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.

Growing up in a warm place, I always yearned for a cold holiday season. Something about a 70-degree Christmas morning just didn’t cut it for me. All I really wanted for Christmas was a valid excuse to stay inside all day and some cozy, wintery weather to blame.

In The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, Maggie, a successful mystery writer, wants the exact same thing. She’s never really had a traditional Christmas experience—and now, after her husband left her for her best friend, she’s gearing up for the worst one yet. That is, until her editor surprises her with a trip to snowy England, where she’ll be hosted by author Eleanor Ashley, master of the mystery genre and Maggie’s greatest idol. But things take yet another turn when Eleanor unexpectedly disappears from her grand English mansion two days before Christmas. Luckily, Maggie knows a thing or two about mysteries—and she’ll have to team up with her arch-nemesis to discover the truth about Eleanor before it’s too late.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is great for a cold, snowy Christmas or a sunny day. No matter where you are, you won’t be able to put it down—it’s a compelling mystery, a flirty romance, and a heart-warming holiday tale, all perfectly wrapped into one.