What do you think?
Rate this book
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
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 three days before Christmas.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan
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 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 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 bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan
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 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 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.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
11452 people are currently reading
130399 people want to read
About the author
Ally Carter
47 books18.2k followersAlly Carter writes books about sneaky people and movies about Christmas. She is the New York Times Best-selling author of the Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, and Embassy Row series for teens as well as WINTERBORNE HOME FOR VENGEANCE AND VALOR for younger readers. Her books have been published all over the world, in over twenty languages.
She encourages you to visit her online at allycarter.com and embassyrowbooks.com.
She encourages you to visit her online at allycarter.com and embassyrowbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 23,799 reviews
December 20, 2025
Did she sound like a whiny child? Yes. Did she care? Not even a little bit.
Oh boy. Here we go.
When I first heard about this story, I thought this was it. Billed as Knives Out meets enemies-to-lovers, you couldn't get me to say "Sold!" fast enough. I immediately dropped everything on my TBR and made room for this. But alas, I'm having a hard time pointing to even one thing I liked about it.
Let me start by saying that when an author wants a down-on-their-luck heroine but don't quite know how to write one, the result is often someone like Maggie. Instead of being a character who is sympathetic and cheer-worthy, you get one who is precious, annoying, and at times downright mean. She needs constant reassurance that she's special and worthy, but she's so stuck in her pity party that all she can give back is insecurity and insults.
Enter Ethan, our nice, handsome, charming male lead who crushes hard on Maggie, no matter what she does and says to him.
"Sometimes I lie in bed at night, thinking of ways to kill you and make it look like an accident."
In case it's not clear, that isn't the murderer talking, that's Maggie speaking to Ethan. Yikes. Seriously you guys, you know anyone who's attracted to people wanting to kill them? Yeah, me neither. And Ethan's response wasn't to run out of there screaming like a banshee, but rather something insipid and flirty. I just can't.
So when you put these two characters together, you'd be right to think their interactions would be vapid and cringe-inducing. And indeed they were. Every dialogue was as dull as dishwater, yet presented like they were some sort of witty repartee deserving of swoon. Reader, I did not swoon. Indeed, I should say I was lucky I did not suffer permanent damage from the constant eye-rolling.
In order for enemies-to-lovers to work, it has to make sense why they were enemies in the first place. But here, to pile on to poor Maggie's characterization of being annoying and full of herself, her only reason for disliking Ethan, which she states time and again, is that he's "handsome and charming and . . . universally adored." Ah, pettiness doesn't look good on anyone, and Maggie certainly didn't change my mind.
It's hard to stay engaged with such bland, unlikable characters, and the writing didn't help either. During what should've been emotionally charged moments, it often felt like we were just dropped there without any buildup or the necessary cues. In fact, when Ethan revealed the big ol' secret of his job prior to being an author, I actually laughed because I thought it was a punchline and he was joking.
But what about the mystery, you ask? Well, it had potential, but ultimately ended up rather clichéd. It's clear that the focus of the story was on Maggie and Ethan, and the rest of the characters were more or less cartoony cutouts lifted from the mystery genre. And I'm willing to put up with that, if not for the very end.
Mystery writers everywhere, in case it's not clear, I never want to reach the end of the mystery and see the line "there are some mysteries that are better left unsolved, some questions better left unanswered." Uh, no. Writers, it is your duty, after all that build up, to make sure I know every which way exactly how it all unfolded. It is not cute nor satisfying to leave a big part of the mystery unsolved just because.
But hey, don't let me dissuade you. I see nothing but glowing reviews for this book, so what do I know? But if you're unsure, I've devised a litmus test:
"Dobson thinks we tried to kill Eleanor. But that's crazy. Isn't that crazy? I think that's crazy. Because you are you. and I am me, and we are not a we?"
If that quote and all the italics made sense to you, have at it. Otherwise, you're probably better off saving your TBR—and your eyes—for a less exasperating read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
✧ This was a pick for my BOTM box. Get your first book for $5 here.
December 9, 2024
4.5 stars! Incredible!!!! one of my favorite holiday reads
December 26, 2024
3.75 stars! This book was suchhhh a fun read & one of my new fav Christmas romances. I LOVE the plot setup and that all of our main characters are mystery authors. Mystery authors falling in love and solving a mystery was so fun to read about. I also love that our two main characters have a lot of layers and depth to them. I really related to Maggie being a people pleaser and often second-guessing herself and her instincts.
The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because it was more of a light fun book to me. But I'd really recommend it. It's also not overly Christmasy so you don't have to read it during the holidays to enjoy it.
