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Ernest Cunningham #3
Toutes les fêtes de Noël commencent par un meurtre
" Tous les assassins sont des illusionnistes. Si vous voulez vous en tirer avec un meurtre, vous avez deux solutions : créer l'illusion que vous n'êtes pas coupable, ou bien créer l'illusion que quelqu'un d'autre est coupable. "
Une fête de Noël qui commence par un meurtre. Six suspects avec un mobile – et un secret. Voire deux. En cette fin d'année, notre détective Ernest Cunningham a fort à faire : une victime qui la veille de sa mort a appelé la police pour annoncer un meurtre (le sien ?), une suspecte couverte de sang qui ne se souvient de rien, un témoin essentiel qui rend l'âme devant ses yeux... Heureusement, il y a quelques indices. Vingt-quatre, pour être précis. Agencés sous la forme d'un calendrier de l'Avent, qui mènera à la nuit de Noël, et peut-être aussi au coupable...
Benjamin Stevenson est de retour et nous offre un hommage aussi irrésistible qu'astucieux aux whodunit dans la lignée d'Agatha Christie. Et cette fois, l'enquête sera saupoudrée d'un peu de neige, de quelques paillettes... et d'une bonne dose de meurtre.
Une fête de Noël qui commence par un meurtre. Six suspects avec un mobile – et un secret. Voire deux. En cette fin d'année, notre détective Ernest Cunningham a fort à faire : une victime qui la veille de sa mort a appelé la police pour annoncer un meurtre (le sien ?), une suspecte couverte de sang qui ne se souvient de rien, un témoin essentiel qui rend l'âme devant ses yeux... Heureusement, il y a quelques indices. Vingt-quatre, pour être précis. Agencés sous la forme d'un calendrier de l'Avent, qui mènera à la nuit de Noël, et peut-être aussi au coupable...
Benjamin Stevenson est de retour et nous offre un hommage aussi irrésistible qu'astucieux aux whodunit dans la lignée d'Agatha Christie. Et cette fois, l'enquête sera saupoudrée d'un peu de neige, de quelques paillettes... et d'une bonne dose de meurtre.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,704 reviews
November 23, 2024
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.
I waited for the audio to listen along with my ARC, because narrator Barton Welch is Ern as far as I’m concerned after listening to the two prior books. His voice puts me right there in the story, and because the story breaks the fourth wall so much, it’s fun hearing him actually talking to me as the reader, as opposed to trying to imagine it.
Overall this was not only a funny, clever holiday read, but also a nice boost to my excitement for the next book!
★★★★
Thanks to Mariner Books, NetGalley and author Benjamin Stevenson for the digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. This is out now!
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.
I waited for the audio to listen along with my ARC, because narrator Barton Welch is Ern as far as I’m concerned after listening to the two prior books. His voice puts me right there in the story, and because the story breaks the fourth wall so much, it’s fun hearing him actually talking to me as the reader, as opposed to trying to imagine it.
Overall this was not only a funny, clever holiday read, but also a nice boost to my excitement for the next book!
★★★★
Thanks to Mariner Books, NetGalley and author Benjamin Stevenson for the digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. This is out now!
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December 9, 2024
Tis the season to be jolly slaughtered: classic crime fanatic turned amateur gumshoe Ernest Cunningham is back for more wisecracks and crime solving in Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret and just in time for the holi-slays. Christmas bells are ringing, but so are marriage bells and Ernest is off to check out the magician that will be performing at his wedding when a complication of corpses deck the halls of this holiday edition of Stevenson’s merry murder mysteries. Sure, this is technically a brief book 3 in the series that began with the runaway hit Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone but it's billed as a sort of Christmas special (with less chestnuts and sleighs and more chaps been slain) that could feasibly be read as a standalone without much confusion. It leans a bit towards filler for the sake of fun but ‘I’ll remind the cynics out there that the favourites aren’t immune to a little yuletide cash grab,’ Ernest tells us, ‘Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle both caved to the whims of the popular desire for holiday murders’ and its easy to forgive this for being less developed than the previous books because its a jolly comfort read in a series that keeps on giving. Besides, there’s even a secret santa rolled into the plot. All wrapped up in holiday cheer and a festive narrative packaging with misdirection instead of mistletoe, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is slight yet still a snarky good time.
‘I know this is a Holiday Special, but I was hardly expecting the victim’s final word to be festive.’
Sure the formula of the waggish humor around insisting on mystery rules while simultaneously subverting them wears a bit thin, but it’s been nearly a year since I read the last and I was thrilled to be back along for the ride of some holly jolly homicide. Its witty enough to make the silliness work and I rather enjoyed how this so heavily leans into its own Christmas themes, which, of course, extends to the rules by which he follows not unlike the kid who survives the first Scream because he’s the solitary virgin of the friend group.
There’s some other comical rules here such as ‘the Holiday Special may be considered canon, but not required reading’ (Star Wars fans can debate if they want to canon that weird mess of Chewbacca trying to avert deadbeat dad status by getting home for Life Day to watch some hologram Bea Arthur with his Wookie child) and that ‘select cameos suffice’ from the series cast which explains a lot of this book. But also ‘The killer must not hate Christmas’ so you can cross the Grinch off your suspect list. I rather appreciated the system of clues in this one that are delivered as an advent calendar of sorts:
‘This whole thing’s best treated as an advent calendar,’ we learn ‘Twenty-four chapters hold twenty-four clues and various bits and bobs that help me with the case.’ So as far as premise and holiday set-up, this hits some high notes. The story itself is a bit lackluster at times but it does keep you entertained as it winds through a nice steady distribution of clues towards a conclusion where those who pay attention ‘should have everything you need to, excuse the pun, take a stab at it.’ Admittedly I didn’t guess the killer, it was fun and cleverly crafted. Not getting the killer correct is still better than getting a holiday ass-kicking or being full-on murdered though. In the grand scheme of murder mysteries, as long as you make it to the end without becoming the Ghost of Christmas Present, we can chalk it up ‘as a Christmas miracle’ and you win! Good job.
‘Six suspects. Seven gifts.
Let’s open them.’
For those who like their holidays with a side of violence, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret makes for a mini festival of fun. Nothing quite holds up to the first read for this series but the quirkiness didn’t feel stale this time at least. If you enjoyed the first two, you’ll probably like this. If you hated the first two, you’ll probably hate this. But if you haven’t read the first two, this is still a worthwhile place to jump in. Short, silly, a bit light but a fun puzzl- box of a murder, Benjamin Stevenson brings a santa sack full of clues and cheer. Hope you all learned the true meaning of Christmas (it’s killin’).
3.5/5
‘I know this is a Holiday Special, but I was hardly expecting the victim’s final word to be festive.’
