I’ve read all three of Stevenson’s books in this series. I really enjoyed the first two, but really struggled to get into this one. It’s a good book. I just felt that it lacked something compared to the other two. It was still a fairly good book. I didn’t pre-guess the ending, which is a positive.

This was a quirky, fun, Christmas-themed book.
The chapters unravel as an advent calendar countdown. You could even use this as an advent calendar book if you can limit yourself to a chapter per day.

The style of the book is quirky with the narration performed directly to the reader and lots of wit and insight thrown in to help the reader and give clues as to what is going on and the thoughts behind solving the murder(s). I liked the style.

The pace of the book was also good with lots of interesting action with plenty of scene-setting and it was all easy to follow.

The Kindle format had a few sections where formatting was lost between chapters, particularly at two points in the book (around a 1/3 and 2/3 of the way through(?)) which were completely lost in formatting and just resulted in many skipped pages. Something for consideration for the final version.

Overall I liked the book and it used elements of the magic show, around which large parts of the book took place, cleverly, but I must say, perhaps a little unfairly, it's a little forgettable otherwise. A nice, quick book for Christmas but it won't live long in the memory.

I enjoyed this fun read, particularly how some of the magic tricks were constructed. The Blue Mountains provides a scenic backdrop and the intricate plot is well executed. It would be a perfect Christmas present for someone who likes puzzles.

Cleverly written whodunnit that gives you all the clues as it directly addresses the reader. The formatting didn’t suit my kindle as I had pages of parts of illustrations between chapters. I found the narrator smug and insufferable, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the puzzle. The cable Caroline it for me as I like a touch of believability in books.

This was fun! I like a few christmas books but don't read that many so this was a good find. And the blue mountains!! I liked going there in teh book and despite the murder and darkness I had a great time lol. A good cosy crime of a mystery!

You know what you're getting with Ernest Cunningham. Mainly because he'll tell you before it happens in the spirit of fair play.

This Christmas mystery was a fun seasonal treat, set in the oppressive heat of an Australian December. Did Ernest's ex-wife kill her new partner? What's going on with the dead man's charity? And why is door number 12 in the advent calendar not open? Read this book to find out!

A recommended read for lovers of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
I give this book 4.5 stars.

My name is Ernest Cunningham.
I’m not a detective. I just happen to have a knack for what makes mysteries – and murderers – tick.
So here I am, backstage at the Christmas show, my suspects are all professional tricksters and my clues are even more of a mystery:
Solving the murder is the only gift I want this year.
But can I catch a killer, and make it home for Christmas alive.

Book 2.5 of a series but can easily be read as a standalone.
We’re back with our reliable sleuth Ernest and his unique and entertaining narrative style ( talking directly to the reader)
Absolutely loved the Christmas countdown advent calendar becoming the chapters and your gift each day is a new clue to puzzle over. Despite being a shorter story it still delivered (like Santa) on every level for me.Wrapped up with plenty of wit and mayhem and cleverly executed with a big engaging bow, I was kept guessing who and how right to the very end. A Christmas cracker of a murder mystery!
With thanks to Netgalley,Benjamin Stevenson and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my chance to read and review this book.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series. In this book, Ernest helps his ex-wife to find the killer of her new husband and clear her name. I love this installment. It was super short and amazing as always. The humor throughout the book and the design of the chapter ends were particularly enjoyable. I hope the author writes more books in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ernest Cunningham sets off to help his ex-wife, she has been accused of killing her partner. Lyle Pearse is a self made man, and he has a charity that helps young people especially within the theatre. Ernest sets about discovering what happened and why? The story uses the first person as the narrator throughout the book and it's entertaining, funny, fast paced to read and a page turner of a book. All the sub plots, twists and turns, the red herrings thrown in - all make for an exhilarating and rollercoaster of a conclusion!

I absolutely loved this clever, fun murder mystery with its constant breaking of the fourth wall with the main character speaking directly to the reader to poke fun at murder mystery tropes and other clichés, particularly The Christmas Special. But not only is it funny, it's also a really good mystery with plenty of clues to spot, a suitably bizarre murder, and lots of suspects. The whole thing was ludicrously enjoyable and I usually hate Christmas themed books (bah humbug) Structuring it around an advent calendar with 24 chapters for the 24 days of advent was also a really clever idea, but I was enjoying it far too much to limit myself to one chapter a day.

Awesome as I thought it would be! I really love how the author’s writing style is informal and like he’s letting you (the reader) in on the thought process of how he wants to tell the story.

I really enjoyed ‘Everyone in my family has killed someone’ so had to snap up the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for my ARC copy.

I'd you loved Everyone in my family has killed someone I think you will really like this too. It's a really quick easy read. Perfect if you don't want an overly chrisrmassy read and enjoy a good murder mystery.

Ernest Cunningham is playing detective again, and is becoming a bit of a celebrity for solving the murders.

