This was a fun ride. As the third installment in this series, it had big shoes to fill. Despite being a bit smaller than its predecessors, it still gave a fun adventure to its readers. It had me guessing until the very end about whodunnit and how. I loved the twists and turns in the book and how it managed to break the fourth wall (as do the other books) without it being overly annoying or tacky.

4 stars

Considering Christmas in Australia takes place during the summer, Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret was a perfect pick to celebrate Christmas in July here in the States. Our author protagonist Ernest Cunningham once again finds himself trapped in the middle of a classic murder mystery - this time with a festive twist! Stevenson's craft and wit are just utterly delightful and I dare someone who loves mysteries not to smile or laugh out loud during one of these books. While I've found myself getting bored with several other series in this meta mystery genre, the Ernest Cunningham series has truly knocked it out of the park every single time and I can't wait to pick up the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair an d honest review!

When I started this, I didn’t realize that it was a short one. The length, though, was just the right amount for this story (less than 200 pages). It’s Christmas and Ernest has another murder to solve. His ex-wife is being accused of murdering her boyfriend. She’s in jail, so it’s up to Ernest to solve this crime before it’s too late. Lots of suspects and another murder will keep you guessing. I liked that the author had fun with this “Christmas” story.

I adore this series. I love how the fourth wall is broken and all the clues are laid out, but there are so many twists that it keeps it interesting. If you enjoyed the previous two installments, this "Christmas Special" won't disappoint

In Benjamin Stevenson's latest installment, "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret," we find ourselves back in the intriguing world of Ernest Cunningham, the beloved narrator from Stevenson's earlier works. This time, Stevenson weaves a holiday mystery that is as gripping as it is festive.

This book, the third in a series that began with "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone," brings back the wit and charm of Ernest Cunningham, who continues to captivate readers with his unique perspective. Despite being shorter than its predecessors, I found myself engrossed in the cleverly crafted storyline that unfolds through the lens of an advent calendar. Each chapter acts as a strategic clue, inviting readers to unravel the mysteries hidden within.

Stevenson's narrative prowess shines through as he presents not one, but two puzzling murders. Throughout the book, I was kept on my toes, unable to pinpoint the culprits behind these heinous acts. Ernest Cunningham, once again, proves to be an exceptional guide through the twists and turns of the plot.

What sets this book apart is Stevenson's tongue-in-cheek writing style, which adds a delightful layer of humor and intrigue to the narrative. Despite its brevity, the author masterfully maintains the suspense and keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

As a fan of Ernest Cunningham, I eagerly await the next installment in Stevenson's series. "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret" is a testament to Stevenson's ingenuity and his ability to keep readers hooked with each new mystery. If you're looking for a holiday-themed thriller that delivers both charm and suspense, look no further than Benjamin Stevenson's latest masterpiece.

Special thanks to NetGalley & the publisher Mariner Books for giving me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This series continues to get better with each book and this one was a blast. It has the most complex and inventive murder plot of the, all, but it’s not too hard to follow and is even thematically applicable. The idea of a Christmas special book and there being rules to Christmas specials is an especially inspired choice. Loved this one!

What a fun read! Benjamin Stevenson is an auto buy author for me. Ernest is so fun and the writing style really works for me. The mash up of a holiday special, murder and Advent calendar was creative and engaging! A fun read (I know I said that already, but it’s worth repeating)! This was twisty and kept me guessing until the end. Big thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

Aside from reading the previous books in this series, hysterical tongue-in-check locked room murder mysteries, it is best to know next to nothing when diving into this addition. This time the location is, surprise, surprise, a train. And this time, instead of his family, it's a bunch of mystery writers who are the suspects. Hilarity ensues and we solve the mystery right alongside the author.

I'm going to be honest, I didn't know until I started this book that there were two other ones that went with it so there were times when I wasn't sure what they were talking about. I figured I would need to read the other books to get it. Anyway, I really liked this book and intend to read the other ones that go before it.

I loved the way this book was set up. A murder with lots of suspects and clever ways to point who the killer is. I love all things Christmas, so the fact that this book was like an advent calendar was right up my alley. Each "day" in the advent calendar gave the reader a clue as to who committed the crime.

I liked this book and the way that our main character Ernest actually tells us the story, with some witty humor and sarcasm.

Thank you to NetGalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Penguin for allowing me to have an ARC!

I don't think I can recommend these Ernest Cunningham novels enough. I absolutely adore them! If you are a fan of the first two, then you absolutely need to go out and read this perfect holiday novella. The best part is that this newest offering contains no spoilers, so if you are looking for a quick and festive way to jump into this series, this is the perfect option to see if they are for you!

The set up of the book as an advent calendar, using 23 chapters to help readers mentally track 23 clues, with chapter four leading to the solving of the mystery is absolutely brilliant. I just love the voice that Stevenson has given Ernest, and is quite tongue in cheek. My only complaint is that because I recieved this as an ARC, I won't be able to read a chapter a day in December and enjoy this story as my own personal advent calendar!

I want to thank Net Galley, Mariner Books, and Benjamin Stevenson for the opportunity to read this cheeky addition to the Ernest Cunningham series. I received Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret as an ARC for a free and honest review. The opinions here are mine and mine alone.

Fun as always, albeit much shorter than the other entries in this series. And I confess that despite the “fair play mystery” claims, l was unable to identify the killer. Just wish it had been a bit more fleshed out.

This was such a great time! And it felt like an Australian Christmas in Kansas. Hot! I like the way Ernest talks to the reader. He is very open about following the rules of the Golden Age of crime fiction. There was a few little pieces which I figured out early on but I was still surprised by the killer's reveal. These books always have humor, murder and a fun theme.

