REVIEW: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter: Christmas is admittedly not Maggie Chase’s favorite time of year. Way too many things have gone dreadfully wrong during the holidays for her to be a fan. However, this year might be different. Particularly since cozy mystery writer Maggie has been invited to an English manor for a meetup with one of her supposed devoted fans. When she arrives, however, *she’s* the one who goes all fangirl when she gets to meet her idol, famous mystery author Eleanor Ashley. Even in her early eighties, the writer is releasing books Maggie still can’t get enough of. So how bad can her stay at Mistletoe Manor–even if it is Christmas–be, right?

“This is ridiculous!’ The duke gave a huff. “A ninety-five-year-old–”
“She’s eighty-one!” Maggie and Ethan said at the same time.
“–woman cannot simply disappear out of a locked room!”
…But all she could say was, “Eleanor Ashley can.”

Maggie should have known better than to expect things to go smoothly. First, there’s Ethan Wyatt, a popular writer of thrillers who seems charming but doesn’t have much substance beneath the brawn and killer smile. Then there’s a collection of family and acquaintances of Eleanor’s who are all scrambling for her attention. But it’s when Maggie and the others realize that Eleanor has gone missing–from behind a locked door in her office during a blizzard, no less–that things get interesting. And scary. Because the guests become targets of some strange and dangerous situations that bring out Maggie’s inner sleuth. Backing her up, surprisingly, is Ethan. They turn out to make a pretty good team. When they’re not arguing or giving each other smoldering looks. But keeping everyone safe as well as protecting her own heart will have Maggie running ragged before the mystery finally gets solved.

‘The worst part was that the smile Ethan gave her wasn’t mocking. It was indulgent and kind and it made Maggie’s fingers tingle. Either that or she was developing frostbite. Maggie hoped it was the latter.’

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR was a mashup of a holiday romantic comedy and a mystery with an ensemble cast that rivaled the movies Clue and Knives Out. In other words, it was a rollicking good time.

“There’s no way, no universe, no reality in which you aren’t the brightest star in the whole damn sky.”

Ally Carter charmed me yet again, this time with another fast-moving plot and a story set mostly in the English countryside during a huge snowstorm. THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR, as the synopsis points out, truly did have a similar feel as Knives Out. But in this case, instead of one of the main characters dying, we had a prolific famous author suddenly disappear. And the fun unfolded as her invited guests–all of whom were staying at her enormous, secluded historic manor–became suspects just when they were set to celebrate Christmas.

I have to admit that I was equally invested in the mystery *and* the romance aspects of this novel. And I just loved watching Maggie and Ethan’s enemies to lovers relationship shift and grow over the course of the story, especially as we learned a few key points from their past that explained why Maggie wasn’t his biggest fan. (lol) The added bonus of a few chapters here and there from Ethan’s POV rounded out the storytelling nicely. It also proved that there was much more depth to him than his playboy persona let on. And it was when those pieces clicked together for Maggie that things really began heating up for her and Ethan. I adored their chemistry together.

In addition to the hysterical back and forth between Maggie and Ethan and watching them deny their growing feelings, the other snowed-in guests made for an entertaining group. Everyone had their role to play in the shenanigans. And their interactions had me laughing out loud several times. I think it all added up to be an unputdownable story that readers of romance and mystery will thoroughly enjoy.

QOTD: Are you a fan of mysteries, cozy mysteries, or thrillers? If so, have any recommendations?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: September 24th, 2024 | by Avon |

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan.

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.