Ern is at it again! For this Christmas Special, Ern is trying to solve another murder in his slap stick, 4th wall breaking manner. This it's the "third" installment in the Ernest Cunningham series. This could be read as a standalone, but to get the full effect I recommend reading the first two full length novels.

This follows the same "recipe" as the others, but a little shorter due to it being a special. I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it!

It's Christmas and Ernest Cunningham wants nothing more than a quiet, murder-free holiday. Having already solved two high profile cases, he needs a break.

Unfortunately, he doesn't get his wish as he gets a call from the last person he expects to hear from: his ex-wife Erin. She has been arrested for the murder of her boyfriend who was the CEO of a noted charitable foundation. The problem is Erin doesn't remember anything and can't be sure she didn't kill him. Thus it is up to Ernest to find out the truth and save Christmas.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the third mystery novel from Benjamin Stevenson. It's every bit as god as his first two novels. In true Golden Age fashion he puts all the clues out there for the reader. He cleverly uses an advent calendar to organize the clues. He even breaks the fourth wall by providing a challenge to the reader to come up with their own solution before he reveals the culprit.

My only regret was not starting the book at a time when I could have completed it in one sitting.

I look forward to reading more adventures of Ernest Cunningham in the near future.

An advance copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for this review. No other consideration was received in exchange for this review.

3.5 stars


In this third book in the 'Ernest Cunningham' series, set in Australia, the amateur sleuth investigates a very tricky case. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

The premise of these clever mysteries by Benjamin Stevenson is that an author named Ernest Cunningham writes books about real murders he's helped to solve. Cunningham's first book, 'Everyone In My Famly Has Killed Someone', is about homicides that occurred during a family reunion at a mountain resort, and Cunningham's second book, 'Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect', is set on a luxury train.

Cunningham prides himself on the fact that he adheres to the rules of 'Golden Age' mysteries, such as: nothing supernatural; no surprise identical twins; the killer must be important to the plot; no obvious truths must be concealed from the reader; and so on. Ernest sticks to the rules, but in a rather cunning fashion, and he promises, "My job is to relay to you everything you need to reach the same 'lightbulb' moment I did."

As the story opens, it's a few days before Christmas, and Ernest is headed for Katoomba, where his ex-wife Erin Gillford has been arrested. Erin is charged with murdering her boyfriend, wealthy philanthropist Lyle Pearse. Lyle pioneered the Pearse Foundation, which helps drug addicts get clean - and stay clean - by involving them in theatrical productions.

When Ernest gets to Katoomba, he finds Erin sitting in a jail cell, waiting for him. Erin explains that, when she woke up this morning, Lyle wasn't in bed, and she had blood on her hands and face. Looking around the house, Erin saw a knife at the top of the steps, and blood drops leading to Lyle's body downstairs. Erin's first thought was to contact Ernest, who has a knack for solving murders. She then called the police, who promptly arrested her. Ernest listens to Erin's story, then proclaims he believes she's innocent, and promises to look into the case.

As soon as Ernest leaves the jail he's accosted by tabloid journalist Josh Felman, who chronicles reality star divorces and Ernest's investigations. Ernest observes, "I had no idea how Felman had managed to get to Katoomba so quickly, let alone how he knew I'd be there....Josh Felman is a truffle dog of a journo who prides himself on being the nearest to the stories rather than the best reporting them." It turns out that sneaky Josh has photos of the crime scene, and he and Ernest agree to share information.

Meanwhile, the Pearse Foundation is preparing for that evening's show, which is a performance by renowned magician Rylan Blaze. Rylan's big trick involves him being placed in stocks beneath a guillotine, with a gun pointed at his head. Rylan has to escape the stocks before the guillotine blade drops, simultaneously catching a bullet in his teeth.

