A review by thereadingrambler
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The opening of the book introduces us to our narrator/detective, Ernest Cunninghum. He promises us that he will tell the truth at all time and follow all of the rules of detective fiction and mysteries. With that we are plunged into chapter one with Ernest’s brother Michael showing up at his house in the middle of the night with a dead body. We jumped ahead three years to a family reunion. Everyone is pretty mad at Ernest for having testified against his brother so this whole situation is pretty awkward. The situation becomes even more awkward when a random man is found dead the second day of the reunion. Fairly quickly the family gets drawn into this murder and each of their own past killings are are revealed. For Ernest is completely correct, everyone in the family has killed someone.

This was just a proper fun time. Ernest was a delightful narrator, telling the story directly to the reader. I have to imagine as an audiobook this is a great time. Given that the book is aware that I was reading this as an ebook, I would think any other version of the book would continue that self-awareness. I loved how Stevenson is aware of how the format of the book itself tells the reader something about who the murderer (or murderers) are. If we’re over halfway through the book, we know that the murderer has already been introduced. He tells us in the prologue the chapters in which anyone dies or we are informed is dead, playing with that material awareness and then still bringing the reader on a twisty ride but with all the clues clearly laid out for us. And I mean clearly. We are given a clear and specific list of all of the clues right before Ernest reveals the answer. The reader is directly given a chance to see if they can solve it themselves (and I will say I got a couple of the reveals correct!).

If you’re looking for a gripping, meta-aware mystery novel with a compelling narrator and believable set of twists and turns, I would definitely recommend this book. I’m already looking forward to reading the next one.