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!

LOVED. This was the slump-buster I *desperately* needed. I even thought I was soooo clever and had figured something out halfway through, but NOPE - he still had me! Love how smart, self-aware and clever these mysteries now and I’m a Benjamin Stevenson fan for life. My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a chance to read an early copy!

I'm a big fan of Benjamin Stevenson's work but this one had me scratching my head a bit. I had to re-read a certain scene a few times to really get the gist of the action. I enjoyed the plot - 3.5 thumbs up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
4 Stars!
Clever story line, mixed with a quick-witted whodunnit, cozy mystery feel.and funny holiday story.

This was an action-packed, fun mystery. Classic (and yet somehow...new!?) take on a 'whodunnit'. Kept me guessing, and boy oh boy was it fast-paced! Ernest is quite the MC; Love his stories!!!

omg this series does it again. i just absolutely adore this world and the writing style used to explore it.

ernest is one of my favorite protagonists like ever. he’s just so authentic and funny and smart and he seems like a good friend and a good family member. (obviously or we wouldn’t be on book 3 of the series LOL!)

this story was very cute and cozy (well as cute and cozy as a murder mystery can get lol), while still holding that classic “everyone” series charm. i liked the christmas setting a lot. It was fun and it was a fun addition to the formatting of this book. the concept of this book being like an advent calendar added to the story in more than one way in my opinion.

overall i think this book was so fun and could realistically be read as a standalone (AKA you don’t HAVE to read the other books in this series to understand what’s happening). The author describes it best: being a christmas special this can have cameos and is cannon but nothing GROUND BREAKING or crazy for the overall series happens. so do with that information what you will lol.

anywho i would absolutely recommend this book and i am so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and Mariner Books! thank you so much for the opportunity! will absolutely be buying a trophy for my shelf :)

A worthy addition to the series! I enjoyed the condensed length as it made the action more compact. Great ensemble cast and clever Ernest figuring things out.

This was my first Benjamin Stevenson mystery, and I enjoyed it! It was a well-done holiday mystery, with lots of winks and nods—and plenty of clues to readers who want to play along. Although technically a Christmas mystery, or “holiday special” as the author refers to it throughout, there certainly wasn’t much joy or merriment. Just well done clues and a satisfying conclusion, all done under a holiday theme.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson's previous two books in this series and really like his unique voice. Ernest is an endearing character, so funny, and somehow always manages to handle these chaotic situations so well.

The holiday twist on this one was really fun, and a perfect novella to read at this time of year.

I do think reading the first two enhances this one, although there are no overt spoilers in this one for the first two. I think having an introduction and understanding of the characters makes this one easier to jump right in to.

I am excited to see what happens to Ernest next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I didn’t enjoy this story. The characters were unlikable and I found it confusing and difficult to understand.

First off I'd like to thank the publisher Mariner Books, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchanged for my unbiased review.

I LOVE Benjamin Stevenson's books. I feel like they are such a fun romp through classic "whodunnit" land and I love the style of his writing, where the third wall is broken.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is a fun holiday advent style book. You could start this book on Dec 1, read a chapter a day, and have the mystery solved on Christmas. How fun is that?! I knocked it out in two sittings though, because it was just a really compelling mystery. Not only are we solving one murder, but two!! All while keeping the holiday spirits alive!

Highly recommend if you're looking for a short holiday read, or enjoyed any of his other books!

Another great book from Benjamin Stevenson. I’ll admit that I enjoy these stories more on audio than physical or e-reading. Regardless, this book had all the ingredients for a cozy murder mystery book.

This Christmas is bringing an interesting twist, Ernest's ex-wife Juliette is in jail. She claims she woke up next to her murdered lover. The police say she murdered him. Now she's sitting in jail and Ernest has lied to his fiancé about why he's left town.
The dead man was a former Hollywood star who left it all to help drug addicted youth get clean. More than one character says that he saved their lives. And yet, the man is dead. But he's not the only one who is going to die in this novella. The reasons for each death are intertwined but hidden behind the doors of a an advent calendar.
This story was... okay. But it's not as tightly put together as either of the other stories in this series and the rules for a holiday story aren't put together as well. Worth reading if you are reading the whole series but I'm not sure it is good on its own.

Three stars
Ernest Cunningham #3
This book comes out October 22, 2024
Follows Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect

From the publisher:

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling, “deviously good fun” (Nita Prose), Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN, THE ASSISTANT, THE EXECUTIVE, THE HYPNOTIST, THE IDENTICAL TWIN, THE COUNSELLOR, THE TECH.

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret was released October 22, 2024 from Mariner Books.

My thoughts: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Slightly shorter than the first two, it makes a wonderful addition to the series.

This time around it's Ernest's ex-wife calling from jail that sets everything in motion. At this point there has been one murder. Before the end of the book there will be two for the price of one.

Ern continues to divulge information in such a way that he maintains that the reader has all the information necessary to solve the crime. It's fun when he breaks the fourth wall to remind us of this and sometimes also of clues. I also liked how the author uses the Advent Calendar and Secret Santa motifs to further the plot.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The mysteries are good and well-written. Using the Advent Calendar to organize the book is interesting and different. I agree with Ernest that this would make a good holiday read. If you've enjoyed the other books in the series, or just enjoy holiday themed mysteries, this could be a good book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

I don't normally read Christmas-themed books, but this is one I can get behind! Even as a novella this book packs in the mystery and the twists and turns as Ernest tries to help prove his ex-wife isn't a murderer.
As with the last two books, I love following Ernest as he tries to follow the rules of a Christmas novella and solve the murder. This book was so much fun from beginning to end, and I can't wait to see where this series is going to go next!

I love a Christmas themed book and was excited to read this one which is the latest in the Ernest Cunningham series.

I just finished the second in this series and was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this novella more! I have found the previous 2 books sometimes confusing with all the characters but found this one very easy to follow while still feeling original and clever.
I love the author’s writing style where the narrator speaks directly to the reader.

This was a super fun book and one you will enjoy if you liked the previous books.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I love being back in the mind of Ernest Cunningham, especially at Christmas time. I thought this was such a fun little novella addition to the series. I enjoy the true mystery aspect of the books, and this one was no different. I found it to be maybe a bit more predictable, but I did enjoy the twists and the turns. I still felt the tension of trying to find out who the murderer was, and some of the explanations gave me a true "AHA" moment. It was incredibly entertaining and is a fun Christmas book that isn't all cheesy romance (even though I love those too). I cannot wait to read more books in this series in the future. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.