Maggie, a newly divorced cosy mystery novelist, is sent by her publisher the home of her “biggest fan” in the English countryside. She is thrilled to find that the fan is her Eleanor Ashley, her elderly mystery novelist idol, but less than trilled to find she is joined by Ethan Wyatt, a thriller writer whom she cannot stand. Maggie and Ethan find themselves at what they believe is a Christmas party of Eleanor’s friends and family until Eleanor disappears and people keep trying to kill the pair as they try to solve Eleanor’s disappearance. While spending time together Maggie and Ethan work out their contentious past and fall for each other.

I am not a mystery person and tend to get really annoyed when they take over my romance novels. I had zero issues with this book and I will read any genre or romance sub-genre Ally Carter chooses to write. I devoured this book in one sitting and found it to be a delight and a half. The writing was funny and deeply romantic (seriously Ethan may be one of the best male leads I’ve read in a long time). I’m a sucker for he-falls-first romances and so the romance in this one really worked for me. I loved both Maggie and Ethan and want a whole series of the two of them solving mysteries in different locations. Yes this book takes place over the Christmas holidays but it can be read any time of the year (I enjoyed the book on August 31).

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

So this is a fun one, truly! I'm not always a Christmas book fan, but when it's a holiday romantic comedy combined with a locked room mystery (and written by Ally Carter)... THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR does an amazing job of just running with the cheesy over-the-top romance and mystery tropes, acknowledging them straight out (there's only one bed!) and laughing along with them.

We're introduced to our rival mystery writers, Maggie Chase, known for her cozy mysteries and recent divorce, where her entitled husband left her for her best friend, and Ethan Wyatt, a handsome and popular thriller writer. The two have a history together, with Ethan consistently calling her Marcie and Maggie consistently hating Ethan. But now they've been mysteriously invited to the English home of Eleanor Ashley, the most popular crime writer ever, and Maggie's writing idol.

But before you know it: Eleanor's disappeared from a locked room, someone's been poisoned, gunshots have been fired, and what looked like an amazing opportunity to meet Eleanor has turned into a desperate attempt to just stay alive. Or, is it a test concocted by crafty Eleanor herself? Carter gives us a wickedly fun locked room mystery with a twist: it's being solved by rival mystery writers who just might be going from rivals to lovers.

Because it seems like Ethan's been crushing on Maggie for a while. (We had to wait a while to figure out why he loved her from first sight. His obsession seems a little over the top for a bit.) Maggie, meanwhile, is reeling from her divorce and has little reason to believe in Ethan, or anything, especially herself. But she knows Eleanor Ashley. She grew up on her books. As Maggie grows in confidence, the two run through a series of wild and outlandish scenarios (gunshots! fires! secret chambers!) while exchanging quips, witty banter, and smoldering glances.

At times, it felt like my rhythm with CRIME was a little off. I wanted it to move a bit faster than it did. Ethan and Maggie's memories of their various earlier meetings provided justification for their characters' current actions, but as those trickled in slowly, sometimes the two seemed a bit frustrating. But, overall, this was really a fun read, leaning into both the romance and mystery angles, working the English manor in a snowstorm atmosphere, and giving us an enjoyable read while still highlighting the importance of believing in women--and yourself.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was exactly as described in the title - wonderful! Writer Maggie Chase receives a mysterious invitation to attend a Christmas party from a fan and decides to be brave and accept. Little does she know that fellow author and nemesis Ethan Wyatt receives the same invite and before she can change her mind they’re on a private plane being whisked away to a large and remote estate.

I had SO MUCH fun reading this! The story was fast paced and engaging, I definitely enjoyed the ride. I’m giving it five stars not because it was perfect but because I was entertained throughout and was left smiling at the end. Not only was the mystery fun but the budding romance was so sweet. I could see my own insecurities mirrored in Maggie and when she starts gaining confidence you can’t help but cheer her on. I hope this book is a hit - it’s a perfect holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the chance to read an early copy.