The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because it was more of a light fun book to me. But I'd really recommend it. It's also not overly Christmasy so you don't have to read it during the holidays to enjoy it.
February 5, 2025
I think if the author wanted to rename this book, it could be: "It Happened in the Elevator."
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: yes, sign me up!
I already rounded up my four and a half stars to give it a full five. It's an entertaining, trapped-in-a-mansion scenario where everyone has a motive to be the killer—a perfect crime of the year!
Yes, Christmas came early for me as soon as I started reading this book! The twisty murder mystery is smart and riveting. The characterization reminds you of the movie “Clue”! Maggie (not Marcie) and Ethan’s chemistry hits the roof, making you hyperventilate, even though it takes place in the freezing wintertime in England! Ethan reminded me of the mischievous, playful, flirty Richard Castle, including his relationship with his dad! (Who can resist reading a book when the hero is as charming as Nathan Fillion?) Maggie’s traumatic past is heartbreaking. Her self-deprecation and suspicions about people’s motives are understandable, but her wounds make her one of the best crime writers.
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 made a loud “awww” sound, forgetting I was reading this book in a cafe. Everyone gathered around me to ask what I was reading, was it really good, and I told them it was not good, it was perfect!
I also adored the Tucson chapter. It made my eyes blurry!
The only thing I didn’t like, which made me cut half a star, 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 from MCU movies, stuck with a cheesy line the worst screenwriters put on paper, dooming the entire movie to flop at the box office.
Instead of those lines, I loved how the romance bloomed between Ethan and Maggie. They are afraid of coming clean about their feelings, hiding behind harsh banter (from Maggie’s side) and flirty teasing (from Ethan’s coping mechanism). 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.
I hope the authors bring these two characters back to crack another mystery! So far, I’ve had an amazing time! I highly recommend you go in blind and jump into this book if you’re a die-hard fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and, of course, an intelligently written locked-room mystery with riveting pacing. Luckily, this book blends thriller and romance in a smart style that guarantees so much fun!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this highly enjoyable Christmas romance mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter<
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: yes, sign me up!
I already rounded up my four and a half stars to give it a full five. It's an entertaining, trapped-in-a-mansion scenario where everyone has a motive to be the killer—a perfect crime of the year!
Yes, Christmas came early for me as soon as I started reading this book! The twisty murder mystery is smart and riveting. The characterization reminds you of the movie “Clue”! Maggie (not Marcie) and Ethan’s chemistry hits the roof, making you hyperventilate, even though it takes place in the freezing wintertime in England! Ethan reminded me of the mischievous, playful, flirty Richard Castle, including his relationship with his dad! (Who can resist reading a book when the hero is as charming as Nathan Fillion?) Maggie’s traumatic past is heartbreaking. Her self-deprecation and suspicions about people’s motives are understandable, but her wounds make her one of the best crime writers.
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 made a loud “awww” sound, forgetting I was reading this book in a cafe. Everyone gathered around me to ask what I was reading, was it really good, and I told them it was not good, it was perfect!
I also adored the Tucson chapter. It made my eyes blurry!
The only thing I didn’t like, which made me cut half a star, 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 from MCU movies, stuck with a cheesy line the worst screenwriters put on paper, dooming the entire movie to flop at the box office.
Instead of those lines, I loved how the romance bloomed between Ethan and Maggie. They are afraid of coming clean about their feelings, hiding behind harsh banter (from Maggie’s side) and flirty teasing (from Ethan’s coping mechanism). 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.
I hope the authors bring these two characters back to crack another mystery! So far, I’ve had an amazing time! I highly recommend you go in blind and jump into this book if you’re a die-hard fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and, of course, an intelligently written locked-room mystery with riveting pacing. Luckily, this book blends thriller and romance in a smart style that guarantees so much fun!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this highly enjoyable Christmas romance mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
December 9, 2024
This was SO much fun. I need more cozy mystery romcoms in my life!!
December 6, 2024
Finally!!! A holiday book for the thriller girls!!!
February 7, 2025
Another flop for me. DNF @45%
╰⪼ 🎄Enemies to Lovers
╰⪼ ❤️Agatha Christie Vibes
╰⪼ 🎄Holiday Rom-Com
╰⪼ ❤️Locked Room Mystery
╰⪼ 🎄Clue Vibes
╰⪼ ❤️Witty Banter
╰⪼ 🎄Fast Paced
╰⪼ ❤️Mystery Author ✘ Mystery Author
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
January 6, 2025
There were some parts of this that TRULY felt like a Knives Out type of murder mystery and that was so fun. But the romance made me outwardly cringe so bad in the second half, especially with the main guy's compulsive use of "sweetheart" in addition to his extreme savior complex. I also feel like there could have been more than a few pages dedicated to wrapping up the mystery. Overall a fun cheesy holiday read though.
December 6, 2025
This was such a fun holiday read!!! Perfect amount of mystery and romance!
February 2, 2025
the first half of this was SO good, I'm actually a little annoyed that it didn't stick the landing and become one of my new favourite books lol
December 13, 2024
Do you like the enemies-to-lovers trope? Do you like locked-room cozy mysteries? Does a snowed-in scenario at an English countryside estate sound good? Does a story inspired by the famous disappearance of Agatha Christie intrigue you? Do you like a wounded FMC who has to learn to let her guard down and trust the sarcastic, yet eminently lovable MMC?
Welcome to Ally Carter’s newest book The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, where you’ll get a solid cozy mystery and a charming rom-com all rolled into one!
Mystery author Maggie Chase hates Ethan Wyatt, a fellow author at their publishing imprint. He’s good-looking, popular with literally everyone and the guy can NEVER get her name right. Marcie? Margaret Grace? Margaret Olivia? Margaret Lavinia? (For the record, it’s Margaret Elizabeth). What she doesn’t understand is that Ethan knows EXACTLY who she is and has since the very first moment he saw her in that elevator years ago!
When Maggie and Ethan are unexpectedly invited for Christmas to the vast estate of Eleanor Ashley, the grand dame of their fictional mystery-writing world, Maggie thinks she may have died and gone to heaven! Her euphoria is short-lived when the eighty-one-year-old, whose books were Maggie’s lifeblood growing up, goes missing from her locked office
Trapped by a blizzard with an assortment of Eleanor’s other guests, including her son and daughter-in-law, her niece, butler, doctor, a lawyer, an inspector, a duchess and duke and fellow author Sir Jasper, Maggie has to draw on her extensive knowledge of Eleanor’s books to try to solve the mystery of what happened to her, if she can avoid all those pesky attempts on her life. It’s a good thing Ethan used to be a ! Maybe he’s not so bad after all …
This was really cute! The mystery is decent and serves to move the story along and give a reason for our MCs to grow closer, but it’s not the strength of the book. Where the book shines is the romance arc and the sarcastic, playful banter between Maggie and Ethan, which was so fun on the audio narrated by the talented Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber. Each gets their own POV chapters, so you get both sides of the story, which is told in present and past chapters with short but hilarious police interview interstitials scattered throughout.
If you like a holiday rom-com with a little Agatha-inspired mystery thrown in, this is a fun one!
★★★★
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager Books, NetGalley and author Ally Carter for the digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. It’s out now.
Welcome to Ally Carter’s newest book The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, where you’ll get a solid cozy mystery and a charming rom-com all rolled into one!
Mystery author Maggie Chase hates Ethan Wyatt, a fellow author at their publishing imprint. He’s good-looking, popular with literally everyone and the guy can NEVER get her name right. Marcie? Margaret Grace? Margaret Olivia? Margaret Lavinia? (For the record, it’s Margaret Elizabeth). What she doesn’t understand is that Ethan knows EXACTLY who she is and has since the very first moment he saw her in that elevator years ago!
When Maggie and Ethan are unexpectedly invited for Christmas to the vast estate of Eleanor Ashley, the grand dame of their fictional mystery-writing world, Maggie thinks she may have died and gone to heaven! Her euphoria is short-lived when the eighty-one-year-old, whose books were Maggie’s lifeblood growing up, goes missing from her locked office
Trapped by a blizzard with an assortment of Eleanor’s other guests, including her son and daughter-in-law, her niece, butler, doctor, a lawyer, an inspector, a duchess and duke and fellow author Sir Jasper, Maggie has to draw on her extensive knowledge of Eleanor’s books to try to solve the mystery of what happened to her, if she can avoid all those pesky attempts on her life. It’s a good thing Ethan used to be a ! Maybe he’s not so bad after all …
This was really cute! The mystery is decent and serves to move the story along and give a reason for our MCs to grow closer, but it’s not the strength of the book. Where the book shines is the romance arc and the sarcastic, playful banter between Maggie and Ethan, which was so fun on the audio narrated by the talented Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber. Each gets their own POV chapters, so you get both sides of the story, which is told in present and past chapters with short but hilarious police interview interstitials scattered throughout.
If you like a holiday rom-com with a little Agatha-inspired mystery thrown in, this is a fun one!
★★★★
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager Books, NetGalley and author Ally Carter for the digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. It’s out now.
December 30, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! The banter ♥️ the setting ❄️ the plot 🔎 this Christmas book has it all! I may just have to read this every year in December! More like this please and thank you!
December 20, 2024
There will be spoilers in this review.
Reading the synopsis, this is what I thought the story would be: Maggie and Ethan, two authors who for some reason can’t stand each other, are invited to this famous author’s home. The author, Eleanor Ashley, disappears, and now they are forced to work together to figure out what happened, and also they’ll obviously fall in love.
So that’s what I expected, that’s what I wanted. But it’s not what I got.
What could’ve been a cute romance with a mystery side plot turned into a game of Clue come alive with some random romance elements that felt very forced, way too many characters and a half-baked mystery.
I thought (and hoped) that it would just be Maggie and Ethan trying to solve the mystery, but no.
To give you an idea here’s a list of all the characters in this story that I can remember: Maggie and Ethan, Sir Jasper, Inspector Dobson, the Duke and Duchess of Stratford, Rupert and Kitty and their children, their children’s Nanny, Dr. Charles, James the butler, Freddy Banes. And there might have been more.
What’s even worse, I did not like a single one of them. Especially Maggie and Ethan, which I’m pretty sure I was supposed to like since they’re the main characters in this romance. All of them just annoyed me to varying degrees.
But back to the story, after Maggie and Ethan arrived and Eleanor disappeared, the two of them try to work together and their behaviour was just so odd. Like they think someone in the house did something to Eleanor, possibly murdered her, and they are trying to find clues and stuff and then all of a sudden they would just randomly start flirting and making out, eventually even having sex while still searching for this missing woman and staying in a house with people they suspect of murder. Like that's just weird?
Maybe I took it too seriously, but their actions didn’t match the seriousness of the situation at all, nor did the things they said and thought. Maggie kept talking about how much she hated Ethan (for no reason) and then they'd start kissing out of nowhere? They acted so familiar with each other, and I just kept thinking how they don’t even know each other. It was really frustrating to read. And it got more frustrating the further I got.
My favourite scene has to be this though: Close to the end, someone knocked Maggie out, dragged her to some shack, tied her up and left her there. Ethan finds her, tries to get her out, someone sets the whole thing on fire. They escape to some cottage, she’s actively bleeding from a head wound, and then they just have sex right then and there. Like wtf is happening?!
Also the whole story revolves around finding Eleanor and then they don’t really? She’s just gone? Because this was all some elaborate plan? And now she lives on a Greek island with the butler??!!
___
I’m not into christmasy books at all but this cover speaks to me for some reason 👀 🤸♀️
Fingers crossed it’s more on the wintry side!
Reading the synopsis, this is what I thought the story would be: Maggie and Ethan, two authors who for some reason can’t stand each other, are invited to this famous author’s home. The author, Eleanor Ashley, disappears, and now they are forced to work together to figure out what happened, and also they’ll obviously fall in love.
So that’s what I expected, that’s what I wanted. But it’s not what I got.
What could’ve been a cute romance with a mystery side plot turned into a game of Clue come alive with some random romance elements that felt very forced, way too many characters and a half-baked mystery.
I thought (and hoped) that it would just be Maggie and Ethan trying to solve the mystery, but no.
To give you an idea here’s a list of all the characters in this story that I can remember: Maggie and Ethan, Sir Jasper, Inspector Dobson, the Duke and Duchess of Stratford, Rupert and Kitty and their children, their children’s Nanny, Dr. Charles, James the butler, Freddy Banes. And there might have been more.
What’s even worse, I did not like a single one of them. Especially Maggie and Ethan, which I’m pretty sure I was supposed to like since they’re the main characters in this romance. All of them just annoyed me to varying degrees.
But back to the story, after Maggie and Ethan arrived and Eleanor disappeared, the two of them try to work together and their behaviour was just so odd. Like they think someone in the house did something to Eleanor, possibly murdered her, and they are trying to find clues and stuff and then all of a sudden they would just randomly start flirting and making out, eventually even having sex while still searching for this missing woman and staying in a house with people they suspect of murder. Like that's just weird?
Maybe I took it too seriously, but their actions didn’t match the seriousness of the situation at all, nor did the things they said and thought. Maggie kept talking about how much she hated Ethan (for no reason) and then they'd start kissing out of nowhere? They acted so familiar with each other, and I just kept thinking how they don’t even know each other. It was really frustrating to read. And it got more frustrating the further I got.
