This was a really quick, fun and entertaining read! There were the right amount of clever twists without being predictable. The story kept me engaged and guessing the whole time while also mixing in humor throughout. Although it is the third in the series, enough backstory is provided that it could be read as a stand alone. This review was also posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

Benjamin Stevenson’s “slapdash sleuth” Ernest Cunningham returns in a new adventure that follows the rules of both fair-play mysteries and holiday specials—and wants you to know that it’s following those rules. A few days before Christmas (Australian Christmas, so it’s scorching), Ern heads out to the desert ostensibly to see a performance by the magician who’s slated to appear at his upcoming wedding, but he’s actually there to clear his ex-wife of a murder charge. The case, helped along by an advent calendar, involves a drug abuse charity, with several administrators and graduates of the program implicated in multiple crimes. Stevenson again has Ern detailing the case after the fact, allowing him to jump ahead in the action and warn you about chaos yet to come. Stevenson also takes the holiday special conceit seriously, keeping the action trim, which aids the pacing after the occasionally bloated EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT. Ern seems a far more competent investigator in this outing, which has a cleverly-staged solution.

I cannot even believe how much I love these book - for me, they are just the best, consistently befuddle me, and just leave me with the feeling of having finished an excellent and very satisfying book [with some wondering at how I missed some - OH OKAY, missed most of the clues LOL].

This book was fun because even though I had NO idea WHO did it, I DID know two of the ways the killer did what they did [thank you CSI and the BritBox/iTV show 'Grace'] and to say I was very excited might not be a strong enough way to express it [there may or may not have been dancing]. :-)

Ernie is still a great MC and I love how the author uses Ernie to tell the story, and as with the Spanish Inquisition, no one expects murder at Christmas [with VERY unique murder tools - paper guillotine anyone?], and that really adds the uniqueness of this story [I *KNOW* there are plenty of Christmas murder mysteries out there {I have read a good chunk of them it would seem LOL}, but the MC as the narrator and the...umm...well, the STYLE of the...umm...deaths is what makes this book and series one-of-a-kind].

This was just what I needed and I am just waiting, holding my breath in anticipation for the next book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Mariner Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved returning to this series for the third installment. These are always so cozy and feel like a classic mystery. I enjoyed the narrator's conversations with the reader as usual. The references to famous mysteries, authors, and their plots is always a fun little easter egg. Benjamin Stevenson definitely has a way with leading the reader to think one way, and then flips that thinking on its head by the end. Overall, the mystery was not my favorite of the books, but I still found it an enjoyable time. Can't way to see what Ernest Cunningham gets himself into next.

I loved this book! My one complaint is that it went by so fast. Ernest Cunningham continues to be such a fun, engaging narrator. I loved the way the clues were laid out as an advent calendar! I’d never seen anything like that before. I’m excited to read more Ernest Cunningham, maybe a wedding murder??

Every great series has a Christmas special so it’s only fitting that Ernie gets one!

While I love a good holiday rom com, this holiday murder mystery was the perfect change of pace. And at only 175 pages it makes for a quick read.

This series is just so much fun, filled with puzzles and keeping you guessing until the end. The addition of an advent calendar and some presents under the tree gave this cozy mystery just the right amount of Christmas.

Read if you love:
🕵️‍♂️ Detective mysteries
🎄 Christmas specials
🪄 Magic shows
📚 Quick reads

Thank you Mariner and Netgalley for my review copy!

I absolutely loved this book. I heard Ernest was getting a holiday story, and immediately requested it at the library. Ernest is en route to check out a potential wedding reception entertainer, or so we think. It turns out someone has been accused of murder and it’s up to Ernest to solve the case. Unfortunately for Ernest more murders happen while he’s solving the case as the countdown to Christmas gets shorter and shorter. I read this completely on the edge of my seat. Honestly, I was not a fan of mystery novels until I started reading and Ernest and his exploits. Do yourself a favor and spend some time with Ernest this Christmas. You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advanced reader copy of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret, in exchange for a honest review.
Ernest is at it again, this time stumbling into a new murder mystery just in time for the holidays. When he receives the call that his ex-wife, Erin, has been arrested for murdering her boyfriend, Ernest finds himself investigating the cast and crew at a magic theatre in search for the truth.
Creatively mimicking an advent calendar, each “day” a clue is revealed that helps Ernest get one step closer to solving the mysterious murder. While I appreciate the author’s sense of humor, I find I do have to be in the mood for it. Sometimes I chuckle to myself out loud at the witty prose, other times it feels more like we just need to get on with the story. For this reason, I landed on 3 stars for my review of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. Until next time, Ern!

Benjamin Stevenson has done it again. A twisty plot, a comprehensive cast of suspects, and a little sprinkling of holiday magic provide the totally reliable narrator with enough material to delight and confound the reader--while at the same time providing and highlighting clues that should lead us to the answers ourselves. I find his entire series charming and engaging, and was absolutely thrilled that this little "Christmas Special" lived up to the others.

This was fun and ridiculous and I absolutely love this author and his crazy escapades and asides. I will likely read anything by him. My only nit-picky wish is that this was longer!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner books for the e-arc!

While I have thoroughly enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson's first two novels, this one just seemed like too much of the same. I would love to see how this author can incorporate his special brand of humor into new characters and a new format. I hesitate to give 3 stars given how poorly one of his characters in a previous book reacted to his Goodreads rating (!), but I just didn't enjoy this book.