Maggie Chase is a cozy mystery writer who is going through a divorce. She gets an invitation to an English mansion for Christmas. Little does she know that the invitation comes from her favorite writer Eleanor Ashley and that her least favorite writer Ethan Wyatt would also be attending. After arriving, Eleanor vanishes and someone tries to kill Maggie. Maggie and Ethan team up to solve the mystery.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter is a fabulous cozy locked room mystery. It is reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. It is quirky, funny, and slightly romantic. It would make a perfect Christmas mystery movie.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, by Ally Carter, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Maggie Chase is an author of mysteries, Ethan writes scary thrillers, sometimes opposites attract and sometimes they repel. They have a mystery to solve, but can they. This was a satisfying read.

Have you ever cried simply because a book was over? You reach the end of the book and you’re not ready to leave that little world quite yet?

This book was beyond charming, cozy-mystery-meets-romance perfection. I have suffered through SO many terrible christmas books this year - all well worth it to find a gem like this.

I’m a big fan of “enemies” to lovers when the MMC is actually completely smitten with the FMC. Especially when they have fantastic chemistry and banter. The knowing teasing, the clear pining. Ugh! So good!

The mystery elements are also fantastic - well paced with twists and turns that keep it interesting but never veer into anxiety inducing territory.

This was my first Ally Carter book, and I can’t wait to read more.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was a great holiday mystery/romance read. This was such an entertaining book!

Ally Carter you’ve absolutely smashed it with this one. A British countryside setting? Check.
A mysterious old author? Check.
A striking MMC who fell first? Check.

The most fun and fabulous Christmas book for those of you already craving a cozy mystery romcom !

Thank you to NetGalley and Ally’s team for the ARC!

A wonderful mystery/romance that's the perfect cozy winter read!
This is probably my favorite Ally Carter book since the Heist Society and Gallagher Girls series (and I've read them all). This was a charming book full of atmosphere, set in the English countryside. I think the mystery was interesting and engaging, Eleanor very clearly being based on Agatha Christie, which I loved. It had a classic mystery feel. Maggie and Ethan were at first a little frustrating, but I grew to like them together more as the book went on. Ethan was my favorite character, and I liked his balance of seriousness and humor. I think this is a vast improvement from her previous romance book. Their banter was actually witty, and their chemistry was good. I am an absolute sucker for a plot where the characters have to work together to solve a mystery. I found that there were enough interesting developments that progressed the mystery forward nicely.
This was marketed as being very Knives Out-esque, which is one of my favorite movies. I definitely see the comparisons, mainly in the setting and characters. I would definitely recommend this to mystery or romance fans. I honestly think this could be great as a series or I would like to see her continue to write more books that combine the mystery/romance genres. The final culprit was easy to guess, but the fun of this book was more in the chase, not in the final reveal. I did appreciate the Agatha Christie-style grand reveal in the library at the end. I think that this book took some very popular mystery and romance tropes, but made them work together nicely in a way that feels familiar and comforting. The actual romance scenes are also much better than in her last book, so even though it is again a clean romance, it did not feel cringy or out of place.
My one critique would probably be in the marketing of this book. Had this not been written by Ally Carter, who I've read every book from since I was 12, I would have probably missed this one. I think that the cover does not match the actual plot or genre of the book. Yes, it's set during Christmas, but the holidays are really just a background setting, not the plot of this book. Now, maybe I'm mistaken as to the popularity of Christmas books, but I feel like it should have been marketed more based on the mystery aspect, not the Christmas aspect. By focusing so much on the holiday setting you could be alienating people who don't like Christmas romances or who don't celebrate Christmas, thus leading to them missing out on a real gem.
Overall, tons of fun, read it in one sitting, looking forward to more like this!!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and holiday romance. Maggie Chase, a cozy mystery writer, is over the moon when she gets an invite to spend Christmas at her idol’s mansion. But her excitement quickly turns to suspense when the renowned author, Eleanor Ashley, goes missing from a locked room. Now Maggie, along with her rival Ethan Wyatt, must navigate both the snowy English estate and their own prickly relationship to uncover the truth.