Sure the formula of the waggish humor around insisting on mystery rules while simultaneously subverting them wears a bit thin, but it’s been nearly a year since I read the last and I was thrilled to be back along for the ride of some holly jolly homicide. Its witty enough to make the silliness work and I rather enjoyed how this so heavily leans into its own Christmas themes, which, of course, extends to the rules by which he follows not unlike the kid who survives the first Scream because he’s the solitary virgin of the friend group.
‘If murder mysteries have rules, so too do Holiday Specials, which the universe has kindly obliged here. You’ll find ahead Santa-fied clues aplenty, and don’t rule out characters having to dress up in silly costumes for some tangentially related plot reason, which I will satisfy in a minor turn as Rudolph. And of course, by the end of these things, the detective has to learn the true meaning of the word Christmas.’
There’s some other comical rules here such as ‘the Holiday Special may be considered canon, but not required reading’ (Star Wars fans can debate if they want to canon that weird mess of Chewbacca trying to avert deadbeat dad status by getting home for Life Day to watch some hologram Bea Arthur with his Wookie child) and that ‘select cameos suffice’ from the series cast which explains a lot of this book. But also ‘The killer must not hate Christmas’ so you can cross the Grinch off your suspect list. I rather appreciated the system of clues in this one that are delivered as an advent calendar of sorts:
‘This whole thing’s best treated as an advent calendar,’ we learn ‘Twenty-four chapters hold twenty-four clues and various bits and bobs that help me with the case.’ So as far as premise and holiday set-up, this hits some high notes. The story itself is a bit lackluster at times but it does keep you entertained as it winds through a nice steady distribution of clues towards a conclusion where those who pay attention ‘should have everything you need to, excuse the pun, take a stab at it.’ Admittedly I didn’t guess the killer, it was fun and cleverly crafted. Not getting the killer correct is still better than getting a holiday ass-kicking or being full-on murdered though. In the grand scheme of murder mysteries, as long as you make it to the end without becoming the Ghost of Christmas Present, we can chalk it up ‘as a Christmas miracle’ and you win! Good job.
‘Six suspects. Seven gifts.
Let’s open them.’
For those who like their holidays with a side of violence, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret makes for a mini festival of fun. Nothing quite holds up to the first read for this series but the quirkiness didn’t feel stale this time at least. If you enjoyed the first two, you’ll probably like this. If you hated the first two, you’ll probably hate this. But if you haven’t read the first two, this is still a worthwhile place to jump in. Short, silly, a bit light but a fun puzzl- box of a murder, Benjamin Stevenson brings a santa sack full of clues and cheer. Hope you all learned the true meaning of Christmas (it’s killin’).
3.5/5
January 15, 2026
Who doesn't want a little murder with their holidays?
I really dig these Ernest Cunningham books.
In the same vein as the first two books, this one also has a strong Agatha Christie vibe to it that reads like a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the Queen of Mystery and all her fans.
And there's just this complete wink, wink happening between the reader and the narrator that allows the stories to escape the need for really-real-realism. Because of that, I don't find myself picking at holes in the plot or rolling my eyes at the crazy scenarios. I just sit back and enjoy the ride because the kitsch is the selling point here.
Like Benjamin Stevenson decided to, not just embrace the cozy mystery genre, but ask it to marry him in a Vegas chapel with Elvis officiating.
So the very skinny gist here is that Ernest's ex-wife has been arrested for murdering her boyfriend, and he's got to find out who(really)dunnit in order to prove that she didn't dunnit.
Also, it's getting close to Christmas, and he needs to wrap this up so he can get back to his fiancée in time to celebrate with her.
Of course, there's way more to it than that, but you can find all of that out for yourself.
So if you're looking for a cozy mystery that's a little out of the ordinary for the holiday season, you might want to give this one a try.
Recommended.
I really dig these Ernest Cunningham books.
In the same vein as the first two books, this one also has a strong Agatha Christie vibe to it that reads like a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the Queen of Mystery and all her fans.
And there's just this complete wink, wink happening between the reader and the narrator that allows the stories to escape the need for really-real-realism. Because of that, I don't find myself picking at holes in the plot or rolling my eyes at the crazy scenarios. I just sit back and enjoy the ride because the kitsch is the selling point here.
Like Benjamin Stevenson decided to, not just embrace the cozy mystery genre, but ask it to marry him in a Vegas chapel with Elvis officiating.
So the very skinny gist here is that Ernest's ex-wife has been arrested for murdering her boyfriend, and he's got to find out who(really)dunnit in order to prove that she didn't dunnit.
Also, it's getting close to Christmas, and he needs to wrap this up so he can get back to his fiancée in time to celebrate with her.
Of course, there's way more to it than that, but you can find all of that out for yourself.
So if you're looking for a cozy mystery that's a little out of the ordinary for the holiday season, you might want to give this one a try.
Recommended.
November 8, 2024
The epitome of fun, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret mixed a quick-witted whodunnit with a cozy mystery feel. Showcasing the snarky, likeable protagonist of Ernest Cunningham yet again in this third in a series, I was quickly pulled into the plot through fast pacing and irresistible surprises. The best piece of the puzzle, however, was easily the final jaw-dropping twist. Bringing to mind the greats such as Agatha Christie herself, I quickly had a smile slapped onto my face as I absolutely did not see this one coming despite the many cleverly administered clues.
Coming a close second to the dynamite reveal was the style and format of this unputdownable novella. 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. Adding to the fun was the advent calendar structure and the generously sprinkled humor, which quite literally had me giggling with glee. Even better, however, was the fact that this didn’t feel like a short story. Well-developed and perfectly wrapped up, there wasn’t a thing missing—up to and including the flawless modern take on a Golden Age mystery dénouement.
All in all, I couldn’t have been happier with Stevenson’s newest addition to Ernie’s unfolding saga. Packed full of seemingly impossible crimes and one heck of an amateur sleuth, I loved trying to work out the who in this masterful whodunnit before it was revealed in all of its well-plotted glory. Sadly—or, rather, happily—I was not up to the job and instead reveled in being shocked to the core when Ernie enacted his (mostly) well-thought plan. So if you are looking for a lighter read with a side of the holiday vibe, run—don’t walk—and order this one ASAP. After all, I loved this quick, easy read and I’m positive that you will as well. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
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?
Thank you to Benjamin Stevenson and Mariner Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 22, 2024
Trigger warning: gun violence, mention of: drug addiction
Coming a close second to the dynamite reveal was the style and format of this unputdownable novella. 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. Adding to the fun was the advent calendar structure and the generously sprinkled humor, which quite literally had me giggling with glee. Even better, however, was the fact that this didn’t feel like a short story. Well-developed and perfectly wrapped up, there wasn’t a thing missing—up to and including the flawless modern take on a Golden Age mystery dénouement.
