Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the latest installment in the fabulous Ernest Cunningham mysteries by Benjamin Stevenson. Following the rules of both Golden Age mystery novels and Christmas specials, Ernest is recounting the impossible murder that he’s solved in order to clear the name of an old friend. When his investigation leads him to a magic show and another impossible murder, Ernest has to decipher the real clues from the sleight of hand.

In Ernest Cunningham, Benjamin Stevenson has created a mystery solver for the modern age. Ernest is an honest, self-deprecating narrator, not above consulting Google to further his investigations. Though the page count is shorter than the first volumes in this series, this is still a classic Ernest Cunningham story, packed full of twists, turns, and crazy clues. Set up like an advent calendar, each chapter reveals a clue, leading up to the reveal of the killer’s identity. Stevenson’s trademark tongue-in-cheek style shines. I cannot wait for the next Ernest Cunningham mystery, as I foresee this series becoming a modern classic mystery series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Somehow these books keep getting better! I enjoyed the first Ernest Cunningham book and adored the second, and this one, despite being a shorter “holiday special”, is just as good if not better.

The author manages to give us all the clues, providing them through an inner monologue where Ernest (Ern) breaks the fourth wall in telling us the story directly. Yet somehow the book manages to stay one step ahead the entire time, and you’re left shaking your head, impressed by how he did it.

I love the snarky humor and the way the author has turned mysteries tropes into something brand new. Here’s hoping there are more clever stories to come!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy, this was truly a treat to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

I read the 2nd book but not the 1st (yet!) and I enjoyed this just as much. Clever and formula based mystery with fun twists and turns. Perfect for a short page turner during the holiday season. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery with a splash of holiday spirit.

As a big fan of the Ernest Cunningham series, I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of this novella. I did not feel at all short-changed by the length of the book. It was completely satisfying and entertaining for me. As usual, there was plenty of humor to offset the mysterious deaths, and Stevenson, again through Ernest, gives readers his rules for writing mysteries and additional rules for holiday "specials". To fully appreciate the series, the books should be read in order. I love the characters and the twists and turns of solving the cases. I highly recommend this book and the series.

In general, I don’t like direct address from narrators in books. I find it cheesy and patronizing. Yet, Stevenson manages to make me not hate Ern. I still don’t always love it, but he always wins me over. He’s a likeable character with such a guise of honesty that it feels candid, not placating. Stevenson also writes compelling mysteries that keep me guessing, which certainly endears me to him, regardless of his odd framing devices.

I love this series. This isn't my favorite Ernest Cunningham but it's fun and interesting! A good addition to the series.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

It’s great reading the author admit that this slim volume is a cash grab, capitalizing on the enormous success of the first two Ernest Cunningham books by coming out with a “half” mystery just in time for the holidays. After all, he figures, if Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle did it, he’s certainly not above it.

The book is set up like (and contains) an advent calendar that allows readers to keep track of twenty three clues in twenty three chapters, leading to chapter twenty four, and the solving of the mystery…and there are no spoilers for the earlier books.

Here the benefactor of magician Rylan Blaze has been murdered, leading to the following suspects: the magician (natch), the magician’s assistant, the executive (always slimy), the hypnotist, the identical twin (oh no! What about the rules?!?!) and the tech person.

This was cute, and exactly what it’s meant to be, very tongue in cheek. Fans of the series will enjoy immensely and may want to draw out by reading only a chapter a day.

If Benjamin Stevenson writes it, I read it. Ernest Cunningham is back to help solve another mystery this holiday season. I had so much fun with this novella. It was clever and kept true to the holiday theme. I particularly loved The 7 Commandments of Holiday Specials. I can't wait to read more in the series. 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for this arc

Ernest Cunningham returns to save his ex-wife from being framed for her new lover's murder, after she awakens covered in blood with no idea how it got there.

This on-the-shorter-side read truly was a gift. Though Ernest is honest, the plot and his narration does an excellent job of gently misdirecting readers who are familiar with the staples of the genre as Ernest is. However, the chain of events and plausibility is never stretched to the unbelievable. Reminiscent of some Agatha Christie mysteries, it's a satisfying holiday interlude.

Thank you Mariner books and NetGalley for this e-arc. I loved this authors previous books so I was excited to read this Christmas novella. It was a fun, clever who done it with a holiday theme. I liked how they used the advent calendar as the chapters/clues to catch a killer. This one was two murders and his ex-wife is in custody and he plays detective to figure out who did it and why? Everyone had a reason and it reminded me of murder on the orient express. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride as this is one holiday read you don't want to miss!

This one was intense as so many had motives to kill them but who actually did it? This was so cleverly done and executed. The part where he gathers everyone on a cable car caused my heart to race as he knows one of them is a killer and feared what was going to happen.

I loved this brilliant, quick, holiday read of secrets and murder.

4 stars for Ernest's holiday outing novella, "Everyone This Christmas has a Secret"!! I've enjoyed all three of these "meta" type mysteries, they're FUN! And this one is no exception, and was a quick & easy read, cause it's a novella and the whole "advent calendar" format is a real winner!! Recommend this and the whole series highly! My sincere thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the DRC, my pleasure to review it!

Just the right length for a Christmas story. I think the author choosing to write a shorter story is the perfect choice here. Using the advent calendar premise for the chapters is also very smart.
Follows all the rules of mysteries just on a smaller scale. I liked this better than his second book and felt it was more in line with the first novel. The train ride story just didn't work for me, and the story seemed messy and forced.
Readers who follow this author will enjoy it, and hopefully, the Christmas theme will shed light on him for some new readers.
Bravo! Encore!

Ern's family has become involved in yet another murder, this time ex-wife Erin is arrested when her boyfriend is found dead. This was the self-proclaimed "Christmas special" of Ern's mystery arc, and if you enjoyed the first two books, this shouldn't disappoint, although it was not the best of the three and felt a little easier to predict (partly). 4 stars.

The Ernest Cunningham series is one of my all time favorites, so I lost my mind when I saw this available on NetGalley without even knowing it existed.

Ernest now has 7 Commandments of Holiday Specials to go along with his normal murder mystery rules, and they were everything I could have dreamed of and more. I truly feel like any book in this series should be read with as little knowledge as possible going in, so I'm not spoiling anything.

I was a little bummed that it was a shorter novel, but I loved it just the same! It's still just as wonderful as the other two novels and will hold me over while I wait for more :)

It is no secret that I’m not a huge fan of novellas. I always feel like there is something missing or the story isn’t all the way fleshed out. However, that is not the case in this book! I have loved Stevenson’s other two books in this series so when I saw this one I jumped at the chance to read it! I love how it is different and quirky enough to hold my attention. It was fun to see the twist this book took when it was also a Christmas special and how Ernest threw in some rules for the specials! It’s always interesting to try to follow the twists and turns and try to solve the crime right along with Ernest!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eARC in exchange for my review!

Was SO thrilled to get an ARC of this book! Thoroughly enjoyed the first two, and this one lives up to their standard. Yes, it’s short, but has all the humor and twists that made the first two books so enjoyable. I will say this was the first one I was able to guess the killer relatively early—but I’m sure it’s only because I’m learning so much from Ernest 😉 seriously loved it, a must-read for anyone who liked the first two!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the chance for an ARC!

Thanks to Benjamin Stevenson and Mariner Books for this digital ARC. A new short entry into Ernest's world... loved this nod to Golden Age mysteries.

only benjamin stevenson could make me pick up a Christmas special in the heat of Oklahoma summer. I just couldn't resist this one the second I got approved on Netgalley. Fortunately Australian Christmas is also hot.
Benjamin Stevenson is just SUCH a talent. Such clever ideas and hilarious writing. I know that this tongue-in-cheek style isn't for everyone, but if you've already been enjoying this hilarious series, the christmas special won't let you down.
(also! I love the trend of Christmas special books. let's keep doing this forever)

Stevenson has done it again with his quick witted, lighthearted mystery solver, Ernest. I just can’t figure out how he does it so efficiently.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so appreciative to NetGalley for letting me have the advanced readers copy. Thank you, Mariner, for approving my request.

Something to know about me, I am not only a December kid but I absolutely love the Christmas season. This book is set with the premise of a holiday special as the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series. Like the pervious two books, it is time to solve a murder (or two).

This book is witty, charming and full of Christmas spirit as Ernest goes forth finding out who killed the boyfriend of his ex-wife Erin. There are light call backs to the first two books (if you have not read then I recommend them!) but mostly this one is a stand alone like most holiday specials. The clues are clever and the breaking of the fourth wall is one of the more delightful qualities of these books. This one stands up as a strong addition to the series.