Everyone this Christmas has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET by Benjamin Stevenson (Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect) is pure delight. Readers will once again enjoy the wry wit and clever asides as amateur sleuth Ernest Cunningham has more murders to solve.  In this latest “Christmas special” (complete with its own set of governing rules), Stevenson uses an Advent calendar to help provide clues. At least half a dozen suspects are related to the death of a philanthropist, Lyle Pearse, who establishes theatre programs for young people who were previously addicts. Due to her romantic involvement with Lyle, Cunningham’s ex-wife, Erin, is the primary suspect and he sets out to clear her name. One big source of information is a magic show where yet another death occurs; are they related? Why? Set in the Blue Mountain region of Australia, EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET conjures both the holiday season and natural beauty. Stevenson’s latest title received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Enjoy! I am already eagerly anticipating book four – Stevenson’s Acknowledgments section says, “Don’t worry: Ernest is back in a big way soon.”  

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson is a very entertaining mystery that will have readers laughing at multiple points. Stevenson is actually an award-winning comedian and has worked at a literary agency in Australia. His expertise in both areas is evident in this unique mystery involving the Cunningham family who are holding a reunion at a ski resort. It’s not long before the body count piles up and the (unreliable?) narrator, Ernie, shares some family history with at least one chapter EACH about various siblings, parents (and step-father), spouses, and other family members. Hard to follow? Sometimes, but Stevenson offers a recap part way through (one of my favorite flippant parts!). He also recommends dog-earing the epigraph containing Ronald Knox’s 10 Commandments of Detective Fiction, circa 1929, to which he frequently refers. Mystery fans will truly enjoy EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE which was a LibraryReads selection for January and received a well-deserved starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Stevenson

EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT by Benjamin Stevenson (Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone) takes place while several writers, including narrator Ernest Cunningham, travel by train (called the Ghan) from Darwin to Adelaide, Australia. With varied expertise and styles (literary, legal, forensic, thriller), they form a panel discussing mystery writing for several devoted fans. It is a luxurious adventure until one of them is killed and the others transform into “wannabe detectives.” The writing is often humorous: “besides, there are too many clues in this chapter to skip over even the seemingly innocuous dialogue.” And Stevenson succeeds in maintaining suspense, once again alerting readers to some mystery writing rules (including a second death) and managing to use the killer’s name, as promised, exactly 106 times. EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT was a LibraryReads Selection in January and received starred reviews from Kirkus (“punctuated by snarky dialogue, murder, and a zillion inventive misdirections”) and Publishers Weekly (“brilliant and creative”). Enjoy this puzzling whodunit; after all, “a book isn’t a book until it’s read.”

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief

A LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for March, EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF by Benjamin Stevenson is the latest in his very entertaining Ernest Cunningham series. In this case, old Ern may have really pushed the envelope as he is trapped in a bank by a rather ineffective robber. Someone mysteriously dies and it looks like Ern could be next. He’s intent on solving the mystery, though, and playing fair with his readers by providing as much background as he can. Noting, for example, that “We've got a dead body in Byron, two hours’ drive from here, a police raid a year ago that resulted in another dead body, a missing banker, a vault that can't be opened, a bank robber who doesn't seem to care about money, and a guard who doesn't care about protecting it, plus a priest who can't talk and a bird that won't shut up.” Stevenson is very clever in crafting this series and I doubt that too many readers will jump to the right conclusion here… plenty of twists and interrelationships despite Ern’s admonition that “You don't need to solve every little thing. Just solve the things that matter.”  The audiobook is narrated by Barton Welch who does a commendable job (and has so many great lines to deliver, like: “Winston rolled his eyes and turned to Juliette, ‘Is he always this argumentative?’ ‘Yes,’ [she responded] ‘I disagree,’ I said.)”. EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF received starred reviews from Kirkus (“Resign yourself to being stumped, and enjoy.”) and Publishers Weekly (“Stevenson’s hot streak continues”).

A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen

A FIELD GUIDE TO MURDER by Michelle L. Cullen is described as “perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson” so naturally I rushed to read a preview of this debut which is scheduled for a January publication. The main character, Harry Lancaster, is indeed a bit of an older curmudgeon but he bonds with Emma Stockton, his caretaker, and together they set out to solve what could be a murder mystery while simultaneously distracting each other from some sad thoughts. Harry is concerned about growing less independent and Emma has to make an uncomfortable decision about her upcoming wedding. A FIELD GUIDE TO MURDER is a cute, entertaining story which Kirkus describes as “[A] neighborhood cozy that ticks all the boxes.” Enjoy! And consider tuning into Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” also featuring an older sleuth.

May Contain Murder by Orlando Murrin

MAY CONTAIN MURDER by Orlando Murrin is a locked room murder of sorts, set aboard a large yacht travelling across the Atlantic Ocean. A theft, a suspicious death and plenty of tension between the passengers contribute to an intriguing puzzle for Paul Delamare. He is a food writer and sometimes chef who is onboard to help his friend, Lady Hardcastle, write her memoirs. It seems there could be some blackmail and fraud involved, too, so readers will need to decide if each person – crew members included – are who they seem to be and whether Paul should be trusting the people he chooses. After all, “The yacht's countless mirrors … are one-way, and the intricate paneling that lines its corridors studded with spyholes and listening devices.” Plenty of opportunity for second-guessing and a little tarot reading thrown in for added fun. Recommended for fans of Nita Prose (The Maid), Benjamin Stevenson (Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone), and Jessa Maxwell (The Golden Spoon), MAY CONTAIN MURDER is the second book (after Knife Skills for Beginners) in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Several recipes are included.