All in all, I couldn’t have been happier with Stevenson’s newest addition to Ernie’s unfolding saga. Packed full of seemingly impossible crimes and one heck of an amateur sleuth, I loved trying to work out the who in this masterful whodunnit before it was revealed in all of its well-plotted glory. Sadly—or, rather, happily—I was not up to the job and instead reveled in being shocked to the core when Ernie enacted his (mostly) well-thought plan. So if you are looking for a lighter read with a side of the holiday vibe, run—don’t walk—and order this one ASAP. After all, I loved this quick, easy read and I’m positive that you will as well. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
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?
Thank you to Benjamin Stevenson and Mariner Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 22, 2024
Trigger warning: gun violence, mention of: drug addiction
October 29, 2024
Ernest Cunningham is back with another puzzle to solve!
This is a shorter book and features a magician (tricky tricks), an advent calendar and some countdown to Christmas mishaps that suggested hints to the mystery. I didn't solve it, but had fun following how Ernest put the clues together. It is his third murder mystery after all!
A dead body and his ex-wife as a suspect. He really needed to get to the bottom of this one!
This worked better for me than the second in the series. Like the previous books, there are many misdirections, suspects, and someone with sleight of hand! We find out who when the final door of the calendar is opened!
Thanks to NG for my ARC. Published on Oct 22, 2024
This is a shorter book and features a magician (tricky tricks), an advent calendar and some countdown to Christmas mishaps that suggested hints to the mystery. I didn't solve it, but had fun following how Ernest put the clues together. It is his third murder mystery after all!
A dead body and his ex-wife as a suspect. He really needed to get to the bottom of this one!
This worked better for me than the second in the series. Like the previous books, there are many misdirections, suspects, and someone with sleight of hand! We find out who when the final door of the calendar is opened!
Thanks to NG for my ARC. Published on Oct 22, 2024
October 23, 2024
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Superbly clever Christmas mystery!
“In keeping with an accidental theme—my first case involved a full stop, my second a comma—this may well be the first mystery ever solved by Comic Sans.”
Your ever intrusive narrator, Ernest Cunningham, is on his third case when his ex-wife’s boyfriend is murdered during the Christmas holiday. When Erin is arrested, Ernest must prove her innocence by uncovering the real murderer.
The Ernest Cunningham series has long been a favorite of mine because the mysteries are expertly plotted and flawlessly executed. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is no exception. While it helps to have read the previous two books, I think that a newbie reader will still enjoy it. This is a fantastic mystery to read a chapter a day (like an advent calendar) during the upcoming holiday season - if you can resist flipping the pages for a whole day!
I did find that the ARC may have included a few rather major issues (Ernest refers to the killer’s pronoun during the reveal and then reveals the killer as the opposite and forgets that one suspect is still under suspicion). However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this meta-fictitious mystery and highly recommend it!
5/5 stars
Expected publication date: 10/22/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret in exchange for an honest review.
Superbly clever Christmas mystery!
“In keeping with an accidental theme—my first case involved a full stop, my second a comma—this may well be the first mystery ever solved by Comic Sans.”
Your ever intrusive narrator, Ernest Cunningham, is on his third case when his ex-wife’s boyfriend is murdered during the Christmas holiday. When Erin is arrested, Ernest must prove her innocence by uncovering the real murderer.
The Ernest Cunningham series has long been a favorite of mine because the mysteries are expertly plotted and flawlessly executed. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is no exception. While it helps to have read the previous two books, I think that a newbie reader will still enjoy it. This is a fantastic mystery to read a chapter a day (like an advent calendar) during the upcoming holiday season - if you can resist flipping the pages for a whole day!
I did find that the ARC may have included a few rather major issues (Ernest refers to the killer’s pronoun during the reveal and then reveals the killer as the opposite and forgets that one suspect is still under suspicion). However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this meta-fictitious mystery and highly recommend it!
5/5 stars
Expected publication date: 10/22/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
**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 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!
July 12, 2025
If murder mysteries have rules, so too do Christmas Specials, which the universe has kindly obliged here. You’ll find ahead Santa-fied clues aplenty, and don’t rule out characters having to dress up in silly costumes for some tangentially related plot reason, which I will satisfy in a minor turn as Rudolph. And of course, by the end of these things, the detective has to learn the true meaning of the word Christmas. So we’ll get there too.
A quick festive novella for Ernest Cunningham fans, Everone This Christmas Has a Secret manages to tangentially follow all the seasonal special rules in Stevenson's witty way, while still in keeping with the Golden Age mystery rules. Ernest is called to solve a seemingly impossible mystery just before Christmas and steps into a world of professional tricksters, each with their own secret.
The plot is captivating and true to the Ernest's word, the readers get enough clues along the way to try and piece the puzzle together. The story provides a pretty strong foundation on which to build everything else, though not all characters are sketched out solidly. I enjoyed Stevenson's witty writing and sense of humor in this one; the blatant references to Christmas have to be forgiven I suppose.
And for those wondering if any aspect of formatting plays a role here -
In keeping with an accidental theme— my first case involved a full stop, my second a comma—this may well be the first mystery ever solved by Comic Sans.
Thanks to NetGalley, Mariner publishing group and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the story arc; Half a star for the characters; One star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building and description- 3 3/4 stars in total, rounded up to 4 stars.]
A quick festive novella for Ernest Cunningham fans, Everone This Christmas Has a Secret manages to tangentially follow all the seasonal special rules in Stevenson's witty way, while still in keeping with the Golden Age mystery rules. Ernest is called to solve a seemingly impossible mystery just before Christmas and steps into a world of professional tricksters, each with their own secret.
The plot is captivating and true to the Ernest's word, the readers get enough clues along the way to try and piece the puzzle together. The story provides a pretty strong foundation on which to build everything else, though not all characters are sketched out solidly. I enjoyed Stevenson's witty writing and sense of humor in this one; the blatant references to Christmas have to be forgiven I suppose.
And for those wondering if any aspect of formatting plays a role here -
In keeping with an accidental theme— my first case involved a full stop, my second a comma—this may well be the first mystery ever solved by Comic Sans.
Thanks to NetGalley, Mariner publishing group and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the story arc; Half a star for the characters; One star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building and description- 3 3/4 stars in total, rounded up to 4 stars.]
December 4, 2024
i listened to the audiobook, i didn’t like the narrator and i feel like he ruined the mood and setting for some scenes but, if i ignore that part of it this book was written really well it still felt cozy but kept me on my mind going trying to figure out who’s guilty.
