Festive books to get you in the mood for Christmas

Reading lists

Books to get you in the mood for Christmas

Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect

READ THE INVENTIVE, HILARIOUS AND ORIGINAL THRILLER FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE 
 How do you catch a killer, when all your suspects know how to get away with murder? 
 
 'The best thing I've read in ages' STUART MACBRIDE 
 'I absolutely LOVED it. Engaging, entertaining and charming' MARIAN KEYES 
 
 ---- 
 
 When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invites six authors to a festival aboard the Ghan – the famous Darwin to Adelaide train – it’s a who’s who of crime writing royalty. And me! (The lowly debut author.) 
 
 But when one of us is murdered, six authors must become five detectives. This should be easy. Aren’t we all experts in whodunnits? 
 
 Unfortunately, that also makes us experts in how to commit murder. And, when there’s been one, another’s sure to follow. 
 
 Someone has to solve the case. But can I really outsmart the experts, and catch the killer? 
 ---- 
 
 'Brilliant, great fun. Takes the scenario of Murder on the Orient Express and plays it for laughs' THE TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH’ 
'Clever, satisfying, impossible to put down and gloriously inventive. It's fantastic' STUART TURTON 
'Utterly original, hugely entertaining, and a must-read for every fan of the mystery genre' JANE HARPER 
'Clever, unexpected, and not to be missed' KARIN SLAUGHTER 
 
 Why readers LOVE Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect 
 
 'Sharp. Slick. Original' 5***** reader review 
 'Fun, witty and exciting - this is not one to miss!' 5***** reader review 
 
 'Darkly atmospheric and full of mystery. I loved it' 5***** reader review 
 
 'This is without doubt going to be the standout novel of the year' 5***** reader review 
 
 'I absolutely loved this from start to finish. Dark, atmospheric and funny, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good murder mystery' 5***** reader review

Brilliant, great fun. Takes the scenario of Murder on the Orient Express and plays it for laughs. A more accomplished performance [than] Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Sparkling with wit and witticisms about the world of writers and writing, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect offers a tip of the hat to the great Agatha Christie novel while at the same time being a modern reinvention of it. Leave it to Stevenson to make high-jinx and murder deviously good fun

Fun and diverting, with a plethora of red herrings

Clever, satisfying, impossible to put down and gloriously inventive. It's fantastic. Books like this are why we love reading

An outstanding and exceptional mystery from start to finish...everything fans would hope for

Tricksy riffs on Golden Age mysteries seem to be in vogue, but no one does them with such gleeful elan as Stevenson...Stevenson's background as a literary agent doubtless helped him fashion this fiendishly plotted Murder On The Orient Express update

This crackles on the page. Such an original voice

Laugh-out loud, irreverent, madly ingenious, full of twists and an avalanche of red herrings and wonderful characters let loose in a setting obviously inspired by both Agatha Christie and, with a nod to John Dickson Carr and others, a locked train mystery to boot. Stevenson succeeds magnificently in bringing Golden Age tropes to glorious life but also shows a deep affection for the rules and traditions of the genre, and his unique blend of satire, thrills, and glittering characterisation rings all the bells and more. A sheer delight and if there is any justice, a most-deserving multi future award winner

Benjamin Stevenson is rather like the illusionist Derren Brown, who deconstructs others&rsquo; magic tricks only to pull off brilliant ones of his own

I absolutely loved it. Utterly original, hugely entertaining, and a must-read for every fan of the mystery genre. What an exceptionally fresh, smart, funny book - I've never read anything like this before.

An ingenious and hilarious meta-murder mystery

As fresh and zingy as a salted lime. It's Knives Out meets Richard Osman. Or Dexter by way of Agatha Christie. Or Schitt's Creek with a body count. It's also the most luxuriantly enjoyable novel I've read in years

The best thing I've read in ages. I absolutely loved it. Whip-smart, twisted, funny, and constructed with the pinpoint precision of a bloodthirsty watchmaker

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Deliciously funny, dark and intriguing

This was such a clever, compelling read. It's a must for anyone who loves the rules of crime fiction, but it still packs plenty of twists. It had me laughing and turning the pages in equal measure. Bravo Mr Stevenson!

Following the riotous success of his first novel, author and amateur detective Ernest Cunningham has been invited to the prestigious Mystery Writers' Festival. 
 
In homage to Agatha Christie, the country's finest crime writers will spend several days aboard The Ghan, travelling from Adelaide to Darwin on the world-famous train. 
 
Ernest is hoping to find inspiration for his next novel. 
 
But when the first body is discovered, Ernest must seek out a murderer instead. 
 
His suspects are his fellow writers - all experts in their field. 
 
But how do you find a killer, when all your suspects know how to get away with murder?

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS A KILLER. EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS A SUSPECT. 
 
BUT WHICH OF THEM IS A MURDERER? 
 
'The best thing I've read in ages' STUART MACBRIDE 
'Fun, witty and exciting. This is not one to miss!' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'A must-read for every fan of the mystery genre' JANE HARPER 
_________ 
 
I knew our family reunion wouldn't end well. But I didn't expect murder. 
 
Maybe I should have known better. After all, everyone in my family is a killer. My parents, my siblings, my in-laws . . . even me. The deaths weren't all deliberate, of course. Accidents happen. 
 
So when a body is found in the snow, it's clear it's the work of a Cunningham. But which one? And why? 
 
I'll give you one clue: it wasn't me. 
 