The chemistry between Maggie and Ethan is the heart of this story, filled with sharp wit and playful banter. Their evolving relationship is a joy to read, and the snowbound setting adds a perfect touch of holiday magic. While the mystery itself isn’t overly complex, the journey is engaging and full of festive charm.

In short, this book is a warm, entertaining escape, ideal for fans of holiday reads and romantic mysteries. Carter’s writing shines through, making The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year a charming way to embrace the holiday season.

Mystery holiday romance? sign me up!!! Maggie hates Christmas, she’s a writer whose dream is to meet Eleanor Ashley, her favorite author. Her wish comes true when she’s invited to her mansion. Everything is great until Eleanor goes missing.
I loved the short chapters and the characters were fun. This one really reminded my of the game of clue! It was cute but didn’t love it!

4.5 stars

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter was such a pleasant surprise! I hadn’t read anything by this author before, but I’m always up for a good holiday-themed book and I'm glad I gave this one a try. I’m thrilled I got an ARC so I can start raving about it early!

Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and honestly, that feeling stuck with me throughout - but in a good way. The author unraveled the mystery in a really satisfying way that kept me totally engaged from start to finish. While the plot wasn’t super complex and the twists weren’t jaw-dropping, it was more about the journey for me—watching the characters grow is what made this book special.

Maggie was an interesting character to follow. I found her struggles with confidence and self-belief really relatable, and I loved how Ethan encouraged her to trust herself and realize her own strengths. Ethan was such a fun character! His quirkiness made him stand out, but I also appreciated seeing his deeper side come out as Maggie got to know him better. They were adorable together and so easy to root for.

The atmosphere was fantastic, the writing was wonderful, and the characters were intriguing. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’d easily recommend it to anyone!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the Advance Reader's e-proof in exchange for my honest review.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a Christmas rom-com/mystery about a famous author who goes missing from her locked office without a trace. Ethan and Maggie, two longtime fans and fellow authors whose been invited to Eleanor's manor for Christmas, takes it upon themselves to solve the mystery of her disappearance. Facing an eclectic cast of characters and an unknown danger lurking at their steps, Ethan and Maggie will need to learn to trust each other if they want to get out of England alive. Will these amateur sleuths cooperate long enough to solve this mystery? Find Eleanor by Christmas? And finally let sparks ignite between them?! It's a chaotic Christmas all around!

This was such an adorable and cozy read! I laughed. I cried. I squealed and giggled. This holiday rom-com/mystery had both heart and humor, and just gave me all the best feels I could ask for. The romance in this was just so sweet and cute. I don't recall the last time an author had me going from hating an MMC to absolutely falling head over heels for him! Ethan's adoration and protectiveness for Maggie had me blushing and smiling like a teenager! I just couldn't get enough of it! This book was for sure a cozy Rudolph sweater for my little soul :) It left me feeling both warm and fuzzy.

“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” is a locked-room mystery about an eighty-one-year-old crime queen’s mysterious disappearance in the middle of a blizzard from her own study without leaving a trace, pointing to some perpetrator who has been threatening her life for a long time, meets an enemies-to-lovers and rival authors' mystery. I absolutely and completely adored this! This was “Knives Out” with romance and I was here for it! The cover draws you in and the book itself does not disappoint! It had wit, but also feels; it had romance, but also thrills; it had chills, but also tenderness. It was just a perfectly blended novel. The character development is so good, and I loved how Maggie and Ethan’s relationship was built and how it evolved. I loved how they teamed up to solve the mystery of the missing author and the perpetrator who threatens Maggie's life, leading to a satisfying resolution. The supporting cast of characters amplifies the suspense in a wonderful way! I loved the recurring themes in the book. Especially when I found out the reason why Ethan keeps calling Maggie by the wrong name. I also adored the Tucson chapter, it made me tear up. The only thing I didn’t like, were the repetitive lines like Maggie telling everyone she and Ethan hate each other and Ethan repeatedly saying he has to protect her as if he’s a superhero and she can’t take of herself. This book blends thriller and romance in a smart style that guarantees so much fun! I hope that we get Maggie and Ethan back to crack another mystery! I think this book is going to be a big hit! Many thanks to Ally Carter, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this highly enjoyable Christmas romance mystery’s e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