December 19, 2024
*Holiday Season 2024*
Audible 5 hrs 2 minutes at 1x, 3 hrs 20 mins at 1.5x
All he wanted for Christmas was to get through the season without having to solve another murder- but when his ex-wife Erin calls, covered in blood with no recollection of how it got there, he knew his Christmas wish would not be coming true.
Turns out her boyfriend, Lyle Pierce has been murdered in their home, and coincidentally, he was also the sponsor of world famous magician Ryan Blaze so all of Ernest’s suspects are professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.
THE MAGICIAN
THE ASSISTANT
THE EXECUTIVE
THE HYPNOTIST
THE IDENTICAL TWIN
THE COUNSELLOR
THE TECH
Of course, Ernest will be narrating for us, and he is as snarky as ever but as always he will be following the rules of Golden Age mysteries-fair play, clues left for the reader to discover so that they can actually solve the mystery if they pay close attention..which I failed to do! 🤣
I do better at picking up on clues when I read, as opposed to listening, but I couldn’t resist the Audible narrated in Ernests own voice and filled with the sounds of Christmas Jingle bells, and the doors to an Advent Calendar opening and closing with each chapter of clues.
Fans of the previous two books in the series, should be pleased with the addition of this holiday novella, which can be listened to in one sitting!
Audible 5 hrs 2 minutes at 1x, 3 hrs 20 mins at 1.5x
All he wanted for Christmas was to get through the season without having to solve another murder- but when his ex-wife Erin calls, covered in blood with no recollection of how it got there, he knew his Christmas wish would not be coming true.
Turns out her boyfriend, Lyle Pierce has been murdered in their home, and coincidentally, he was also the sponsor of world famous magician Ryan Blaze so all of Ernest’s suspects are professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.
THE MAGICIAN
THE ASSISTANT
THE EXECUTIVE
THE HYPNOTIST
THE IDENTICAL TWIN
THE COUNSELLOR
THE TECH
Of course, Ernest will be narrating for us, and he is as snarky as ever but as always he will be following the rules of Golden Age mysteries-fair play, clues left for the reader to discover so that they can actually solve the mystery if they pay close attention..which I failed to do! 🤣
I do better at picking up on clues when I read, as opposed to listening, but I couldn’t resist the Audible narrated in Ernests own voice and filled with the sounds of Christmas Jingle bells, and the doors to an Advent Calendar opening and closing with each chapter of clues.
Fans of the previous two books in the series, should be pleased with the addition of this holiday novella, which can be listened to in one sitting!
December 4, 2024
3.25/5 💫
this was an extremely cozy australian christmas murder mystery.
reading the ending, i had a lil smile on my face because the entire book is just annoyingly clever. this is the 3rd book in this series, but it can be read as a standalone (how i read it). it was a great introduction to his writing and i am definitely looking forward to reading the others in the series - which have been sitting on my shelf for an embarrassing long amount of time.
this is a true murder mystery, not a thriller. the main character is charming in a way that never made me feel like i needed to check my door was locked whilst reading. this is a novella, and would be a great christmas gift for anyone, even those who don't read. i read the majority of this in one sitting.
mum i finished a book!
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
4/12 2:51pm
oh my gosh this is so great i actually want to pick up a book and its an australian christmas?? feels like home
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
making my bookish return (attempt #37) with a lil christmas novella<3
this was an extremely cozy australian christmas murder mystery.
reading the ending, i had a lil smile on my face because the entire book is just annoyingly clever. this is the 3rd book in this series, but it can be read as a standalone (how i read it). it was a great introduction to his writing and i am definitely looking forward to reading the others in the series - which have been sitting on my shelf for an embarrassing long amount of time.
this is a true murder mystery, not a thriller. the main character is charming in a way that never made me feel like i needed to check my door was locked whilst reading. this is a novella, and would be a great christmas gift for anyone, even those who don't read. i read the majority of this in one sitting.
mum i finished a book!
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
4/12 2:51pm
oh my gosh this is so great i actually want to pick up a book and its an australian christmas?? feels like home
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
making my bookish return (attempt #37) with a lil christmas novella<3
August 21, 2024
Ernest Cunningham # three
Yes, Ernie is back for Christmas. Maybe you get an advent calendar for the run-up to Christmas? Ever thought of a murder mystery advent calendar? Twenty four chapters, 24 clues, solve it by Christmas Eve and get a chocolate reward. Just kidding about the chocolate. Six suspects and seven presents lying under a tree. So who is the victim? I’m getting to that.
Our Ernest is about to get married to Juliette and learns his uncle Andy has booked magician Rylan Blaze as the entertainment which he’s less than thrilled about. So, he decides to head to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains where he’s performing his magic show to check him out. By dint or not of coincidence his ex-wife Erin is banged up, charged with murder of her partner, the loaded philanthropist Lyle Pearse in the very same place. I kid you not. She tells a very strange story, her version of the events is extremely weak in terms of an alibi and that’s how Ernest knows she’s innocent. She wants him to get her out of jail before Christmas and oh yes, before his wedding. In the process of investigating Lyle‘s murder he also drops onto another. Shock horror, that of the magician, Rylan Blaze. It’s a twofer or a bogof, it could only happen to Ernest. Thankfully, he has twice as much perspicacity as the rest of us and is sure to get his man or woman.
Murder, mayhem and Christmas in a fabulous Aussie setting in the Blue Mountains, a slice or two of magic. The novel is funny, irreverent, entertaining, very complicated and at times makes my head spin. Natch, I don’t pick up the clues but that’s what we’ve got Ernest for.
Ernest is an extremely likeable central protagonist and of course, he’s darned clever in the best possible spirit of the Golden Age mysteries that he loves so much. He spots every little detail just as Hercule or Miss Marple would. This is a tricky one as he’s dealing with a magician and those who work for him, so misdirection and illusions are a given.
It’s a shortish novel, the pace is brisk and it’s great fun, and would make a perfect gift instead of an advent calendar. Maybe read a chapter a day from the 1st to the 24th of December and do a better job than me at spotting the clues,
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Yes, Ernie is back for Christmas. Maybe you get an advent calendar for the run-up to Christmas? Ever thought of a murder mystery advent calendar? Twenty four chapters, 24 clues, solve it by Christmas Eve and get a chocolate reward. Just kidding about the chocolate. Six suspects and seven presents lying under a tree. So who is the victim? I’m getting to that.
