Everyone in this Bank is a Thief

Once again Ernest Cunningham finds himself investigating a mystery. This time Ernest and Juliette are at the bank trying to obtain a loan for Ernest's detective agency. They did not imagine that they would find themselves among a group of ten hostages as one man attempts to rob a bank. They also learn that the brother of the bank manager is missing. This is not an ordinary day.

As you would expect Ernest is determined to discover what is going on and why, especially as the bank robber does not appear to be in a hurry to leave the bank. He is also not interested in the money in the till but just demands one dollar from the vault. 

Ernest provides the reader with a detailed account of his observations as to what is occurring in the bank, including alerting the reader to possible clues as he attempts to solve the mystery. Ernest also provides us with an account of different types of theft, not just cash. As we learn about the characters, many have reasons to want money urgently. But who would also resort to murder to obtain what they want.

 Once again this easy to read, often amusing, crime novel keeps the reader guessing as to what is really going on.

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.

Everyone on this train is a suspect

Everyone on this train is a suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is a sequel to Everyone in my family killed someone. When Ernest Cunningham boards the Ghan in Darwin to take part in the Australian Mystery Writers' Festival he does not envisage that once again he will encounter a number of murders during the trip to Adelaide. He was searching for inspiration for his next book but the train trip produced more than he bargained for.

Once again the reader is challenged to solve the crimes as Ernest explains his theories about what has occurred and refers to how other crime novelists solve and reveal crimes. This book is another entertaining and often humorous Australian crime novel.

Everyone in my family has killed someone

The Cunningham family reunion at a ski resort proves to be far more eventful than anyone would have envisaged. Shortly after most family members arrived a body was found in the snow. And there was a storm rapidly closing in on the resort. All the ingredients for an Agatha Christie style crime novel but with several twists.

The narrator of the book, Enest (Ern) Cunningham stresses that he is a reliable narrator, one who would not normally lead the reader astray. However, he is has published books about writing crime fiction and is happy to point out similarities in the plot creation with other crime novels. The narrator bases his theories on Ronald Knox's '10 Commandments of Crime Fiction' and will from time to time identify which 'commandment' has just ben used.

As the story unfurls it soon becomes obvious that this is not a normal family and that members have been involved in the death of a number of individuals over the years. These stories are gradually revealed as the narrator investigates the murder of the body found in the resort grounds. Page 2 of the Prologue reveals the pages of the book where a death is revealed. Chapter 14.5 of the book also provides a brief summary of what has happened so far in case the reader is confused. There are many twists and turns in the plot as information is gradually revealed about the characters and their past lives. And, of course, the case must be solved.

The author, Benjamin Stevensen, of Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone is a comedian as well as an author so there is much humour scattered throughout the pages, especially in  the regular updates provided by the narrator. An entertaining read.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards - General Fiction