My favourite scene has to be this though: Close to the end, someone knocked Maggie out, dragged her to some shack, tied her up and left her there. Ethan finds her, tries to get her out, someone sets the whole thing on fire. They escape to some cottage, she’s actively bleeding from a head wound, and then they just have sex right then and there. Like wtf is happening?!
Also the whole story revolves around finding Eleanor and then they don’t really? She’s just gone? Because this was all some elaborate plan? And now she lives on a Greek island with the butler??!!
___
I’m not into christmasy books at all but this cover speaks to me for some reason 👀 🤸♀️
Fingers crossed it’s more on the wintry side!
December 8, 2024
this was in fact not wonderful, and just a crime.
December 18, 2024
Ethan Wyatt, you’re such a green flag. 💕
super cute, banter was actually great, and the mystery was surprisingly pretty fun.
• he falls first
• snowy setting
• two author main characters
• banter
• mystery
• no spice :)
• short + sweet (~300 pages)
🎄
super cute, banter was actually great, and the mystery was surprisingly pretty fun.
• he falls first
• snowy setting
• two author main characters
• banter
• mystery
• no spice :)
• short + sweet (~300 pages)
🎄
October 29, 2024
Fun, nearly unputdownable, and full of interesting characters. I enjoyed this book — I went in with no expectations since it was, after all, a holiday-themed romance meets crime novel. I suppose I was expecting something closer to a Hallmark movie, and while those can be entertaining, this book was much better than any of those movies I’ve seen. The main character development is moderate — I didn’t feel like anyone was fully- or under-developed. We get to know everyone just enough to care. The cast of characters can make some details a little blurry, but I enjoyed how everyone is slightly ridiculous-entirely psychopathic. The writing is well done, and the story keeps readers guessing and giggling.
September 24, 2024
Although I don’t think the cover fits the book at all, I really enjoyed it! A fun mystery with a bit of romance and comedy thrown in.
There are a lot of books that claim to be for those who enjoyed Knives Out, but this one actually reminded me quite a bit of that movie. Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt are both bestselling authors, but they don't like each other at all. Now they have both been invited to spend Christmas with a mysterious "fan" in England, who turns out to be the queen of all mystery writers, Eleanor Ashley. They are joined by Eleanor's various family members and other staff, but on the night after their arrival--Eleanor disappears from a locked room. They become snowed in, the bridge is out, and it seems that someone wants to commit murder. What happened to Eleanor and can Maggie and Ethan put aside their differences to stay alive?
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and although the ultimate reveal of the main villain was lackluster and rushed, the entire experience of the book was so delightful it didn't really matter. There are little clues and mysteries to solve, and watching Ethan and Maggie work through their pasts gave the book more depth and meaning. Their banter is exactly what one looks for in a rom-com!
Ignore the silly cover and title, this book is well worth reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
There are a lot of books that claim to be for those who enjoyed Knives Out, but this one actually reminded me quite a bit of that movie. Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt are both bestselling authors, but they don't like each other at all. Now they have both been invited to spend Christmas with a mysterious "fan" in England, who turns out to be the queen of all mystery writers, Eleanor Ashley. They are joined by Eleanor's various family members and other staff, but on the night after their arrival--Eleanor disappears from a locked room. They become snowed in, the bridge is out, and it seems that someone wants to commit murder. What happened to Eleanor and can Maggie and Ethan put aside their differences to stay alive?
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and although the ultimate reveal of the main villain was lackluster and rushed, the entire experience of the book was so delightful it didn't really matter. There are little clues and mysteries to solve, and watching Ethan and Maggie work through their pasts gave the book more depth and meaning. Their banter is exactly what one looks for in a rom-com!
Ignore the silly cover and title, this book is well worth reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
January 1, 2025
✩ 4.5 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ “Who did this to you?”
➼ He Falls First
➼ MC’s are Mystery Authors
➼ Locked Door Mystery
➼ Dual Timeline
➼ Holiday Romance
➼ Christmas in England
➼ Third Person POV
This was a four star story but the audio was so well done that it bumped it up to 5! Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber are two of the BEST narrators in the game and the addition of the police interviews gave it a unique twist! The difference in the sound quality of those recordings was perfectly executed! I loved it!
I could see the spice lovers being a little disappointed by this, but if the romance is written right, I really don’t think spice is always needed. The circumstances of their initial meeting and their early interactions created the perfect set up for both the “Rivals-to-lovers” and “He Falls First” Tropes. There was a small amount of miscommunication needed to pull this off, but it wasn’t enough to really bother me.