Ernest plans to catch Rylan's show later that night, and in the meantime, proceeds with his investigation. Ernest examines the murder victim's office, where he observes Lyle's cheap supermarket chocolate advent calendar, computer set-up, diary, and what turns out to be an important clue. Ernest also meets the Pearse Foundation employees and volunteers, many of whom are recovering drug addicts. Ernest considers everyone in the Pearse Foundation a possible suspect, including:

❁ Rylan Blaze - the magician whose show is currently being featured at the Pearse Foundation.
❁ Flick - the CFO of the Pearse Foundation.
❁ Theresa - a hypnotist/psychic who does a warm-up act for Rylan Blaze.
❁ Samantha - Theresa's twin sister, who works as Flick's assistant.
❁ Dinesh - the production manager for the Pearse Foundation, who's operating the lights for Rylan Blaze's performance.
❁ Christopher - the head counselor at the Pearse Foundation.

Cunningham is fair but devious about sharing clues with the reader, and I didn't match his 'lightning' moment. It was fun to try though, and many fans of cozy mysteries would enjoy this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Mariner Books for a copy of the book.

I went into this book knowing the writing style and characters of Stevenson from "Everyone on this Train is a Suspect" back in the spring and this book did not stray from either. I enjoyed this Ernest Cunningham novel as an addition to the others. This one was a little shorter but fun to add in the holiday approach. I was hooked until the very end trying to figure out who had done it and there were twists and turns until the end. Definitely would recommend to anyone who has read the other books in this series.


Thank you #EveryoneThisChristmasHasaSecret #NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Our returning esteemed narrator, Ernest Cunningham, immediately reminds us that an Australian Christmas is a summer Christmas, so there are more murder possibilities in dry, sunny weather. Ernest is back to guide through another mystery that, at least, he hopes to follow the fair play mystery rules of the Golden Age. Six suspects, seven gifts, twenty-four chapters like an Advent calendar.

Ernest is the first one keeping a secret from his fiancée Juliette — he’s meeting up with his ex-wife Erin, who had called him to say she was being jailed for the stabbing death of her philanthropist boyfriend. Ernest, always breaking the fourth wall to speak to us, sets out the rules (summarized at the end) about keeping the story short, celebrating Christmas, and not altering any series’ characters if the reader skips “The Christmas Special.” The story is mostly set in a theater with a magician as a headliner, so Ernest invites us to a behind-the-scenes treat. I love Stevenson’s clever stories and, again, I was rooting for Ernest’s detective skills. This would be the perfect holiday gift for the readers who have fallen in love with the Cunningham (and we’re promised more to come!) 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES If green eye shadow counts…
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But now I know that the blue haze over the Blue Mountains is vaporizing eucalyptus oil.

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

I really enjoy these books. They are very clever and fun to read. They aren’t necessarily the most complex books but still enjoyable. Anyone who wants a good read will enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Benjamin Stevenson for providing me an advanced reading copy.

Ernest Cunningham is back with another book in the series and this time the story is set around Christmas. In the author's usual style he has Ernest talk directly to the reader about the murders in the book and the way it has been set up in the story. We are promised all the clues to solve the murder ourselves, although I have yet to be successful. The story kicks off with a murder and Ernest is invested in trying to clear the name of the accused but before we get too far, another very public death takes place. I am very impressed how the author is able to keep me invested in the many twists and turns. Ernest has a way of asking the right questions and seeing things from a unique point of view that kept the story moving forward. This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it all the way through. It is definitely one that I will be recommending and a must for those who enjoyed the first books in the series.

Thank you Mariner Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I have read three books by the author and I think he keeps getting better with each one!
The cover is terrific and I like how there is a Christmas theme to the book.
I will highly recommend to fans of Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone!

5/5 stars

I broke my very strict "no Christmas before Thanksgiving" rule to read the e-ARC of this "Christmas special" fair play mystery, and I have zero regrets. Ernest is at it again - and Stevenson has really hit his groove - for this short and sweet novel. 

What I Love: The idea of breaking the 4th wall to provide clues for your reader is unique and works here better than ever before. The unique organization of the Advent calendar with quick chapters makes the story fly past. All the twists - big and small - are so satisfying. (Example: Finding the true meaning of Christmas. So good!) I didn't figure it out, but I didn't have a strong desire to. I was around for the ride. 

What I Didn't Love: It was short, so I felt like I had such a short time with all of the suspects. Harder to understand motive that way, but it didn't make me disappointed in the ending. Please keep writing these!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for my e-ARC.

This is a short novella but it doesn’t feel too short at all. Ernest is at his charming best and makes me laugh in every book. I was so happy to get to read another book in this series because Stevenson is the best at mixing humor and murder. It was fun to get to read a Christmas time mystery in August!

