Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief

Ernest Cunningham #4

by Benjamin Stevenson

Nothing is quite what it seems in this spin on the classic bank heist, with more suspects, more puzzles, and more danger than Ernest's ever faced before.

I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before.

The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, everyone is a suspect.

The Bank Robber

The Manager

The Security Guard

The Kid

The Film Producer

The Priest

The Receptionist

The Patient

The Caregiver

Me

Turns out, more than one person planned to rob the bank today. You can steal more from a bank than just money.

Who is stealing what? Are they willing to kill for it? And can I solve the crime before the police kick down the door and rescue us?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Thriller, Adult

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read any of the Ernest Cunningham series, you're missing out—missing the best chance to get lost in a brilliant, smart, entertaining mystery that will blow your mind and guarantee heartfelt laughs after every devilishly sarcastic line! I keep reading this series, and each time I want to bow down to Benjamin Stevenson's creative, intelligent mind. He always rocks my world with his perfect twists and parlor scenes filled with jaw-dropping revelations. He's given us Ernest Cunningham, an engagingly peculiar armchair detective—son of a con artist with a brilliant mind and an obsession with piecing together mysteries. I loved this character, and we need more books about him! Interestingly, with each installment, Stevenson outdoes himself, bringing increasingly complex, smart, and highly shocking mysteries!

This time we have not a locked room but a locked bank mystery, with the entertaining tone of Backman's Anxious People, vibes from Money Heist's Berlin arc and A Study in Scarlet, plus classic Agatha Christie (10 people in a bank, all stealing something, while a murderer lurks around).
The plot is irresistible: Imagine Ernest trying to find funding to open his own private detective agency, planning a probably-costs-an-arm-and-a-leg wedding with Juliette, only to find himself and his fiancée in the middle of the strangest heist. The robber lets his hostages walk around freely inside the bank, demanding only one dollar from a vault that cannot be opened because bank manager Winston's brother Edward changed the codes and mysteriously disappeared.

Among the hostages: a mysterious and seemingly incapable bank robber who might be hiding a secret agenda; Winston, a manager keeping secrets of his own; Felix, a security guard who carry a gun way too much heavy for him and was just recently hired; Eric, a 15-year-old kid who might be a secret online gaming champion; Remy, a notorious film producer who will go to great lengths to fund his movie investments; Gabriel, a priest sworn to silence; Michelle, a receptionist who seems clueless about her job; and Laverne, a caregiver, along with her elderly charge and the woman's teenage granddaughter Cordelia. Interestingly, they've all come to steal something—from a golden pen to a huge amount of money, even a heart. You see, you can steal more from a bank than just money, but you cannot murder anyone and get away when you're stuck in a place with a brilliant detective who will do anything to solve a crime—even when he's fighting for his life under the worst conditions.

Overall: I had so much fun. My grey cells hurt like hell. I built some theories, and a few pieces fit the puzzle, but Stevenson beat me with his ultra-intelligent grey cells, throwing amazing twists my way and always staying miles ahead so I couldn't catch up. I cannot recommend this book enough—it deserves another shouting-from-the-rooftops recommendation! I cannot wait for book five. I'm addicted, and I'm proud to declare it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me with this wonderful mystery's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Natilie Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

aw man i did not enjoy my time reading this

₊˚⊹♡ reading log

♡01/02 1:37pm
i'm going to try and finish this today, but i think the genre isn't hitting right for me. it's supposed to seem a little ridiculous and adaptive of the 'golden age of murder mysteries' but his own narration is starting to annoy me and only be confusing, especially when he harps on about how he's stripping everything back for the reader specifically to put all the details and clues in their view. i can't tell if i'm just stupid and my brain has been rotted by short form content, or i've missed the point of the genre. the actual plot is super interesting, but i'm not a fan of his "witty" and "clever" narration

♡26/01 10:00am
i love how australian this is

─── ୨୧ ✦ pre-read ✦ ୨୧ ───

┆ ⤿ 📖 ₊˚ title: everyone in this bank is a thief
┆ ⤿ ✍🏼 ₊˚ author: benjamin stevenson

┆ ⤿ 🌊 ₊˚ started: 23/01/2026
┆ ⤿ 🫧 ₊˚ anticipated finish: 25/01/2026

✧･ﾟ: ･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ･ﾟ: ✧

♡ why i picked this up: after reading shadow and bone everything on my list was fantasy related and I just didn't want to relearn a whole fantasy world again, i want something that grips me from the start like a locked-room thriller<3

♡ expectations: very high, everyone raves about this series, it's always on the bestsellers shelf in the bookstore, very mainstream - out of the 'book' community (my mum knows about this author)

♡ current mood going in: optimistic, excited, the blurb with all the characters feels very Cluedo with Australian humour

♡ vibes: sherlock, whodunnit glass onion/knives out, 'lighthearted' (for a thriller)

─── ୨୧ ✦ beginning ✦ ୨୧ ───

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man and his fiancee walk into a bank …

Is this the start to a corny joke? No. This is Ernest Cunningham finding himself smack in the middle of his biggest, most complicated mystery yet, which is saying something if you’ve followed the series!

Skip this plot summary if you don’t want spoilers:

Ernest and Juliette are at Huxley Bank to try to secure a loan to start a private detective business. While there, they - and eight others present in the bank - the owner, security guard, receptionist, a sick teen girl and her grandmother, a well-known teen gamer, a film producer, and a priest who’s taken a vow of silence are taken hostage by a fully masked and camouflaged thief who doesn’t seem very well-versed in robbery.

What begins with just ONE very unusual demand becomes a story of TEN heists and TEN suspects! Channeling his best Hercule Poirot, only with his own brand of blunt Aussie humor, Ernest goes to some extreme (and illegal, but who am I to judge?) efforts to narrow down the suspect pool.

The catch? You’ll have to read to find out where Ernest is when he finally puts the puzzle pieces of this case together, but let’s just say that he’ll certainly breathe easier when it’s solved!

My thoughts:

This was an immersion read following on my Kindle while listening to the amazing Barton Welch, who always shines as our intrepid sleuth, and I thought the mystery was so clever, even if very convoluted! There are a lot of characters and motives and a LOT of different crimes going on, so good luck armchair detecting this thing! I had one guess that was partially correct, but I wasn’t even close on the ultimate reveal.

I’m not sure how Stevenson keeps all those moving parts straight, but he does a phenomenal job staying true to the Golden Age of Detectives rules of fair play, which Ernest reminds the reader of throughout by breaking the fourth wall. I love that! One of my favorite things about these books, though, are the scientific or historical explanations of story elements that I might not have known otherwise. I actually learned some really interesting things, which I won’t name due to spoilers, but trust me … they’re cool!

Though I’ve rated all the books in the series 4 stars either rounding up or down, I liked this one better than the last two. I’m not a huge locked mystery fan, but Ernest is the reason I keep coming back to this series. I can’t wait to see what he’s up to next!

★★★★

Thanks to Mariner Books, NetGalley and author Benjamin Stevenson for this digital ARC and to Harper Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This is out now.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Ernest Cunningham series and I enjoyed it!

The thing about this series (for me) is I try not to spend too much energy "trying to armchair solve", because the author throws so many wrenches in the mix! And this time we have a locked room (bank) and 10 heists with 10 suspects! My brain cells can really get exhausted 😲, so I just tag along for the ride and enjoy the unraveling of the clever and witty ways the author reveals things.

There are hostages in this one and more than dollars being stolen, a large cast of feisty characters, plenty of red herrings and quite a twist. 💥 I did have a couple of theories, but they didn't pan out!

Recommend if you are an Ernest fan, like mysteries with a lot of puzzle pieces and a few outrageous happenings (these were FUN)!

Thanks to NG for the ARC! This one comes out March 17, 2026

[carol. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have tried; oh, how I have tried. Me, eyeballing NetGalley books and recalling my lasting fondness for Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, and my lighter affection for Everyone On This Train Has… done something or another. But Everyone In This Bank Is a Thief just didn’t offer me the clever plotting or the humor of the first.

I read a few chapters, got distracted, and set it down. The only pull I felt to pick it up again was the obligation of the review—and my obviously controlled need to know Ernest's fate. So I’d return to it, only to find myself lost again in a dizzying chain of events and suppositions.

I think the problem is actually baked into the premise. Stevenson explains it himself:

"Every writer has the 'too hard' drawer in their desk (or their heart)... For an Ernest book, I take that 'too hard' drawer, tip it out, and say yes to everything. Not all of it works (that's what editing is for), but I never finish a book regretting what it might have been if I'd been a little less afraid... So what have I said yes to for this fourth mystery: Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief? A bank heist? Yes. What about two heists? Yes. Screw it: What about ten heists? Yes. An impossible murder? Yes. During the robbery? Yes. What about spontaneous combustion? Yes. Ernest in peril? Yes."

