This is the third in this series and so much fun. This is storytelling at its best with one of the most unreliable narrators ever. Great humor and a ton of twists that will keep,you guessing until the very end. And I mean the very end!

This was another good one by Benjamin Stevenson. I have read his other books and each one has it own unique touch but they are all written in the same style. I like the way he writes and keeps you on your toes. I thought he did a good job of connecting the story!

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is one of the most unique and funniest books I have read in a very long time. Although this is the third in the series, I can promise you not only will that not hinder the read, but more than likely have you go back and buy the previous two (on their way). The story is told by Ernest Cunningham a detective/not a detective getting ready to be married and oh, it's less than a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Unfortunately for Ernest it will not be the most wonderful time of the year!

When his ex-wife Erin calls him to say she is in police custody because she was found with blood all over herself when she woke up that morning and to her horrible surprise discovered her beloved boyfriend, Lyle Pearse a wealthy philanthropist who has an organization for struggling addicts dead in the kitchen, well, what else was she supposed to do?

Ernest was planning to go see a magician named Rylan Blaze at a holiday party at Pearse's Foundation. So of course, he decides to go early and see what he can sniff out for suspects. And of course, to help his ex!

As he begins to question those on staff as well as volunteers, most of whom owe their lives to Lyle Pearse, it seems like there are no suspects. Until that evening during the show, Rylan himself is murdered. Yes, during the show.

So now everyone is a suspect and what a cast of characters they are: the executive, a hypnotist, the twin of the hypnotist, the assistant and a fired volunteer. And yes, they all carry secrets.

As the days on the advent calendar count down...remember this clue...Ernest is baffled. But he will try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, giving the reader hints to follow along. He will also remind us he has done this!

The story and investigation move quicky and with the hysterical dialogue and its snarky tone (in my head), it's a very enjoyable murder, yes, I know that's an oxymoron... but it is riveting and quite amusing and of course a shocking twisted ending!

You will fall in love with Ernest the detective/not detective in this can't put down book Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret!

Thank you #NetGalley #MarinerBooks #BenjaminStevenon #EveryoneThisChristmasHasASecret for the advanced copy.

Another great book in this series. The twists and turns of the characters had me turning the pages quickly to get to a resolution. Love, love, love Benjamin's writing and cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

Really loved this new addition to the series! It was a quick read and definitely had some twists I didn’t see! I look forward to more from him!

This is the third title in the Ernest Cunningham series of tongue-in-cheek Australian murder mysteries. This time, Ernest finds himself racing to prove his ex-wife’s innocence when her boyfriend is murdered in their home in the middle of the night. In the midst of this first investigation, another gruesome murder takes place in a very public setting before a live audience at a holiday magic show. Ernest must not only find the killer of the first victim but of the second as well, determine if they are related, and hopefully, clear his ex-wife’s name. And it would be lovely if it could all be wrapped up before Christmas Day.

As per the usual, you can expect hilarity, instructive asides, and a shocker at the reveal. Benjamin Stevenson is consistent in giving us well thought out, comedic murder mysteries that keep the reader’s attention without causing us to lose sleep at night! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as I have both of the others in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Mariner Books for the advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Benjamin Stevenson does it again! I love this unique book! The advent structure is so fun. I read this in summer, but it would be great read as an advent pick.

I enjoyed this third outing with Ernest and his reflections on the mystery genre. This was shorter than the others, but still had the same humor and thoughtful conclusion. I hope more are in the works.

4.5 rounded up

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. I listened to the audiobook on Libby.

Benjamin Stevenson has been a delightful new find. His books are very clever, light, fun and very entertaining. I especially enjoy the story being told by the main character’s point of view. It is also delightful to listen to the audiobook with the Australian accent. I would highly recommend this and all his books for those who love a good who-done it that’s also fun to read.

Ernest Cunningham is back! This a fun, quick read, whodonit novella. If you liked the author's previous novels you'll love that one too.

