Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret - Benjamin Stevenson
Pub Date: Oct 22, 2024
Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I absolutely LOVE this cozy mystery series and knew I had to get my hands on it. This third part of the Ernest Cunningham mystery series does not disappoint! This time, Ernest's ex-wife is accused of murdering her boyfriend, Lyle, who is the owner of a charitable company that provides second chances to addicts. Ernest, of course, gets himself wrapped up in this murder, witnesses another murder, and gathers everyone at the end to solve the mystery in the most cliché detective fashion.

Such a great book! Such great characters, some satire that made me laugh out loud, and great plot which was easy to follow. I wasn't able to guess the ending especially with the play on words. I loved the way everything related to Christmas and the holidays, while still tying it the murder and suspects. Beautifully written! Cannot wait for more from this author and hope this becomes a tv show/movie in the future!

Reading this book as an arc means of course not reading it in December, but it also means all my friends now know they need to read this book in December. The whole series so far has been cute and funny, but this one may be the funniest so far. This book pokes fun at all those Christmas specials that pop up in any franchise or series anymore, while also making a great 3rd book in this series. I look forward to the next book. Do I have some strong guesses about book 4 after reading this book? Yes, I think I do. :)
My only 'criticism' on this book- I don't think I could pace this book out to read it as a chapter-a-day advent calendar as the narrator suggests.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC of this book! I’ve been a big Benjamin Stevenson fan since I first read Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. This books stays in line with the Ernest Cunningham series of books but is a “holiday special” so it’s a little shorter. Since the series is set in Australia it’s summer during the Christmas season, which made this a perfect Christmas in July read here in the US. One thing I’ve loved about all of the Cunningham books is the wit of the main character and how he speaks directly to the audience — this continued in Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. I also really enjoyed the structure of this book. Staying with the holiday theme, each chapter offered a new “clue” to who the murderer was and the clues were structured as an advent calendar. Overall, a very fun read and I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook once the book is officially released in October!

I devoured this book in one day, it was that good. It also helps that this is Novella sized, just under 200 pages. But still, I honestly didn’t want to put it down.

Once again Stevenson knocks it out of the park in my opinion. This third story is such an excellent addition into his Ernest Cunningham series. It’s just as fun and quirky as the first two stories. The murders and their mystery are so well laid out. I was keeping notes alongside Ernest trying to solve it along with him. This story is so smart with how it lays out its information and clues. I love the moments of the fourth wall breaks where Ernest addresses the reader. I think Stevenson is doing something right with his writing, because I am not tired of this character, or watching him solve murders. I can’t get enough.

The only crime this book committed was being too easy to read in one day. Other than that, it was such a fun experience. I cannot get enough of these novels.

Once again, I highly recommend it if you're a fan of this genre, and or of these books.

I normally am not a fan of novellas but Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret was the perfect length.

I have read the authors other two in series and this has the same format of the main character talking to us the reader and laying down the rules for a holiday special.

I did enjoy the involvement of Erin’s ex wife and trying yo figure out the who did it.
I didn’t enjoy though the reasoning for one of the murders. Just made me go… really?!?! I wish could go into more but would be big time spoiler.

May not be the best in series but was a fun hop into the series for the holidays.

Thank you to Net Galley, Mariner books and Benjamin Stevenson for the eARC in exchange for my honest review .

Ernest Hemingway returns in a Christmas Special novella - "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret". Now an automatic read for me, Benjamin Stevenson returns with witty writing, quirky characters, and a whole new set of writing rules. I absolutely loved the added advent calendar of clues.

This was a fun ride. As the third installment in this series, it had big shoes to fill. Despite being a bit smaller than its predecessors, it still gave a fun adventure to its readers. It had me guessing until the very end about whodunnit and how. I loved the twists and turns in the book and how it managed to break the fourth wall (as do the other books) without it being overly annoying or tacky.

4 stars

Considering Christmas in Australia takes place during the summer, Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret was a perfect pick to celebrate Christmas in July here in the States. Our author protagonist Ernest Cunningham once again finds himself trapped in the middle of a classic murder mystery - this time with a festive twist! Stevenson's craft and wit are just utterly delightful and I dare someone who loves mysteries not to smile or laugh out loud during one of these books. While I've found myself getting bored with several other series in this meta mystery genre, the Ernest Cunningham series has truly knocked it out of the park every single time and I can't wait to pick up the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair an d honest review!

When I started this, I didn’t realize that it was a short one. The length, though, was just the right amount for this story (less than 200 pages). It’s Christmas and Ernest has another murder to solve. His ex-wife is being accused of murdering her boyfriend. She’s in jail, so it’s up to Ernest to solve this crime before it’s too late. Lots of suspects and another murder will keep you guessing. I liked that the author had fun with this “Christmas” story.

I adore this series. I love how the fourth wall is broken and all the clues are laid out, but there are so many twists that it keeps it interesting. If you enjoyed the previous two installments, this "Christmas Special" won't disappoint

In Benjamin Stevenson's latest installment, "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret," we find ourselves back in the intriguing world of Ernest Cunningham, the beloved narrator from Stevenson's earlier works. This time, Stevenson weaves a holiday mystery that is as gripping as it is festive.

