Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret
Benjamin Stevenson

“And it’s four days from Christmas. Police will want a fast wrap-up. You’re a ready-made black widow.”

We return with a Christmas addition to the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues.

‘But that’s the thing about magicians, isn’t it? Or mystery writers. When the trickster tells you where to look, you should be looking somewhere else.’

This was great! A quick read with a clever whodunnit and a cast of characters all flawed, and yet rather relatable. The humour sprinkled throughout was wonderful and I especially enjoyed the first person narration; Ernest speaks directly to the reader and reveals all manner of mystery denouements and cliches. I really found this a unique but fun addition to the narration.

‘But detective and mystery reader alike must always remember something; no body, no death. If you don’t see a corpse, you can bet your bottom dollar that person’s coming back.’

Have you read any of the Ernest Cunningham books yet?
Or a Christmas book?

‘But even picturing her with the knife, my darkest thought was something else: she’s a former Cunningham. Everyone in my family has killed someone. If she had done this, why hadn’t she done a better job of getting away with it.’

Huge thanks to @stevensonexperience and @penguinbooksaus @penguinrandomhouse for this delightful Christmas story.

‘Whether pine needles actually smell like disinfectant, or we have simply made disinfectant smell like pine needles for so long the association is ubiquitous, I’m still not sure.’

Review posted 23rd December 2024.

A JOLLY CHRISTMAS…MURDER! ‘EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET’ BY BENJAMIN STEVENSON

I so thoroughly enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson’s first two mystery novels featuring Ernest Cunningham that I leapt at the chance to review this one, in time for Christmas.

In keeping with the catchy naming pattern of the first two books: Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, readers are advised straight up that everyone in this new story should likewise be regarded as a suspect.

Ernest is an amateur detective who writes ‘how to write detective’ books – which is sort of funny in itself when you think about it. Stevenson is a comedian as well as an author, so the comedy is a big part of these novels along with the mystery. Ernest’s schtick is that he writes rules for what he calls ‘fair play mysteries’: like those written in what is sometimes called the golden age of crime fiction.

I loved two things about this one, on top of the main character – Ern is endearing and doesn’t take himself too seriously, though he is very serious about solving the crimes that he inevitably stumbles upon in the novels.

Firstly, the Christmas theme. The motif of a Christmas advent calendar is used so cleverly throughout, each chapter giving a clue as a new window on the calendar opens. It’s done so well, blending the narrative of the crime and the various characters’ motives and movements, with the Christmas setting.

Secondly, the novel is set in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, just up the road from where I live. The second crime novel set in the Blue Mountains I have read this year! While I would not want people to think that my little part of the world is more prone to murder than any other, it is a beautiful and evocative setting for a novel and I am pleased to see it getting its share of the limelight.

If you haven’t yet met Ernest and his family, I would heartily recommend beginning with the first two of Stevenson’s books and then reading this one. The audio versions are also excellent. They are light-hearted reads, while keeping you thinking as the complexities of the twisty plots are revealed. And give plenty of chuckles along the way.

Everyone this Christmas has a Secret is published by Penguin Books Australia in October 2024.
My thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for a review copy.

My work Book Club had so much fun with this one! Because it is designed as an advent calendar, we read our chapter a day to line up with our end of year catch up. We also stopped at the end of chapter 23 to each choose who the killer was. I got it wrong of course - but two clever people got it correct. One gorgeous colleague made us all Christmas bookmarks - and really all round it was a fantastic book club book to end the year.

I loved this one and can’t wait for the next in the series!

This “holiday special” of a book will be a delight to readers, whether they’re familiar with Ernest Cunningham or meeting him for the first time.

Ernest is the accidental private detective who’s already solved several nasty murders that occurred near him. Now, just a few days before Christmas, he’s responding to a frantic call from his ex-wife. She woke up covered in her murdered partners blood, with no idea how it got there or who might have killed her partner.

Naturally, everyone Ernest meets has a motive for murder. Equally naturally, it seems impossible that any of them could have, in practical terms, committed the murder.

