Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief

Author: Benjamin Stevenson
Genre: Crime Fiction/Suspense
355 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books, 2026

Synopsis
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.

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?

My review
Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief by Benjamin Stevenson is a clever, witty, and wildly entertaining thriller. As the fourth installment in the Ernest Cunningham series, it delivers the same chaotic antics that made the earlier books so much fun to read.

Once again, it’s an absolute pleasure to be inside Ernest Cunningham’s head. The first-person narrative is a signature style from Stevenson, allowing his trademark humor and sarcasm to shine. Ernest remains the delightfully quirky, self-aware detective I’ve come to love, and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of the case: the setup, the chase, and the reveal. As ridiculous as this story can be at times, that’s part of its charm.

This time around, Ernest and his endlessly patient fiancée, Juliette, find themselves trapped in the middle of an old-school bank heist. As fans of the series already know, whenever Ernest is involved, a dead body (or two) is sure to follow. The fourth book introduces a fresh and varied cast of characters to scrutinize and side-eye, and it’s endlessly fun trying to determine who can and can’t be trusted. Stevenson’s playful use of fair-play clues and over-the-top dramatics is once again a highlight. I especially loved seeing Ernest’s character flaws pushed to their limits, along with Juliette’s sharp and often spot-on assessments of him.

I genuinely don’t know how Stevenson manages to pack so many twists and turns into these novels, but once again I found myself completely caught up, trying to piece together what on earth was going on. If you enjoy solving crime capers using the same Golden Age inspired detective logic that Ernest himself relies on, this book is absolutely for you.

While I did feel that the suspects were a bit less developed than in previous installments it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief was an absolute delight. Stevenson’s sharp wit and playful storytelling completely captivated me, delivering a Golden Age infused mystery packed with twists, misdirection, and teasers designed to challenge even the most seasoned armchair detectives. Highly recommended. I’m already looking forward to Ernest’s next adventure!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and Benjamin Stevenson for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: read it!