Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt are mystery writers who are both invited to an English mansion for Christmas. The mansion is owned by Eleanor Ashley, the famous author of 99 mystery novels. On their first night at her home, Eleanor disappears without a trace. Though some of Eleanor’s family is there too, only Maggie and Ethan take on the task of searching for clues and finding Eleanor, while also avoiding assassination attempts on their lives.

This was a fun holiday mystery. Eleanor left some clues about her disappearance, but they were closely related to her novels. Since Maggie was a huge fan of hers, she was able to figure them out. The mystery was fun to follow, and I had a hard time figuring out who was responsible.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a great Christmas mystery!

Thank you Frenzy Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: poisoning, fire, gun violence

*The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year* by Ally Carter is a delightful holiday mystery that blends holiday cheer with a dash of intrigue, making it a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries and festive fun.

The story centers around the character of Kat, a skilled thief who finds herself once again in a situation where her unique set of skills is needed to solve a mystery. The book is set in a cozy, wintery atmosphere that makes it feel like the perfect holiday escape. The blend of crime-solving and holiday spirit creates a refreshing combination, offering a bit of tension and suspense, but never veering too far from the charm and warmth that readers expect from a holiday story.

Carter’s writing is playful, with a strong sense of fun and a knack for keeping things moving at a quick pace. The banter between characters is witty and endearing, and the chemistry between the protagonist and her allies adds a nice layer of sweetness to the book. While the mystery itself may not be as complex or high-stakes as some readers would prefer, it’s engaging enough to hold attention and add a bit of intrigue to the story.

While the characters are charming, I felt that they didn’t develop as much as they might have in a more substantial, standalone novel. Nonetheless, the cozy nature of the book and the holiday setting make it an enjoyable, low-stress read that provides just the right amount of festive escape.

It’s the perfect book to curl up with during the winter season if you're looking for something light-hearted, entertaining, and filled with holiday spirit. Fans of Ally Carter’s previous books, as well as those looking for a cozy mystery with a festive twist, will likely enjoy this charming addition to the holiday reading list.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

A cozy holiday mystery with two rival authors unexpectedly working together to solve what happened to the biggest mystery writer of all time., Eleanor Ashley. This is the right kind of holiday reading for those that have full schedules and need an entertaining book at the end of a long day. I could see this one as a holiday movie (not exactly Hallmark - maybe more like Netflix or Prime). This was my first book by Ally Carter. I did recommend to my twenty-something readers who wanted more than just a romance.

This story was incredible. The plot was engaging and the characters were perfect! It totally had Knives Out vibes, but was even better because of the romance. I was super impressed with how the story unfolded. The enemies to lovers aspect was brilliantly executed. I couldn't put it down!

Ebook through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

It is a laugh-out-loud English winter romp with all your favorite romance tropes bundled up in a riveting mystery. Carter is able to accomplish so much in a short read, most notably creating an engaging rivals-to-lovers romance (with some insta-love sprinkled in) that has you rooting for each character to not only find love with the other, but to grow with each obstacle they surpass.

I am so looking forward to more of Carter’s adult romances, and I look forward to hand-selling this title for readers seeking Christmas cheer but with a little danger under their mistletoe.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. 5 stars, no notes.

I loved Maggie and Ethan. I loved that Ethan was an alpha male, but not in a cliche way. He still had a great personality, he was still funny, and sensitive, and cared about others around him.

This was such a fun book to read, and I get the hype. I would recommend this to everyone!

This was such a fun book! I attempted to start it a couple of times and just was never in the mood but once I really got into it I loved it! It's part cozy mystery part closed door romance and all entertaining. I loved Eleanor's character. She was giving me Harlan Thrombey from Knives Out vibes. Ethan was so swoon and it was great to see Maggie come to trust herself over the course of the book. I absolutely adored the Knives Out vibes and the whole mystery plot. I think the balance between it and the romance was done really well too. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher, Frenzy Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mystery author Maggie Chase accepts a cryptic invitation supposedly sent by an anonymous fan to spend Christmas at a house party at their English estate. But her arch nemesis, Ethan Wyatt, who is famed for his thriller, has also received the same invitation. And their mysterious host is none other than Eleanor Ashley, the most famous mystery novelist in the world. An odd group gathers for the house party just as a massive storm hits the area, snowing them in and knocking out the phone lines. The next morning, Eleanor has disappeared, seemingly into thin air. Due to the way she vanished, Maggie suspects it might be a test or game of sorts, to follow the clues and find Eleanor. Ethan is less certain, especially when they begin to discover the suspicious happenings of the past few months. But with each clue they uncover, it’s beginning to look less like a test and more like a hunt to find a possible murderer – a murderer who is almost certainly with them in the manor.