But a piece of advice? Never trust a Cunningham . . . 
_________ 
 
'I absolutely LOVED it. Engaging, entertaining and charming' MARIAN KEYES 
'Clever, unexpected, and not to be missed' KARIN SLAUGHTER 
'Deliciously dark, funny and intriguing' ALEX PAVESI 
 
Why readers are loving Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone 
 
'Sharp. Slick. Original' 5***** Reader Review 
'Darkly atmospheric and full of mystery. I loved it' 5***** Reader Review 
'This is without doubt going to be the standout novel of the year' 5***** Reader Review 
'I absolutely loved this from start to finish. Dark, atmospheric and funny, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good murder mystery' 5***** Reader Review

I absolutely loved it. Utterly original, hugely entertaining, and a must-read for every fan of the mystery genre. What an exceptionally fresh, smart, funny book - I've never read anything like this before.

An ingenious and hilarious meta-murder mystery . . . strangely moving

As fresh and zingy as a salted lime. It's Knives Out meets Richard Osman. Or Dexter by way of Agatha Christie. Or Schitt's Creek with a body count. It's also the most luxuriantly enjoyable novel I've read in years. And years. I began toting my copy around town so that strangers would ask me about it - who could resist that title? I only wish there were more members of the Cunningham clan, so that this raucous, matchlessly entertaining mystery could go on longer. Benjamin Stevenson, I've got a lot to learn from you

The best thing I've read in ages. I absolutely loved it. Whip-smart, twisted, funny, and constructed with the pinpoint precision of a bloodthirsty watchmaker.

I absolutely loved it. It's so engaging, entertaining and charming. I don't think I've ever read anything like it, and it's such a fun read

Clever, unexpected, and not to be missed

An exceptionally clever and amusing mystery. Stevenson carries off this tour de force with all the aplomb of a master magician who conducts his tricks in plain view

This was such a clever, compelling read. It's a must for anyone who loves the rules of crime fiction, but it still packs plenty of twists. It had me laughing and turning the pages in equal measure. Bravo Mr Stevenson!

An engrossing whodunnit, with an ingenious twist on the classic crime genre. The type of book you finish and want to immediately read again

If you're a classic murder mystery fan looking for something fresh and original, you will absolutely love this

Surprising, darkly funny, clever and charming - you won't want to put this one down

My go-to recommendation this year. It has everything I love about great twisty mystery, presented in a hugely original package

A mystery for anyone who thinks they know all too well how mysteries are supposed to work

A homage to a golden age whodunnit, with a page-turner plot . . . Smart and funny

A really fresh take on classic crime

I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder. 
 
Before the storm stranded us at the mountain resort. The thing is, us Cunninghams don't really get along. 
 
We've only got one thing in common: we've all killed someone. My brother, my step-sister, my wife, my father, my mother, my sister-in-law, my uncle, my step-father, my aunt. Even me. 
 
When they find the first body in the snow, it's clear that only a Cunningham could have committed the crime - and it's up to me to prove it. 
 
There are plenty of killers in my family. But only one murderer...

Benjamin Stevenson

Lots to enjoy. Light and fun . . . the sort of thing to pop in the stocking of your fellow mystery fan on Christmas Day

Hilariously comic, devilishly ingenious and wonderfully tongue in cheek...delectable stuff and just the right novella-length, for a holiday treat

I loved this fun, Christmas-themed mystery, that's divided into 24 chapters - with 24 clues - making it a great Advent read

An outstanding and exceptional mystery from start to finish

Clever, satisfying, impossible to put down and gloriously inventive. It's fantastic

Sparkling with wit and witticisms...Leave it to Stevenson to make high-jinx and murder deviously good fun

My name is Ernest Cunningham. 
 
I’m not a detective. I just happen to have a knack for what makes mysteries – and murderers – tick. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any killers out there might be willing to take a break for the holidays. 
 
I was wrong. 
 
So here I am, backstage at the Christmas show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. From the magician’s assistant to the hypnotist, my suspects are all professional tricksters. Masters in the art of misdirection. 
 
Solving the murder is the only gift I want this year. But can I catch a killer, and make it home for Christmas alive?

Benjamin Stevenson

Praise for Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret

Lots to enjoy. Light and fun . . . the sort of thing to pop in the stocking of your fellow mystery fan on Christmas Day

Hilariously comic, devilishly ingenious and wonderfully tongue in cheek...delectable stuff and just the right novella-length, for a holiday treat

I loved this fun, Christmas-themed mystery, that's divided into 24 chapters - with 24 clues - making it a great Advent read

Lots to enjoy. Light and fun . . . the sort of thing to pop in the stocking of your fellow mystery fan on Christmas Day

Hilariously comic, devilishly ingenious and wonderfully tongue in cheek...delectable stuff and just the right novella-length, for a holiday treat

I loved this fun, Christmas-themed mystery, that's divided into 24 chapters - with 24 clues - making it a great Advent read

Lots to enjoy. Light and fun . . . the sort of thing to pop in the stocking of your fellow mystery fan on Christmas Day

Hilariously comic, devilishly ingenious and wonderfully tongue in cheek...delectable stuff and just the right novella-length, for a holiday treat

I loved this fun, Christmas-themed mystery, that's divided into 24 chapters - with 24 clues - making it a great Advent read

Books by Benjamin Stevenson

Articles featuring Benjamin Stevenson

Books to get you in the mood for Christmas

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter