I really enjoyed this murder mystery. Knives Out meets Ally Carter.
I absolutely loved this book and the plot was amazing. It was fun and full of twists and turns.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay. Let’s have a quick SQUEE for the fact that I just discovered that Ally Carter has written not one but two adult novels . . . grown up . . . as opposed to YA. 😉 And, I just want to say that everything that makes her YA novels such a delight to read is present in her grown up novels: mystery, humor, adventure, excellent storytelling. Well, doesn’t that seem like it might be the entirety of the review right there. Let’s add a little more for the heckuva it.

Maggie Chase is a bestselling cozy mystery author. She is also an introvert who discovers that her husband has been involved with her best friend, giving her already shaky self-confidence another blow. Out-of-the-blue she receives an invitation for an all-expenses paid holiday in England from someone who says that she’s her biggest fan. This is obviously not something that Maggie is inclined to accept, except that her publisher convinces her that it’s better than spending the holidays by herself. The last thing she expects is for a man she considers her arch-nemesis, Ethan Wyatt, to have received a similar invitation and be on the private jet heading to Merry Old England for Christmas. After their arrival, they discover that their hostess is none other than the Duchess of Death, Eleanor Ashley.

For Maggie, the trip is looking up until their hostess disappears from her office. A true locked-room mystery has tumbled into Maggie’s lap. After having read Eleanor’s novels all of her life, Maggie presumes this is some kind of game. But it soon becomes obvious that it’s not a game and that something more danger is afoot in Ally Carter’s delightful The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.

If you’ve enjoyed Ally Carter’s young adult novels, then you probably can anticipate the witty playfulness of her adult novel as the characters sift through clues to discover what is going on. Carter’s dialogue always feels fresh and funny while her plot is deftly structured. The romance between Maggie and Wyatt is well-done with Maggie realizing that she may have been misjudging and misunderstanding Wyatt over the years. I’m not usually a fan of the “enemies to more” trope because the whole “enemies” thing usually feels forced, but in Carter’s hands the trope felt more nuanced and enjoyable.

A twisty mystery with humor and romance. Recommended.

Many thanks to Avon Books for sending me a copy.

I’m half convinced I would love any story if Ally Carter wrote it.

This romance mystery was everything I wanted! This felt like I was Christmas episode of a cozy mystery show! The holiday/Christmas elements were not overdone in this book but felt like they were sprinkled in just right. I really loved Maggie and Ethan’s romance and development throughout the story. The way each clue and twist was introduced was so fun! While I do feel like the romance was more of a subplot than main focal point, it didn’t bother me at all. This book was witty, full of tension and fast-paced scenes that will keep you guessing (unless you are better at solving mysteries than I am lol!).

If you want Knives Out vibes with some romance sprinkled in then I think you will love this! The only reasons I’m not giving it 5 stars is because I wanted a little bit more of the backstory for both the characters and I was a little underwhelmed with the reveal of the main villain. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and will keep (not so) patiently waiting for Ally Carter’s next book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Ally Carter, and Avon books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved Ally Carter as a kid, and I still love her books now! I’m so happy I got this arc!

This was a fun book to read! If you like Knives Out/Clue vibes but with mystery writers, this is the book for you!!

I really enjoyed this locked room/house mystery. It had little of everything crime,mystery, love and a few chuckles along the way. I really truly had no idea who done it but some of the things I guessed but enjoyed it and was a good read.

After losing her assets to her cheating ex-husband, mystery author Maggie Chase agrees to head to the home of her biggest fan for the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately for her, Ethan Wyatt, another author from her publishing house, is also along for the trip.

It turns out, they have traveled to the home of Eleanor Ashley, a prolific mystery writer (clearly inspired by Agatha Christie) who has a sprawling mansion in the middle of the countryside. During a snowstorm, she mysteriously disappears. Now Maggie and Ethan must work together to try to find her. With murder attempts around every corner and a growing attraction between our leads, this is one fun genre-bending story.

Why Kirsten loves it
Once I started this story, I couldn’t put it down! I was completely swept into the mystery, I was enchanted by the crackling chemistry between our two main characters, and the setting and snowstorm just left me craving a snowy night in. I was utterly charmed by this one and you will be too!

While I thought this book was well-written, I found the two main characters (particularly the male main character) to be extremely juvenile. I also thought that the mystery was strangely paced - it was hard to follow and seemed to not take the center of the story like I wish it had. Some parts of it were very fun and had me laughing out loud, particularly the beginning. However, it felt like it plateaued in the middle and suddenly I found myself struggling to care. I liked the main character, Maggie, and her journey discovering herself, but I worry that she relied on Ethan too much. I thought their relationship moved far too quickly, and a lot of the development had me rolling my eyes. The Christmas atmosphere was fun though, and like I mentioned, it was well-written enough that I will happily pick up Ally Carter books in the future. I loved her young adult work, this book just wasn't for me.

Equal parts adventurous fun swoony and hilarious. Honestly I think I’m going to read it again. Both mystery and romance played a big role in this Christmas as a backdrop in England. I was on the edge of my seat while also clutching my heart at Ethan’s tender words to Maggie.

I don't tend to talk a lot about books I've read publicly, unless I love it. Mostly I just talk to my friends about what I've read.

But, I have to tell you about this one because it just released and unless something changes, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter is probably going to end up being my favorite read of 2024.

"Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery."

I was fortunate to get an early copy from the publisher this summer and then I waited a bit to read it, because I knew I would be sad once I was done.

I was so right.

This was such a delightful read. While I was in the middle of reading it, I messaged Shannon Stacey, who I had previously recommended The Blonde Identity (Ally's previous book, which you should also read), and who also loved that one. I told her "you're going to love Ally's new release even more than you loved The Blonde Identity".

She didn't believe me.

I was so right.

This book is just...I already said delightful. But it was charming, fun, I had a huge smile on my face the whole time I was reading it and I didn't want it to end. I was worried I wouldn't like the end. I was worried something would happen to not make this one of my favorite reads. I was totally wrong!

Then, I thought maybe this would be the book I couldn't wait to tell everyone about.

I was so right.

Go buy or borrow The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter. And then read it immediately. And then come back and tell me...

You were so right (LOL!!)

https://amzn.to/4eCuqSB

Fun story that part mystery and part romance.

Of the top dozen or so most stressful negative events of life, author Maggie Chase has hit them all - and always in December. And she’s still in her 20s. Consequently, she doesn’t like Christmas and especially doesn’t like Christmas parties (she’s also an introvert). So when her publisher invites her to the office to discuss some marketing plans, she briefly considers running away when she discovers she’s been tricked into coming to the office Christmas Party – with her third most hated item on her list, fellow author Ethan Wyatt. Her publisher has an ulterior motive for tricking her – to personally hand her an invitation to another Christmas party being held by ‘Maggie’s biggest fan’. She initially declines, but after overhearing some uncharitable comments made by her fellow authors, she accepts and finds herself headed to a mysterious remote destination aboard a private plane a few days later.

Unfortunately for her, Ethan has also been invited. But when they arrive, Maggie is awestruck to find their host is Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death. Maggie is Eleanor’s biggest fan; she’s read EVERYTHING she’s written, including interviews and book blurbs. She starts to think maybe Christmas this year won’t be too horrible? But then Eleanor disappears overnight, in the middle of a blizzard, leaving a few cryptic clues – clues that only Maggie recognizes; she’s immediately on the case.

I enjoyed this book with its combination of mystery and romance. I do think the romance part was more successful – there were a number of places where the plot wasn’t as tight enough for a mystery I felt. For example, when the villain confronts Ethan at the end, they state they ‘read’ something about Ethan’s past (which Maggie only found out a dozen or so pages earlier). The only way the villain could have found out was through Eleanor, and if she suspected them, then why share? The interstitials, scattered through the book, were a bit odd; in theory, they reflect conversations that took place after the action was over, but in some cases, the comments align with where they are in the book (for example, Maggie’s feelings towards Ethan change, but in the interstitial, she still shows a lot of animosity to him). Plus, I’m not sure I totally understand why Maggie hates Ethan so much, especially given there’s other people she has more reason to hate (like her ex)?

That said, there were a lot of Christie-esque moments and references that were lovely. Agatha Christie herself disappeared for a number of days in 1926; she’s the best-selling fiction writer of all time according to Guinness World Records. There’s a number of clues woven into the story in a very Christie like manner, clues where you don’t realize they are there until after you read the book.

Altogether, a lot of fun! Highly recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

This is the perfect cozy holiday mystery book and add on the wonderful romance 🤌🏻Maggie and Ethan were the perfect enemies to lovers! Their dynamic was top notch and I loved their banter. 100% adding the physical book to my book shelf because this will be a reread for me💗

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the gifted ebook.

This was such a fun locked room holiday mystery, and I loved it! All I wanted to do was curl up fireside with a cup of tea while reading this book.

Join Maggie and Ethan on an adventure through an English mansion as they try to solve the mystery and uncover clues. Featuring an eclectic cast of characters, this whodunit is a perfect addition to your holiday TBR.

This book was so much fun! The characters were brilliant and I felt for every single one of them (except for one, you know who you are).

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted eARc via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this one! I’m a huge fan of Ally’s writing, and I adored The Blonde Identity, so I knew that I was going to enjoy this one.

