Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

Ho ho… homicide? Just when you thought it was safe to deck the halls, Benjamin Stevenson swoops in with a yuletide yarn that’ll have you eyeing the eggnog with suspicion. “Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret” is the third installment in the Ernest Cunningham series, and let me tell you, it’s like finding a perfectly wrapped present under the tree… only to discover it’s ticking.

The Setup: Jingle Bells and Body Bells

Poor Ernest Cunningham. Our hapless hero can’t catch a break, not even during the most wonderful time of the year. This time around, Ern finds himself backstage at a Christmas Eve magic show, surrounded by a cast of suspects more colorful than a string of fairy lights. World-famous magician Rylan Blaze’s benefactor has been murdered, and wouldn’t you know it, everyone’s got something to hide. It’s like “The Prestige” meets “Home Alone,” only with more corpses and fewer cheese pizzas.

Stevenson sets the scene with his trademark wit, painting a picture of a Blue Mountains town decked out for the holidays. You can practically smell the pine needles and… is that the metallic tang of blood? Oh, Ernest. What have you gotten yourself into this time?

The Cast: A Rogues’ Gallery in Santa Hats

Let’s take a peek at our lineup of suspects, shall we? We’ve got:

• Rylan Blaze: The magician extraordinaire with more tricks up his sleeve than explanations for the body in his dressing room.
• Flick: The cutthroat executive who’d probably prefer coal in her stocking to a prison sentence.
• Sam and Theresa: Identical twins with not-so-identical alibis. Double the trouble, double the fun!
• Christopher: The counselor who might need some counseling of his own after this ordeal.
• Dinesh: The tech wizard whose gadgets might be hiding more than just circuitry.
• Shaun: The assistant who knows all the tricks… including how to make a body disappear?

It’s like someone took the Island of Misfit Toys and gave them all motives for murder. Stevenson juggles this cast with the dexterity of, well, a magician, giving each character enough depth to keep us guessing until the very end.

The Plot: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Trying to summarize the plot of a Stevenson novel is like trying to nail jelly to a wall—slippery, messy, and likely to leave you questioning your life choices. But here goes:

Ernest, still reeling from his previous adventures (if you can call them that), gets pulled into investigating not one, but two murders. The first victim is Lyle Pearse, the philanthropist behind a rehabilitation foundation for former addicts. The second is none other than Rylan Blaze himself, who manages to lose his head in a magic trick gone horribly wrong. Or was it an accident at all?

As Ernest peels back the layers of deception, he uncovers a web of secrets thicker than your gran’s Christmas pudding. There’s embezzlement, long-buried resentments, and enough misdirection to make even the most seasoned mystery reader’s head spin.

And let’s not forget the advent calendar. Because nothing says “Christmas cheer” quite like counting down the days with clues to a double homicide, right?

The Style: Meta-Mystery Merriment

If you’ve read the previous Ernest Cunningham books (and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?), you’ll know that Stevenson loves to play with the conventions of the mystery genre. This installment is no exception. Ern continues to break the fourth wall, commenting on tropes and even laying out his own rules for writing a “Christmas Special” mystery.

It’s a risky move, one that could easily veer into gimmicky territory. But Stevenson pulls it off with the finesse of a cat burglar stealing the star off the top of the tree. The meta-commentary adds an extra layer of fun for mystery buffs without alienating casual readers. It’s like having a cheeky elf whispering in your ear, pointing out all the clever ways the author is pulling the tinsel over your eyes.

The Pacing: Dashing Through the Clues

One thing you can say about Stevenson – the man knows how to keep things moving. The story unfolds over just a few days, with the bulk of the action taking place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It’s a pressure cooker of a timeline, ratcheting up the tension with each ticking hour.

The short chapters and Ernest’s snappy narration keep the pages turning faster than kids unwrapping presents on Christmas morning. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on what’s going on, Stevenson throws another curveball your way. It’s exhausting, exhilarating, and utterly addictive.

The Verdict: A Christmas Cracker of a Mystery

“Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret” is like finding an unexpected gift with your name on it—a delightful surprise that keeps on giving. Stevenson has taken the cozy Christmas mystery and given it a modern, meta twist that feels fresh and familiar all at once.

Is it perfect? Well, no. Some readers might find the constant genre commentary a bit much, and there are moments where the plot twists require a hefty suspension of disbelief. But you know what? I don’t care. The sheer audacity and wit on display more than make up for any minor quibbles.

Comparisons and Context

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham series, following “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” and “Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.” While it’s not strictly necessary to have read the previous installments, there are callbacks and character developments that will be more satisfying for those who have followed Ern’s journey from the beginning.

In terms of comparisons, Stevenson’s work continues to occupy a unique space in the mystery genre. There are echoes of Anthony Horowitz’s meta-mysteries, the dark humor of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, and even a dash of the theatrical flair found in Agatha Christie’s classics. But make no mistake—Stevenson’s voice is distinctly his own.

Final Thoughts: Deck the Halls (and Watch Your Back)

Look, I’m not saying you should be suspicious of every Santa you see this holiday season… but maybe think twice before sitting on any laps, yeah?

All joking aside, “Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret” is a gift to mystery lovers everywhere. It’s clever, funny, and genuinely surprising in an age where it feels like every plot twist has been done to death (pun very much intended).

If you’re looking for a mystery that’ll keep you guessing, laughing, and maybe side-eyeing the presents under your tree, this is the book for you. Just maybe don’t read it right before your office Christmas party. You know, just in case.

P.S. If you’re wondering about that half-star deduction, let’s just say I’m still a bit salty about not figuring out the killer before Ernest did. But don’t let that stop you from unwrapping this literary gift—it’s a real cracker!