5 amazing stars! A favourite of the year! A book full of joy.

“Of course, I’m not offended that you’d accuse me of murder. I’m offended you’d think I’d be bad at it.”

While this is sadly not a sequel to The Blonde Identity, Ally Carter is a new favourite romance author for me. Her adult releases have the perfect mix of comedy, mystery and romance. Accomplished with great character work, squee-worthy couples and a brilliantly funny and emotional writing style. And it’s always great when you’re only 10% into a book and already cry-laughing!

Where The Blonde Identity was a spy thriller, this book is a take on a classic country house mystery! It is slightly more serious and slightly less insane (but still very insane, in the best way) because Maggie is such a different protagonist and it's a single-POV narrative. The characters in this start out just a little bit more broken and need just that little bit more time to find their strength. But it's so beautifully done. I adored it! The balance between the heartfelt emotional component and the comedy is so brilliantly executed!

I can’t wait to re-read this and I desperately hope that Ally Carter keeps writing these kinds of books for many, many years to come!

An adorable mystery romance with two awesome MC’s! I loved following the thrilling g parts with the sprinkled in romance! It’s perfect for the winter holiday season! The cover is amazing!!!

I ADORE Ally Carter and as soon as I saw this cover, I had to have it. It's giving Archer vibes with the cover and with it being a Knives Out kinda mystery comedy, it's a need.

And, man, did she deliver. This is a delightfully clever holiday mystery-romance that perfectly captures the atmospheric charm of classics like the movie Clue and Agatha Christie novels, while adding its own fresh, romcom twist. The chemistry between cozy mystery author Maggie Chase and thriller writer Ethan Wyatt crackles with wit and humor as they're forced to work together to solve the mysterious disappearance of a legendary author from a snowbound English estate. I absolutely loved this romcom mystery, a genre I didn't know I needed, and was trying to stay one step ahead of the duo until the very end.

This was the perfect cozy mystery and sweet romance rolled into one. Ethan and Maggie make a great team, and the cast of characters gathered at an English manor for Christmas provides a perfect combo of suspects and red herrings.

I would say 3.5 rounded up! The cover threw me off, but the book was fun! It was a mix of Rom Com & Mystery.
Maggie Chase & Ethan Wyatt are both best selling authors, but they don't like each other at all. (At least that is what Maggie thinks.)
They both get invited to spend Christmas with a mystery "fan" who just so happens to be Maggie's idol author, Eleanor Ashley.
Eleanor Ashley lives at mansion called the Mistletoe Manor, where she ends up disappearing from. Maggie & Ethan ultimately learned that they are snowed in with someone in the house who caused Eleanor's disappearance. Are they able to put their differences aside to figure out what happened to Eleanor?

This was a fun one! Ethan made me LOL quite a bit!


Thank you Netgalley!

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it! When they say it's like Knives Out, they're not kidding. This definitely had major Knives Out vibes, but I still had fun and would definitely read more like this in the future.

Even though I struggled with getting hooked into the plot within the first quarter of the book, I found after digging through thw snow there was a really charming and sweet romance with just enough suspense underneath.

Maggie is a relatable protagonist and I enjoy how Carter focuses on sides of professional writing that I enjoyed.

One day Maggie’s publisher gives her a cryptic invite to a Christmas party at the house of her biggest fan. Kinda odd, but too peculiar of an opportunity to pass up. Turns out, that fan is none other than The Duchess of Death herself, Elenor Ashley (her favorite author). The only downside is, another author is also tagging along. Ethan. Wyatt. Big-time thriller writer, and a big-time THORN in Maggie’s side. The night they get to the English estate, the weather takes a turn for the worse and Elenor disappears. As time goes on, Maggie has to decide who she can trust and what is actually happening. In an effort to figure out the truth and save Elenor, Maggie & Ethan have to become allies (and maybe a little more?)

This was the first mystery rom-com that I have read and I absolutely adored it! I did struggle a bit with understanding the tone of the book in the beginning. Around 25% the plot started unfolding and I began devouring it!

Thank you so much for this early copy and opportunity to share my thoughts!

This book was everything to me. Knives out is one of my favorite movies and romance is my favorite genre…so this was absolutely made just for me. I loved Ethan and Maggie’s chemistry and especially how obsessed with her he was. I really enjoyed the mystery elements as well, it kept me guessing right up until the end. Really recommend this book to all romance fans but even mystery fans might find the perfect cozy book for their holiday read here! Loved it

Okay but like this book was sooo freakin good. I was hooked from the very first page! A locked room mystery with an enemies to lovers romance.. what more could you possibly want? Oh and might I add that he falls first.

First off, I would just like to say that my husband’s name is Ethan and he reminded me so much of his character. It made me love reading this story even more. Maggie was an amazing character as well. I loved watching her grow throughout the story and seeing how her and Ethan’s relationship morphed.

I haven’t read anything by Ally Carter before so I’m really happy with how much I enjoyed this book. I’m very excited to read more from her in the future!

Highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a sweet and fan Christmas romcom with a bit of mystery thrown in there!

What a romp! Maggie and her arch nemesis are invited to a special Christmas by an unknown benefactor...a motley group assembles in an amazing mansion, poison is in the air, and disappearances keep you jumping. And what about Maggie and Ethan, the arch nemesis? This book will keep the pages turning as you follow the adventures of this lively young author as she tries to solve the mysteries that keep building around her! Filled with adventure, humor, and romance, this is a surefire hit that will make your holiday.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.
This book really did hit close to home where Maggie did not trust herself. Her relationship was a dumpster fire and the way she got out of it was tough but commendable. Ethan repeatedly wanted to save her, like a superhero, was cute for some time but was a bit much.
Am interesting enough mystery although it took me a while to get through it.

This book is everything! I loved reading it so much and I laughed so much. I will be checking out more by this author.

Maggie and Ethan were invited to spend Christmas with another mystery writer, Eleanor. The next day, Eleanor disappears and the fun begins. Fun for the reader, not the characters.
This book was amazing! I love that Ally Carter has moved to writing adult romance. The character growth on this one for both characters was fantastic. The mystery was complex and fun combined with a little bit of romance made this book a perfect weekend read! There was so much inner and outer conflict and action. I was drawn into the story immediately and didn’t stop until the end. Huge thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

**Thank you to Avon for this free digital review copy.**

This story of two rival mystery writers coming together to solve a real-life mystery was entertaining but not groundbreaking. Part mystery and part romance, it was at many times quite cheesy but at other times really deep, so there was a nice balance. The mystery of it was a bit formulaic, but not in a way that was boring, just familiar. I personally went back and forth with what I thought was going to happen and was pleased with what I could figure out while still being surprised by certain details.

At the end of the day, this was a pretty standard Christmas novel; it was an enjoyable read, but not one I need to revisit every year. I do recommend it, but it's not a must-read. 3 stars – I enjoyed it!

I've been a fan of Ally Carter for many years (since the first Gallagher Girls book), so I was so excited to see she was writing adult books again. While I liked The Blonde Ambition, I LOVED The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. It felt like an Ally book more so than The Blonde Ambition. It read like a grown up Gallagher or Heist Society book.
The characters are lovely. The plot was woven together perfectly, which is what Carter does best. It was a warm, happy read.
I hope Carter will write more books like this in the future!

This was such a fun Christmas romance mystery with Knives out vibes and I loved it. I really enjoyed the mystery and loved the chemistry between Maggie & Ethan and woo man the misunderstanding between them just made them finally getting together so satisfying. I loved the gathering of all the family and our 3 mystery writers who have no idea why they are at the most famous Mystery writer Eleanor Ashley’s home for Christmas only for her to disappear during the first night and the search is on to find her. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and I loved all the twists and turns as well as the glimpse of the past interactions between Maggie & Ethan that fueled the misunderstandings between them. This was a great cozy mystery romance from Ally Carter and I can’t wait to see what she has coming next.

Thanks to Avon & Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I’ve been a fan of Ally Carter’s books since my teen years, and her recent adult releases have me absolutely hooked! The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year hits the sweet spot for those who love a cozy mystery with a side of romance. This is a perfect winter read, featuring all the elements that for me personally make a mystery irresistible: a remote English estate, a sudden snowstorm cutting off all outside help, and a room full of potential suspects! The tension is perfectly balanced with cozy vibes, making this a page-turner from start to finish!

Maggie, our main character, is wonderfully relatable—she’s tenacious, passionate, and in the process of healing from a tough divorce. Watching her navigate the case while dealing with her own emotional scars makes for a character you can’t help but root for. Ethan, the “big-time thriller guy,” is head-over-heels for Maggie, though he’s hiding a few secrets himself. I loved how his humor lightened the mood, and their interactions kept me eagerly flipping pages! Their relationship has a lovely mix of tension and support, with both characters helping each other face past traumas!

The mystery itself is engaging and full of twists—right up to the end, I was kept guessing about the “whodunnit,” which is always a win in my book! The story’s mixed media format, including police interview transcripts and well-timed flashbacks, added a fresh layer to the narrative without disrupting the pacing. It’s a clever way to reveal clues, add layers to the characters dynamics, and keep you on your toes!

While the romance leaned a little into insta-love territory, it still felt earned since Maggie herself had spent years assuming Ethan disliked her. The slow revelation of their feelings, especially in such a high-stakes, snowbound setting, added a cozy warmth to the chilling mystery!

All in all, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a delightful read, perfect for anyone who prefers their mysteries with a touch of romance. Ally Carter has done it again, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Ally Carter is one of my favs. What a fun tale that had me guessing the whole time. I will definitely recommend to my book club!

I think the author really brought these characters to life. I enjoyed "Maggie" and Ethan. I loved the locked room/mansion setting and thought it was really well written. I hope this duo is coming back for more!