Benjamin Stevenson has a real knack for creating a mystery. This one in particular was so clever, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Very well written and then also funny. Thanks for the ARC!

Book Review: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
Benjamin Stevenson, 2024

New Release! I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is a weird one. It's book three in a series, and I haven't read the others. However, I think the bigger factor here is that this book (and its series) is written in a particular style of extremely meta humor which... isn't for everyone.

Ernie Cunningham was a mystery buff before his life turned into Murder, She Wrote. With two solved murders under his belt (and written into the previous books, which exist in the world of the story), he's beginning to get a reputation. Enter - the Christmas Special. (The prologue literally has the narrator say that this is a Christmas special.)

It's the lead up to Christmas, and he's traveling to see a magician do a holiday benefit show, because the CEO of the nonprofit the benefit is for was murdered, and Ernie's ex-wife (currently the nonprofit guy's partner) is the top suspect. Following all that?

The suspects and clues (and an additional murder) come thick and fast, and the writing skates along breezily. However, I admit that I found the meta humor more tedious than funny. The occasional direct asides to the reader about how much like a holiday special something is or commentary about a specific event were more distracting than enlightening or amusing to me. I liked it much more when it was just a mystery novel in first-person.

The book tells you outright that you should be "able to solve the mystery," in case that matters to you. (It doesn't to me.)

The cast of supporting characters is varied and interesting. I enjoyed following the twists and turns, but only up to a point. That point was the climax, when I found the contrived setup for the "reveal" to be so ridiculously stupid that I started wishing that somehow the narrator wouldn't survive. If you were more on board with the style and/or read the previous ones in the series, maybe this would work better.

I got a copy of this book because I'd seen it on some "most-anticipated holiday books of 2024" list somewhere, but while I think it's largely fine, I wouldn't go out of my way to read another.

I really enjoyed this Christmas mystery which included various Christmas traditions, such as Secret Santa and the Advent Calendar. Ernest Cunningham is called to help his ex-wife Erin, because she is a suspect in the murder of her lover. As Ern investigates, another murder happens.
I like how the author strings us along, breaking the 4th wall to include the reader in the case, and telling us we have all the clues to solve the murder. Ern investigates the foundation of Erin's lover, and all the former addicts he helped.
A clever and enjoyable mystery.

The inventive use of the advent calendar makes this entry into Ernest Cunningham's series a holiday marvel. While shorter, it did not cut corners with plot and twists. The lovable, meta narration, fun, quirky characters, and exciting twists make it worthwhile!

Another exciting Ernest Cunningham mystery! I really love this series and hope Stevenson continues with it. Even though this one was shorter, there was still an elaborate storyline with plenty of twists.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson!

This was such a lovely book to read around the holidays! I'm definitely going to make this an annual read around Christmas. Benjamin Stevenson is such a clever author.

What’s Christmas without a little family drama, festive cheer, and… murder? Ernest Cunningham was planning on a quiet holiday, but when his ex-wife, Erin, gets accused of killing her new partner, suddenly he’s knee-deep in another mystery. And this one? It’s got everything—a dead man with a magician connection, a suspect list full of tricksters, and enough misdirection to make your head spin. Who’s guilty? The magician? The assistant? The identical twin? (Yes, really.) It’s up to Ernest to sort through the smoke and mirrors before Christmas dinner is completely ruined.

This book is clever, fast-paced, and packed with twists. Ernest’s dry humor and self-awareness make him such a fun narrator, and the quirky cast of suspects keeps things interesting. The Christmas setting adds a cozy, festive layer, even as the mystery gets deliciously messy. Now, if you’re new to the series, you can read this as a standalone, but—fair warning—there are references to previous events that might leave you a little lost. If you want the full experience (and all the inside jokes), it’s worth checking out the earlier books first.

I’m giving “Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret” 4 out of 5 stars! It’s smart, witty, and full of festive chaos, perfect for anyone who loves a locked-room-style mystery with a holiday twist. If you’re looking for a Christmas whodunit that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers on the mystery, this one deserves a spot on your holiday TBR.