Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Once again Ernest Cunningham narrates his involvement in solving his third murder mystery after he receives a message from his former wife requesting his help when she is arrested for murdering her new partner - a crime she is sure that she did not commit.

This time most of the suspects are connected to the theatre including a magician, the magician's assistant, a theatre manager, a hypnotist and her twin sister, a counsellor and a stagehand. During a stage performance next day, a second murder occurs.

As in the previous two crime novels involving cases solved by Ernest Cunningham, Benjamin Stevenson has his narrator explain the clues as they appear including any red herrings and encourages the reader to help him solve the puzzle. 

As the plot of Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret occurs immediately before Christmas each chapter has the date of a day in an advent calendar. Ernest is also interested in the parcels left under a Christmas tree for a theatre staff Kris Kringle. Naturally there is a need to solve the case so those not directly involved can enjoy their Christmas.