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.

With each book in this series, Stevenson settles further into his character, making Ernest ever more entertaining even if the mysteries and deaths around him continue to be a little convoluted and rambling (which is saying something in the abbreviated length of a novella). Normally, convolution and rambles in a mystery would be an issue. But here they really are not because I absolutely love Ernest and all of his rules! The rules as an underlying organizational concept allow the reader to feel slightly superior, right along with Ernest, even when bumbling through things - again, right along with Ernest. It makes for a very fun and very engaging reading experience.

Pair that with the way Ernest regularly talks to his readers, and you have an extremely entertaining setup. I love concept of breaking the fourth wall. It has the power to draw the reader in and offer a snarky and entertaining aspect in a way that more traditional at-a-distance narratives do not. When it's done badly it's a hot mess, but Stevenson does it quite well and his facility with the construct improves with each book.

The use of a magician and Stage Show as a setting was a marvelous one for this particular story, and I found the behind-the-scenes peek as interesting, if not at times more, then the actual explanation of the murders themselves. This was a great filler until the next full series book comes out, and given the character developments and improvements in plotting and pacing over the series of three books so far, I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Great book! It was an enjoyable follow up in the series and I love Benjamin Stevenson's style of writing. It is humorous and keeps things interesting and moving along.

This was an entertaining read. It was not as strong as the second one, in my opinion, but still enjoyable.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the 3rd-installment to the delightfully-meta Ernest Cunningham Mysteries series. It's also the perfect novella to kick off your holiday spirit!!

I binged the first 2-books in this series recently and was really excited for this holiday-focused mystery story. I definitely feel like Stevenson nailed the holiday vibes and I really enjoyed my time with it. I rated it a little lower than the previous two stories merely because my enjoyment level wasn't quite as high with this one as those other novels. I think it's simply a case of there not being enough time to really feel fully immersed, or pulled, into this one.

It was still a fun mystery and I enjoyed the set-up involving Ernie's ex. I also found the inclusion of the magician, and everyone one involved in his show, exciting and different.

As always, I loved the little nods to classic mystery stories; particularly those of Agatha Christie. My favorite part of this though was Ernie's rules for Christmas Specials. That was so funny, and also, very true. It sounds like there is another full-length novel in the works right now and I can't wait for more information on it. No matter what it is about, I will be first in line.

I love this series so, so much, and definitely recommend the audiobooks for anyone looking to get into the series. The narration is perfect for this unique storytelling style.

Thank you to the publisher, Mariner Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Overall, this is a cute, fun, quick Christmas Special following Ernie Cunningham doing what he does best: solving murders!

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the third book in Benjamin Stevenson’s mystery series featuring Ernest Cunningham. When Ernie’s ex-wife, Erin, is accused of murdering her boyfriend, he’s the first person she calls. Convinced she’s innocent even though the evidence says otherwise, Ernie plunges into an investigation.

This is an entertaining book and a great addition to the series (which I recommend should be read in the order written for full enjoyment). There’s a variety of characters, with plenty of clues (as promised) sprinkled along the way. The ending is brilliant and well-done, with everything neatly tied up like a holiday package.

This book isn’t very long (192 pages) but it’s a satisfying mystery. It’s length makes it an ideal book to read during the holidays, when time isn’t always plentiful. Now, I’m already looking forward to Mr Stevenson’s next book. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

Just in time for the holidays, a fair play Christmas mystery.

This is a novella, and even though it’s short, it’s a very cleverly plotted story with plenty of clues to allow the reader to figure out whodunit along with the main character. Our erstwhile detective, Ernest Cunningham, finds another mystery soon after solving two very public murder cases. He is headed to Katoomba and a Christmas show after his ex-wife, Erin, calls him from jail there after her boyfriend is found murdered in their house.

Clever, funny and tongue-in-cheek, this is told in first person point of view with Ernest explaining and talking about things with the reader. It’s a great choice of writing style for this type of story and it works very well. Definitely, Ernest is smarter than he looks and though he’s no real detective, he’s definitely coming into the role. Lots of fun. Can’t wait for the next installment.

I listened to the audiobook while also following in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Barton Welch delivers a great performance with his Australian accent and dramatic flair. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

I love all of the Ernest Cunningham books and a holiday special one was something I didn’t even know I needed. The story had just the right amount of festive touches and the mystery was solved in Ernest’s classic way. This was a great mystery to start off the holiday season

This series has quickly become one of my favorites this this Christmas novella was the perfect escape read. It was fun seeing Ernest back in action trying to clear his ex-wife’s name. In typical Stevenson fashion, he details what can and cannot happen in a holiday special with wit and charm. He keeps it tight with a small cast, but one that is full of suspects. I can’t wait to see where this series heads next!

tl;dr
Although billed tongue-in-cheek as "the holiday episode," still retains the same tight plotting and fun meta commentary of the rest of the series.

