Review: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Thank you Avon Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I don’t think there is anything cooler to me than the authors I read as a tween and teen now writing adult books. It’s so cool to feel like I am growing up alongside their careers! Ally Carter has been a favorite of mine since I found an article about I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You in Seventeen Magazine. I was so pumped to continue to read her books as an adult.
I found this book to be straight up fun with a lot of heart and the perfect cozy holiday setting that isn’t cheesy. In fact, if your biggest gripe about holiday books or movies is that they are too Hallmark-y or cheesy, THIS is the book for you. It’s not cheesy at all. In fact, i found it to be quite beautiful while still being fun, light hearted, and fast paced. A cozy mystery mixed with a rom com. I loved it!
Synopsis:
“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.”
What I Liked:
The Concept—I am not a thriller person but I love the movies Knives Out and The Onion. And I love Ally Carter and Christmas Rom Coms so I knew this would be a winner from me just from the synopsis. I found it so fun and fast paced!
The Banter—Ally always knows how to bring the banter. It was what drew me to her books from a young age!
The Balance Between Festive Fun and Heart—I loved that this book felt a lot more grounded in reality than The Blonde Identity, especially when it came to the relationship. It was still light and fun but the characters really did need to go on a journey together.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Romance Felt Underdeveloped—The romance was definitely the B plot which is fine, I just wanted a little bit more especially since these characters had quite a bit of history together.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 45
Content Warnings:
emotional abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, divorce, mention of pregnancy