Review By Veronica
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is my favourite Christmas romance this year.
Favourite Quote:
He raised a hand like he didn’t know what to do with it. It shook in the chilly air, and when she felt a warm finger brush across her cheek to wipe away a tear it almost broke her.
“There’s no way, no universe, no reality in which you aren’t the brightest star in the whole damn sky, and…” His cheeks flushed. His hand shook, and he looked away like, suddenly, he was the one who was embarrassed.
Goodreads Synopsis:
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 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.
Well, this book is flawless and just what I needed to read to get me out of those blues I was feeling. I have always believed that the right book will find you when you need it most, and I needed this book in my life last week. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is unique, clever, and perfectly written. I loved how Ally brought together the cozy mystery and romance genres and created something so entertaining and addictive to read. Bookworms will love all the bookish vibes this story is giving off. Ally masterfully captures those strong emotions that bookworms often have with the books they read and the writer who writes them. There were so many moments where this book felt like a love letter to any bookworm who found comfort and a friend in a book.
The story is a well-thought-out, cozy mystery with the swoonest romance woven throughout the plot. This book is so smartly written, and everything is well-plotted. First, let’s quickly chat about the mystery part. I like a good mystery that keeps me guessing, and that is what happened to me in this book. When Eleanor, aka The Duchess of Death, disappears, our two MCs, Maggie and Ethan, find themselves trying to solve the mystery behind her disappearance. The setting and characters in this book worked perfectly for a cozy mystery. We have this cast of characters, all with very interesting personalities, staying in this old Scottish estate, and on top of that, there is a blizzard that has made leaving the estate impossible. As the story progresses, it becomes quite clear that all the guests staying at the estate have a motive for wanting Eleanor gone. This isn’t a true whodunit mystery because there doesn’t appear to be a murder. Instead, we are trying to figure out who is attempting to murder Eleanor. The final climax at the end of the book was unexpected and had me quickly turning the page because I needed to know what would happen next.
The romance was so, so, so perfect and worked beautifully with the mystery element of the story. Maggie and Ethan’s interactions are addictive, and I mean addictive. Their banter is funny, slightly dark, teasing, and so swoony. It’s obvious that Ethan is harbouring a crush on Maggie. The man is smitten with her and doesn’t understand why she seems to hate him. I love it when a man falls first, and the heroine is oblivious to those feelings. Maggie’s spirit and self-worth are fairly low at the beginning of this book. A shitty ex-husband and a difficult childhood have crushed her ability to believe in herself and believe that she deserves great things. I loved Maggie right from the very beginning; she was just someone that I could easily connect with, and I couldn’t help but root for her. It was great watching as Maggie began to believe in herself again and find that spark that had been lost for so long. Her journey is both an internal one and one that is also supported by Ethan, who thinks she is amazing.
The love story unfolding on the pages of this book had my heart constantly pittering and pattering faster. I devoured every interaction, every secret look, every moment that these two were stuck together. The mystery component not only adds that element of danger to this love story but also creates unique and often entertaining reasons for Maggie and Ethan to be together. There is little to no spice in this book, which fits in with the overall vibe of the story, which means if you like your romances cleaner, then this book is for you.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a smart, funny, and swoonastic Christmas romance mystery that should be a must on any bookworm’s holiday reading list this year.