When Margaret Chase, cozy mystery writer, receives an invitation to spend Christmas in England with her favorite mystery writer Eleanor Ashley, she is thrilled, but onboard the private jet, there is another, Ethan Wyatt, thriller writer and her nemesis. On arrival they find that they weren't the only ones there. Eleanor's nephews, nieces, a lawyer, an inspector friend and another writer had been invited. They had arrived just before a massive snow storm hit and then the power. went out. The next morning their hostess is missing but Maggie seemed to be the only one that was concerned. She also found that there had been attempts on Eleanor's life. So, with the help of Ethan, she begins to investigate the disappearance of Eleanor..
A delightful, fast paced, cozy mystery with a rural setting, stranded suspects, secrets passages and snappy dialogue between our two sleuthing writers.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon, Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this e-galley of "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year".

3.75 🌟

Such a different holiday book that's not just another hallmark love story.

Okay, the mystery in this book sucked.me.in. Also, I loved the batter between Maggie and Ethan and just their relationship in general (no silly cheesiness). I do wish I got more insight into what Maggie was thinking as she solved the mystery but overall this was such a fun Christmas book!

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

***TRIGGER WARNING: Death of parents***
4.5

 The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year follows Maggie and Ethan who are both writers. They both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a fan. Neither of them were excepting it to be the most powerful author in the world Eleanor Ashley. During the night the weather gets bad and the next morning Eleanor is missing. Maggie is left to wonder is Eleanor in danger or is this some kind of test? At this house, their are a bunch of people who Maggie and Ethan do not know leaving them to only trust each other. There is just one problem the two can't stand each other. But as Maggie and Ethan get closer to the truth they also get closer to each other. Will they be able to become more than friends and find out what happened to Eleanor before it is too late?

I read "The Blonde Identity" by this author and I thought it was just okay and that was the first book I had read by her. So I was a bit nervous going into this book. I am happy because I thought this was so much better than her other book. This book reminded me a lot of the movie Knives Out  (which is such a great movie if you have not seen it I highly suggest). Also what I liked this that this book did not make Christmas the main part of the book. It was set during Christmas and did mention things about it but the main focus was on trying to figure out what happened to Eleanor. I liked how this book also had a small romance aspect. I will say that this book jumped from the past to the present and I think the parts in the past weren't really needed. I didn't think they added much to the overall plot. But this was a really good book and a different take on the holiday book. I would highly suggest this one. 

Thank you so much Ally Carter, Avon books, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

DNF at 12% unfortunately. I was really excited for this book and was completely drawn in by the title. However, I found the relationship between the two main characters to be unrealistic/cheesy and the "enemies" aspect seemed over-dramatized. While deciding whether or not to DNF, I saw a post from a trusted fellow bookstagrammer who said she was disappointed by this book and wished she'd DNFed it rather than finish it, so that was the nail in the coffin for me. I just had no interest in continuing to read and knew I would be forcing myself to keep going. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

This book is silly, mysterious, fun, sexy, and flirty!!! The banter between Ethan and Maggie was top tier, the plot was tiwsty and full of surprises, and it was the perfect enemies (kinda) to lovers story. Ally Carter absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley + Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc!!!

4.5 stars!
Maggie is the queen of cozy mysteries. Ian writes the hottest new thrillers. Maggie hates his guts, but Ian doesn’t even know her name. They’re both at a mysterious Christmas celebration, and then things get hairy. Will Maggie and Ian be able to resist murdering each other while they team up to solve the case?
This book is absolutely hilarious! Maggie’s dry snark is top notch and the meta-ness of mystery authors trying to solve a mystery in the mystery novel you’re reading offers up just as much delight as I’d hoped. This book is a really fun way to ease into the holiday spirit!