Ally Carter shares her top romantic mystery reads

This post was written by Ally Carter, author of The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.

In Search of a (Capital R) Romance That Is also a (Capital M) Mystery

When I was a kid, there was no such thing as a “YA genre.” We had Judy Blume and SE Hinton and then teens and tweens had to take a leap—from chapter books into the world of adult fiction.

Many readers then (and now) found themselves sucked into fantasy or absorbed by horror but, personally, I found my new home in two genres: Romance and Mystery.

I remember tearing through an omnibus edition of Agatha Christie and then getting obsessed with Julie Garwood. I’ve been bouncing between the two genres ever since, constantly wishing I could have my cake and eat it, too.

So if, like me, you want a side of Romance with your Mystery (or a little mystery with your romance) here are a few books that might just satisfy your cravings:

---

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

When the most famous mystery writer in the world disappears out of a locked room two days before Christmas, two rival authors have to team up to find her in this snowed in, rivals-to-lovers Christmas rom-com.

When Rian Johnson talks about Knives Out, he says he “Wanted to put an Alfred Hitchcock engine in an Agatha Christie car.” With this book, I wanted to put a holiday rom-com engine in an Agatha Christie car.

And, let’s face it: there’s a reason I call this book “Knives Out with kissing.”

Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

When a hotshot professional athlete disappears and his girlfriend is found dead in his home, a down-on-her-luck chocolatier has to find her wayward brother no matter what—even if it means teaming up with her brother’s too-slick sports agent. A great read that once again proves that Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the rom-com G.O.A.T.

The Duke Identity by Grace Callaway

Some of the best examples of Mystery/Romance hybrids can be found in historical romance, and Grace Callaway is an excellent place to start. In The Duke Identity, an undercover police officer becomes the bodyguard for a crime lord’s daughter. Perfect for fans of Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis

She’s a Private Investigator. He’s a professional thrill-seeker. But they become unlikely partners when he accuses her father of stealing a priceless heirloom from his family. They’ll have to work together to uncover the truth about the necklace—and the past.

Midnight by Beverley Jenkins

Perhaps more Spy Thriller than (capital M) Mystery, this gripping romance blends genres in ways that only Ms. Bev can. When Nicholas Grey returns to Massachusetts to avenge the death of his father, his investigation takes him to an inn and, more importantly, an innkeeper’s daughter. She may look innocent, but she is actually an infamous spy, Lady Midnight. The question is, though: is she a killer?

Break the Rules by Roxie Noir

An out-of-work journalist and a forest ranger team up to solve the mystery of who is cutting down trees that are hundreds of years old and soon find themselves chasing down a legendary treasure while trying to dodge the guilt—and butterflies—that come when your brother’s best friend is your dream partner (in more ways than one.)

Loverboy by Sarina Bowen

The second in Sarina Bowen’s excellent “The Company” series, (the first, Moonlighter, is one of my favorite novels of all-time,) Loverboy focuses on a security specialist who has to go undercover at the pie shop run by the girl who got away. Like everything Sarina Bowen writes, it’s swoony and sultry. (Unfortunately, it will also leave you craving pie.)

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

A high society wedding goes horribly wrong when the bride is poisoned and mystery writer Kate Valentine notices the crime bears an uncanny resemblance to her most recent novel. Stuck on an island full of suspects, the only person she can trust is the man she most regrets. Look for this one in stores in early 2025.

Get your copy The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter here.