Thoughts
Even though this is a Christmas book, you should probably grab it before December if you want to read it "as intended." In theory it should be read one chapter a day, like an advent calendar. In practice? Yeah... I finished this a lot quicker. It's a much shorter installment than the prior two books in the series, clocking in at 175 pages. Our self-aware author Ernest explains to the readers that this is because it's a Christmas special, and like every Christmas special, it's should be fast-paced, and easy to skip. That being said, if you're a fan of the series, don't skip this!

Like the rest of the series, it's a tightly-plotted fair play mystery with plenty of drama and some really fun twists. There's also a brand new character introduced who I really hope will be a regular in the series, because he's terrible and hilarious. At this point in time, you know if this series is for you (unless this is your first encounter with Ernest Cunningham, in which case I heartily recommend starting at the beginning). This book features the usual meta commentary, self-effacing humor, and dry macabre sensibilities of the previous books, with the writing now honed even sharper than before.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
by Benjamin Stevenson
#onehundredandfirstbookof2024 #arc #bookthree #christmasmurder

CW: death, murder, magic/illusionist shows

This is the third installment of the Ernest Cunningham series. Ern’s ex-wife wakes up a few days before Christmas covered in her partner’s blood and he is summoned to clear her name, but then a man close to the victim also turns up dead during his investigation and now he has two murders to solve.

This was a cute little mystery, actually more of a novella, and Ern himself likens it to the Christmas episode of a longstanding tv show, compete with rules of how the episode works. I love the meta aspect of this series, where Ern talks to the reader, dropping hints of what is coming and how he’ll get there. I enjoy how he plays with the tried and true mystery tropes and engages the reader during his thoughts. The Christmas advent calendar aspect was a cute way to incorporate the holiday into the story. I had a suspicion about who the culprit was but never guessed how it would get there, and it was a fun ending. I enjoyed this one very much.

Thank you to @marinerbooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 10/22/24)

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Benjamin Stevenson does it again. Some of you may be wondering if you need to read the first two books in order to understand this Christmas special. The answer is yes. In theory you would understand the basic mystery plot but the extension of the characters and their underlying dynamics can’t be fully appreciated without that added knowledge. You will also majorly spoil yourself for the first two books if you don’t read them before this.

For those of you who are familiar with the series we get the standard witty banter, clever upfront writing and a satisfying ending. I love this series a lot and I really hope the next one is at a wedding or honeymoon most of you will know why. In this episode our main character has begun to advance in his detective skills and has an arch nemesis as all good detectives need.

Can’t recommend this series enough. This is an easy one sitting read that’s great for the holiday season but really anytime of year. It’s told in 24 chapters set up like an advent calendar and has a secret Santa exchange. So glad I got to read this. What a fun time.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mariner Books
Pub Date: 10-22-24

Thank you @netgalley and @marinerbooks for this eARC.

". . . this is my third murder case: it isn’t enough to do the grand showdown reveal at the end anymore. When you’re in a series, the detective has to prove their worth early on with a little bit of inspecting razzle -dazzle."

Ernest Cunningham is back in this fun "Holiday Special" of a murder mystery.

When his ex-wife is arrested for the murder of her boyfriend, Ernest is on the case. There are multiple bodies and multiple suspects, of course, along with an advent calendar and a Secret Santa gift swap to help solve these murders.

A fun, seasonal mystery while readers wait for the next installment in this series.

#everyonethischristmashasasecret #benjaminstevenson #marinerbooks #netgalley

As the main character points out in the book, a Christmas novel should always stand alone. That's one of the great things about this story. I've read the other two books related to this character, so I was excited to see where his story went for the holidays, but anyone could read it and understand what was going on. It's also a good length, as many of us have less time to read the Christmas stories we love. The advent calendar "chapter a day" format was a lot of fun, though I read the whole thing in one evening.
It was a very clever murder mystery that stands in it's own even without the holiday theme. There were some real "lightbulb" moments that I had that I really liked. Looking forward to more books from this author.

A murder mystery set up as an advent calendar? Yes please! Summer Christmas? As it should be. An intriguing setup with twists I genuinely didn’t see coming (but I thought I did)? A must read. So witty. So funny. So good.

Earnest Cunningham has found himself yet again at the centre of a murder mystery. This time at Christmas. The suspect looks guilty, but his gut says otherwise. In trying to find the real killer, he ends up deeply involved in the world of professional magicians.

This was my first exposure to the series, and I enjoyed it! Ernest Cunningham likes to solve mysteries, and he’s good at it, according to just about everyone. 24 chapters to lead up to Christmas, and then the prize of chocolate (maybe) at the end. His former wife Erin is the one accused of murder, and he was her first call since she knows how good he is at this! It’s a different type of mystery, but I enjoyed it, and I definitely didn’t figure it out before Ernest revealed the culprit.

Four stars! I recommend it!