Usually, when I hear the word contemporary novel, it’s a sign for me to pick another book. But for some reason, this book caught my eye immediately and I was really curious to see how it would be – maybe because there’s also a mystery involved? I also love the title!

I’ve always been fond of a locked room mystery and this was a particularly fun one. An 81 year old author disappearing without a trace from her locked study in the middle of a blizzard, and every other person in the house seemed to have a motive, rival authors caught in the middle of it – this mystery was an absolute delight to read and puzzle out alongside the main characters. It was such a cozy holiday themed read that I didn’t even mind when it got a bit cheesy or cliched at times.

This was such an easy and fast paced read, I finished it in a single sitting and was so disappointed when I turned the last page. I really liked how the various clues were revealed and how the twists were set up to steadily increase the tension throughout the book.

I don’t think I’ve seen this level of character development in these genres for a very long time. The flashbacks to Maggie’s past and divorce helped understand her character better and added so much depth.

The romance was actually really cute and the way it unfolded was wonderfully written, showing the characters’ interactions since they met from different perspectives though it was a little insta-lovey on Maggie’s part. Their back and forth banter was adorable, but at the same time I appreciated that all this remained very much a subplot and that the main focus was on the mystery.

The ending was quite the fun twist, though I did find the last few chapters to be a bit rushed. However, I felt this was one where the reader wasn’t given all the information, so I missed that element of trying to solve it myself. It also did leave several points open to interpretation, particularly what happened to Eleanor.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was a thoroughly entertaining read and would be a perfect addition to your holiday TBR! Highly recommended!

What a delightfully charming, witty, and fun winter read! Ally Carter creates a cozy and mysterious whodunit romance! I read this in 2 days and think it’s perfect for anyone wanting a quick, easy, funny read!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is definitely one of the most hyped books of the holiday season. I was curious and appreciate receiving a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Did I find the book entertaining - yes. Did I like the development between the main characters - yes and very much enjoyed the slow growth of it. Did I find this a little over the top at times - absolutely! But then it is a holiday mystery, romance, women’s fiction mix of a book. And combined together they made for an entertaining read. Is it my favorite book of the year - no but I’m glad I read it and think it is a good one to pick up during the hectic holiday season!io

"𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒌𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒆."

Special thanks to @williammorrow @harpercollins #scenofthecrime and @theallycarter for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

Maggie has some serious angst for Ethan. FREAKING. Wyatt. 🤣

The dedication is what hooked me from the start "if anyone has ever tried to gaslight you I to thinking you're the problem, congratulations! This book is for you"

This on has it all: sparks of romance, comedy, huge fan-girling , locked room, Clue w a spin type vibes.

This one has some many good one liners, it was hard to pick a striking one for the beginning of this review.

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
Sep 24, 2024

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻 ❓️⁉️❓️ Did you read any holiday books this season? What was your favorite, was it your normal genre?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #themostwonderfulcrimeoftheyear #allycarter #williammorrow
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Absolutely spot on with the Knives Out comparison!! Cozy mystery + cute romance = fun holiday read! 🎄

Highlights:
✨Books about books: two mystery writers trying to solve a mystery - plenty of suspects.
✨Remote Setting: Old English Mansion + a blizzard + a power outage = locked room perfection!
✨Cute romance: rivals to lovers, he falls first, closed door, witty banter
✨Short chapters: each chapter is only a few pages, making it easy to say, “Just one more.”

I hope Ally Carter considers writing another holiday mystery featuring Maggie and Ethan! I would eagerly grab book 2 without hesitation!

This book is so fun! It has an interesting premise--mystery writers solving a real-time mystery involving a doyenne of the genre--and the characters are engaging, and fully drawn. It's a quick, enjoyable read, and perfect for the holidays!

If you like romcoms with a bit of a holiday twist, you may enjoy this one. I think I was just not the correct reader; to me it wasn’t bad but I just didn’t love it.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for a non-biased review.

