🎄🔍 Book Spotlight: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
Genre: Holiday Mystery • Dark Comedy • Whodunit

Book Details & Rating

Format: Audiobook
Series: #3 in the Ernest Cunningham Series
Genre: Mystery
Year Published: 2024
Rating: ☕☕☕☕ (4 Coffees)

🥤 Coffee Pairing: Australian Iced Long Black with a Ginger Snap Rim
Bold, cold, and no-nonsense—just like Ernest’s narration. The iced long black nods to the book’s Aussie roots. The spicy ginger-snap rim adds that extra kick of festive chaos. It also provides the sharp wit sprinkled throughout the story. Perfect for a mystery that keeps things cool… right up until the truth bites back.

About the Book

Ernest Cunningham isn’t expecting a quiet holiday — especially when his ex-wife calls him from jail claiming she’s been framed for murder. She woke up covered in blood, next to the body of her dead partner, and swears she didn’t do it. Desperate to prove her innocence, Ernest travels to Katoomba, where a big Christmas show is about to open.

Backstage are a cast of professional tricksters — magicians, hypnotists, stagehands, and illusionists — all masters of deception. As more bodies start turning up, clues emerge behind the holiday glitter. Ernest finds himself navigating impossible murders and false memories. He faces a deadly advent calendar of clues. With every suspect hiding secrets, the only way to crack the case is to see through the magic — and hope he gets home for Christmas alive.

My Thoughts

Benjamin Stevenson hits another one out of the park! I adore the Ernest Cunningham series, and this installment reminded me why. Ernest is fully self-aware—and fully aware of how absurd it is that he keeps stumbling into murders—but somehow it just works. This time, the chaos gets personal: his ex-wife, Erin, is in serious trouble. Thanks to Ernest’s small-time fame as a “true crime author who keeps tripping over bodies,” he’s granted full access to the theater where Erin’s boyfriend was murdered. The victim ran a nonprofit theater program for people in recovery, giving them a second chance—and now Erin is the one accused of killing him.

Even at Christmas, secrets refuse to stay buried—they just glitter a little more under the lights.”
— Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

At only 192 pages, this is a fast, punchy read, but Stevenson still manages to pack in atmosphere. Katoomba becomes a living, breathing part of the story without ever overshadowing the mystery. We meet a fresh cast of characters, and while there isn’t room for deep backstory on everyone, we get just enough to build our own theories, untangle motives, and hunt for the killer. Some clues are easier to spot, but plenty of twists kept things exciting. And at the heart of it all is Ernest’s unwavering belief that Erin could never have done this. He knows her—flaws, sharp edges, and all—and he’s determined to prove her innocence.

Final Thoughts

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is another clever, fast-moving mystery from Benjamin Stevenson, and it proves once again why the Ernest Cunningham series is such a gem. It’s witty without trying too hard. The plot is sharp and doesn’t feel overstuffed. The story is layered with just enough heart to keep you invested in Ernest beyond the puzzle itself. Even with the shorter page count, Stevenson ties everything together with his signature blend of humor, misdirection, and meta-mystery charm. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s fun and clever. It’s over before you’re ready to leave Katoomba behind.