Thank you Mariner Books for the gifted copy!

I absolutely *love* the Ernest Cunningham series. They are so funny and witty and expertly twisty. I never guess the big reveals even though the clues are revealed throughout the book. I love how Ernest is speaking directly to us, the reader, and we are invited to solve the murder mysteries right alongside him.

I can't wait to see what's next for my favorite author turned amateur detective. This "Christmas special" is short but packs a punch!

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret will be on US bookshelves October 22!

I am delighted to be reviewing this book for this holiday season!

I was hooked from the prologue - I love how Stevenson makes note of the previous “Christmas Specials” that reference back to Conan Doyle and Christie, but with his own take. The book reads like an advent calendar with 24 chapters and then a conclusion. You can read it day by day, or all at once, like myself.
It’s so unique and fun, and I feel like people will love it this holiday season!!

This was SO anticipated by me - I love this author’s previous books and I have given Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone as a Christmas gift last year, so this was just incredibly fun for me!

Keep ‘em coming, Mr. Stevenson.

Thank you to the author (omg such a fan), NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC!!


I also posted an insta story with the book cover and added to my highlights

Ernest visits Erin in jail. She wants him to figure out if she really did kill her partner, Lyle, because all she knows is she woke up with his blood on her hands. While doing his amateur detective work at the foundation where Lyle works, a magician ends up dead and now he must figure out who is behind everything in order to exonerate his ex-wife.

An enjoyable Christmas-themed murder mystery I read quickly.

This was a great Christmas mystery to read if you enjoy humor mixed in with murder. Ernest Cunningham is the narrator of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. And he's back at it again stumbling upon another murder he must solve. He is self-deprecating and often breaks the fourth wall to give the reader insight into his thoughts.

You don't need to read the others to understand the story, but you should because they are delightful. Even though it's a series, I don't feel like the author is using the same twists and motives to make it too similar.

I was worried that there wouldn't be enough time to introduce characters and get a meaningful backstory and move the plot along since it's so short. But I was wrong!

Is it weird to read a Christmas special in August? The setting of this book is Australia during Christmastime, which is in the middle of summer for them, so the author often describes how blasted hot it is in this book. It is actually fitting with the current weather.

This was another great Ernest mystery. Sad it was only a novella but the plot didn’t feel rushed in anyway or cheap in the way some holiday books do. Can’t wait to read more from this series

3.5 stars

Ernest Cunningham is back, our amateur mystery solver and fan of Golden Age mystery protocol. This is the third Ernest I have read. I enjoy his snark and sense of humor. I admit at times his format feels gimmicky and the plotting ridiculously complex.

Ernest receives a panic text from his ex-wife. He shows up to find her under arrest after she is found covered in her fiance's blood from his stabbed body. And the hows of her being bloodied with no recollection are ingenious when Ernest unveils them at the end.

The fiance ran a philanthropic drug rehab program and all the suspects credit him with saving their lives from addiction. But that doesn't mean they don't all have a motive. This is a short novel set at Christmas season and moves quickly. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ernest is back with his “Christmas Special.” With each new book, I wonder if it will hit or miss the mark. I’ve yet to be disappointed. This was a short, quick read. Once again all the clues are presented directly to the reader and I was kept guessing.

I had not read any books by Benjamin Stevenson even though I was aware of the two previous books in this series. When this one came available, I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad that I did. It was great. It isn't often that I thoroughly enjoy a book this much. I will now have to go back and read the first two books. Even though Ernest says that you can solve the murder at the same time, I just wanted to go along for the ride. I was enjoying seeing where it would go next.

I haven't read anything by Benjamin Stevenson before, but after reading this book, I need to go back and read his other books. This was a very interesting and fun read for me and it's not necessarily something I'd read outside of my comfort reading zone, but I'm glad I did. I am now a Stevenson fan and will definitely recommend this book to my patrons!

while i was worried that benjamin stevenson's ernest cunningham series would have diminishing returns, i'm glad to see that it doesn't, at least no worse than classic mystery writers of yore. a christmas book is a helluva third swing. and it's still a lot of fun