Our Ernest is about to get married to Juliette and learns his uncle Andy has booked magician Rylan Blaze as the entertainment which he’s less than thrilled about. So, he decides to head to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains where he’s performing his magic show to check him out. By dint or not of coincidence his ex-wife Erin is banged up, charged with murder of her partner, the loaded philanthropist Lyle Pearse in the very same place. I kid you not. She tells a very strange story, her version of the events is extremely weak in terms of an alibi and that’s how Ernest knows she’s innocent. She wants him to get her out of jail before Christmas and oh yes, before his wedding. In the process of investigating Lyle‘s murder he also drops onto another. Shock horror, that of the magician, Rylan Blaze. It’s a twofer or a bogof, it could only happen to Ernest. Thankfully, he has twice as much perspicacity as the rest of us and is sure to get his man or woman.
Murder, mayhem and Christmas in a fabulous Aussie setting in the Blue Mountains, a slice or two of magic. The novel is funny, irreverent, entertaining, very complicated and at times makes my head spin. Natch, I don’t pick up the clues but that’s what we’ve got Ernest for.
Ernest is an extremely likeable central protagonist and of course, he’s darned clever in the best possible spirit of the Golden Age mysteries that he loves so much. He spots every little detail just as Hercule or Miss Marple would. This is a tricky one as he’s dealing with a magician and those who work for him, so misdirection and illusions are a given.
It’s a shortish novel, the pace is brisk and it’s great fun, and would make a perfect gift instead of an advent calendar. Maybe read a chapter a day from the 1st to the 24th of December and do a better job than me at spotting the clues,
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 19, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down. I do enjoy these mysteries with Ernest, but this “holiday special” novella just wasn’t as strong as his other outings for me. Perhaps it was the whole “advent calendar” style too. It was fun to read about the holiday season in the So. Hemisphere, tho - as a desert dweller almost all my life, I can relate! 🌴🎅🏼🌴 The ending/reveal was also just too derivative and a bit of a let down, though I do enjoy Ern’s style & humor greatly. Still down for the next one!
December 12, 2024
Slightly non-sensical, but honestly, that added to the Christmas charm because I feel like most TV mystery shows' holiday specials are a little cuckoo. Very fun!
December 27, 2024
Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is the latest super fun and suspenseful mystery edition in the Ernest Cunningham series. Not to mention, a fantastic choice for the holiday season.
Yet again, I was stumped as to who the murderer was until Ernest's detailed big reveal. His character never ceases to entertain me with his witty banter and brilliant sleuthing skills.
Narrator Baron Welch continues to be fabulous as the solo voice for this series. Much appreciation.
Yet again, I was stumped as to who the murderer was until Ernest's detailed big reveal. His character never ceases to entertain me with his witty banter and brilliant sleuthing skills.
Narrator Baron Welch continues to be fabulous as the solo voice for this series. Much appreciation.
December 3, 2024
3.5 stars – Like a pizza with all the right toppings, but missing that one slice of extra cheese. Still tasty though.
THE PLOT
This Christmas, our protagonist finds himself backstage at the glittering, show-stopping performance of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, only to be tossed into a murder mystery that’s more baffling than a magic trick gone wrong. The victim? The magician's benefactor.
Following are the usual suspects:
The Magician (he’s not just pulling rabbits out of hats, folks)
The Assistant (who’s probably got more secrets than the magician’s top hat)
The Executive (maybe he's pulling the strings—literally and figuratively)
The Hypnotist (who might just talk you into believing you’ve committed the crime)
The Identical Twin (because what’s better than one suspect? Two!)
The Counsellor (everyone needs therapy, especially after a murder)
The Tech (probably too busy with gadgets to notice the crime happening right under his nose)
And the clues? Oh, they're as elusive as a card trick. A suspect drenched in blood, but no memory of how it happened. A murder that took place without a single footstep in the room. And an advent calendar full of cryptic clues—because why not add a little holiday cheer to your murder mystery?
Will he be able to solve the mystery, or will he end up as baffled as the audience watching a magician’s final trick?
My thoughts
The author finally listened to my unsolicited advice and realized, "Oh right, people read these books for the mystery not for the jokes!"
While it wasn’t as intense as I’d hoped, I still had a blast. It wasn't quite as gripping as the first part, but it was lightyears better than the trainwreck that was the second part of the series.
I devoured this murder mystery like a five-course meal—each page a tasty bite that left me wanting more.
Reading this wasn’t just turning pages, it was a full-on Christmas feast for my mind. Every chapter was a bite, and every plot twist was a surprise I didn’t see coming.
Who should read this book?
If you love a good holiday mystery with a side of magic, misdirection, and a dash of Christmas cheer, this book is for you! Perfect for anyone who enjoys a quirky whodunnit with more twists than a magician’s scarf.
THE PLOT
This Christmas, our protagonist finds himself backstage at the glittering, show-stopping performance of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, only to be tossed into a murder mystery that’s more baffling than a magic trick gone wrong. The victim? The magician's benefactor.
Following are the usual suspects:
The Magician (he’s not just pulling rabbits out of hats, folks)
The Assistant (who’s probably got more secrets than the magician’s top hat)
The Executive (maybe he's pulling the strings—literally and figuratively)
The Hypnotist (who might just talk you into believing you’ve committed the crime)
The Identical Twin (because what’s better than one suspect? Two!)
The Counsellor (everyone needs therapy, especially after a murder)
The Tech (probably too busy with gadgets to notice the crime happening right under his nose)
And the clues? Oh, they're as elusive as a card trick. A suspect drenched in blood, but no memory of how it happened. A murder that took place without a single footstep in the room. And an advent calendar full of cryptic clues—because why not add a little holiday cheer to your murder mystery?
Will he be able to solve the mystery, or will he end up as baffled as the audience watching a magician’s final trick?
My thoughts
The author finally listened to my unsolicited advice and realized, "Oh right, people read these books for the mystery not for the jokes!"
While it wasn’t as intense as I’d hoped, I still had a blast. It wasn't quite as gripping as the first part, but it was lightyears better than the trainwreck that was the second part of the series.
I devoured this murder mystery like a five-course meal—each page a tasty bite that left me wanting more.
Reading this wasn’t just turning pages, it was a full-on Christmas feast for my mind. Every chapter was a bite, and every plot twist was a surprise I didn’t see coming.
Who should read this book?
If you love a good holiday mystery with a side of magic, misdirection, and a dash of Christmas cheer, this book is for you! Perfect for anyone who enjoys a quirky whodunnit with more twists than a magician’s scarf.
December 24, 2024
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!
May 7, 2025
3.5★
“Some detectives, perhaps, solve crimes like fireworks: one lit fuse exploding everything at once. I solve crimes like a ten-car rear-ender on a bumper-to-bumper freeway: one car slams into another, and another and another, all the way up the line.”
Yep – that’s Ernest Cunningham for you - amateur sleuth and author/storyteller who speaks directly to the reader. His first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, introduced us to his rules for writing mysteries (what is or is not allowed – no 'deus ex machina' or surprise villain we never met), and his second, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, follows the same pattern.