I went in blind, and I found it highly entertaining. Right off the bat there was fun banter between Maggie and Ethan, and there was some tension between them. I liked the flashback chapters and I thought they were a good way to show how Maggie had ended up in her current position.

I really liked Maggie as a character. I thought her love of mysteries was a fun aspect especially as she’s an author herself, and I liked that she was seeing clues and mysteries no one else noticed. I also thought the author did a great job of showing Maggie’s self-doubt and just how beaten down she’d become from her ex-husband and ex-best friend. I really liked that Ethan encouraged her to trust herself and her instincts, and that he believed her no matter what kind of crazy thing she thought might have been going on.

Ethan was a really good balance to Maggie. He had so many sides to him, and I really liked getting to see his vulnerability as the book progressed. Ethan was a great protector and he and Maggie worked really well together.

I liked the progression of the “I hate him” to the not hating. The tension and possibility of something was there early on for the two characters, and it was built upon with the circumstances of Eleanor’s disappearance and the close quarters they were in while trying to solve the mystery. There was humour and lightness in their flirting and banter, and it was very enjoyable.

The writing style was easy to follow along with and I read this book in about 2 sittings. I didn’t want to put it down, and I was thinking about it while I wasn’t reading it. I think this one is a great cozy holiday mystery and romance with humour and intrigue.

I am so beyond sad to write this review because I did enjoy this book. However, the person that narrated this audiobook has recently come out and told people that disagree with him that are not only stupid, and ugly, but that they should kill themselves. Now sure, most authors don't chose their narrator, however....the authors response to a message about it has left an awful taste in my mouth, When asked if she planned to speak out about zachary webber, Ally Carter responded that she isn't knowledgable enough about the situation to speak on it. As far as I am concerned there is no knowledge anyone needs besides watching the video. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks about this war, his words were insanely messed up. We are entering suicide awareness month and this man feels it's ok to tell people multiple times to kill themselves. I am anxiously awaiting a statement from the audio publishers that have worked with this narrator, and hopefully other authors speak up. His words were not ok, and he represents Avon books and Ally Carter.

Ally Carter never disappoints!! I've been reading her books since 2008 and have loved every single book since! She brings life to her characters in such a fun and relatable way that you can't help but love them, this book is no exception. Maggie and Ethan have two completely different perceptions of their knowing each other and getting to see them work together and figure this out was a lot of fun. Like every other book before Ally Carter is a 5/5, and I will always read whatever she writes.

"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."

That description hooked me. Maggie, a mystery writer, and Ethan, a thriller writer, both accept an invitation to a Christmas house party at a remote English estate. They hate each other's guts. And in the morning, when the weather has turned, their hostess is gone.

This isn't really a mystery; it's a romantic comedy with mystery elements. There was enough humor and mystery to keep me invested, and it was enjoyable.


"

Christmas came early this year in the form of this book! I loved everything about it. Romance! Mystery! Rivalries! Christmas! I was a huge fan of Ally Carter’s YA series, and I am living for her adult novel era. I had so much fun reading this holiday rom-com/murder mystery. Maggie and Ethan had great chemistry, and I enjoyed their rivalry, which led to some amazing banter. The locked-room mystery was entertaining, clever, and well-paced. I loved this book and am excited to see what Ally Carter does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie dislikes Christmas. Strike that. She HATES Christmas. Always has. So whenever Maggie gets a letter from her favorite mystery writer, who wants to fly her to England for Christmas she's obviously hesitant but her friend, Deborah, pushes her to go and promises her that she won't regret it! England at Christmastime? Sign me up! That sounds wonderful. What she doesn't know is that Ethan, her rival, also accepted the SAME EXACT invitation and now they'll be together in an English mansion together during Christmastime. Whenever Eleanor, the famous mystery writer goes missing after a big snow storm, it’s up to Maggie & Ethan to find her. I mean they write novels about solving crimes, so how hard could solving this one be?
I’m not a huge fan of Ethan at first, especially because he kept calling Maggie “Marcie” whenever obviously that’s not her name. However I really enjoyed how the author looped in the perfect amount of romance into this mystery novel. It was an easy holiday read & I recommend it to anyone who wants something not super spicy romance wise, but just the right amount of cutesy/cheesy-ness.
Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

"The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" is a fairly fun, locked-door maybe murder mystery.. While it takes place at Christmas, the holiday plays very little role in the story overall, making it a good fireside read whether near Christmas or not. The cast of characters is amusing if not super unique. The villain is not super surprising but there is extra information added right at the end that feels a bit out of nowhere. The romance aspect is a combo of pining/instalove, and I am not sure I really believed Maggie's feelings for Ethan. The couple's banter is okay, but Ethan comes across as a little clueless for not realizing how pre-holiday event Maggie was interpreting some/most of their interactions. While not a book I would revisit, I do think it is a good way to pass a little time.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.