This is a little shorter than the earlier Ernest Cunningham novels, but it contains the same clever plotting and dark humor. I enjoyed it a great deal. Theoretically you can work out whodunnit and how before Ernest does, but it’s such a clever puzzle that I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

Despite the shorter length, Stevenson builds a remarkably complex and tricky plot, one where it all unwinds neatly and believably at the required point. Christmas activities do feature in both the clues and the eventual solution, but I’d find this novel enjoyable at any time of year.

Ernest is perhaps a touch less sardonic than in the longer novels, but only because he has to get on with things at a slightly faster clip. Characterisation is strong and sharp, with a fairly big cast, all of whom come to life.

There’s a strong sense of place, too, vividly bringing Katoomba and surrounds to life. And as always, Ernest shows off his understanding of the “rules” of the genre. This time that means not just detective novels, but holiday or Christmas “specials”.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It’s fun, it’s clever, it’s got a bit of depth to it. It’s a great detective novel, and would make an excellent Christmas gift.

Rating of 4.5.

One of my favourite Australian authors, the clever and eternally funny Benjamin Stevenson, returns with the third book in his Ernest Cunningham series, Everyone this Christmas has a Secret.

Ernest Cunningham, amateur detective, novelist and all-round meddler, had been looking forward to Christmas with his highly dysfunctional family. However, a surprising phone call from his ex-wive, Erin, forces him to journey to the Blue Mountains to solve another murder. Erin has been accused of killing her new husband, a wealthy philanthropist and former actor dedicated to helping former drug addicts by introducing them to the performing arts. Found upstairs covered in the victim’s blood, the case against Erin seems airtight, but Ernest isn’t willing to believe that the women he used to love is capable of committing murder.

Determined to prove Erin’s innocence, Ernest begins to investigate hoping to find anything that will clear her name. His first stop is a large charity Christmas show headlined by a famed magician that the victim had been working on in the leadup to his death. Exploring backstage, Ernest soon discovers that the staff of the charity show are a mixed bag of tricksters, manipulators and performers, each of whom had history with the victim. But before he can investigate any further, another person dies publicly on stage.

With the police refusing to listen and time counting down to Christmas, Ernest once again uses his knowledge of the conventions of crime fiction to try and solve the case. However, all his suspects have motive, and all of them know how to lie and misdirect. Can Ernest work out which of these performers is concealing the truth, or will a killer get away with murder this Christmas?

This was another outstanding novel from Stevenson, who clearly has a ton of fun with his Ernest Cunningham books. A brilliant Christmas special, Everyone this Christmas has a Secret proved to be yet another captivating and hilarious book that proved extremely hard to put down.

To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/12/08/everyone-this-christmas-has-a-secret-by-benjamin-stevenson/

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Everyone this Christmas has a secret was another riveting read by Benjamin Stevenson! I’ve read now the three books in the Ernest Cunningham series and they are brilliant! This was a nice short story, which had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoy the interactive way this book plays out, and how with wee hints and suggestions you can almost solve the murder yourself.
Ernest’s ex wife is in jail for the murder of her husband, can Ernest figure out the truth and set her free before anyone else dies?

I cannot wait for more books in this series, they’re so captivating and intriguing. And they’re written in such a different way that you feel like you’re there with the characters trying to solve the murder with them. Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House Au for the arc!

I'm a huge fan of Benjamin Stevenson's Ernest Cunningham series. I like Ernest's droll storytelling and commitment to the 'rules of the Golden Age of crime fiction' or 'fair play mysteries' - such as our narrator NOT lying to readers or featuring hidden clues. His intent (akin to the likes of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle) is that we readers are able to work out whodunnit at the same time as our narrator and real-life detective. (Ern in this instance.)

In true Ern style though he does (very-glibly) admit that he's not opposed to a yuletide cash-grab in the form of a 'Christmas Special' (aka 175 page novella). And of course - as is always the case - this very real murder-mystery lands at Ern's feet.

I can't remember his wife Erin from the first novel in the series but she's living in the Blue Mountains with a wealthy entrepreneur type (Lyle Pearse), who's hosting a fundraiser featuring a magician. When Lyle is murdered (the day AFTER trying to call the police to report a murder), Erin is the key suspect and calls on Ern to find the real murderer.