I often find that the “cozy mystery” genre sounds better in theory than in practice, but this book was definitely the exception. The locked door mystery was very intriguing and involved more twists than I expected and I loved the setting and the circumstances that brought them to the remote English estate.
I am honestly surprised by some of the harsh reviews I’ve read. I was a little annoyed at the beginning when the MMC kept asking the FMC if she wanted to make out, but even that grew on me by the end. To each their own, but there’s a lot to love here! I highly recommend this book, especially the audio! If you love the game or the movie Clue or cozy mysteries in general, I think this will be right up your alley!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: 5 books to go! 🤗
Using up my Spotify minutes on this! The ratings are all over the place on this one which always makes me extra intrigued. 👀 Gotta see for my self!
What to Expect:
➼ Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ “Who did this to you?”
➼ He Falls First
➼ MC’s are Mystery Authors
➼ Locked Door Mystery
➼ Dual Timeline
➼ Holiday Romance
➼ Christmas in England
➼ Third Person POV
This was a four star story but the audio was so well done that it bumped it up to 5! Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber are two of the BEST narrators in the game and the addition of the police interviews gave it a unique twist! The difference in the sound quality of those recordings was perfectly executed! I loved it!
I could see the spice lovers being a little disappointed by this, but if the romance is written right, I really don’t think spice is always needed. The circumstances of their initial meeting and their early interactions created the perfect set up for both the “Rivals-to-lovers” and “He Falls First” Tropes. There was a small amount of miscommunication needed to pull this off, but it wasn’t enough to really bother me.
I often find that the “cozy mystery” genre sounds better in theory than in practice, but this book was definitely the exception. The locked door mystery was very intriguing and involved more twists than I expected and I loved the setting and the circumstances that brought them to the remote English estate.
I am honestly surprised by some of the harsh reviews I’ve read. I was a little annoyed at the beginning when the MMC kept asking the FMC if she wanted to make out, but even that grew on me by the end. To each their own, but there’s a lot to love here! I highly recommend this book, especially the audio! If you love the game or the movie Clue or cozy mysteries in general, I think this will be right up your alley!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: 5 books to go! 🤗
Using up my Spotify minutes on this! The ratings are all over the place on this one which always makes me extra intrigued. 👀 Gotta see for my self!
December 17, 2025
From chapter one, I was immediately pulled into this story. I genuinely thought I found a five-star read. The teasing, the banter, and the one-sided animosity were so good. Unfortunately, it went downhill for me, especially towards the end.
Ethan and Maggie are two writers who receive a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas party at the English estate of renowned author Eleanor Ashley, only for Eleanor to mysteriously disappear soon after. And I will say, the mystery itself was super engaging, with a cast of quirky characters brimming with personality that truly kept me stumped.
I loved the dynamic between Ethan and Maggie as enemies. It made me laugh multiple times as they attempt to combine their unique expertise from their respective books to find Eleanor. But once their conflict was resolved, I completely lost interest in their romance.
Maybe I’m being a bit nitpicky, but Ethan’s constant use of “sweetheart” and the repetitive “who did this to you?” protectiveness started to feel a bit too... corny. The excitement faded, and instead I found myself internally rolling my eyes a lot. It felt performative. Eek.
(heat level: closed door)
Ethan and Maggie are two writers who receive a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas party at the English estate of renowned author Eleanor Ashley, only for Eleanor to mysteriously disappear soon after. And I will say, the mystery itself was super engaging, with a cast of quirky characters brimming with personality that truly kept me stumped.
I loved the dynamic between Ethan and Maggie as enemies. It made me laugh multiple times as they attempt to combine their unique expertise from their respective books to find Eleanor. But once their conflict was resolved, I completely lost interest in their romance.
Maybe I’m being a bit nitpicky, but Ethan’s constant use of “sweetheart” and the repetitive “who did this to you?” protectiveness started to feel a bit too... corny. The excitement faded, and instead I found myself internally rolling my eyes a lot. It felt performative. Eek.
(heat level: closed door)
April 5, 2025
very similar to another book i read recently but i still really enjoyed this. nice and short with a pretty charming romance. the mystery wasn't that well developed imo, would have appreciated more clue seeking from hero/heroine but again... short book. so, not mad.
October 4, 2024
Super Christmassy and fun. I cranked up the air conditioning so I could get in the mood to read it, being that my library loan came in months before the season!