In this shorter holiday mystery, Ernest Cunningham investigates the death of a wealthy philanthropist. The prime suspect is Lyle’s girlfriend, who happens to be Ernie’s ex-wife. Using fair-play clues, Ernie relates the details of his investigation, speaking directly to the reader. There are twenty-four chapters and twenty-four clues that are given in the format of an advent calendar.

Lyle was the benefactor of a popular magician, so he and other suspects who work on the magic show are professionals at fooling others. This makes it even more challenging for Ernie to prove his ex’s innocence and catch the real killer.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, but it would work just as well if you’re new to the series. Most of the characters in this story are new, and the author gives you what you need to know about the others. The magic show setting works well with the story and provides plenty of suspects and fun.

As Ernie questions suspects and uncovers clues, I have my suspicions, but I was not able to solve the crime successfully. The book has one of the most unique ways for a detective to lay out his case and reveal the true killer that I’ve ever seen, and it was dramatic and exciting. This is a funny, fast-paced mystery, and I already can’t wait for the next one in this clever series.

~ Christine

Fans of the series will not be disappointed with this third, holiday installment. It was witty, twisty, and had an ending that surprised me. What more could you want?
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series by Benjamin Stevenson. The title caught my eye as I'm a big fan of holiday mysteries.
However, this is not your standard cozy mystery.
The narrator is the key to making this a unique and fun romp. He speaks to his audience as if we are in the room. He tells us his theories and warns us to avoid certain cliched tropes. He leaves clues along the way so the armchair detective will enjoy keeping score.

The story is fast paced and keeps the reader engaged. I have not read the other books in this series but they are going on my TBR list in hopes that they will be as much fun as this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner books for the ARC of Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.

Thank you to Netgalley and Killer Crime Club for an advanced reader copy of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. Written with the same wit and sarcasm as his previous books in this series, Benjamin Stevenson's ETCHAS was a pleasure to read. The story is structured with a series of clues at the end of each section and a Christmas present for each suspect. Despite being all laid out, with a recap more than halfway through, I thoroughly enjoyed letting Ernest guide me through the mystery, always wondering if I was going to guess the murderer before the ending. Turns out that I did, but it was after a few suspects had been eliminated. As a big fan of Stevenson's writing, I was transfixed by the story and read it quickly, never really happy when I had to put it down. I highly recommend this holiday read.

This was brilliant. Absolutely freaking brilliant. I loved the first two books in the series so it wasn’t exactly a surprise to read this one and love it as well. I love a book that is clever but easy to follow and this, like the others, fits that perfectly. Starting this book and reading the narrator’s voice felt like coming home to an old friend. I loved getting to see more of the characters I’d met before and I enjoyed meeting the new ones as well. The structure of the book was a so smart and the story was an absolute blast (no pun intended). I have zero complaints, zero notes, just a happy heart and a satisfied brain. See you later, reading slump!

This was a fun Christmas murder mystery novella with just the right balance of thriller and humor, much of it in part, thanks to the “narrator” Ernest, definitely giving off Knives Out vibes. Ernest finds himself in the middle of another murder investigation and this time, his ex wife is prime suspect #1. The mystery to clear her name leads Ernest to the stage of renowned magician Rylan Blaze. There are at least six people with a motive to kill their benefactor, and when another murder happens, no one is safe. But with a “holiday special” Ernest is determined to solve this in time for Christmas.
I had a lot of fun reading this and couldn’t put it down. Normally I pride myself on figuring things out early but the murderer’s identity was truly a secret until the very end.
Thank you to Mariner Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful Christmas edition - love a good Ernest mystery! Not overdone and very charming.

The heat and laid-back holiday vibes add a vibrant atmosphere to the story, creating an unusual but refreshing setting for a Christmas mystery. The tension and plot twists unfold beautifully, keeping you guessing while still feeling light enough to fit the holiday spirit.

Clever, entertaining, and full of heart, this is a perfect summer holiday read. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Ernest’s escapades or new to the series, you’ll enjoy unraveling the secrets under the Australian sun. A delightful addition to any Christmas reading list!

I have seriously mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it had a really fun plot that involved a magician.

On the other, I think that plot was too interesting and intricate to be crammed into the novella format. I think it needed more pages, and a little more Christmas spirit. The book also had an advent calendar format that I didn't really understand.

Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an ARC and a fun Christmas swag box. I happily added this to my list of Thrilling Christmas Mysteries of 2024 and I know many readers will absolutely love it!

In this short Christmas novella, which is the third book in the series, Ern once again finds himself on the case of a murder - this time the current partner of his ex-wife Erin. If you’ve read the series opener, you know that the title of that one is Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. Does the Cunningham family history extend to exes now? Ern doesn’t think so, but first he has to prove it.

This was interesting because the plot, even with a second murder that was one of the more creative, unique ones I’ve read, still felt a little more grounded in reality than the prior two books. I could believe the motivations for this particular suspect pool. Stevenson also made them unusually sympathetic, so I can’t really say I wanted any of them to be the murderer!

Another thing I particularly enjoyed was the format of using an Advent calendar and Secret Santa theme to reveal the events of each chapter. It was a fun holiday touch! Ern still follows the Golden Age of Mystery “fair play” rules, so the clues are all there for the reader to put together. I had a great time trying, even if I didn’t solve it.

Overall this was not only a funny, clever holiday read, but also a nice boost to my excitement for the next book!