The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year: A Novel: An Enemies-to-Lovers Christmas Romance and a Cozy Mystery Set in the English C

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 2,583 ratings

Price: 2.99

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

"Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent dialogue, and fantastic characters, this expertly crafted story from Carter (The Blonde Identity) is a heart-melting rivals-to-lovers romance combined with a delightful locked-room mystery." — Library Journal (starred review)

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.

The laugh out loud holiday "romystery" that you've been waiting for!


From the Publisher

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THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR THE BLONDE IDENTITY
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
2,123
4.2 out of 5 stars
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Price $18.74 $13.48

Top reviews from the United States

  • ReneeM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Swoon and mystery! Loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
    The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

    4.75/5⭐️
    ????
    3/3????

    •My Thoughts•
    ALERT ALERT! This was a freaking DELIGHT! The was super fun and flirty with rival writers who are forced into close proximity around Christmas in an English mansion in a captivating game-of-clue-esque mystery. I loved the cast of characters, especially the MCs. I so enjoyed their backstories and how their relationship unraveled through a dual timeline that worked so well with the pacing and plot. The mystery was really engaging and I loved trying to figure it out! This was a shorter read at around 300 pages but the author managed to pack so much in! The MMC was sneakily swoony and our FMC grew so much - I adored them together. The banter was really fun and had me grinning. I need more books like this!! Absolutely recommend adding this to your TBR this holiday season, or whenever ???? I had a blast!
  • Lindsay
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024
    I enjoyed the mystery, and I liked the nods to classic mystery novels, like those by Agatha Christie.
    I didn’t like the swearing and innuendo, but I’m glad both were infrequent.

    Content:
    Moderate swear words used infrequently
    Descriptive kissing (I skipped it so I’m not clear on whether there was a fade to black or vague open door scene or if it was just kissing.)
  • JClark75
    5.0 out of 5 stars So cute!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024
    This was a great read! One of the most fun books I’ve read this year. It had a mystery and a romance which are two of my favorite genres. The pacing was great. I read every word. And set during the holidays which is perfect for this time of year!
  • LeeAnn B
    3.0 out of 5 stars This is a light fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024
    From the very beginning of this book I was hooked. I had heard such great things and had such high hopes for this story.

    The chemistry, banter, teasing and supposed animosity between Maggie & Ethan was incredible. I loved their relationship.

    The overall story fell a bit short for me. It felt predictable. This is a light fun read.
  • DW Booker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Christmas caper balances whodunnit with low-spice romance with some nice depth!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024
    I forget where I saw this book mentioned, but after reading the description on the author's page, which I liked, I sent it to my "clean romance"-loving friend and kind of forgot about it? But a week later my friend thanked me for recommending it, saying it was really fun. So I got my own Kindle copy and started reading...but I wasn't hooked at first--more confused than anything. But that wasn't because of book; my life was crazy for a sec and my head wasn't in the reading game. As a result, I spent too much time between reading sessions on the first few chapters and forgot things. But I could tell the writing was good, my friend liked it, and the chapters were SUPER short, so I just restarted the book.
    I'm glad I did! My friend pictured Ethan as Tony DiNozzo from NCIS and I thought that was a fine mental image of the rapscallion...who has much more to him than meets the eye! In fact, the main characters you spend time with have a lot of interesting pasts. I'm not sure if I'd call it "enemies to lovers" since he never butted heads with her; he was clearly playful the whole time, and she was clearly the grompy one in the relationship. But I liked their dynamic and banter, it was fun!

    The "whodunnit" characters aren't as fleshed out, but that didn't bother me. I really loved the cozy Christmas atmosphere in this big spooky mystery mansion, and the ending is solid. I'm glad I bought this so I can read it again next year!
  • A. Fox
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delight from beginning to end
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    One of those deeply set up romances where the conclusion feels earned, while at the same time, the plot just rips along, the characters are fun, the setting and adventure is excellent and the ending was perfect. One of those books that makes you feel giddy, it’s so fun.
  • Rachel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024
    Not a bad little mystery/romance/holiday read. Not my typical genre but it was cute. I’d recommend if you like this genre for sure.
  • Kimberley Stafford
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2024
    This is an absolutely delightful locked door mystery combined with a closed door enemies (maybe) to lovers romance. Two popular mystery writers are invited to the estate of a grande dame of mystery for Christmas, and then said grande dame disappears from her office without a trace. An intelligent, funny, romantic, touching, and twisty story commences. I loved it and I recommend it for a good Christmas read while tucked under fluffy blankets with your favorite hot beverage on hand.

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