Ernest is back again, this time solving a Christmas-themed crime.

Ernest and his fiancée Juliette are planning their wedding when Ern gets a call from his ex-wife, Erin. Erin is unfortunately caught up in the murder of her boyfriend / partner and needs Ernest’s help solving the case. Using the excuse of seeing a magician (who’s been ‘hired’ by his uncle to preform at their wedding), Ern heads off to help, without telling Juliette the full truth of where he’s going or why. Erin’s partner was wealthy and ran a non-profit dedicated to helping those with substance abuse issues. Many of the graduates of the program are now employees of the program, meaning there’s a nice cast of characters with lots of secrets and potential motives.

Like the previous two books, there’s lots of breaking the 4th wall, challenging the reader to solve the book along with Ern, etc. It’s also set in Australia, at Christmas, meaning it’s the middle of summer, something I always find kind of fun - something about shaking up the stereotype of a snowy, cold Christmas.

I throughly enjoyed this story, even more than the second book. I loved how it was structured like an advent calendar with lots of clues buried in the story. I thought the way he revealed everything on the ski gondola was lovely - a way to pay homage to golden age mysteries while putting a modern spin on it. While the fair play / challenge to the reader structure isn’t for everyone, if you enjoyed the previous books, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well.

Highly recommended! Bring on book four!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

4.5/5 stars
This book has it all! I am obsessed with the Ernest Cunningham universe. This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. Ernest has a holiday special adventure this time. I love the reoccuring cast and the new holiday special characters. I can't wait to see where Ernest goes next. I think you will enjoy this book just like his others with a festive tinge. Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series by the brilliant Benjamin Stevens. And when I say brilliant, I mean brilliant.

I absolutely LOVED the first two books in this series, and I really enjoyed this holiday novella.

Ernest Cunningham is back and the author's style of addressing the reader, once again works fantastically. I love all the clues the author drops in an honest way.

Ernie gets a call from his ex-wife Erin who has been accused of murdering her boyfriend.

I love the way the author lays out the clues for the reader to play detective along with Ernest.

I cannot say how much I LOVED this novella that packs the punch of a full length novel.

Can't wait for the next book to see what Ernest is up to next!

Highly recommend!

Stevenson takes on both mystery and Christmas special conventions in this third entry of the Ernest Cunningham books. To the former, just like the earlier works, we have fun meta-exposition on what constitutes fair play in a murder mystery (e.g., there are identical twins but we know about them and they don't switch places). To the latter, the book is short and fun with some holiday trappings.

As to plot action, Ern's ex-wife Erin has been charged with the murder of her new paramour. Ern takes on the case and does his good-natured, slightly wise-cracking thing. Also, of note, just as in the first two books, Stevenson spends time with (and is respectful of) the characters' backstories.. For example, while Ern and Erin's marital history isn't overly rehashed, there are small moments that show its lasting effect. And Erin's trauma from the (relative) carnage of the first book was thoughtful without consuming the general sense of fun---a difficult balance that, for me, was perfectly reached in this latest edition.

If you liked the first two, you'll really like this latest one!

If you loved the prior two books (like I did) you'll love this one. Ern is back, Ern is getting himself into nonsense, Ern once again has no regard for his own safety if it means solving a mystery (and getting to write a new book). This is more novella than novel and with the shorter length does come a less convoluted mystery. The resolution was a little simple, but it's still so fun; the little advent calendar thing was so cute, and I liked the callbacks to the prior novels.

I will read every one of these that Benjamin Stevenson is willing to publish.

Publishes 10.22.2024

This novella was just as fun and witty as the first two novel counterparts. I have yet to come across a writer that is smarter than Benjamin Stevenson when it comes to murder-mysteries.

This one takes place over Christmas, and gives the reader clues via advent calendar doors at the end of every chapter.

Ernest as a narrator is clever and funny as always, and just when I think I have everything figured out, I realize I don’t. That’s not due to Stevenson using the normal cop outs of this genre; he is very aware of all the overused tropes, and has Ernest directly speak to readers the ins and outs of the rules (think the meta-ness of the Scream franchise). This is what makes reading these books so much fun. Ernest will also drop hints that seem obvious and ones that don’t (he is, after all, recounting the past events of the murder and his investigation when narrating). He also takes clichés and uses them in a fresh way. For instance in the beginning, he states that for a “Christmas Special,” the detective must learn the meaning of Christmas. This comes to play out in an insanely clever way, and not the way one would suspect. The self-awareness Ernest has is always on the nose. He even touches on how Christmas Specials are essentially cash grabs (not to worry, as stated above, this is at the same high caliber as the first two installments).

I hope this series continues forever (Stevenson teases Ernest will be back in a big way soon in his Acknowledgments, fingers crossed for the third installment to take place over his wedding weekend).

An easy 5 stars. Pick up this series if you haven’t ASAP.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this delightful book as I have not read anything by this author prior. I will definitely be reading everything by him going forward. Great character development, witty dialog, awesome story line. This is definitely a 5 star read. Thank you Benjamin Stevenson for giving us a wonderful story that you can get lost in

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for granting my request to read Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.

I am a big fan of the first two books in the Ernest Cunningham series, and I had just as much fun reading this holiday special. It is shorter than its predecessors, but the characters/suspects remain compelling.

In this book, it is up to Ernest to prove his ex-wife, Erin, didn’t murder her boyfriend. I like that Erin returned from the first book and how her trauma from Book #1 wasn’t brushed off. There were consequences. I also like how even though she and Ernest are divorced, the book isn’t bogged down with tension or animosity between them or between Ernest and his fiancée, Juliette.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret has the signature style of the first two books - breaking the fourth wall, fair play clue discovery, establishing rules. My favorite part is that the book is offered up like an advent calendar. At the end of each chapter there was a starred number (1 through 24, but out of order) and a word was attached to each number, so I played along by writing down each word to see if it would reveal some kind of solution to the mystery at the end. SPOILER: I am never able to solve the mystery. I always have to wait for Ernest to spell out all the clever details, and then I go ahhhhh, missed that clue.

Bring on Book #4! Something is bound to happen at Ernest & Juliette’s wedding.

Enjoying this series by Benjamin Stevenson. My favorite is still the second book of the series, but I really enjoyed this one.

Another case for Ern. I thought I figured it out but I was wrong. Can't wait to see what's next.

Another fun entry in the Ernest Cunningham series! This time, he's off to help his ex-wife, who's been arrested for murdering her wealthy partner. The story unfolds through a Christmas advent calendar (24 chapters for the 24 days of advent), and include a myriad of suspects. As in the previous books in the series, Ern doesn't hesitate to break the fourth wall, and he invites the read to solve the case right along with him.

This is a quick, light read and very clever, as always. Although we don't get to know any of the potential suspects too well, I really enjoy how each book in the series gives us more insight into Ern. Looking forward to see what he's up to next! Perhaps solving a murder at his wedding??

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first book in this series and I was fond of the second, and think this third one is a lot of fun. I don't know that the genius and intricacy of the first book can be matched, butI think the stakes felt higher in this one which made it feel personal to Ern which I felt was lacking a bit in the second.

I also enjoyed the meta-ness of not just following the rules for fair play mysteries but for Christmas specials.

The novella was fun and the mystery was quite clever. I'll continue to read anything in this series. Maybe the next one can be 'Everyone at this Wedding [insert something provocative here]!

As delightfully quirky as its predecessors! I actually want to buy a physical copy just to see how colorful it is in person because ADVENT CALENDAR guide to murder. Also, and how serendipitous, it comes out in October of this year so you have plenty of time to purchase several copies for, what I would hope is, a less murderous Secret Santa than the one Ernest Cunningham has to solve.

This was so fun and festive! I really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Who doesn't love a Christmas Special? This had all of the usual Ernest Cunningham personality with the holiday twist. I enjoyed the advent calendar set-up with 24 chapters/clues leading up to the big reveal. The Christmas Special rules were cute and I've always enjoyed how Ernest breaks the fourth wall with the reader. If you enjoyed the other "Everyone" books then you will for sure enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.

I've enjoyed the first two books in the series by the author so I was pleased my request was approved.

In the grand old tradition of Christmas murder mysteries, Ernest Cunningham returns to solve a holiday crime, presenting the readers with all the clues, suspects and cliche stereotypes to be aware of that he promises he won't use.

The meta style of the Cunningham mysteries took some getting used to, as did Ernest himself, who I'm not a fan of.

I am, however, a fan of old school murder mysteries in which you meet all the suspects, see the clues and investigate alongside Ernest as he tries to figure out whodunit. There are no tricks or twists, no one is hiding anything that is suddenly revealed at the end to cause a shocking, ridiculous revelation. It's just the facts here, and I appreciate that.

This time, Ernest has been called to aid his ex-wife, who has been falsely accused of murdering her actor turned philanthropist boyfriend.

All is not what it seems when Ernest discovers all the suspects are clever and savvy, and each one of them is hiding something. But aren't they all?

I enjoyed the mystery and how it was done; the author lays out all the clues and shows us how Ernest figures it out.

Was it far fetched and hard to suspend disbelief for?

Sure, but for me the fun is in figuring out how Ernest figures it out. I figured out a few things but not all and enjoyed seeing how it was resolved.

Fun, christmas, murders, a bit of magic and just a good time. I really adore the way the Ernest Cunningham books are written. The style of narration is enjoyable and different than what I normal read.
Even though this is tagged as the Ernest Cunningham #3, this is more novella than full on book. It didnt feel as in depth as the other ones and the christmas feel just made it feel more like a novella.
So fun though and cant wait for the next one!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy!

Ern is back to solve a Christmas themed murder with his ex- wife as the prime suspect. An Advent Calendar of clues this clever mystery is just right for a quick holiday read!

I love Ernest Cunningham books and this one is just as great even though it’s shorter. This will be a great little holiday mystery novel!

I must say that Benjamin Stevenson knows how to plot a fair play mystery. I found this clever and humorous. I have enjoyed all the books in this series but I think this one is the best yet. I figured the who out but that was oddly the smallest of the revelations. They just kept coming. Stevenson has a way with bringing not only the conclusion to us but also all the side plots and clues, in a way that reveals things up until the final page. I hope that there are many more murders that Ernest Cunningham finds himself in the middle of, so we can continue to get these genius murder mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun holiday romp. Stevenson once again gives you all,the clues and yet still manages to keep you guessing, love this unique twist on the cozy mystery.