This was fun and ridiculous and I absolutely love this author and his crazy escapades and asides. I will likely read anything by him. My only nit-picky wish is that this was longer!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner books for the e-arc!

While I have thoroughly enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson's first two novels, this one just seemed like too much of the same. I would love to see how this author can incorporate his special brand of humor into new characters and a new format. I hesitate to give 3 stars given how poorly one of his characters in a previous book reacted to his Goodreads rating (!), but I just didn't enjoy this book.

In this shorter holiday mystery, Ernest Cunningham investigates the death of a wealthy philanthropist. The prime suspect is Lyle’s girlfriend, who happens to be Ernie’s ex-wife. Using fair-play clues, Ernie relates the details of his investigation, speaking directly to the reader. There are twenty-four chapters and twenty-four clues that are given in the format of an advent calendar.

Lyle was the benefactor of a popular magician, so he and other suspects who work on the magic show are professionals at fooling others. This makes it even more challenging for Ernie to prove his ex’s innocence and catch the real killer.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, but it would work just as well if you’re new to the series. Most of the characters in this story are new, and the author gives you what you need to know about the others. The magic show setting works well with the story and provides plenty of suspects and fun.

As Ernie questions suspects and uncovers clues, I have my suspicions, but I was not able to solve the crime successfully. The book has one of the most unique ways for a detective to lay out his case and reveal the true killer that I’ve ever seen, and it was dramatic and exciting. This is a funny, fast-paced mystery, and I already can’t wait for the next one in this clever series.

~ Christine

Fans of the series will not be disappointed with this third, holiday installment. It was witty, twisty, and had an ending that surprised me. What more could you want?
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series by Benjamin Stevenson. The title caught my eye as I'm a big fan of holiday mysteries.
However, this is not your standard cozy mystery.
The narrator is the key to making this a unique and fun romp. He speaks to his audience as if we are in the room. He tells us his theories and warns us to avoid certain cliched tropes. He leaves clues along the way so the armchair detective will enjoy keeping score.

The story is fast paced and keeps the reader engaged. I have not read the other books in this series but they are going on my TBR list in hopes that they will be as much fun as this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner books for the ARC of Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.

Thank you to Netgalley and Killer Crime Club for an advanced reader copy of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. Written with the same wit and sarcasm as his previous books in this series, Benjamin Stevenson's ETCHAS was a pleasure to read. The story is structured with a series of clues at the end of each section and a Christmas present for each suspect. Despite being all laid out, with a recap more than halfway through, I thoroughly enjoyed letting Ernest guide me through the mystery, always wondering if I was going to guess the murderer before the ending. Turns out that I did, but it was after a few suspects had been eliminated. As a big fan of Stevenson's writing, I was transfixed by the story and read it quickly, never really happy when I had to put it down. I highly recommend this holiday read.

This was brilliant. Absolutely freaking brilliant. I loved the first two books in the series so it wasn’t exactly a surprise to read this one and love it as well. I love a book that is clever but easy to follow and this, like the others, fits that perfectly. Starting this book and reading the narrator’s voice felt like coming home to an old friend. I loved getting to see more of the characters I’d met before and I enjoyed meeting the new ones as well. The structure of the book was a so smart and the story was an absolute blast (no pun intended). I have zero complaints, zero notes, just a happy heart and a satisfied brain. See you later, reading slump!

This was a fun Christmas murder mystery novella with just the right balance of thriller and humor, much of it in part, thanks to the “narrator” Ernest, definitely giving off Knives Out vibes. Ernest finds himself in the middle of another murder investigation and this time, his ex wife is prime suspect #1. The mystery to clear her name leads Ernest to the stage of renowned magician Rylan Blaze. There are at least six people with a motive to kill their benefactor, and when another murder happens, no one is safe. But with a “holiday special” Ernest is determined to solve this in time for Christmas.
I had a lot of fun reading this and couldn’t put it down. Normally I pride myself on figuring things out early but the murderer’s identity was truly a secret until the very end.
Thank you to Mariner Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful Christmas edition - love a good Ernest mystery! Not overdone and very charming.

The heat and laid-back holiday vibes add a vibrant atmosphere to the story, creating an unusual but refreshing setting for a Christmas mystery. The tension and plot twists unfold beautifully, keeping you guessing while still feeling light enough to fit the holiday spirit.

Clever, entertaining, and full of heart, this is a perfect summer holiday read. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Ernest’s escapades or new to the series, you’ll enjoy unraveling the secrets under the Australian sun. A delightful addition to any Christmas reading list!