This one adds some rules for a holiday story, and while he makes a point of sticking to the rules, he is adept at skirting them a little here and there just to trick us. But on to the story.
Since the first book, his now ex-wife Erin, has suffered from PTSD from murders and bodies and has moved on with a new partner, Lyle Pearse. She has called Ern in desperation because she’s just been arrested for the extremely bloody murder of Lyle, whose body was found on the kitchen floor, and blood has been trailed up or down the staircase.
Oh, yes. And she woke up covered in blood, even in her hair! Ern tells his fiancée, Juliet, he has to go to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains (hills west of Sydney) to see a band. This is only a few days before Christmas, but he must go. He tries to make up a story.
“‘Ernest,’ she said, and it was all over. I am cellophane around Juliette; she sees right through me. I have no idea how people have affairs.”
She knows his ex-wife lives up there, but he gets away (for now) with his ridiculous explanation. The bit about the band is true, but it’s not only a band – there’s a big magic act, which is what Lyle was involved with.
There are a fair number of characters to keep track of, including twins. Normally, he says, the rules don’t allow twins, but since he introduces them early and promises they won’t switch places, it’s okay. It takes a few people to keep a magic show like Rylan Blaze’s working smoothly. There are props and equipment, so most of these people are working offstage.
He starts interviewing and collecting information, but the heat (Christmas is hot in Australia), his nervousness for Erin, and his lousy accommodation are getting to him. He often foreshadows what is coming – sort of.
“I wish I could lean into my own narrative here and tell myself that I do indeed solve the crime, a feat that will be accompanied by both being shot in the chest and witnessing another death. I’d tell myself that I will, eventually, be writing it all out with shortbread in one hand and a pen in the other. But motel-me, dawn-hours-of-22-December-me, doesn’t yet know the solution to two impossible murders.”
He's tried finding information on Lyle’s computer, but no luck.
“The screen shuddered in denial. One of the rules of murder mysteries is that the detective cannot succeed by virtue of luck or coincidence. My amateur hacking doesn’t cut the mustard.”
There is another murder, a particularly gruesome one, and obviously Erin couldn’t have done that, locked up as she is. Her relief at hearing she’s off the hook for that is short-lived when Ern explains she’s still the obvious culprit for the first murder. She is seriously distressed.
“It would be a cliché to say she looked thinner, as a more accurate description would be that there was less of her. It wasn’t so much a physical loss. It was the glassiness in her eyes. She took up less space in the room.”
I enjoyed this in both print and audio, but I like having the text to refer to so I can remember characters and select quotations. I found this one pretty far-fetched, and I had to suspend a fair bit of disbelief about some of the explanations, but for a quirky holiday read, it’s entertaining.
Each of these mysteries is a standalone, but I liked meeting Ernest and his family in the first one and then taking The Ghan in the second.
My review of Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone
My review of Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect
“Some detectives, perhaps, solve crimes like fireworks: one lit fuse exploding everything at once. I solve crimes like a ten-car rear-ender on a bumper-to-bumper freeway: one car slams into another, and another and another, all the way up the line.”
Yep – that’s Ernest Cunningham for you - amateur sleuth and author/storyteller who speaks directly to the reader. His first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, introduced us to his rules for writing mysteries (what is or is not allowed – no 'deus ex machina' or surprise villain we never met), and his second, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, follows the same pattern.
This one adds some rules for a holiday story, and while he makes a point of sticking to the rules, he is adept at skirting them a little here and there just to trick us. But on to the story.
Since the first book, his now ex-wife Erin, has suffered from PTSD from murders and bodies and has moved on with a new partner, Lyle Pearse. She has called Ern in desperation because she’s just been arrested for the extremely bloody murder of Lyle, whose body was found on the kitchen floor, and blood has been trailed up or down the staircase.
Oh, yes. And she woke up covered in blood, even in her hair! Ern tells his fiancée, Juliet, he has to go to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains (hills west of Sydney) to see a band. This is only a few days before Christmas, but he must go. He tries to make up a story.
“‘Ernest,’ she said, and it was all over. I am cellophane around Juliette; she sees right through me. I have no idea how people have affairs.”
She knows his ex-wife lives up there, but he gets away (for now) with his ridiculous explanation. The bit about the band is true, but it’s not only a band – there’s a big magic act, which is what Lyle was involved with.
There are a fair number of characters to keep track of, including twins. Normally, he says, the rules don’t allow twins, but since he introduces them early and promises they won’t switch places, it’s okay. It takes a few people to keep a magic show like Rylan Blaze’s working smoothly. There are props and equipment, so most of these people are working offstage.
He starts interviewing and collecting information, but the heat (Christmas is hot in Australia), his nervousness for Erin, and his lousy accommodation are getting to him. He often foreshadows what is coming – sort of.
“I wish I could lean into my own narrative here and tell myself that I do indeed solve the crime, a feat that will be accompanied by both being shot in the chest and witnessing another death. I’d tell myself that I will, eventually, be writing it all out with shortbread in one hand and a pen in the other. But motel-me, dawn-hours-of-22-December-me, doesn’t yet know the solution to two impossible murders.”
He's tried finding information on Lyle’s computer, but no luck.
“The screen shuddered in denial. One of the rules of murder mysteries is that the detective cannot succeed by virtue of luck or coincidence. My amateur hacking doesn’t cut the mustard.”
There is another murder, a particularly gruesome one, and obviously Erin couldn’t have done that, locked up as she is. Her relief at hearing she’s off the hook for that is short-lived when Ern explains she’s still the obvious culprit for the first murder. She is seriously distressed.
“It would be a cliché to say she looked thinner, as a more accurate description would be that there was less of her. It wasn’t so much a physical loss. It was the glassiness in her eyes. She took up less space in the room.”
I enjoyed this in both print and audio, but I like having the text to refer to so I can remember characters and select quotations. I found this one pretty far-fetched, and I had to suspend a fair bit of disbelief about some of the explanations, but for a quirky holiday read, it’s entertaining.
Each of these mysteries is a standalone, but I liked meeting Ernest and his family in the first one and then taking The Ghan in the second.
My review of Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone
My review of Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect
February 18, 2024
Don't know why on Earth someone would 1 star this BEFORE it's released. The first two books were great and I have high expectations for any continuations. My review may change after I actually read it but as it stands I'm expecting this book to be highly entertaining.
December 22, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ This short Christmas novella was my first Ernest Cunningham mystery, and even though it’s the third in the series, it worked perfectly as a standalone. That said, I’m definitely going back to read the first two because this one was so much fun!
