Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret / Benjamin Stevenson
NY: Mariner Books, c2024.
174 p.

Another funny murder mystery, and this time seasonal too! This was a great way to kick off the holiday season for me, as it is set up like an advent calendar - if you start reading one chapter a day on Dec 1 you'll end up on Dec 24. Just like Stevenson's other books in this series, this one is really self-referential and meta. So entertaining, in all three takes so far!

When I got this, I thought, oh my this is quite short. Stevenson addresses that early in the book by announcing that this is the Christmas special, traditionally a shorter book with some of the characters off stage, so to speak. And he continues with his description of mystery fiction tropes as he tells his own mystery tale. Somehow, as with his other books, this still works. The humour is there, the suspense is there, and the Australian setting is definitely still part of the plot. 

In this one, Ern is heading to the Blue Mountains to look into the arrest of his ex-wife. Her rich new boyfriend has been murdered, and she knows that only Ern can save her now. But Ern's lack of judgement when it comes to his relationships arises again; he tells his new fiancee that he is going there to check out a stage magician who his uncle wants to book for their wedding entertainment. Yes, this is bonkers. 

What with stage magic, disgruntled theatre workers, a murder to kick things off and suspicious cops, and of course Ern's investigation, heads will roll. In this case quite literally. 

If you're a fan of this series, this is an entertaining addition to it. I found the Christmassy elements just right, not overdone, and an essential part of the story. The mystery makes sense, Ern is as talkative and expository as usual, and it's just good fun. With this series, it's probably best to start at the beginning and get to know these characters, although this can stand alone. It's more fun if you know Ern already though. Really enjoyed it.