Again this is cleverly set-out with each chapter referencing the 'door' of an advent calendar and sections labelled with a christmas gift tag referencing the suspect. Or victim. (And yes there is more than one!)

I perhaps found Ern's storytelling a little more obvious here and I'm not sure why. His style of narration is very conversational but here there was something more contrived perhaps. Although having said that the narration is deliberately tongue-in-cheek and more akin to second-person... as if Ern is specifically talking to us. Again Stevenson's ending is a little OTT is they tend to be in this series but it's a fitting culmination of a fun not-quite-cosy mystery.

Thank you to Penguin random house and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I totally didn’t realise this was book 3 of the series when I requested it on NetGalley and that made me nervous going in, but I had so much fun with this Christmas murder mystery novella.

It was easy to read, kept me on my toes and I loved the use of the advent calendar as chapters. Ernest is witty and fun and it’s definitely intrigued me to go back and read the previous two books to see what I’ve missed out on.

A perfect little murder mystery for the festive season!

Truly a gem to read - the writing style will forever be a favourite of mine (a self-aware detective who consistently breaks the fourth wall, a treat to read). A festive murder that artfully avoids falling headfirst into Christmas cliches but rather, masterfully wrangles them together into a nicely-wrapped present to enjoy.

This was such a unique Christmas mystery and one that would make a great present for December first. You can read this book as an advent calendar and on day 24 you will find out who the murderer is.

Ernest Cunningham takes off to the Blue Mountains when Erin his ex-wife calls for help. She has been arrested for committing murder – a murder she doesn’t know anything about. All the suspects are magicians and tricksters. We even have an advent calendar inside the book with clues. What more can you want in a cosy mystery?

I really enjoyed Benjamin’s unqiue writing style and loved that this was set in the beautiful Blue Mountains. It was a very clever written mystery and no I did not guess the killer. I’m looking forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the gifted copy of this e-book for my honest book review.

What a treat to read a Christmas book set in Australia. This is my first Ernest Cunningham book but even though it's the third in the series, there was enough backstory to jump right in. It was also just enough to make me want to read the first two. The mystery was intriguing, especially the blood on her hands! And the conclusion was satisfying. A short Christmas mystery to get me in the holiday mood.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Here we have a Christmas edition in the Ernest Cunningham Series and it’s a great one to pick up in time for the festive season.

It did take me a little bit to get use to Benjamin’s writing style, as it is unique, but I was soon hooked in. There are many characters and things get quite cryptic, so you do have to pay attention, but there is plenty of fun along the way to make this pretty easy to do.

I had no clue who the murderer was and when all was revealed, my first thought was that it was extremely clever.

I am still yet to read Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, but they are both sitting in my TBR and I shall get to them sooner than planned!

Thanks NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Benjamin Stevenson for this Digital ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! It took me a minute to get used to the writing style (I’m not sure the last time I read a book where the characters breaks the fourth wall), but I throughly enjoyed it. This kept me guessing and I loved the journey of getting there.

This book was so much fun. It did take me a little while to get into it, but I really loved the sound effects for the advent calendar on the audio and the narrator for Ernest was great.
A perfect Christmas cozy mystery!

Ernest Cunningham has returned for a cozy Christmas mystery and while the third book in the series is markedly smaller than its predecessors, it’s still delivered with Stevenson’s usual charm and humour and, of course, murder.

The body count across the three books is fast running out of hands and fingers with which to count them on. And if you thought the mountain was gruesome, this one will have you never looking at a magic show in the same way again.

In the midst of planning a wedding, Ernest dashes off to help Erin after she’s been accused of murdering her partner Lyle. So strong is the case against her that the police aren’t even looking at anyone else - unless the next victim is killed of course…

Despite its lower page count, this book still pack in an incredible amount of detail in a very short amount of time and holiday cheer. Complete with a KK and an advent calendar of clues, Everyone this Christmas has a Secret is sure to delight Ernest, cozy mystery, and Christmas fans alike.

Thank you to Benjamin Stevenson, Penguin Random House Australia, and NetGalley for making Christmas come early.