This book, the third in a series that began with "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone," brings back the wit and charm of Ernest Cunningham, who continues to captivate readers with his unique perspective. Despite being shorter than its predecessors, I found myself engrossed in the cleverly crafted storyline that unfolds through the lens of an advent calendar. Each chapter acts as a strategic clue, inviting readers to unravel the mysteries hidden within.

Stevenson's narrative prowess shines through as he presents not one, but two puzzling murders. Throughout the book, I was kept on my toes, unable to pinpoint the culprits behind these heinous acts. Ernest Cunningham, once again, proves to be an exceptional guide through the twists and turns of the plot.

What sets this book apart is Stevenson's tongue-in-cheek writing style, which adds a delightful layer of humor and intrigue to the narrative. Despite its brevity, the author masterfully maintains the suspense and keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

As a fan of Ernest Cunningham, I eagerly await the next installment in Stevenson's series. "Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret" is a testament to Stevenson's ingenuity and his ability to keep readers hooked with each new mystery. If you're looking for a holiday-themed thriller that delivers both charm and suspense, look no further than Benjamin Stevenson's latest masterpiece.

Special thanks to NetGalley & the publisher Mariner Books for giving me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This series continues to get better with each book and this one was a blast. It has the most complex and inventive murder plot of the, all, but it’s not too hard to follow and is even thematically applicable. The idea of a Christmas special book and there being rules to Christmas specials is an especially inspired choice. Loved this one!

What a fun read! Benjamin Stevenson is an auto buy author for me. Ernest is so fun and the writing style really works for me. The mash up of a holiday special, murder and Advent calendar was creative and engaging! A fun read (I know I said that already, but it’s worth repeating)! This was twisty and kept me guessing until the end. Big thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

Aside from reading the previous books in this series, hysterical tongue-in-check locked room murder mysteries, it is best to know next to nothing when diving into this addition. This time the location is, surprise, surprise, a train. And this time, instead of his family, it's a bunch of mystery writers who are the suspects. Hilarity ensues and we solve the mystery right alongside the author.

I'm going to be honest, I didn't know until I started this book that there were two other ones that went with it so there were times when I wasn't sure what they were talking about. I figured I would need to read the other books to get it. Anyway, I really liked this book and intend to read the other ones that go before it.

I loved the way this book was set up. A murder with lots of suspects and clever ways to point who the killer is. I love all things Christmas, so the fact that this book was like an advent calendar was right up my alley. Each "day" in the advent calendar gave the reader a clue as to who committed the crime.

I liked this book and the way that our main character Ernest actually tells us the story, with some witty humor and sarcasm.

Thank you to NetGalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Penguin for allowing me to have an ARC!

I don't think I can recommend these Ernest Cunningham novels enough. I absolutely adore them! If you are a fan of the first two, then you absolutely need to go out and read this perfect holiday novella. The best part is that this newest offering contains no spoilers, so if you are looking for a quick and festive way to jump into this series, this is the perfect option to see if they are for you!

The set up of the book as an advent calendar, using 23 chapters to help readers mentally track 23 clues, with chapter four leading to the solving of the mystery is absolutely brilliant. I just love the voice that Stevenson has given Ernest, and is quite tongue in cheek. My only complaint is that because I recieved this as an ARC, I won't be able to read a chapter a day in December and enjoy this story as my own personal advent calendar!

I want to thank Net Galley, Mariner Books, and Benjamin Stevenson for the opportunity to read this cheeky addition to the Ernest Cunningham series. I received Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret as an ARC for a free and honest review. The opinions here are mine and mine alone.

Fun as always, albeit much shorter than the other entries in this series. And I confess that despite the “fair play mystery” claims, l was unable to identify the killer. Just wish it had been a bit more fleshed out.

This was such a great time! And it felt like an Australian Christmas in Kansas. Hot! I like the way Ernest talks to the reader. He is very open about following the rules of the Golden Age of crime fiction. There was a few little pieces which I figured out early on but I was still surprised by the killer's reveal. These books always have humor, murder and a fun theme.

Stevenson has done it again - he stumped me!
I had my guesses but yet again I didn't figure this one out.
I really love Ernest and this cast of characters. I love the way he talks to the reader throughout - it feels like we are solving the murder with him - and I truly haven't figured it out before the big reveal in any of these books!
I really hope there/s more - there's got to be at least one more, right?!

Everyone this Christmas
National bestselling author Benjamin Stevenson brings us a Christmas present with the third installment in his Ernest Cunningham series.

Read along from the perspective of Ernest’s masterful thoughts as you are presented with an “advent calendar of clues” in this Australian holiday murder mystery.

There are no hidden clues in this fair-play mystery. Can you figure out whodunnit?

I really enjoyed the humor in this novel.

Publication date: October 22, 2024 by Mariner Books HarperCollins Publisher

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