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yvo_about_books 's review for:
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
by Benjamin Stevenson
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Finished reading: December 13th 2024
"I'm not a practised enough detective to spout such obscure facts. But then thousand hours hasn't got jack on smart phones."
I absolutely loved the first two Ernest Cunningham books, so of course I simply HAD to add this Christmas special to my TBR as soon as I heard about it. I don't exactly read a lot of novellas nor do I read a lot of Christmas themed books, but I had to make an exception for one of my favorite newly discovered series this year. And I ended up having great fun with Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret! It has the same style and humor I've become used to in the first two books, and the mystery itself is interesting enough to keep your attention. You could technically read this novella as a stand-alone, but I personally wouldn't recommend it as you won't properly understand the character background otherwise. Also, this novella isn't quite as strong as the first two books, so it's probably not the best place to start with this series either way. That said, I liked the structure of the plot with the advent calendar connection and the clues provided in each chapter. The humor was once again spot on for me, and I could appreciate how the story kept me guessing. An impossible murder to solve, a great balance between crime and lighter moments and an explosive ending: Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is definitely my kind of Christmas read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail