It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder by Ally Carter
Kiss, Merry, Kill #2
Holiday Mystery Romance
October 13, 2026 by Avon
ARC

Review by Angela

As soon this ARC hit my Kindle I started reading and did not come up for air until I had finished. I’m not usually a holiday romance reader, but I might become one if Ally Carter keeps writing these Christmasy murder mysteries with kissing.

While this series is labeled as the second book in the Kiss, Merry, Kill series, it’s only connected to the first book, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, in that the mystery/crime author Eleanor Ashley is mentioned. And that the main female character is named after her. I would say this is a childhood frenemies to lovers-small town romance-murder mystery.

Ella Chambers grew up in a small town, the daughter of the housekeeper to one of the richest men in the country, William Montgomery. Her entire life has been about making other people comfortable and happy, and her own survival. She’s smart, resourceful, competent, hardworking, and lonely. Despite growing up in a beautiful manor and around the four most influential families in her town, almost everyone looked down on as just the housekeeper’s daughter. Except for Liam, William’s grandson, who was more of a friendly adversary and sometime childhood playmate.

Now Ella is back in town, working seventeen jobs (literally), drowning in medical debt, and still mourning the death of her mother. She’s one emergency away from sinking into a financial hole that she won’t be able to get out of. Then she receives an invitation to the Montgomery Family Christmas party, which also happens to be the night of William Montgomery’s will reading. So, she heads up the mountain and gets to work. Only the will reading goes awry when a surprise heir is named, and then Liam Montgomery goes missing. And the last person seen with him, is Ella herself. She’s determined to clear her name, and find Liam, even if Liam seems to want to remain missing and presumed dead.

Let me tell you, this book is SUPER FUN. Mystery aside, it reads like a small-town contemporary romance, with two protagonists who have a long history and like to antagonize each other. There is sharp, witty banter and chemistry for days. This book is separated into different POVS, mainly Ella’s, but some with Liam’s, with before and after scenes AND outtakes from interviews with the police. There is also a countdown to Christmas before every chapter that lends a sense of urgency to the story.

The mystery is well done, with plenty of twists and turns, and suspects. The history of the four founding families who make up the suspect list is kind of pieced together as Liam and Ella investigate who is trying to kill him. I will say I was surprised at the ending.

Ella is easy to root for, and easy to connect with. She’s smart and funny, and I loved her instantly. Liam is a bit harder to get to know and like, which makes this romance all the sweeter as his feelings start to become apparent through all those scenes from his and Ella’s past. Yes, it’s slow burn, but the payoff is a lovely HEA. I would say this is the perfect holiday read and might even get me to add a few more holiday romances to my TBR.

Final grade- B+

Content warnings- parental death from cancer, medical debt, death of parents and grandparents- for full list read the author’s note about trigger warnings before reading.