Third, in the Ernest Cunningham series, we find Ernest Cunningham investigating, not one but two murders. This story is set at the holidays, and Ernest's ex-wife has been arrested for the murder of her new partner. She calls Ernest for his help in finding out what really happened.

I read number one in the series but hadn't yet read number two. I decided to skip for now so that I could read the Christmas one, and you definitely don't need to have read number two first. Although, I think you'd need to have read number one at least.

I enjoyed this one, but I wasn't as invested in it as number one. It was a short one at less than 200 pages, which was a perfect length for this story. Anything more would have dragged.

The mystery was interesting. It involved an illusionist, which added an interesting element to the case. I didn't guess the twists or who the perpetrator was. The story was told in that same style, where Ernest was talking to us the reader directly, which I find unique. It kept the story interesting.

I really enjoy Benjamin Stevenson's Ernest books. They're quick witted. I enjoy how Ernest breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the reader. The books always have an Agatha Christie twist and the resolution is satisfying to me.

Since this was a novella I thought it was insightful that Stevenson kept the number of suspects down to about 6 people. Keeping track of 10-12 suspects in such a short amount of pages would've been awful. The book also had a cool set up where the reader could read one chapter per day throughout the month of December with the resolution coming on December 25th. An advent book read anyone? There weren't a ton of Christmas foods, decorations or caroling references but I didn't care. This isn't a Christmas cozy. It's a full on Christmas mystery. I thought it was also interesting to hear December being described as being incredibly hot. (They're in Australia.)

A well written who-done-it. I highly recommend this as a holiday Christmas read.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret was such a fun and enjoyable little Christmas novella that was a great time from start to finish! This entire series is such a great murder mystery series and this novella was no different. If you’re looking for a quick little Christmas themed novella to read for the holiday season, definitely consider picking this one up!

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

I ended up DNFing this book. I couldn't connect with the narrator and the way he told the story.

I think if you have read other books with this character it would be a great addition to that. It just wasn't for me.

This novella is a short Christmas themed murder mystery and the third book set in the Ernest Cunningham series.
As it was a novella, I did not have too many takeaways other than that I enjoyed it and that the writing was as good as his other novels as well.
Due to the nature of Australian Christmas being the peak of their Summer season, it wasn't necessarily as festive as I would have wanted, but the secret santa aspect of the mystery was fun nonetheless.
I always enjoy the Ernest Cunningham novels and this was no different.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

The story begins with the murder already committed and Ernest’s journey begins expecting to solve a mystery instead of it being a disruption to family reunion or crime writing festival as in the first two novels. The mystery and clues are clever–the cleverness adapted to an advent calendar–and Ernest’s voice remains quirky and self-deprecating, just as in the first books. On the other hand, the shorter length provides less opportunity to get to know the suspects. With the faster pace, it all in all worked.

My rating 3.5 ⭐️
A fun addition to the series, this novella takes place at Christmas time and Ernest is at it again , this time trying to solve his ex-wife’s bf’s murder . The book is pretty short but the perfect length for the story . I do wish we saw more of Ernest’s family dynamics in this story than we did

Thank you for the opportunity to read Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson in exchange for an honest review. I loved this installment in the Ernest Cunningham series and loved spending a bit of my Christmas season in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) solving murders along with Ernest. As always, Ernest gives you everything you need to solve the mystery in this "fairplay mystery." If you haven't started with the series, of course, go back to the beginning and read books 1 and 2, but this is the perfect short novel to grab during a busy time. I don't even think you'd necessarily need to read it at Christmastime. I look forward to whatever Benjamin Stevenson writes next in the Ernest Cunningham universe!

Everyone may have a secret this Christmas, but it is no secret of mine that Ernest Cunningham is my new favorite sleuth. This time around, his ex-wife is accused of murdering her new husband and there is a whole new host of quirky suspects to interrogate as Ernest is fairly certain the real killer is still at large.

Artfully crafted into 24 chapters like an advent calendar, this novella/Christmas special is a treat for fans who are already familiar with our Australian detective. It could feasibly work as a standalone, but I would highly recommending reading at least one of the first two books in the series so the reader is well acquainted with Ernest, how he goes about solving murders, and knowing that he really does give the reader all the information he has. What I absolutely love about these books is that anyone can solve them with the right ingenuity. I especially love a mystery that has all the clues and still leaves me stumped until the big reveal and I must admit, this one finally left me pleasantly surprised!

Perfect for a single sitting mystery and a welcome addition to the series that is not to be skipped.

