Description

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a festive twist on his bestselling Ernest Cunningham mysteries, delivering a Christmas tale packed with presents, family, impossible murders, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. Imagine *Knives Out* and *The Thursday Murder Club* sharing a kiss beneath the mistletoe.

My name is Ernest Cunningham. I used to love reading classic murder mysteries—until I started finding myself caught up in real-life ones. I had hoped that, just for Christmas, any would-be murderer might take a well-earned holiday. I was wrong.

Now, I’m backstage at a performance by the world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, where his wealthy benefactor has just been killed. My list of suspects? Every one of them a master of deception.

The Magician
The Assistant
The Executive
The Hypnotist
The Identical Twin
The Counsellor
The Tech

To make things even trickier, the evidence is just as perplexing. A suspect drenched in blood but unable to explain how it got there. A murder committed without anyone stepping foot in the room where it happened. And, of course, an advent calendar—because it wouldn’t be Christmas without one.

If I can cut through the illusions, I know I can solve this. After all, a good murder mystery follows the same rules as a magic trick, doesn’t it?