Ernest Cunningham is back! This a fun, quick read, whodonit novella. If you liked the author's previous novels you'll love that one too.

Benjamin Stevenson has a real knack for creating a mystery. This one in particular was so clever, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Very well written and then also funny. Thanks for the ARC!

Book Review: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
Benjamin Stevenson, 2024

New Release! I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is a weird one. It's book three in a series, and I haven't read the others. However, I think the bigger factor here is that this book (and its series) is written in a particular style of extremely meta humor which... isn't for everyone.

Ernie Cunningham was a mystery buff before his life turned into Murder, She Wrote. With two solved murders under his belt (and written into the previous books, which exist in the world of the story), he's beginning to get a reputation. Enter - the Christmas Special. (The prologue literally has the narrator say that this is a Christmas special.)

It's the lead up to Christmas, and he's traveling to see a magician do a holiday benefit show, because the CEO of the nonprofit the benefit is for was murdered, and Ernie's ex-wife (currently the nonprofit guy's partner) is the top suspect. Following all that?

The suspects and clues (and an additional murder) come thick and fast, and the writing skates along breezily. However, I admit that I found the meta humor more tedious than funny. The occasional direct asides to the reader about how much like a holiday special something is or commentary about a specific event were more distracting than enlightening or amusing to me. I liked it much more when it was just a mystery novel in first-person.

The book tells you outright that you should be "able to solve the mystery," in case that matters to you. (It doesn't to me.)

The cast of supporting characters is varied and interesting. I enjoyed following the twists and turns, but only up to a point. That point was the climax, when I found the contrived setup for the "reveal" to be so ridiculously stupid that I started wishing that somehow the narrator wouldn't survive. If you were more on board with the style and/or read the previous ones in the series, maybe this would work better.

I got a copy of this book because I'd seen it on some "most-anticipated holiday books of 2024" list somewhere, but while I think it's largely fine, I wouldn't go out of my way to read another.

I really enjoyed this Christmas mystery which included various Christmas traditions, such as Secret Santa and the Advent Calendar. Ernest Cunningham is called to help his ex-wife Erin, because she is a suspect in the murder of her lover. As Ern investigates, another murder happens.
I like how the author strings us along, breaking the 4th wall to include the reader in the case, and telling us we have all the clues to solve the murder. Ern investigates the foundation of Erin's lover, and all the former addicts he helped.
A clever and enjoyable mystery.

The inventive use of the advent calendar makes this entry into Ernest Cunningham's series a holiday marvel. While shorter, it did not cut corners with plot and twists. The lovable, meta narration, fun, quirky characters, and exciting twists make it worthwhile!

Another exciting Ernest Cunningham mystery! I really love this series and hope Stevenson continues with it. Even though this one was shorter, there was still an elaborate storyline with plenty of twists.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson!

This was such a lovely book to read around the holidays! I'm definitely going to make this an annual read around Christmas. Benjamin Stevenson is such a clever author.

What’s Christmas without a little family drama, festive cheer, and… murder? Ernest Cunningham was planning on a quiet holiday, but when his ex-wife, Erin, gets accused of killing her new partner, suddenly he’s knee-deep in another mystery. And this one? It’s got everything—a dead man with a magician connection, a suspect list full of tricksters, and enough misdirection to make your head spin. Who’s guilty? The magician? The assistant? The identical twin? (Yes, really.) It’s up to Ernest to sort through the smoke and mirrors before Christmas dinner is completely ruined.

This book is clever, fast-paced, and packed with twists. Ernest’s dry humor and self-awareness make him such a fun narrator, and the quirky cast of suspects keeps things interesting. The Christmas setting adds a cozy, festive layer, even as the mystery gets deliciously messy. Now, if you’re new to the series, you can read this as a standalone, but—fair warning—there are references to previous events that might leave you a little lost. If you want the full experience (and all the inside jokes), it’s worth checking out the earlier books first.

I’m giving “Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret” 4 out of 5 stars! It’s smart, witty, and full of festive chaos, perfect for anyone who loves a locked-room-style mystery with a holiday twist. If you’re looking for a Christmas whodunit that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers on the mystery, this one deserves a spot on your holiday TBR.

