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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence
Moderate: Blood
3 stars
As a fan of the Ernest Cunningham series, I did jump on the Christmas special even though I generally think these are a cash grab and not as good because they try to fit all the existing characters into one shorter novella. However, he immediately starts the book acknowledging that these are cash grabs so I have to give him credit.
I think ultimately this book was weaker than his others because of the length so I rated it lower but I thought it did a pretty good job for a holiday special novella. He created a whole separate plot line with enough characters and suspects, made the setup intriguing enough that we would be invested, and wrapped it up neatly in the previously mentioned chapter length, all without compromising his style. However, because of the shorter length I found it quite rushed and the large amount of characters was good for the plot because it made it confusing who was the culprit but it was hard to remember who was who because we didn't get to connect with many of them.
The setup being teased with Erin's involvement and then she ends up being irrelevant for most of the book which I get is kind of necessary to expand the universe but it was just overwhelming to have like 8 different people we don't know in quite a short book.
As a fan of the Ernest Cunningham series, I did jump on the Christmas special even though I generally think these are a cash grab and not as good because they try to fit all the existing characters into one shorter novella. However, he immediately starts the book acknowledging that these are cash grabs so I have to give him credit.
I think ultimately this book was weaker than his others because of the length so I rated it lower but I thought it did a pretty good job for a holiday special novella. He created a whole separate plot line with enough characters and suspects, made the setup intriguing enough that we would be invested, and wrapped it up neatly in the previously mentioned chapter length, all without compromising his style. However, because of the shorter length I found it quite rushed and the large amount of characters was good for the plot because it made it confusing who was the culprit but it was hard to remember who was who because we didn't get to connect with many of them.
The setup being teased with Erin's involvement and then she ends up being irrelevant for most of the book which I get is kind of necessary to expand the universe but it was just overwhelming to have like 8 different people we don't know in quite a short book.
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone two years ago , I’ve been on a lookout for Stevenson’s work. This is my 4th book and 3rd of Cunningham series and love all his books.
This is sort of a Christmas book, but since it’s winter here down under and they have the Christmas in July thing, this is just a perfect read.
When world famous magician, Rylan Blaze died on the stage while performing, Ernest Cunningham finds himself at the backstage of the show. He has a list of suspects, the magicians, the assistant, the executive, the hypnotist, the identical twin, the counsellor and the tech. He also some clues to work on, a suspect covered in blood with no memory how it got there, another murder committed with our nobody setting foot inside and an advent calendar, because yes it’s Christmas. If Ernest can work on the magic, he can pretty much solve it. -
I love how creative he can still get with murders and the very interesting book format with a holiday touch of the advent calendar and secret santa. The clues are also there for readers to solve, not that I’m good at it. His characters are very entertaining and his amateurish sleuthing skills is simply brilliant. Though there are times that he tends to over analyze things but otherwise it’s still an enjoyable read.
He has another book, Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief, coming this October and January, in Australia and US respectively and can’t wait to read it.
Have you read any of his book?
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m impressed. This is the only Christmas-themed book I’ve gotten to this season, and I’m happy about it. It has some of the same characters as the main books, but it’s shorter and like a special side story.
Here’s a lil summary of the seven commandments of holiday specials:
1. The crime must be committed preferably on or after December 20 and solved by new years—some serial killers excepted.
2. The killer(s) can’t hate Christmas or have a traumatic experience with a past Christmas.
3. The detective must learn the true meaning of Christmas at some point.
4. The holiday special may be canon, but not required reading—so no major character deaths and no major introduction or resolution of major plots—exception of returning characters thought to be dead.
5. The costume, weapon, or murder must have Christmas theme.
6. Full cast of series not required.
7. All regular mystery-writing rules apply.
Here’s a lil summary of the seven commandments of holiday specials:
1. The crime must be committed preferably on or after December 20 and solved by new years—some serial killers excepted.
2. The killer(s) can’t hate Christmas or have a traumatic experience with a past Christmas.
3. The detective must learn the true meaning of Christmas at some point.
4. The holiday special may be canon, but not required reading—so no major character deaths and no major introduction or resolution of major plots—exception of returning characters thought to be dead.
5. The costume, weapon, or murder must have Christmas theme.
6. Full cast of series not required.
7. All regular mystery-writing rules apply.
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It took me ages to finish it, even though it's a small book, only 200 pages or so.
I didn't like the continuous fourth-wall breaking Ernest had while telling the story.
Leaving some cliffhangers here-and-there are awesome. Sharing a fact, a clue, or a scene that would happen in a few chapters is great, engaging.
But not that much! It happened in almost every chapter, if not in all!
Something else I wanted to note is that I couldn't really remember the characters. That's my fault though, for taking a month to read such a small story.
Will I use that as an excuse why I didn't figure out the killer? Yes, yes I will. I did figure out that it was planned as a group though. Mostly as a group.
Anyway, it was a nice, quick, Christmas-sy read. And my first bookclub book! How exciting!
I didn't like the continuous fourth-wall breaking Ernest had while telling the story.
Leaving some cliffhangers here-and-there are awesome. Sharing a fact, a clue, or a scene that would happen in a few chapters is great, engaging.
But not that much! It happened in almost every chapter, if not in all!
Something else I wanted to note is that I couldn't really remember the characters. That's my fault though, for taking a month to read such a small story.
Will I use that as an excuse why I didn't figure out the killer? Yes, yes I will. I did figure out that it was planned as a group though. Mostly as a group.
Anyway, it was a nice, quick, Christmas-sy read. And my first bookclub book! How exciting!
Though obviously shorter than the other books, I really liked the way this was laid out. The use of the advent calendar helped me keep track of things as I read. Shorter but not less good. The substance was there and I’m also glad we get to see Ern grow as a human how was literally experienced hella murders. I know we go into these wanting a murder mystery but I hope the next book delves a little more into how he’s holding up mentally with all the shit he’s been living thru. Nonetheless, yall know I love my Deadpool author!
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No