Very much contemporary romance + Knives Out/Agatha Christie + loads of humor. While the mystery was intriguing for the first 3/4, I didn't end up loving the culprit, which surprised me given how well-plotted and engaging it was before that.
The romance, though, is really, really cute. I like her, I love him, I like their detective work together, and I love this mash-up of cozy modern mystery with an edge blended with enemies-to-lovers energy. A great pick when you want to get in the holiday mood.
3.5 stars So very nearly a strong 4. I am chuffed to see so many YA authors doing well crossing over into adult books, though. Sometimes it's an eyeroll, but recently there have been some very good ones.
Audio Notes: Both narrators are great. The dynamic jazzy opening/closing music is very Archer/Jonny Quest, which sets the tone nicely (but it doesn’t intrude since it’s limited to those bookends, something I which I wish other audio productions would take note of).
Side Note: I rarely comment on cover art, but man oh man, did this story deserve better. I see the Archer/Chris Evans fisherman sweater influence, but I also see pine-scented man soap ad and...I don't even know. ETA: I SEE A PINK GIRLY VERSION FOR THE KINDLE ART. I still don't love the artwork for that, and I don't know if I really care for the male vs. female swing, down to the very gendered pink and blue choices.
Very much contemporary romance + Knives Out/Agatha Christie + loads of humor. While the mystery was intriguing for the first 3/4, I didn't end up loving the culprit, which surprised me given how well-plotted and engaging it was before that.
The romance, though, is really, really cute. I like her, I love him, I like their detective work together, and I love this mash-up of cozy modern mystery with an edge blended with enemies-to-lovers energy. A great pick when you want to get in the holiday mood.
3.5 stars So very nearly a strong 4. I am chuffed to see so many YA authors doing well crossing over into adult books, though. Sometimes it's an eyeroll, but recently there have been some very good ones.
Audio Notes: Both narrators are great. The dynamic jazzy opening/closing music is very Archer/Jonny Quest, which sets the tone nicely (but it doesn’t intrude since it’s limited to those bookends, something I which I wish other audio productions would take note of).
Side Note: I rarely comment on cover art, but man oh man, did this story deserve better. I see the Archer/Chris Evans fisherman sweater influence, but I also see pine-scented man soap ad and...I don't even know. ETA: I SEE A PINK GIRLY VERSION FOR THE KINDLE ART. I still don't love the artwork for that, and I don't know if I really care for the male vs. female swing, down to the very gendered pink and blue choices.
December 15, 2024
₊˚๑﹒3 stars﹒❄️₊˚੭
ah, i'm a little conflicted when it comes to this book. it was good mystery wise, but not romance wise. i mean evidently there has to be something wrong if "who did this to you", "touch her and i'll kill you" and also the nickname "sweetheart" didn't make me feel anything. ethan and maggie just lacked any kind of chemistry. it was non-existent. i have never had such a poker face while reading such scenes...and they should evoke some kind of feelings, right?? but if we are speaking about the mystery – it was so fun and entertaining! so let's just pretend that the romance part didn't even exist, and since i feel like being generous today, i'm rating only the mystery part.
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read
this sounds super interesting 👀
ah, i'm a little conflicted when it comes to this book. it was good mystery wise, but not romance wise. i mean evidently there has to be something wrong if "who did this to you", "touch her and i'll kill you" and also the nickname "sweetheart" didn't make me feel anything. ethan and maggie just lacked any kind of chemistry. it was non-existent. i have never had such a poker face while reading such scenes...and they should evoke some kind of feelings, right?? but if we are speaking about the mystery – it was so fun and entertaining! so let's just pretend that the romance part didn't even exist, and since i feel like being generous today, i'm rating only the mystery part.
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read
this sounds super interesting 👀
December 25, 2024
knives out is one of my favorite movies. so when i saw this book being compared... you know i had to pick it up. i was enjoying it at first and i'm not 100% sure where it lost me but i finished feeling meh....
the vibes were perfect though. and i loved their banter .
⋆⭒˚.⋆pre~read⋆.˚⭒⋆
i've heard good things about this!! it will probably be my last holiday read of the year and i'm excited🎄❣️
♡ listening to the audio on spotify♡
the vibes were perfect though. and i loved their banter .
⋆⭒˚.⋆pre~read⋆.˚⭒⋆
i've heard good things about this!! it will probably be my last holiday read of the year and i'm excited🎄❣️
♡ listening to the audio on spotify♡
December 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
December 15, 2024
2.5ish?? ⭐️
Knives Out but make it Christmas-y! The beginning was fun but as it went on it became more and more unrealistic and I didn’t have it in me to suspend my disbelief as much as the author wanted me to.
