Book Review: Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

 

From Mariner Books: 

I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before.

The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, hostages become suspects.

The Bank Robber, The Manager, The Security Guard, The Kid, The Film Producer, The Priest, The Receptionist, The Patient, The Caregiver, Me

Turns out there was more than one bank heist planned today. There are ten.

Can I solve them all and discover who is not only a thief but also a killer?

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief  by Benjamin Stevenson was released March 17, 2026 by Mariner Books. This is the fourth book in the Ernest Cunningham series.

My Thoughts: Overall, I thought this was a good book. I have a tendency to go along for the ride rather than figure out all of Ern's clues. Definitely that was the case with this book. Ten heists, ten thieves was a little much to wrap my mind around consistently. Yet, it all makes sense in the end no matter how many twists there are. The thief who only wants one dollar from the vault leaves us wondering what is it he really wants. And there is an addition of a highly unlikely form of death which somehow still occurs in spite of that.

Ernest is still Ernest sometimes even frustratingly so. I did cringe a little at some of the things he did in the name of investigation. And the book did get slow for a little while, but in the end, it's a good book with interesting premises and characters and a really big twist or two.

If you have read the other books in the series, you will most likely enjoy this one as well. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, you will also enjoy this one as the whole bank becomes a locked room since they are being held hostage. This book is worth a read.

I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Another mystery: who donates to charity and then robs a bank? At least Robin Hood did it the other way around.

(location 2227 on my Kindle)

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson was published March 17, 2026 by Mariner Books.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #575: Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: Ten heists. Ten suspects. A murder mystery only Ernest Cunningham can solve in this delightfully clever and twisty new novel in Benjamin Stevenson’s bestselling series—perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.

I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before.

The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, everyone is a suspect.

THE BANK ROBBER, THE MANAGER, THE SECURITY GUARD, THE KID, THE FILM PRODUCER, THE PRIEST, THE RECEPTIONIST, THE PATIENT, THE CAREGIVER, ME

Turns out, more than one person planned to rob the bank today. You can steal more from a bank than just money.

Who is stealing what? Are they willing to kill for it? And can I solve the crime before the police kick down the door and rescue us?

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson is expected out March 17, 2026 from Mariner Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I've enjoyed all the other books I've read by this author. The mysteries are clever. And there is humor to the telling of the stories. Ernest Cunningham makes a good sympathetic main character. I want to know what happened in the bank and see how Ernest will solve it.

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

 

From the publisher:

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling, “deviously good fun” (Nita Prose), Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN, THE ASSISTANT, THE EXECUTIVE, THE HYPNOTIST, THE IDENTICAL TWIN, THE COUNSELLOR,  THE TECH. 

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret was released October 22, 2024 from Mariner Books.

My thoughts: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson is the third book in the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Slightly shorter than the first two, it makes a wonderful addition to the series.

This time around it's Ernest's ex-wife calling from jail that sets everything in motion. At this point there has been one murder. Before the end of the book there will be two for the price of one.

Ern continues to divulge information in such a way that he maintains that the reader has all the information necessary to solve the crime. It's fun when he breaks the fourth wall to remind us of this and sometimes also of clues. I also liked how the author uses the Advent Calendar and Secret Santa motifs to further the plot.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The mysteries are good and well-written. Using the Advent Calendar to organize the book is interesting and different. I agree with Ernest that this would make a good holiday read. If you've enjoyed the other books in the series, or just enjoy holiday themed mysteries, this could be a good book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #517: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings. 

From the publisher: 

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling, “deviously good fun” (Nita Prose), Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN

THE ASSISTANT

THE EXECUTIVE

THE HYPNOTIST

THE IDENTICAL TWIN

THE COUNSELLOR

 THE TECH

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson is expected out October 22, 2024 from Mariner Books.

Why am I waiting on this? It sounds like it will be a fun addition to the Ernest Cunningham mysteries.I love a good locked room mystery. I usually get that fix with Gigi Pandian books, but Benjamin Stevenson also provides a satisfying mystery with a smidgen of humor. And I like the idea of the use of magic as a vehicle for the mystery.

What books are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #442: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

Knives Out and Clue meet Agatha Christie and The Thursday Murder Club in this “utterly original” (Jane Harper), “not to be missed” (Karin Slaughter), fiendishly clever blend of classic and modern murder mystery.

Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

Why am I waiting on this book? I read some reviews of it and coupled with the publisher's description, I decided to add it to my TBR list. The reviews confirm that it reads like a mashup of things in the description. The narrator Ern has dark humor, wit, and snark. It sounds like an interesting, funny at times, locked room type mystery.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson is expected out January 17th, 2023 from Mariner Books.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!