The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year: An Enemies-to-Lovers Christmas Romance and a Cozy Mystery Set in the English Countryside (A Kiss Merry Kill Novel)

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"Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent dialogue, and fantastic characters, this expertly crafted story from Carter (The Blonde Identity) is a heart-melting rivals-to-lovers romance combined with a delightful locked-room mystery." — Library Journal (starred review)

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.
The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two 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.
The laugh out loud holiday "romystery" that you've been waiting for!

  • A touching holiday read
  • Perfect for fans of uplifting winter romances
  • A delightful Christmas gift

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Published Sep 23, 2025

304 pages

Average rating: 7.25

818 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

ljzsreadsandreviews
Dec 25, 2025
10/10 stars
This was such an amazing book! I adored Maggie and Ethan their dynamic was so fun. I enjoyed the fact that the romance was an additional piece because it truly allowed the mystery and the crime solving to be the main focus but added the extra fun/butterfly moments along the way. The plot of the disappearance and whodunit was gripping, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I thought I knew where things were going, but I didn’t quite have it exactly the way it turned out, which made it more enjoyable to read. I feel like I read a lot of Hallmark-style romances around this time of year so to read a cozy mystery style holiday read instead was perfect and I could not get enough! 10/10 highly recommend!
Gilhal14
Jan 07, 2025
8/10 stars
Agatha Christie like but with modern characters and humor! I joyed this more than I thought 💭 so many twists that kept me progressing!
Zoe E.
Dec 14, 2024
7/10 stars
This one was fun!
Paolayanez0
Dec 30, 2025
10/10 stars
I read this book during work, during lunch, before bed. Any moment I could squeeze in a page or two turned into hours of reading until I was done. It was charming, exciting, fun. The perfect blend of romance and mystery tropes. 10/10
Bosky
Dec 30, 2025
8/10 stars
3.75 stars rounded up. I will def read another one of this authors books. Very quick cozy mystery read - Murder She Wrote-esque. Good holiday book. Fun read in bed with a hot cup of coffee and tea.

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