The story is clever, festive, and full of misdirection—what else would you expect with magicians and an Advent calendar full of clues? The chapter-by-chapter reveal using the calendar and Secret Santa theme was such a fun holiday twist. It kept me guessing all the way through, but no, I didn’t solve the mystery.
With a cast of quirky suspects and a few twists, it felt like Knives Out threw on a Santa hat and started pulling candy canes out of thin air. If you like your Christmas stories with a little murder and a lot of wit, this is the one for you!
The story is clever, festive, and full of misdirection—what else would you expect with magicians and an Advent calendar full of clues? The chapter-by-chapter reveal using the calendar and Secret Santa theme was such a fun holiday twist. It kept me guessing all the way through, but no, I didn’t solve the mystery.
With a cast of quirky suspects and a few twists, it felt like Knives Out threw on a Santa hat and started pulling candy canes out of thin air. If you like your Christmas stories with a little murder and a lot of wit, this is the one for you!
August 17, 2024
This review was first posted on Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ev...
3.5 stars
In this third book in the 'Ernest Cunningham' series, set in Australia, the amateur sleuth investigates a very tricky case. The book works fine as a standalone.
*****
The premise of these clever mysteries by Benjamin Stevenson is that an author named Ernest Cunningham writes books about real murders he's helped to solve.
Cunningham's first book, 'Everyone In My Famly Has Killed Someone', is about homicides that occurred during a family reunion at a mountain resort, and Cunningham's second book, 'Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect', is set on a luxury train.
Cunningham prides himself on the fact that he adheres to the rules of 'Golden Age' mysteries, such as: nothing supernatural; no surprise identical twins; the killer must be important to the plot; no obvious truths must be concealed from the reader; and so on. Ernest sticks to the rules, but in a rather cunning fashion, and he promises, "My job is to relay to you everything you need to reach the same 'lightbulb' moment I did.
As the story opens, it's a few days before Christmas, and Ernest is headed for Katoomba, where his ex-wife Erin Gillford has been arrested.
Erin is charged with murdering her boyfriend, wealthy philanthropist Lyle Pearse. Lyle pioneered the Pearse Foundation, which helps drug addicts get clean - and stay clean - by involving them in theatrical productions.
When Ernest gets to Katoomba, he finds Erin sitting in a jail cell, waiting for him. Erin explains that, when she woke up this morning, Lyle wasn't in bed, and she had blood on her hands and face. Looking around the house, Erin saw a knife at the top of the steps, and blood drops leading to Lyle's body downstairs.
Erin's first thought was to contact Ernest, who has a knack for solving murders. She then called the police, who promptly arrested her. Ernest listens to Erin's story, then proclaims he believes she's innocent, and promises to look into the case.
As soon as Ernest leaves the jail he's accosted by tabloid journalist Josh Felman, who chronicles reality star divorces and Ernest's investigations.
Ernest observes, "I had no idea how Felman had managed to get to Katoomba so quickly, let alone how he knew I'd be there....Josh Felman is a truffle dog of a journo who prides himself on being the nearest to the stories rather than the best reporting them." It turns out that sneaky Josh has photos of the crime scene, and he and Ernest agree to share information.
Meanwhile, the Pearse Foundation is preparing for that evening's show, which is a performance by renowned magician Rylan Blaze.
Rylan's big trick involves him being placed in stocks beneath a guillotine, with a gun pointed at his head. Rylan has to escape the stocks before the guillotine blade drops, simultaneously catching a bullet in his teeth.
Ernest plans to catch Rylan's show later that night, and in the meantime, proceeds with his investigation. Ernest examines the murder victim's office, where he observes Lyle's cheap supermarket chocolate advent calendar, computer set-up, diary, and what turns out to be an important clue.
Ernest also meets the Pearse Foundation employees and volunteers, many of whom are recovering drug addicts. Ernest considers everyone in the Pearse Foundation a possible suspect, including:
❁ Rylan Blaze - the magician whose show is currently being featured at the Pearse Foundation.
❁ Flick - the CFO of the Pearse Foundation.
❁ Theresa - a hypnotist/psychic who does a warm-up act for Rylan Blaze.
❁ Samantha - Theresa's twin sister, who works as Flick's assistant.
❁ Dinesh - the production manager for the Pearse Foundation, who's operating the lights for Rylan Blaze's performance.
❁ Christopher - the head counselor at the Pearse Foundation.
Cunningham is fair but devious about sharing clues with the reader, and I didn't match his 'lightning' moment. It was fun to try though, and many fans of cozy mysteries would enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, Benjamin Stevenson, and Mariner Books for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
December 29, 2024
Ernest Cunningham is back having found himself yet again embroiled in murder and mystery. This time his ex wife's partner is the victim, which leads him to muse over the title of his first book Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and wonder whether family in this case should include in-laws. This talking directly to the reader is one of the best things about this series.
Also entertaining is the way the book is written very much in the manner of a Golden Age mystery. Ernest discloses right at the beginning that he used to be a fan of Golden Age crime, that is until real murders began to pop up in his life. He discusses the rules of fair play and makes it clear that there is a clue established in every chapter. If the reader spots all of the clues they will have all the information they need to solve the crime. I am glad no one was depending on me to solve anything!
I really enjoyed this book. It is smart, entertaining, very well written and it made me laugh out loud. I will happily read more books about Mr. Cunningham.
Also entertaining is the way the book is written very much in the manner of a Golden Age mystery. Ernest discloses right at the beginning that he used to be a fan of Golden Age crime, that is until real murders began to pop up in his life. He discusses the rules of fair play and makes it clear that there is a clue established in every chapter. If the reader spots all of the clues they will have all the information they need to solve the crime. I am glad no one was depending on me to solve anything!
I really enjoyed this book. It is smart, entertaining, very well written and it made me laugh out loud. I will happily read more books about Mr. Cunningham.
November 7, 2024
Stevenson has yet to recapture the magic of his first novel - Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, and adding tinsel and mistletoe to this one didn't really help with his dilemma.
With his ex-wife caught red-handed, and charged with murder, it's up to amatuer sleuth Ernest Cunningham to keep her out of jail. Following the commandments of the mystery lovers' "Holiday Special" books, he cleverly deduces who the REAL killer is in an expectedly dramatic fashion. This was an okay story, with so many characters that I had trouble keeping them straight, and, indeed, when the murderer was finally revealed, I was left muttering, "Who the heck is this guy again?"
This is a slight, but frequently entertaining book. If you've read and enjoyed the first two novels in the series, you won't want to give this one a miss.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the read.
With his ex-wife caught red-handed, and charged with murder, it's up to amatuer sleuth Ernest Cunningham to keep her out of jail. Following the commandments of the mystery lovers' "Holiday Special" books, he cleverly deduces who the REAL killer is in an expectedly dramatic fashion. This was an okay story, with so many characters that I had trouble keeping them straight, and, indeed, when the murderer was finally revealed, I was left muttering, "Who the heck is this guy again?"