And that’s exactly how the book reads—like everything has been tipped out onto the table at once. I admire the impulse and the desire to overcome fear. But at a certain point, “yes” needs structure and weight, otherwise it tips from inventive into chaotic—less clever puzzle, more absurd 80s movie (you know the one).

The first time through, I read for plot and found myself turned in circles. The second time, I tried approaching it as a problem-solving exercise, hoping the mechanics would clarify the experience. They didn’t. I was just as lost, only now more aware of how elaborate the sleight of hand was.

In the end, there was nowhere for me to stand with this one. The complexity didn’t deepen the mystery—it dissolved it. I think next time I need to scratch the meta itch, I'll return to his murderous family, where Ernest does his best work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance review copy. All opinions are clearly my own.

[Saray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've heard about this series but I've yet to actually read a book from it, until now. From my understanding, each book can be read as a standalone. I love a good murder mystery, so I decided to pick up Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief. It was definitely enjoyable. Definitely for fans of Detective Benoit Blanc in movies, Knives out and Glass Onion.

We're introduced to our mmc, Detective Ernest, and his now fiancée, Juliette, both of whom decide to visit a bank to secure a loan to start a detective agency, because Ernest is just that good. This book is set up in a locked room situation, as the couple are held hostage along with our many other colorful and suspicious characters. I love how this book is written, with Ernest talking directly to the reader, like yes include me in the mystery, I want to solve it too!!

The story is an easy read, it's quirky, filled with dry humor, and twists. Benjamin Stevenson does a great job creating puzzles and a suspenseful and entertaining atmosphere. All the characters have motives and secrets and I could not figure out whodunit. I do have to admit that at some point, I felt like the story kinda dragged and I just really wanted to flip to the last page to finally see the reveal. Parts of the story were just so over-the-top that it was a bit exhausting trying to keep track of.

Regardless, I think I'll be picking up another book from the series, as I see that the general consensus is that the previous books were delivered a bit better.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wherever Ernest Cunningham goes trouble is not far behind him. I absolutely love this series, it is witty, clever, pretty dark and so much fun to read. With this unlikely but reliable narrator all the clues are there for the reader put the pieces of the puzzle together. That’s not saying that it easy to solve, because believe me, it isn’t.

This is the 4th book where Ernest finds himself trying to find a killer. Along with his fiancee Juliette, this time they are in a small country town in the hopes of securing a business loan. They end up being held hostage in a bank heist, where there is more than money being stolen. A large cast of characters l all of whom are hiding something and have a reason to be in the bank that morning. Using the rules of Detective fiction, Ernest tries to rule each of the hostages out, and gets so much more than he bargains for.

I love that this is a story that is being told to us, through the eyes of the detective. We follow his thought process, red herrings and all. A very clever conclusion l I thought I had figured some of it out using the clues that were given thought out the story, and yet I still failed to guess the ending. There are lots of surprising twists, this is the ultimate locked room mystery.

I always look forward to a new book from Benjamin Stevenson, a big thank you to Penguin Books Australia for allowing me to read them early. I throughly enjoyed being a hostage in a bank while trying to solve the mystery.

Out in Australia September 30th, get ready for a wild adventure with Ernest.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - kinda took a while to get into & just not as good on the mystery plot points as the earlier books. Ern is still Ern though & that's why I read these. Still, hope the next is either a much better mystery or the end of the series.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief is a fabulously-fun installment to the Ernest Cunningham series. It successfully channels all the quirky meta-vibes that Readers, including myself, have been enjoying in the previous books.

This is the 3rd-novel in the series, and there's also a fun novella set around the Christmas holiday. At this point, our protagonist, Ernest, is a successful crime writer who's honed his craft frequently via hands-on experience.



The mystery in this story takes Ernest in a new direction though, when the bank he's at for a loan meeting, gets held-up and the people inside suddenly find themselves taken hostage, including Ernest and Juliette.

As the event starts to unfold, Ernest begins to notice unusual things about the robber and the situation in general. It seems there's more than money at stake. What is he really after, and what is the actual aim of this heist?