I have seriously mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it had a really fun plot that involved a magician.

On the other, I think that plot was too interesting and intricate to be crammed into the novella format. I think it needed more pages, and a little more Christmas spirit. The book also had an advent calendar format that I didn't really understand.

Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an ARC and a fun Christmas swag box. I happily added this to my list of Thrilling Christmas Mysteries of 2024 and I know many readers will absolutely love it!

In this short Christmas novella, which is the third book in the series, Ern once again finds himself on the case of a murder - this time the current partner of his ex-wife Erin. If you’ve read the series opener, you know that the title of that one is Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. Does the Cunningham family history extend to exes now? Ern doesn’t think so, but first he has to prove it.

This was interesting because the plot, even with a second murder that was one of the more creative, unique ones I’ve read, still felt a little more grounded in reality than the prior two books. I could believe the motivations for this particular suspect pool. Stevenson also made them unusually sympathetic, so I can’t really say I wanted any of them to be the murderer!

Another thing I particularly enjoyed was the format of using an Advent calendar and Secret Santa theme to reveal the events of each chapter. It was a fun holiday touch! Ern still follows the Golden Age of Mystery “fair play” rules, so the clues are all there for the reader to put together. I had a great time trying, even if I didn’t solve it.

Overall this was not only a funny, clever holiday read, but also a nice boost to my excitement for the next book!

I really enjoyed this story, even though I struggled to keep up with all the characters at times. The pacing and complexity made it a little challenging, but that didn’t take away from the overall experience. It was still engaging and kept me curious.

What I loved most were the clues and puzzles scattered throughout. They gave the story a sense of mystery and discovery, even if I didn’t always know what was going on. That sense of being drawn into the unknown made it fun and rewarding.

A mystery set during Christmas was the perfect choice. It had just the right atmosphere for the season, and it was a great mix of suspense and holiday charm. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for something intriguing and festive.

This was a quick, easy read. It was a novella, which I sometimes struggle with. I’m often left wanting more. This wasn’t bad, followed the same style as the author’s other two books, just in condensed form.

The Christmas tie? Other than being set a few days before Christmas and a small Secret Santa tie in, there wasn’t much Christmas.

This was ok. A quick mindless read. Definitely not a must read though.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

These books are fun. Anytime I get asked for a mystery recommend at work, EIMFHKS is my go to. Absolutely loved it. The sequels aren't as good as the first but that is to be expected. ETCHAS was a fun wamr holiday read, just as it was supposed to be. Did I guess who it was this time? Yes, which is why I took a star off.

This was such a good Christmas novella!
Stevenson has such a unique voice, and he does not disappoint with this short mystery.
If you enjoyed Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train is a Suspect, you will love this festive holiday who-done-it.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I was so excited to be back in Ernest Cunningham's world. These books always make me excited, as they have an intricate yet believable plot and a snarky protagonist (Ernest) who continually breaks the fourth wall to speak to the reader.

While this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. There are a few nods to past cases and relationships (e.g., Ernest's ex-wife), so you will not be confused if you decide to jump into this novella first.

The murders were very intriguing, the cast of characters interesting, and the cozy holiday setting intoxicating. I also loved the addition of the advent calendar theme, where clues were spaced out over time, and the reader was left trying to piece everything together alongside our armchair detective. This was much better than the second book, mainly because the pacing was very fast. I also thoroughly enjoyed the nods to classic Christmas detective novellas and the overall holiday vibes of this novella.

Finally, the mysteries behind the killings were very witty and well thought out. I didn't need to suspend disbelief for any of the plots, which is how I prefer my cozy mysteries.

There was very little that I liked about this book. It was really hard to read due to the whole commentary on how he would write this if it was one of his mystery novels. I figured out who the killer was and quit reading about three quarters of the way through. If you like awkwardly written mysteries set at Christmas time, you might like this.

An enticing murder to draw the reader right in to a Christmas book! Ernest Cunningham is back in his 3rd foray into detection. Armed with his rules for mysteries, this clever episode leaves him adding rules for holiday specials as well. Clever, complicated and witty.

Ernest Cunningham is back in a fun Christmas mystery. A murder of the benefactor of a world famous magician, a list of suspects who know how to trick you. Will Ernest see through the misdirection?

I really like this series and I hope there are more to come!

This book is shorter than the other two, but it doesn’t feel like a short story, which is nice since so many short stories feel like pertinent information is left out.

There are a few aspects that I really liked about this book: magician elements and the advent calendar pieces. They made the plot very interesting and different than any other book I have read. Also, the witty writing is always a plus.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!