Stevenson has done it again - he stumped me!
I had my guesses but yet again I didn't figure this one out.
I really love Ernest and this cast of characters. I love the way he talks to the reader throughout - it feels like we are solving the murder with him - and I truly haven't figured it out before the big reveal in any of these books!
I really hope there/s more - there's got to be at least one more, right?!

Everyone this Christmas
National bestselling author Benjamin Stevenson brings us a Christmas present with the third installment in his Ernest Cunningham series.

Read along from the perspective of Ernest’s masterful thoughts as you are presented with an “advent calendar of clues” in this Australian holiday murder mystery.

There are no hidden clues in this fair-play mystery. Can you figure out whodunnit?

I really enjoyed the humor in this novel.

Publication date: October 22, 2024 by Mariner Books HarperCollins Publisher

#whodunnit #murder #mystery #Christmas #Australia #arc #netgalley

The perfect Advent Calendar.....

In the requirements of the classic mystery detectives, Ernest Cunningham now has his very own Christmas special. In the hot Australian Christmas, Ernest gives you an advent calendar full of 23 clues and 1 murder. You can read one chapter a day, or like me read it all at once.

I loved this special. It was the fun direct-to-reader style of the previous books with the same amount of intrigue and action. It was shorter than the usual books, making it a faster read, perfect for a special. I loved the Advent calendar motif, even if I didn't restrain myself. Frankly, I would be surprised if anyone did wait. Despite being slightly shorter, (or at least feeling that way. I didn't check since I have an E-ARC), the characters felt fleshed out and nothing rushed. Ernest may have solved the mystery a little faster than normal....but this is his third murder. So he's slowly getting better. Overall- I definitely suggest picking up this book when it comes out!

A person is murdered and someone is waking up with their blood on them and no recollection of what happened. Ernest is here to help solve what happened. It so happens that most of the suspects are currently working at a magician’s show. Who did it? The magician, the hypnotist, the magician’s assistant?

This is a short novella taking place around Christmas time. There are clues to help you determine the murderer(s) similar to an advent calendar. I thoroughly enjoyed this book just like the other two.

Thank you to Benjamin Stevenson, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Mariner Books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series. The murders following Ernest around this time are full of holiday cheer. Ernest receives a call one night requesting his help solving a murder, but while investigating that murder, a severed head rolls into Ernest's path. Can he stop the killer before they strike again? Can he do it in time for Christmas? Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret comes out on October 24th and is available for preorder now.

As comes standard in the Ernest Cunningham books, the storytelling style and direct to reader method just grip me from the very first page. I said in my review of the second book that I don't know how this author can keep going in this format and keep it fresh. I think this being a novella and it being centered around a Christmas theme helped a lot. And, surprisingly, I'm still so willing to read another Ernest Cunningham mystery. I say surprisingly because I thought it would start to get old but it hasn't. This style and this voice are so fresh for someone who has been reading Mystery novels for a while now. I also liked how theatrical the murders were in this one. It fits the story so well since Ernest is investigating a group of people who work on a magic show. Is it absurd? Yes, but in the best way.

I do like that I can never fully unravel the mystery until Ernest is explaining in stereotypical Mystery novel fashion, but I do kind of find it a little frustrating that Ernest keeps pointing out that this is a fair play mystery. Maybe it's just because that phrase is said so much in the series, but I know it's also kind of necessary to the structure of the whole thing. I also felt like some of the characters were a little flat but I went in expecting that since this is only a novella and not a full blown novel like the rest of the series.

Overall, I would say this is great for people with a history of reading Mystery novels who want a breath of fresh air in their reading. Also, this could be a good starting point for new readers to the genre who could be turned off by some of the stereotypical Mystery novel annoyances: unreliable narrators, twists with no foreshadowing, twins. As for the Christmassy nature of this one? I would give it four blood-soaked poinsettias.

I recently had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret" by Benjamin Stevenson. This book serves as the third installment—or perhaps the 2.5 installment, as the narrator cheekily suggests—of the Ernest Cunningham series. Despite the unusual timing of reading a Christmas-themed book during a 100-degree summer, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. I've fallen for the character of Ernest all over again.

Ernest's narration brings a unique charm to the unfolding mystery, reminiscent of the classic Holmes style. His wit endears him to readers, making it impossible not to root for him. Stevenson masterfully crafts each character with a clear motive, compelling you to piece the puzzle together alongside them. One particularly creative touch is how the advent calendar is integrated into the storyline, cleverly revealing the mystery piece by piece.

A delightful followup to its two predecessors. Fans will enjoy it more if they've read the first two books but it is not necessary. Benjamin Stevenson has definitely discovered a unique spin on the mystery thriller genre with his bullet point main character Ernie who tells us exactly how to solve a mystery. The Christmas spin is fun as well. Overall, a fast and fun read!

Thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC.

I'm a big fan of Benjamin Stevenson's first two mystery novels and was excited to see another book from him out so soon--even in the shorter form of a Christmas special.

This story revolves around a murder mystery writer Ern is unusually motivated to solve -- or rather to prove his ex-wife, the accused killer, is innocent. As is his pattern, the protagonist shares information in a first person meta-narrative that invites the reader to play along. He even divides the chapters by highlighted clues to (mis)lead you to the answer.

It takes place in Australia across the span of a few days before Christmas, using several clever conceits in honor of the sub-genre (Christmas mysteries). A secret Santa gift exchange, advent calendar, and themed costumes all end up being relevant to the plot.

It feels like author Benjamin Stevenson has fun with this one and it's a light and easy read despite some gnarly wounds. I can't wait for it to be officially published so I can mull over the clues with a friend.

Review also posted on goodreads.