If I hear the word “sweetheart” or “who did this to you” one more time in this book it’d be knocked down to 2 stars. Also, what does “if you were mine, I’d fight the whole sky” even mean? Way too insta lovey for me and they literally only hated each other for 2 chapters.
Knives Out but make it Christmas-y! The beginning was fun but as it went on it became more and more unrealistic and I didn’t have it in me to suspend my disbelief as much as the author wanted me to.
If I hear the word “sweetheart” or “who did this to you” one more time in this book it’d be knocked down to 2 stars. Also, what does “if you were mine, I’d fight the whole sky” even mean? Way too insta lovey for me and they literally only hated each other for 2 chapters.
December 29, 2024
Whoever is comparing this to Knives Out, please stop.
January 10, 2025
You can listen to the podcast episode for my full thoughts 🤭
September 23, 2024
This endearing locked room murder mystery, set in a UK house during the Christmas season, is a delight to read and solve. I have to admit that this is one of the best mysteries I've read in a very long time. It was a fascinating story that felt very Agatha Christie but in the modern settings!
Though lighthearted and entertaining, this novel will make you feel things. The writing was well-done, and the atmosphere was slightly eerie. Both mystery and romance fans will find everything they're looking for in this book.
The romantic touch here is the chef's kiss! In the process of unraveling this mystery, rivals Maggie and Ethan turn into unusual allies and develop a relationship that is so well developed that it seems so natural. I cherished their back-and-forth banter and I really enjoyed reading about their feelings for one another.
And Ally Carter writes fictitious men in a way that makes you want to fall in love with them. Ethan is such a fantastic guy! I admired how he could assist Maggie in discovering her true self.
It was the perfect holiday mystery, and I could not get enough of it! Though it was my first book by Carter, it won't be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Though lighthearted and entertaining, this novel will make you feel things. The writing was well-done, and the atmosphere was slightly eerie. Both mystery and romance fans will find everything they're looking for in this book.
The romantic touch here is the chef's kiss! In the process of unraveling this mystery, rivals Maggie and Ethan turn into unusual allies and develop a relationship that is so well developed that it seems so natural. I cherished their back-and-forth banter and I really enjoyed reading about their feelings for one another.
And Ally Carter writes fictitious men in a way that makes you want to fall in love with them. Ethan is such a fantastic guy! I admired how he could assist Maggie in discovering her true self.
It was the perfect holiday mystery, and I could not get enough of it! Though it was my first book by Carter, it won't be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 14, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 on GR! i personally LOVE Christmas mysteries and this was exactly what i was looking for 👏🏼 it was unique, super fun on audio (full cast but mainly narrated by my fave Saskia ❤️) and kept me guessing.
this is a romcom x mystery combo set during Christmas and is honestly a really enjoyable read. it didn’t WOW me but i still really liked it. i think most readers will enjoy and it’s a quick Dec binge—i finished the audio in two sittings.
if you like games like CLUE or movies like KNIVES OUT or even missing persons/mysteries (non scary), you’ll enjoy this.
at first i thought i was gonna be really pissed about the ending (if you know you know) but it ended up ending exactly how i wanted to so overall was very pleased!!
this is a romcom x mystery combo set during Christmas and is honestly a really enjoyable read. it didn’t WOW me but i still really liked it. i think most readers will enjoy and it’s a quick Dec binge—i finished the audio in two sittings.
if you like games like CLUE or movies like KNIVES OUT or even missing persons/mysteries (non scary), you’ll enjoy this.
at first i thought i was gonna be really pissed about the ending (if you know you know) but it ended up ending exactly how i wanted to so overall was very pleased!!
December 11, 2024
DF’d @ 57%
This book was a total let down, if i’m being honest. It’s a mystery/romance, but the romance really fell short. I didn’t feel the chemistry that should’ve been felt between Ethan and Maggie. It just wasn’t there.
And the whole mystery thing didn’t suck me in either, it was pretty boring and i didn’t really care to find out what happened.
I love this authors books, but I wouldn’t recommend this one.
This book was a total let down, if i’m being honest. It’s a mystery/romance, but the romance really fell short. I didn’t feel the chemistry that should’ve been felt between Ethan and Maggie. It just wasn’t there.
And the whole mystery thing didn’t suck me in either, it was pretty boring and i didn’t really care to find out what happened.
I love this authors books, but I wouldn’t recommend this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 23,799 reviews