Thank you to NetGalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Mariner Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read this series but this novella works well enough as a standalone, I was looking for some quick holiday reads and this fit the bill. a fun, quick time but not anything super special and some of the reveals were a little too ridiculous

Benjamin Stevenson has a really great formula that he's created and follows. His main character, Ernest Cunningham, is a delightful man who seems to continuously find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a good thing he has the gift of gab and a keen sense of how to solve a crime. He fits in beautifully with Holmes, Poirot, and Marple. This fun take on the Christmas-themed episode is a perfect place to jump on the train, but I'd probably suggest to go back to the beginning of the series and enjoy those books first. You'll be handsomely rewarded.

Tis the season to be jolly, right? No, more like SLEIGHED. SLEIGHED INDEED.

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.

Told through first-person narration where Ernest speaks directly to the reader, I felt like I was a part of the drama from the very first page. Ernest is backstage at Rylan Blaze, a very world-famous magician's, show whenever a benefactor gets murdered and now he has a list of suspects. There's 7 suspects total...so who could it be? The clues are devised in an advent calendar, which also adds to the Christmas spirit!

For those who like their holidays with a side of violence, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret makes for a merry and not so bright---fun time. While this is the third in the series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone as well. I haven't read the first two, but thoroughly enjoyed this, along with the 'Christmas' spirit that was added to it. This is jam-packed full of seemingly impossible crimes and I enjoyed trying to work out the who in this mystery "whodunnit" before it was revealed in ALL of its glory....alas, I fell short as I normally do. This was well-executed and I enjoyed the mystery part of it SO much.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a copy of this digital ARC. All of these are my honest opinions.

Ernest is back with a holiday special to show off his sleuthing skills. In true Ernest fashion, he basically tells you everything as he learns it and talks to you as well, which I love! Even though you learn about it with him, you are still blown away by his deductions and don’t connect a lot of it yourself. I did figure out one thing, but not even fully. This is the third installment of this series and I will definitely continue to read Ernest in all his sleuthing adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner books for this arc! I did receive it in October, but had to wait until closer to Christmas to read it for the ambiance!

Another great Ernest Cunningham mystery! Stevenson’s writing is full of humor, and it was fun to read a Christmas story that takes place in the middle of summer.

I love this series, and this was a fun holiday entrant to it! It was interesting that it was a hot Christmas since they are in Australia and December is summer for them. It didn’t make it feel super Christmas-y/festive to this American girl, but the author did a great job incorporating Christmas elements into the crime. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A quick little holiday novella with my favorite, Ernest Cunningham.

This time we get murders, magic, and Christmas.

I hate to say this was my least favorite of the three. It was enjoyable, but nothing will ever beat book one in my eyes. I felt that this one moved a bit slower and it took me a bit to get into it. With a novella, I hope to get hooked early on.

From the halfway point I was locked in because wtheck 😅 Ernest didn’t let us down and we get a fabulous reveal as always.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson, was one of my anticipated reads. I love the series and this novella was not a disappointment. We’re reunited with our favorite amateur detective Ernest thrust into his very own holiday (murder) special. This time around Erin is highly suspected of offing her new beau and as the evidence against is her is pretty damning, I think we all know, all is not what it seems. As things escalate and body counts increase, can Ernest figure it all out before Christmas?I love me a good mystery, especially those that make me think. My theory was way off and I did not figure this one out. I love Benjamin’s writing style with these novels and look forward to more mysteries with Ernest and fam. Definitely need to add this along with the others to my collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner books for providing me with this in exchange for an honest review.

When this series was launched a few years ago, it was fantastic, but I wondered how it could keep up given the writing style and that it wasn't a cozy where you kinda just accept so many murders in a single town. But Stevenson found ways to keep the authenticity of the narrator and the plausibility of the mysteries. Loved the progression thru Christie's original books, though it's not really a connection... just concepts. Great twist here, but I did miss some of the fave characters from books in the past. Can't wait for the 4th one to come out!

While not quite as strong as the first two books in the series, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is still a fun and festive mystery romp. Ernest Cunningham—our detective, narrator, and mystery author—sets the tone right from the start, describing this 'case' as a holiday special. True to that spirit, it’s a short, breezy read you can finish in a couple of days. There’s even a playful suggestion to treat it like an advent calendar: read one chapter a day starting December 1 and wrap up by Christmas.

This time, Ernest is called in by his ex-wife, who’s been jailed on suspicion of murdering her wealthy boyfriend, the head of a foundation for addicts. The colorful cast of characters includes a magician, a hypnotist, twins, a journalist, an executive, and more. Ernest frequently breaks the fourth wall to chat with readers, adding to the book’s charm, and the final reveal is absolutely wild. If you’re in the mood for a light and quirky holiday mystery, give this one a try.

Just like the previous two books in this series, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is an enjoyable murder-mystery. The twist in this book is the Christmas setting, which allows the clues to unfurl like an advent calendar. This series is so much fun. Is comedic murder-mystery a genre? It should be. If you liked the previous two books, you’ll love this one. If you’ve not read them, you’ll probably want to as there is a little crossover info, however it’s not totally necessary.