I was surprised and thoroughly enjoyed Ally Carter's novel. I tend to steer clear of romance novels but since there was a mystery element to the overall plot I thought I'd request a copy.

Maggie is a cozy mystery writer who along with Ethan is invited by Eleanor Ashley to her England home. Ethan is a crime thriller writer and Maggie simply doesn't like him. If a man doesn't even attempt to get her name correct then he's off her holiday nice list.

Once Maggie and Ethan arrive they're trapped in the mansion along with several of Eleanor's acquaintances. There's a horrible blizzard going on and no one can leave. The book has an "And Then There Were None" vibe with a dash of Knives Out.

What really worked for me was that the romance element was not the main focus of the book. There were nice descriptions of the weather, Christmas decorations, food and finally Eleanor Ashley's amazing home library.

The conflict between Maggie and Ethan dissolves into collaboration to catch a killer and it was nice to see a romance plot that didn't drag the conflict on with unnecessary tropes like lack of communication or bickering. The mystery was the focus. The romance was a small subplot.

The overall mystery was fun. This is a really great holiday, mystery read. Well written, good character development and a steady propulsion. One could easily read this with the busyness and requirements of December. If you put it down for a task you can easily pick it back up without losing the overall mood and plot of the book. This is due to Carter's good writing. I hope she writes another for next December. I'll be the first to sign up.

I went into this book knowing very little about it, and had never picked up an Ally Carter book. !!! This book had me right alongside the characters with every twist and turn. I loved the knives out feel and the Agatha Christie vibes. My favorite parts were Maggie and realizing her true value and her growth. Very satisfying ending!

Easily my favorite Christmas book I’ve read this year. I loved the mix of mystery and romance. The author paired the two really well and add in the enemies to lovers trope and SWOON.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Christmas came early for me because Ally Carter is back and better than ever! I absolutely loved reading her other book, The Blonde Identity, and my expectations were high with this new release. Holiday books can definitely be a bit cringe but WOW was I so pleasantly surprised with this one!

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Maggie Chase is simply not having a wonderful Christmastime. Her husband recently left her for her best friend, she has no other family to spend time with over the holidays. Her only companion these days is her extensive Eleanor Ashley collection, her favorite mystery author, who has written 99 bestselling books. Maggie is also a mystery writer, and when she's not working on her new book or re-reading the Eleanor Ashley catalog, she's annoyed with her colleague and nemesis, Ethan Wyatt.

Out of nowhere, she receives an anonymous invitation to fly private to an English estate two days before Christmas. When she loads her bags on the plane, she sees the worst person sitting opposite her chair - Ethan Wyatt. They have both received the mysterious invitation to the manor.

When they touch ground in England, Maggie learns that the one and only, Eleanor Ashley, owns the estate they're going to. Eleanor has personally invited them to attend a Christmas party with extended family, doctors, lawyers, police, a duke and duchess, and even more authors in attendance. That very night, Eleanor goes missing from her own house.

As the group of seemingly random strangers get to know each other while snowed in at the manor, Maggie and Ethan learn more about the situation. Suddenly, people are being poisoned and shot at, and Ethan and Maggie have to put their differences aside to work together and find Eleanor. Could she actually be in danger, or is this some kind of test? Why were these two random authors invited? And why does it seem like everyone here has a motive to want Eleanor Ashley to disappear for good? And why does Ethan all of a sudden look so hot in that stupid Christmas sweater????

I knew I was going to love this book from the first page. Immediately the spark and chemistry between Maggie and Ethan was so clear and jumped off the page. I loved that there was a bit of grumpy/sunshine without Maggie being so perpetually grump that it felt like a facade.

The writing was genuinely funny, in a way that felt natural; the writing made it feel like a romcom was telling me a mystery, a combo that worked so well. This was a fast-paced, quick read that lived up to its stunning cover.

Loved this absolutely fun and addicting locked-room mystery/caper/romance! So funny and just a good time read for the holidays. I haven't read The Blonde Identity yet (the author's other adult novel), but now I really really want to.

I loved a good locked-room mystery and this one did not disappoint. The banter and rivalry between Ethan and Maggie was amazing and kept me smiling the whole book and the mystery itself was engaging. I enjoyed the "treasure hunt" to get to the end (not a literal treasure hunt, unless you could a missing author as the treasure). This was the perfect light-hearted murder mystery I need nowadays.

So great!