When his ex-wife, Erin, calls from a police cell accused of murder, Ernest goes along to see if he can help her.

Does Ernest have a nemesis? Will he be alive by the end of the story?

The story is told like an advent calendar, with the days leading up to Christmas.

An interesting take on a murder leading up to the Christmas holidays.

My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t realise this was the third in a series - or “Christmas special” in between full entries in the series - but I don’t think that mattered as the key points are provided without spoiling the earlier books too much. This is a very knowing ‘classic’ murder mystery with lots of funny asides, a couple of elaborate murders and lots of magic.
Being critical, I prefer my stories not to be told with such an obvious “how did I get shot in the chest, well I’ll tell you…” way, but that’s almost part of the charm.

I’ve downloaded the first book now and am looking forward to reading more

What an entertaining read. I was completely pulled in from the very beginning. I didn't even need any murders, although, being a crime novel, they clearly helped. I liked the narrative style of this book, and I really liked the character of Ernest too, and his affinity for solving puzzles. And what a puzzle he has to solve this Christmas - helping to solve a murder which the police have already determined to be an open and shut case.

Despite the subject matter, the book is quite light hearted in tone, and utterly entertaining with it. We are walked through the mystery by Ernest, who carefully narrates all of the various clues whilst providing us with ample misdirection too. Drawn into the world of magic, it is no wonder that everyone he meets is able to project mystery and misdirection. Even the very first murder, albeit that is happens off the page, is a complete head scratcher, and were it not for Ernest's conviction about the innocence of the suspect, you'd be forgiven for accepting that the police have gotten the right person. But that would make this less of a Christmas novella, and more of a seasonal pamphlet, so it goes without saying Benjamin Stevenson has far more up his sleeve than a white dove and a string of silk hankies.

I really enjoyed the way in which the author has played with the characters in this one, setting each one up as a viable suspect, and adding more to our confusion the further we journey into the mystery. The murders are truly inventive, worthy of even the most diabolic Agatha Christie suspect of the Golden Age mysteries Ernest loves, and the narrative is laced with humour and lightness. And interspersed within the text, Ernest explains to all of us readers the very essence of how a person should write a christmas story - the rules of the 'holiday special'. The way in which the many dos and don'ts feed into the story at opportune moments made me smile, and if you think you will miss them, do not worry. Ernest will steer your right.

As this is not only a Christmas special, but a magical one, expect sleight of hand a plenty. Expect madness, creativity, and a whole lot of back stabbing (although not necessarily as a mode of dispatch ...) With a ramping up of tension the closer Ernest comes to identifying the killer, expect a Poirot-esque reveal of ultimate peril. lord alone knows why Ernest thought that was a good idea, but I did enjoy the drama and the jeopardy ir brings forth. I pretty well raced through this book and i'm determined now to go back and read the other books in the series. If they are as fun and enjoyable as this one, I'm in for a real treat. Definitely recommended for people looking for a festive treat with a slightly more perilous twist.

A little early for Christmas but thought I'd get stuck into this ARC shared by Netgalley and Penguin Random House Publisher's. This is due to be published on 24/10/2024 so you can get your copy in time for the festive period.

I loved the concept of this -an author that happens upon murders that he then solves.

This is set up like an advent calendar where the reader can pick a chapter a day before reaching the conclusion in chapter 24 - or, if you're like me then just go through the whole book in one sitting.

It's actually quite fast paced with a lot going on as Ern works through the murders. Well worth a read and designed to keep you guessing 🙂

This is the third book by Benjamin Stevenson following the investigative prowess of his protagonist Earnest Cunningham. I absolutely loved the first book ‘Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone’ as it was completely unique and I enjoyed the second novel ‘Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect’ although not as much as the first and the theme persists as this third instalment of the genre is not as enjoyable as the first two. It seems to me like it’s just cashing in on the success of its predecessors.
Having said that I still found this an interesting and entertaining read, I just wonder how much further the author can take this character.

This is the 3rd in Benjamin Stevenson's Ernest Cunningham cosy festive mystery series, but it is my first, the author makes no bones of wanting to take full professional advantage of the lucrative holiday period, just like the classic golden age of crime writers did, following the expected rules of the genre. This is a fun, relatively short, entertaining and humorous read that turns out to be captivating, structured in the form of an advent calender, 24 chapters, each with clues allowing the reader the opportunity to turn amateur sleuth, along with Ernest Cunningham, who believes in being fair to the reader. The intricate mystery comes to a conclusion with the unveiling of whodunnit in the last chapter.

There is all that goes in the run up to Christmas, secrets, presents, and oh yes, not just one dramatic murder, but two! The setting is the Aussie Blue Mountains, and Earnest's ex-wife Erin has been arrested for murder in Katoomba. It has to be said Erin's first act on viewing the murder scene is to call Earnest, then the police, the victim is her well off boyfriend, Lyle Pearse, of the Pearse Foundation. Erin's odd story is a trifle on the weak side, leaving him certain that she is innocent. Ernest considers those working at and volunteers at the Foundation to be a suspect, of which there are six. There is a show being put on from the well known magician, Rylan Blaze, so matters are on the trickier side of life.