As Ernest gets to know everyone in the bank, and as he starts to put the various puzzle pieces together, even the hostages become his suspects.



I've enjoyed following Ernest's character arc over the course of these novels. He's very much evolved and I feel like this story was a perfect glimpse into the life he's living now. It's such a change from when we met him in the 1st-book.

I liked that Stevenson went in a different direction with the plot of this story as well. It's not just another murder mystery. The bank setting and the cast of unknown characters added a fun new direction for the series.

I listened to the audiobooks for all of the novels and the narration by Barton Welch is absolutely fantastic. He is Ernest Cunningham to me. I cannot recommend the audio versions enough, if you have them available to you.



I read this in a day. It was so quick and easy to get through. There were a ton of twists and unexpected turns, I had no clue where this was really going. It was such a fun ride.

I'd love to get a physical copy of this one for my collection, as this is the rare mystery I would love to read again and annotate. There were so many interesting clues along the way that I'd love to analyze more closely.

At this point, it's fair to say Benjamin Stevenson has found a fan in me for life. I'm not sure what the long-term plans are for this series, but I'm certainly hoping for more installments. There's so much more fun to be had!



Thank you to the publisher, Mariner Books and Harper Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This series brings me such joy and I can't recommend it enough!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great writing style and approach to solving crimes. Loved the narration once again, as it draws you in, both with the clues and the red herrings, as well as the almost to-on-the-nose explanation of what's happening in a scene. Great characters. Easily fall deep into the mystery but at the same time enjoy relaxing as it unfolds in unexpected directions. Not ideal for a traditional mystery reader but perfect for someone who likes a little something unique to their storytelling path.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth book in the series the author uses a Bank to create the locked room effect for his latest mystery. Ernest and Juliette have an appointment with the manager to try and organise a loan for Ernest to establish a detective agency. The appearance of a bank robber sets a chain of events in place which cause our two main characters to become hostages along with nine other people.

This is no ordinary bank robbery and Ernest has plenty of mysteries to solve. As usual he finds he cannot stop until he understands it all and he gets himself into some serious predicaments. It is a fun story, loaded with clues for the reader to follow and try to guess. If I had to describe the book in a few words I would say light, nonsensical, but very entertaining.

[JaymeO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Cunningham, your ever intrusive narrator, once again finds himself in a serious predicament. Determined to marry his fiancé Juliette for under $35,0000 (as anything over this cost for a wedding would inevitably lead to divorce), the two travel to the bank to ask for a loan and find themselves hostages in a heist.

All ten hostages are suspects, including Ernest and Juliette. Can Ernest solve the mystery before the police come to their rescue?

I am a huge fan of the Ernest Cunningham series and couldn’t wait to read the latest installment. I am always impressed with the intricately clever plots and Ernest’s intrusively fun way of inserting his opinions into every situation. Unfortunately, this plot felt a bit contrived and not as clever as the previous book in the series. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but it just didn’t leave the same impression on me. I was even able to predict several of the twists, which I had never been able to do before. Some elements were also a bit too over the top and not believable.

I am still a fan of this series and will gladly continue to read the next chapter in Ernest’s life.

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Barton Welch. I really enjoyed this format and highly recommend it.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 3/17/26

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC of Everyone in This Bank is a Thief in exchange for an honest review.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook for this one and I liked the narrator a lot. The book overall wasn’t as good as the first one but it was a decent mystery. I like the style of writing and the style of mystery. This time our sleuth is in a bank when it gets robbed and he is determined to untangle the various mysteries he stumbles across while he is there. There were some choices that made me blink a lot during this one, and I thought it pushed past what was fully believable, but it was overall a very fun story. This series in general is a lot of fun and definitely one I would recommend. I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because the narration was great and the series is quite entertaining.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining as usual, but overly long and a few shades too convoluted.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this one didn't work for me. I have grown tired of Ernest's narration that breaks the fourth wall time and again. What I assume is supposed to come off as quirky is more cringy to me. Additionally, I have never believed the romance between Ernest and his fiancé, Julliette. Their relationship seems forced and lacks any warmth or genuine affection. The endings of the books in this series tend to dissolve into ridiculousness and this one is no exception. The lone exception was the previous book which is a novella and is by far my favorite of the series because it is so short that it stuck closely to the murder mystery and didn't drift off into Ernest's head too much.
In this newest book, Ernest and Juliette go to a bank trying to get a loan for a new detective agency but the bank manager hires him to find his brother instead. If Ernest is successful, then he will get his loan. And the timing is of the utmost importance because the missing brother is the only one who knows the code to the vault. But before Ernest can investigate the missing person case the bank is held up by a robber and we are introduced to a cast of hostages who have all stolen something. The basic premise of this book is a clever idea, that everyone in the bank is a thief of some kind, some steal the obvious, like money, while others steal the more metaphorical, like hearts. But it just takes too long to get there. And please don't get me started on the ending. Craziness upon craziness, and not in a good way. Sadly I'd recommend skipping this one unless you are a series completist. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[mimi (depression slump) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting by admitting I haven't read any of the others Ernest Cunningham’s adventures, I’ll also say someone here has seen one too many Poirot movies.

I get it, I love him too. And Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and whatnot.
But they all had something he doesn't have: charm.

A detective in the Golden Age could be a narcissistic prick till he got the case solved and made the readers go “Wow, what a mind”.
Instead, I spent several days reading about a man so sure about his abilities and so magnanimous with his readers to drag the story and the focus on one person only: himself.

To sum up my discomfort: not everything is a clue, and not every weird way of dying is interesting.

↠ 2.5 stars

Thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ernest Cunningham series of books is my favourite Australian mystery series and Ern is back for the fourth time in Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson. This time, Ern and Juliette are in a bank when it's held up by a gun wielding robber and they become hostages in a situation where there are ten suspects and ten heists.

Yep, you read that right! The suspects are listed in the blurb so it's not a spoiler to disclose them here as Ern considers the motives of: the bank robber, the manager, the security guard, the kid, the film producer, the priest, the receptionist, the patient, the carer and Ern himself. Each person is guilty of stealing something (including Ern and Juliette!) and Stevenson cleverly discloses the stolen items on page 4 immediately building atmosphere and suspense.

How's this for an opening line:

"Given I'm dying, and have just the one pen, let's motor through the pleasantries." Page 1

Ern is a reliable narrator and the reader knows up front his survival isn't guaranteed but he's determined to get to the truth no matter what. Ern is an amateur detective inspired by the Golden Age of detective novels and fair play mysteries where the clues are front and centre for the reader. He solves impossible crimes and was in the bank to apply for a business loan to start a detective agency.

"Solving murders is just a series of people lying to you in succession: the detective part is figuring out which lies are worth killing for. It's an endless pinball of deceit." Page 193

The thefts were creative and despite being the fourth installation in the series, the mystery felt far from formulaic. Stevenson's signature humour bursts from the page and the dialogue crackles along as Ern asks questions to identify the motives for each of the ten suspects while making questionable decisions himself along the way.

"Everyone steals, whether it's product or effort, money or time. There's more you can steal from a man than just his wallet. Air, for example." Page 310

The author is a comedian and earlier this year I attended the Melbourne Comedy Festival to see The Stevenson Experience, a comedy act he performs with his twin brother James. The show includes a little audience participation and during the performance James asked if anyone knew his brother was a published author. I clapped and cheered a little too enthusiastically and the brothers asked me a few questions. I answered that my name was Tracey and mentioned that I've reviewed Ben's books on my blog, to which Ben said: "You're not Carpe Librum are you?"

It was such a mind-blowing moment that the author knew who I was but he was quick to clarify that he doesn't read reviews of his own books but has read my reviews of other books by Australian authors. This was such a memorable experience and it's a shame he'll never see my glowing reviews for this bestselling and beloved series but I admire the self discipline required. Perhaps that's how he's able to keep producing such excellent work; he's never bogged down by negative reviews and his ego is kept in check by not reading the positive reviews either.

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson is a terrific bank heist mystery and you don't even need to make a deposit to read a FREE extract. Each of the Ernest Cunningham books have been published a year apart and I can't wait to see where the author takes the series next; hopefully we'll find out in October 2026!

* Copy courtesy of Penguin Random House *

[Lexi · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

ARC Review

Publication Date: 03/17/26

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone still remains the best book in this series!!!

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief was my fifth most anticipated book of the year. I even waited for my library to get the audiobook because I knew (just like the previous books) that Barton Welch’s narration would make this story fun, interesting, and hilarious. I also found myself becoming overly excited to reconnect with Ernest Cunningham.

So, imagine my surprise when I had to restart the audiobook seven times just to try to connect with the story.

Yes!!! Seven. Times.

The epigraphs felt endless, the prologue didn’t click, and by Chapter 3, I could already feel the disappointment settling in. And unfortunately…that feeling never went away. The more I read, the more bored I became. I started reading this book around 2 pm, and by 4:30 pm, I was spacing out and nearly falling asleep. I had to quickly pause the audiobook so that I could move around in order to stay awake. Eventually, I decided to read this book at 3.00x speed.

Did it fix my boredom? Nope!!! 

Did I miss important clues? Absolutely!!! 

Do I care? Honestly… Not Really!!!

Out of all four books in this series, Everyone in This Bank is a Thief will be the one that I’ll completely forget about. Aside from Ernest and Juliette, I can’t even remember the other main characters’ names. And speaking of Juliette, WHY DOES SHE STILL EXIST? This chick is the MOST annoying thing about this series. The way she talks down to Ernest. Her belief that her opinions are the only ones that matter. How it always has to be her way or the highway. I mean, there is a whole chapter of Juliette negatively talking about Ernest in front of a bunch of strangers and the whole time I kept thinking “ IF YOU FEEL THIS WAY THEN WHY DO YOU WANT TO MARRY HIM?” At this point in the series, I am genuinely over the presence of Juliette. I don’t even care if Ernest and Juliette’s wedding happens. *Insert Eye Roll here.*

Oooh and the “twists” weren’t even shocking.

The more I think about my experience, the more I find myself comparing this book to a really boring school textbook. Seriously, certain chapters contained large amounts of info. dumping and it was so hard to understand. Add in the fact that said information was mixed in with Ernest’s theories and thoughts or random dialogue. It was just too difficult to keep up with. I wanted to DNF this by Chapter 7.

Everyone in This Bank is Thief will probably go down as one of the worst books that I have read this year. But, please don’t let my experience dissuade you from picking up this book if you desire to do so. Honestly, the first two books of this entire series are the only ones worth reading, especially via audiobook. Let Barton Welch become one of your favorite audiobook narrators. You won’t be disappointed!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for granting my request of Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man- not as fun as I was hoping. Too many twists and turns that felt reaching. I feel like maybe we need to end this series.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series. They're such fun easy reads. This one wasn't my favourite but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)]

A rompy, entertaining mystery/heist where nothing is as it seems and there are lots of twists. It's funny in a campy sort of way and follows a private investigator who ends up as a hostage to a bank thief, but everything that can go wrong does. Over-the-top in a self-aware sort of way. The audio narration is pretty good. I received an audio review copy via Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

Mood/ Seasonal Reading: takes place in August but also partly inside a bank so anytime is fine

I will forever adore this series! It combines such a sense of wit and intellect unlike any other mystery books.

While this one had a few too many suspensions of belief for me to give it a full 5 stars (though I can see myself rethinking this decision in future), it was still a knockout for me. I also think this was the easiest of the lot to follow along with as well which helped.

I can honestly say I laughed out loud at least a dozen times. All the way until the acknowledgments (five words: the hound of the barbecues).

Another excellent cast of characters with more clues than you could ever need or want! These novels almost feel like each sentence is a clue and I just love the heck out of them for that. I sincerely hope there is more to this series because as long as they are written I will be reading them and constantly raving to anyone who will listen about how clever they are.

I wish all mystery authors put this much tender, love, and care into the genre. These books are truly what a mystery should always be. I sincerely hope there is more to this series because as long as they are written I will be reading them and constantly raving to anyone who will listen about how clever they are.

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone ★★★ ½
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect ★★★★
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret ★★★
Everyone in This Bank is a Thief ★★★ ½

“Irony is quite neat in fiction, but in real life it’s smug and annoying.”

I think Stevenson is a very smart author, and I have enjoyed the other books in this series to different degrees. When I first heard about Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief, I was immediately excited and added it to my TBR.

As usual, Ernest Cunningham finds himself caught up in another locked room murder mystery. This time, he visits a bank in hopes of securing a loan to start an investigation agency. Things quickly spiral when a bank heist takes place, leaving ten people trapped inside with the robber, and somehow every single person in the bank turns out to be a thief.

The writing, as expected, is witty and blends humor with mystery in a way that really works. It is easy to follow, and I found myself moving through the book quickly without losing interest.

The characters are intriguing, and I enjoyed learning about each of them, especially their reasons for being at the bank and how they all become suspects. One issue I still have with this series, though, is that I do not find the chemistry between Ernest and Juliette convincing.

My biggest problem with the book is the resolution. While the mystery itself is engaging and full of interesting clues, the final reveal feels over the top and hard to believe. Ernest is clearly intelligent, but he suddenly demonstrates an unrealistic level of expertise in chemistry simply because he has a basic book with him. He also identifies a very rare medical condition and connects a series of complex dots in a way that feels exaggerated. This ultimately lowered my rating, even though I had been enjoying the story up to that point.

I will likely continue with the series if more books are released, but I hope Stevenson focuses more on making the solutions feel believable, even if that means they become slightly more predictable.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief, by, Benjamin Stevenson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. What did I just read? This was a weird read about a murder and a bank heist.

[Sarah's Reading Nook]

I just saw this one was coming out March 2026. Cannot wait! This series is so fun and engaging!

[Manon (mysterymanon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable installment in one of my favorite series! I love the meta structure of these books which is enhanced by their superbly crafted mysteries. This one started off slow for me but picked up about halfway through, when the pieces began to come together.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC! I love this narration. Thank you to Mariner Books for my ARC and finished copy.

[ari · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not for me. This is the only book I have read in this series. The writing style, which many referred to as charming and witty, just felt too contrived to me. The whole thing felt like it was trying too hard to be quirky and funny. It ended up just feeling cheesy to me. The main character was annoying and did not make a single smart decision the entire book. Also, the storyline in general was ridiculous. Without giving it away, I'll just say the coffin scene, the switching clothes, and the spontaneous combustion concepts were too much. There was no tension during the robbery to keep me invested in figuring out what was going on, which made the book hard to get through. I also hate being addressed directly, as it takes me out of the story. Overall, this required a LOT of disbelief suspension and I just wasn't able to do that.

Thank you to Mariner and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Bea27x · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the other in the series, it’s 3 stars, but probably just barely.
Let’s start with the good: I really enjoy the style of the series, and this one is no exception, also the mysteries are engaging, with a cast of characters that all have secrets it was interesting to make sense of.
The first problem came with some really stupid actions on the mc part; there was a semblance of a reason for them, so it’s not damning, but it was annoying. The second problem was with the big answers; the smaller mysteries explanations are fine, as for the big ones, the who and why work, but the how… Farfetched explanations and so many incredible coincidences that all just happened to occur together ( I suspend my disbelief but come on…).

[Carm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

First, let me say that this was my favorite book in the Ernest Cunningham series. I always enjoy Stevenson’s sense of humor, his references to classic Golden Age mysteries, and his conversational approach to storytelling. What has always bugged me about this series, though, is the sheer size of the cast (because I always forget who’s who), along with how crazy and outlandish the motivations and clues leading Ernest to his deductions can get. I mean… I guess if you’re inspired by the world’s best fictional sleuths, that does make sense. Maybe it’s me? Maybe I just prefer something a bit more grounded in the realm of possibility? Stay with me, though. I swear this is a positive review.

What sets this book apart for me is that I really felt like I knew our newest band of suspects. Maybe they were better fleshed out this time. Maybe they were more likable (although some were absolutely not). I’m not sure, but this one just felt different. Ernest also feels more three-dimensional here. He’s not just an armchair detective who keeps selling books while narrowly avoiding death. He recognizes that he has a problem, putting his life and relationships in constant danger for the sake of solving a crime, simply because he’s come too far to let things go. Ernest felt human. And while this book follows the series recipe in most ways, that character growth was what tipped the scale.

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 rounded down! I will never not eat up these books!!! Loved reuniting with Ernest, loved the new cast of characters, LOVED the banter between Ernest & Juliette (can book 4 please be their wedding, I BEG), and as always I loved the humor.

Like the rest of the series, I found myself trying to grab hold of every possible clue to try to guess the culprit which I actually somehow did?!? I honestly think the author has been subtly teaching us readers how to solve murder mysteries and as someone who LOVES to know things ahead of time, I LOVE IT.

I genuine did not want this book to end - this series continues to balance clever plotting, humor, and heart so effortlessly, and I cannot wait to see what comes next. Because… there will be a next one right?!? Right????

Thank you so much to Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!