Presents are under the tree but the hostess is nowhere to be found in Ally Carter's holiday romance meets mystery romp, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. Carter (The Blonde Identity) blends the large cast and locked-room-mystery fun of Knives Out with a rivals-to-lovers romance for a swoony whodunnit that's sure to please.
Fresh off a painful divorce, cozy mystery writer Maggie Chase is surprised with the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to spend Christmas in England with her idol, blockbuster crime writer Eleanor Ashley. Unfortunately, fellow author Ethan Wyatt, Maggie's "least favorite person in the world," is also on Eleanor's guest list. After they arrive at Eleanor's gorgeous remote estate, Eleanor introduces them to an eclectic group that includes members of her extended family, her solicitor, her doctor, and others--then disappears from her locked office. Why did Eleanor gather all of these people together for Christmas? And where has she gone?
A winter storm strands them in Eleanor's mansion, and Maggie and Ethan must work together to discover the truth behind Eleanor's sudden disappearance before someone in the house claims more than just an inheritance. Mystery fans will enjoy following the clues with Ethan and Maggie, while romance devotees will adore watching Maggie figure out that Ethan has loved her for years.
Kisses in secret tunnels, attempted murder, and family secrets--The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year delivers all this and more in one delightful package. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian