The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Seasonal Vibe: Christmastime  Travel Location: England    I loved this book. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year had a balanced mix of mystery and romance. Some romance would be happening and then suddenly something would happen to get you back to the mystery, and vice versa. I loved the characters, and the vibe was perfect. It was Mystery+Romance+ Christmastime in snowy England.    It was a joyful reading experience. It wasn't all “fluff”, though, because it did deal with difficult character backstories and bad things that had happened in the past. Of course, there was crime to solve, but also a character who's been gaslit.    I liked Ally Carter's YA books; my favorites are her Heist Society books. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year had a similar feel to Heist Society, but adult.    I went to a fantastic Ally Carter signing event shortly after this book was released, but I'd waited to read it because it's a Christmas book. 

(4.75 stars) A Christmasy, locked room mystery tailor made for book lovers and fans of romantic suspense.

This was a quick fun read. The banter is witty. The mystery is compelling and twisty. The romance is swoony with some great protection tropes. It's the perfect book to read during the busy Christmas season when you have a million other things on your mind.

My only complaint was that some parts of the big finale twist kind of came out of nowhere, but it didn't ruin anything for me. I just think it would have been better to lay a little bit more groundwork.

Overall would recommend. Will reread. Great if you watch Knives Out and were like "I wish this had more romantic suspense".

This book was all over the place and therefore so are my thoughts.
- Maggie is the absolute worst character I have ever read.
- Ethan was cool at first, then gave me the ick. The fucking soliloquies about his undying love for Maggie was just too much and CoRnYyY and DrAmATiC
- I rolled my eyes so many times it's actually insane.
- this was wayyyyyy tooooo insta-lovey without any real connection?
- the entire enemies to lovers marketing of this book is a hoax- Maggie hates him for literally no good reason, and that's it....
- maybe I am new to the cozy mystery genre but like, there was no mystery? No real “detective” work? We'd get a little glimpse and then nothing substantial until the very end... I just felt lost.
- what a letdown. Bleh.