies, coupled with the fact that Victoria was rich and seemingly content, lead Merritt and Blunt to dig deeper into the circumstances of her perplexing demise.
Merritt and Blunt Find Evidence Suggesting Victoria Was Murdered, Not a Suicide
Clue: Mysterious Light Near Resort Night of Victoria's Death
During their investigation, one clue stands out as a strong indicator of foul play—the sighting of a mysterious light traveling down a road near the resort on ...
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Mystery, Investigation, Suspicious Suicide, Clues To Foul Play
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Counterarguments
- The belief of friends and family about someone's likelihood to commit suicide can be biased and may not always align with the individual's private experiences or mental state.
- Wealth and contentment are not absolute safeguards against mental health issues or suicide; affluent individuals can also experience depression and other conditions that could lead to suicide.
- Merritt and Blunt's investigation into contradictory details is necessary, but it must be thorough and unbiased to ensure that their personal beliefs do not cloud their judgment.
- The mysterious light could have explanations unrelated t ...
Actionables
- You can develop critical thinking by questioning the apparent inconsistencies in stories you hear daily, much like the doubts raised about Victoria's character and death. Start by taking a news article or a story from social media and list out points that seem inconsistent or out of character. Then, research to find supporting or contradicting information, which will help you practice discerning the truth from multiple perspectives.
- Enhance your observational skills by noting unusual occurrences in your environment, inspired by the mysterious light near the resort. Keep a journal where you record anything out of the ordinary you notice during your day. Over time, review your notes to see if you can identify patterns or explanations, improving your attention to detail and analytical abilities.
- Improve your communication skills by ...
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Themes and Appeal of Murder Mysteries: Exploring Human Nature and Motives
Tully delves into the intricate nature of murder mysteries, highlighting their capability to weave tales of chaos into narratives of restoring order. The genre's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of the human psyche and the forces that can drive a person to commit the ultimate transgression.
Murder Mysteries Explore Restoring Order, but Tully Suggests a Fascination With the Average Person's Capacity for Extreme Acts
Tully points out that despite the standard "whodunit" plot, murder mysteries delve deeper into the human condition, scrutinizing how seemingly ordinary individuals can be driven by intense emotions like greed, anger, or lust to perform horrific acts.
Beneath a Standard Whodunit Plot, the Book Explores how Powerful Emotions Like Greed, Anger, or Lust Drive Ordinary People to Commit Heinous Crimes
Murder mysteries do more than just entertain - they unravel the complex tapestry of human emotion and essence, painting a vivid portrait of chaos and order. Tully highlights that beneath their thrilling narratives, these stories examine the dynamics of extreme emotional states that can transform an average person into a criminal.
The Appeal of Murder Mysteries: Solving the Puzzle and Questioning What Separates Most From Murderers
Tully suggests that the allure of murder mysteries lies in the intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle and the dee ...
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Themes and Appeal of Murder Mysteries: Exploring Human Nature and Motives
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Counterarguments
- While murder mysteries often explore the theme of restoring order, some argue that they can also perpetuate a simplistic view of crime and justice that doesn't always reflect the complexities of real-life legal systems and societal issues.
- The exploration of the human psyche in murder mysteries might sometimes rely on clichés or stereotypes about human behavior and motives, which can oversimplify the diverse reasons why people commit crimes.
- The focus on ordinary individuals being driven to commit heinous acts can inadvertently normalize violence or suggest that anyone is capable of murder under the right circumstances, which may not be an accurate reflection of human nature.
- The intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle in murder mysteries might overshadow the emotional and psychological impact of crime, potentially desensitizing readers to the real-world trauma associated with violence.
- Casting the killer as an average person could be seen as a narrative device that exploits the fear of the 'other' within our communities, which might reinforce unfounded suspicions in everyday social interactions.
- The suggestion that there ...
Actionables
- Explore your own moral boundaries by writing a short story where an average person faces a moral dilemma. This exercise can help you understand the nuances of human psychology and your own values. For example, create a character similar to yourself who encounters a situation that could lead to a crime. As you write, consider what would push your character over the edge and how they might rationalize their actions.
- Start a journal to reflect on your emotional triggers and how you handle intense emotions. Use this as a tool to gain insight into your own psyche and potential for extreme emotional states. For instance, after a particularly stressful day, write down what emotions you felt, what caused them, and how you reacted. Over time, you may notice patterns that help you understand your own behaviors and reactions.
- Engage in puzzle-solving games that require you to piece together clues, like esca ...
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