The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Ratings20
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings20
Average rating4.2
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 two days before Christmas.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
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.
Reviews with the most likes.
Seasonal Vibe: Christmastime Travel Location: England I loved this book. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year had a balanced mix of mystery and romance. Some romance would be happening and then suddenly something would happen to get you back to the mystery, and vice versa. I loved the characters, and the vibe was perfect. It was Mystery+Romance+ Christmastime in snowy England. It was a joyful reading experience. It wasn't all “fluff”, though, because it did deal with difficult character backstories and bad things that had happened in the past. Of course, there was crime to solve, but also a character who's been gaslit. I liked Ally Carter's YA books; my favorites are her Heist Society books. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year had a similar feel to Heist Society, but adult. I went to a fantastic Ally Carter signing event shortly after this book was released, but I'd waited to read it because it's a Christmas book.
(4.75 stars) A Christmasy, locked room mystery tailor made for book lovers and fans of romantic suspense.
This was a quick fun read. The banter is witty. The mystery is compelling and twisty. The romance is swoony with some great protection tropes. It's the perfect book to read during the busy Christmas season when you have a million other things on your mind.
My only complaint was that some parts of the big finale twist kind of came out of nowhere, but it didn't ruin anything for me. I just think it would have been better to lay a little bit more groundwork.
Overall would recommend. Will reread. Great if you watch Knives Out and were like "I wish this had more romantic suspense".
i really enjoyed the first 25% of this and the setup of the mystery, but a lot of the mystery fell to the wayside for the romance which i felt nothing for at all. it was so dry
Loved this! Who knew I needed a Christmas closed-room mystery romance novel in my life? I'll read this again next year.
