The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, by Ally Carter

This book is a perfect read for me: romances 💘+ mysteries 🔎 = my 2 fav genres.  The banter between our main characters was adorable, which is another thing I absolutely love in a book.

Maggie & Ethan, rival authors for the same publishing company, are sent to the home of their biggest fan, who just so happens to be the best-selling author Eleanor Ashley, writer of 99 great mystery novels.  They’re meant to spend Christmas with Eleanor and her family, but soon Eleanor goes missing and Maggie, Ethan and her family are tasked to try and find her. At first, Maggie is sure it’s a test and she’s guaranteed to win.  But after some questionable events start occurring, she’s not so sure anymore.  The bridge is out and with no cell service, will she be able to work alongside her arch nemesis to find her idol?

I really enjoyed the character building we see in the flashback chapters, and I was able to really feel for Maggie and Ethan simultaneously.  The only thing I wasn’t crazy about in this book, and why I dropped a 1/2 star, was the overexaggerated romance and Maggie’s character changing to less strong and independent as the story unfolded. I hate seeing women who need a man to save them. Overall, though, a great read and I could not put it down. #TheMostWonderfulCrimeoftheYear #NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.