This is a wonderful Christmas treat of a witty mystery novel, smart, well paced and well plotted, with a marvellous central protagonist in Cunningham, where every suspect has a motive, with clues to try an pick up, and even if you may not succeed in identifying whodunnit, you are bound to enjoy the journey. This will make the perfect Christmas read and or gift. A recommended festive addition to the series. I am already looking forward to the next one! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Rating: 4.0/5

I missed out on the first book in this Ernest Cunningham series, but I loved the second one, "Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect". That being the case, I was certainly not going to let book three pass me by. Broadly speaking, the formula employed by author, Benjamin Stevenson is much the same. Lead protagonist, Ernest Cunningham once more finds himself at the heart of a murder mystery, where he becomes simultaneously the amateur investigator as well as the author writing a novel about the case.

Once again the mood of the story is deliberately comedic, but also has a solid, "Golden Age" style murder mystery structure at its core. As before, much of the humour comes from the fact that author-investigator, Ernest, regularly includes updates on the progress versus the plan - and even telegraphs significant plot developments well in advance to make sure that the reader has no excuse for missing them. This is all part of the "playing fair" principle of "Golden Age" mystery writing.

"Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret" is a little bit on the short side (though not quite short enough to be classified as a novella), but that is partly due to the fact that the author deliberately wants to restrict the number of chapters to the same number of days that appear on an Advent calendar, so that the reader can open one door/chapter per day in the lead up to Christmas, if they so choose. The mystery has again been cleverly constructed by Benjamin Stevenson and the clues are there - though I would defy most readers to spot them all without having to check back later! This is another engaging and enjoyable read, though not quite as impressive as "Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect".

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I’ll preface this review by stating that this is the 3rd book of the “Ernest Cunningham” series and this is the first of that series I have read. It does seem to contain spoilers to the other two books to a word to the wise if you’re jumping in headfirst with this one like me.

This is a story written by our hero, Ernest Cunningham after the crime has been solved. He is Dr. Watson to himself as Sherlock Holmes, having these books published and his cases making him well known.

This case begins on 21st Dec with a call from his ex-wife, Erin. She’s accused of stabbing her partner Lyle, having woken covered in blood and no knowledge of how it happened.

Lyle Pearse was a wealthy businessman who’s foundation helps recovering addicts. Whilst looking into the Pearse Foundations employees, Ernest is invited to a charity event, a performance by the renowned magician, Rylan Blaze. A great opportunity for him to begin his investigation.

Ernest Cunningham prides himself in applying the rules of Golden Age mysteries to his books.

Ronald Knox’s ten commandments of detective fiction.

1. The criminal must be someone mentioned in the early part of the story, but must not be anyone whose thoughts the reader has been allowed to follow.
2. All supernatural or preternatural agencies are ruled out as a matter of course.
3. Not more than one secret room or passage is allowable.
4. No hitherto undiscovered poisons may be used, nor any appliance which will need a long scientific explanation at the end.
5. No racist Chinese person must figure in the story.
6. No accident must ever help the detective, nor must he ever have an unaccountable intuition which proves to be right.
7. The detective must not himself commit the crime.
8. The detective must not light on any clues which are not instantly produced for the inspection of the reader.
9. The stupid friend of the detective, the Watson, must not conceal any thoughts which pass through his mind; his intelligence must be slightly, but very slightly, below that of the average reader.
10. Twin brothers, and doubles generally, must not appear unless we have been duly prepared for them.
As Ernest himself states at the beginning of this story, “If Murder Mysteries have rules, so too do Holiday Specials”. Which I thought was a lovely touch

So, what did I think to this book? I really enjoyed how he followed the rules of Golden Age mysteries, it gave the story an sense of honesty and an innocent quality to it. I believed that nothing was being hidden by the author and we were investigating along side him.

The plot was cleverly thought out and there were plenty of clues which should lead you to the murderer or murderers. I did get this right quite early but there is enough to keep you second guessing.

The book has a good sense of humour, tastefully delivered considering the setting. I thought the interactions between Ernest and his arch-enemy, journalist Josh Felman, was a particular highlight to watch out for throughout.

What I didn’t like was the Ernest writing the story after the fact and jumping in as the Narrator, ‘breaking the 4th wall.’ I found very difficult to follow and really distracting early in the book. The humour it introduced to the book wasn’t worth the disruption. It worked beautifully in the prologue and epilogue and I wish it had been reserved specifically for them.

A thoroughly enjoyable novel, very cleverly crafted that got me into the Christmas spirit, even if it is only September!

I would like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novel. All opinions are my own