This is a slight, but frequently entertaining book. If you've read and enjoyed the first two novels in the series, you won't want to give this one a miss.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the read.
November 20, 2024
Ernest is at it again solving a murder or two, this time his ex-wife Erin rings him just on Christmas and while he is busy with plans for his wedding to Juliette, she is in jail accused of the murder of her boyfriend Lyle Pearce he cannot not get himself involved so off to the Blue Mountains he travels.
If you have read the first two books in the series you will know that Ernest’s way of unravelling the clues is different to say the least and this one is no different, arriving at the jail to talk to Erin he gets started Lyle was a philanthropist helping young people overcome their problems and he has sponsored a magician Rylan Blaze to do a tour this year, but as Ernest investigates at the venue Rylan also loses his life in such a bizarre way, will Ernest find the killer or killers? There are quite a few suspects to choose from.
This is another very interesting story in this series one that I did very much enjoy, I love the authors style of writing and the clues along the way had me thinking hard I didn’t pick who done it till the end, this is one that I do highly recommend a good mystery that is witty and different.
If you have read the first two books in the series you will know that Ernest’s way of unravelling the clues is different to say the least and this one is no different, arriving at the jail to talk to Erin he gets started Lyle was a philanthropist helping young people overcome their problems and he has sponsored a magician Rylan Blaze to do a tour this year, but as Ernest investigates at the venue Rylan also loses his life in such a bizarre way, will Ernest find the killer or killers? There are quite a few suspects to choose from.
This is another very interesting story in this series one that I did very much enjoy, I love the authors style of writing and the clues along the way had me thinking hard I didn’t pick who done it till the end, this is one that I do highly recommend a good mystery that is witty and different.
January 3, 2026
“What is this, your third mystery to solve?”
I shrugged. Technically it’s a Holiday Special, which makes it two and a half, but I didn’t want to get into semantics.
Ernest Cunningham—solver of two seemingly impossible mysteries—gets a call from his ex-wife Erin, who has been arrested for the murder of her partner Lyle. She has no memory of killing him, but she also has no idea why she woke up with her hands covered in his blood. As Ernest begins to investigate the strange collection of characters in Lyle’s life, the body count rises. Can Ernest solve the crimes and find the real killer before … [searches for Christmas-related punchline] … Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza?
Like the two earlier books in this series, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is a clever mystery. Ern tells you all the rules he’s going to follow, points out so many clues, red herrings, and misdirections (24 in all—one for each day of your advent calendar) about everyone and everything that’s happening. Then he dares you to put all the pieces together (which, I must say, I did, as one clue really stood out to me) before he reveals the elegant solution.
The series continues to be a smart update of Agatha Christie-style mysteries in the same way that the 90s Scream movie was a smart update of 70s and 80s horror movies. And I really enjoyed the new layer of holiday special rules grafter on top of the usual fair play mystery rules. Your enjoyment of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret likely depends on how you feel about Ern, the chatty hyper-reliable narrator. I continue to really like it. It’s conversational, often funny, and full of clever asides to the reader. Another entertaining and satisfying mystery with a Knives Out feel. Recommended.
December 8, 2024
do you know how many times I had to remind myself that Christmas happens in the summer in Australia while reading this
December 25, 2024
3.5 cute!!!!
December 5, 2025
4.5⭐️
By no means is murder funny. But…This was HILARIOUS!!! 🤣🤣🤣!!!
“Passion creates change.”
“People are generally less likeable the more you get to know them.”
“You could have it all at once if you wanted, but then you’d have nothing left for tomorrow.”
“People burning to tell secrets in mysteries tend to have an expiry date.”
“Everyone needs a second chance.”
“Paper’s killed more people than any blade.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** The way I need both a good laugh and this series right now!!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽!!!
By no means is murder funny. But…This was HILARIOUS!!! 🤣🤣🤣!!!
“Passion creates change.”
“People are generally less likeable the more you get to know them.”
“You could have it all at once if you wanted, but then you’d have nothing left for tomorrow.”
“People burning to tell secrets in mysteries tend to have an expiry date.”
“Everyone needs a second chance.”
“Paper’s killed more people than any blade.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** The way I need both a good laugh and this series right now!!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽!!!
February 12, 2025
Not bad, but there was enough plot and characters for a full-length novel, so I don't really understand why it's just a 200-page book. And I know, it's supposed to be a Holiday Special, but it felt more like a Magic Show Special to me. While the story takes place around Christmas and many clues are Christmas themed, there were really no festive vibes transported here. But who am I to judge, I read it in February.
October 14, 2024
3.5
I requested this book before I listened to Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect which, unfortunately I didn't particularly like. However I listened to the audiobook and wasn't keen on the narrator.
This Christmas Special is slightly better. It's shorter and the murder has been committed before Ernest arrives - a plot line I found implausible in the second book.
So the book begins when Erin, Ernest's ex-wife calls to ask him to help. She has been accused of murdering her new boyfriend, Lyle. She has been caught literally red-handed, having woken up to find herself covered in blood and Lyle stabbed to death.
Ernest must unravel a seemingly impossible murder and try to prevent another whilst proving Erin innocent.
I guess the thing I find annoying about this book - although it's nowhere near as obvious as the previous novel - is the way that Ernest keeps going backwards and forwards to remind us that he's sticking to the rules of writing a murder mystery. I just wish he'd get on with it.
If you liked the previous novel (and I believe the first was similar) then you'll love this. It's short and definitely a Christmas novel. I'm still not a fan I'm afraid although this was better because I read it rather than listened.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
I requested this book before I listened to Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect which, unfortunately I didn't particularly like. However I listened to the audiobook and wasn't keen on the narrator.
This Christmas Special is slightly better. It's shorter and the murder has been committed before Ernest arrives - a plot line I found implausible in the second book.
So the book begins when Erin, Ernest's ex-wife calls to ask him to help. She has been accused of murdering her new boyfriend, Lyle. She has been caught literally red-handed, having woken up to find herself covered in blood and Lyle stabbed to death.
Ernest must unravel a seemingly impossible murder and try to prevent another whilst proving Erin innocent.
I guess the thing I find annoying about this book - although it's nowhere near as obvious as the previous novel - is the way that Ernest keeps going backwards and forwards to remind us that he's sticking to the rules of writing a murder mystery. I just wish he'd get on with it.
If you liked the previous novel (and I believe the first was similar) then you'll love this. It's short and definitely a Christmas novel. I'm still not a fan I'm afraid although this was better because I read it rather than listened.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
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