I really enjoy this series. I'm not much of a christmas person, but this is a fun little treat of a read., I liked that the author created rules of christmas specials that he followed, along with the usual rules of fair play mysteries. The formatting was cute and made it a quick read. I recommended to a few friends and purchased on CD for the library.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This novella is for fans of Ernest Cunningham mysteries. It had some clever quirks- using an advent calendar to present clues was so much fun. This time his ex wife’s partner is the victim and amateur detective Ernest is determined to solve the murder. This was a fast and funny read and I enjoyed it. Can be read a stand alone but there are common characters in the other 2 books. A great lighthearted cozy read for the holidays.

This one was just okay for me. I’ve also read Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, but neither has quite captured the same innovative and fun energy as Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. It still had the twists and entertaining characters I expect, but nothing that really stuck with me. The mystery was solid, and the writing had its moments, but overall, it felt a little unmemorable. Not a bad read, just not as standout as I was hoping for.

A fun read that sticks with Stevenson's self-made rules of mystery writing. The evidence is all out there, but so are tons of other bits of red-herringesqueries. Proud to state that I knew who the killer was about halfway through the book, thanks to one piece of evidence. But the difficulty is not always the who, but the why.

Again, lots of fun, and this should be a yuletide staple.

EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET is more fun than a murder should be. Stevenson has the ability to combine the darker side of situations with candor and wit to make one enjoyable mystery.

Broken down into a structure similar to an advent calendar, Ernest is on the case of the death of magician Rylan Blaze. As each chapter flies by, more deductions, witness questioning, and reveals are made. The amateur sleuthing is in full force and the reader is along for the ride. I loved it!

EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET is the third time I have had the pleasure of reading about Ernest Cunningham solving a murder. This fast-paced mystery continues in the style of the previous books but with the bonus of it being around the holidays. Stevenson has truly gifted readers with a fabulously entertaining narrator and I for one cannot wait to see what he gets wrapped up in next.

I found this book difficult to get into, but once I settled into it it was thoroughly thrilling. Would definitely recommend

TL;DR: another solid entry to Stevenson's EVERYONE series. It's not going to change the hearts and minds of readers, but it's entertaining and fun to read "advent calendar style" in December if you're looking for a holiday read.

In my opinion - a christmas murder mystery is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit! Truly delighted by this one

This was such a fun little holiday whodunnit! I like the Earnest Cunningham series a lot, they are fun, fast-paced and humorous and I was happy to enjoy a little more time with the characters throughout this novella! Overall, this was just a good time and was perfect for the holiday season.

I discovered Benjamin Stevenson when he wrote the 1st book of this witty series and return to him with each new book he writes.

Thoughts: Christmas media is a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s great and often it’s sappy. There are some Christmas movies I could watch every year happily, and there are lots that I could barely take five minutes of. Happily, Everyone this Christmas Has a Secret is on par with the other books in the series. It’s shorter and it has Christmas trappings, but it’s still a clever murder mystery with twists and turns and redirects. The Christmassy stuff comes into it because it’s Christmastime, and it’s integral to the plot in a creative way that I’ve never seen done before.

This lighthearted Australian-set mystery was a refreshing change from my typical wintery reads. It's the first festive story I've encountered in a scorching climate, and the contrast was delightful. While holiday puns are woven throughout, they're cleverly integrated and perfectly in tune with the quirky humor of Ernest Cunningham that fans adore. Set amidst the Australian heat, the novel serves as a delightful reminder of the holiday season's diverse expressions worldwide. Each chapter unfolds like an advent calendar, revealing a new clue and propelling the suspenseful yet enjoyable plot forward.

Many thanks to NetGallery and Mariner Books for sharing this delightful read!

I absolutely loved Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train is a Suspect -- so I was beyond thrilled to see another story involving our fearless narrator Ernest Cunningham. As with the prior books, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret had a great storyline/setting and the same self-deprecating author-faux-detective hot on the trail. Fingers crossed there is more to come from our favorite gumshoe!