4.5*

This is a bit hard to rate because on one hand, I loved reading it. Couldn't put it down, frankly. But the ending left me a bit underwhelmed, you see. So that is where I am at: does the awesomeness of the rest of the book make up for it? Mostly, I have decided that it does. That the ending was at least decent enough that I didn't get too frustrated. And, like I said, most of the book was excellent.

We have here a bit of a serial killer mystery, set in 1958 Minnesota (which was a thing I hadn't realized I needed, but turns out I did). The only witness-turned-suspect is a Marie, fifteen year old girl who no one can quite get to open up. Enter Michael, the only person Marie is willing to speak to. I loved that the author fully acknowledges how unorthodox this is, how the actual professionals certainly take issue. Otherwise, it would have been unbelievable, but as it turns out, they're desperate, and as long as they have recordings, they grudgingly acquiesce.

We see from the start that the court of public opinion has already deemed Marie guilty, even though it's beyond clear that she in no way acted alone. Michael has faith in Marie, but the chain of events she unravels him challenges that faith. The story absolutely sucked me in, just as it did Michael. There are so many questions about the killings, from motive, to accomplices, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

It's hard to not feel a bit sympathetic for Marie, even though we know that at the very least, she is somehow involved in this whole mess. She's so young, and she has obviously been manipulated in some way or another. To what extent, you must read to find out, but the fact that so many people are calling for her execution makes me feel very yucky about all of humanity. This instance, among others in the book, make it a really thought provoking novel, which for me, is quite rare in the horror/thriller genre.

Bottom Line: I was so desperate to learn all the things, to dissect this case piece by piece. Some answers I got, some I didn't, but I certainly enjoyed the ride!

(P.S.- The author's note tells you which real-life murder spree this was inspired by, but I am not telling you because I am evil and you should read it for yourself.)

(P.P.S.- There is a very minor character named John Murphy, but I won't pretend I didn't get giddy excited.)

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this book to review! I love a good unreliable narrator and this book does it deliciously well. What starts off as a boy in a small town that's just had a horrific murder turns into a who did it mystery of twists and turns. The book almost read like a podcast and while some might find that annoying, I personally liked the narration effect and it allowed the reader to become immersed in the story, trying to figure it out along the whole way. Was she telling the truth or was the whole thing fabricated? Perfect read for true crime fans.

I recently started reading more true crime books and I have to say that All These Bodies jumped to the top of my favourites list. I loved all aspects of this book, the atmosphere, the characters, the relationships, and the plot. I think this book is a must read for all true crime lovers. It gave me None Shall Sleep vibes so if you liked that one I recommend checking this one out too.

I will keep it real with ya’ll. I have no idea what to think about this book. This was one of those books that I was hoping would scare me or deliver a great mystery. However, when I was finished, I couldn’t help feeling that maybe I missed something.
Marie Catherine Hale, a teenager, is taken into custody after being found literally in the middle of a crime scene covered in blood. Naturally, authorities believe she either committed the murders or knows who did. Unfortunately for the police, it’s not that cut and dry. The girl will only speak to Michael, the son of the sheriff. This is a dream come true for Michael as he is an inspiring journalist, and this is the story of the century. Except Marie isn’t the easiest nut to crack. Michael has to figure out what is the truth and what isn’t. As he begins to understand Marie, he also realizes that the reality of this story is more bizarre than he could’ve ever guessed.
I wish I could say I absolutely loved this book, but unfortunately, it left me with more questions than answers. However, the weird part is this is a great story. It really is, and if you like books that are a little mysterious, this one is for you.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books, for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categorising this book is hard. It's not a typical thriller or mystery, because the book doesn't give you an answer about what happened. It's not a horror, because it's more about getting the tale and justice (or injustice). Nor is it a paranormal, because the vampiric element is never truly confirmed.

I think the lack of confirmation on many elements will disappoint some readers, but I really liked it. The vampire or not, particularly how little it conformed to "usual" vampire trope, simply heightened the unease and atmosphere, not to mention the thriller-like aspects of not knowing how much of her words could be counted as true. She never uses vampire, and a lot of that side of the story is inferred and speculated about by Michael, which helps with the uncertainty.

The lack of an answer about who really did the killings, why, and how, felt like a great metaphor for the lack of justice in the case. It also highlights how cruel and sexist media is towards women, always trying to take it back to sex and making it women's fault when they are hurt. But the men? Oh, they can do 10x worse and be portrayed sympathetically

This book shows an investigator who has his theories of who she is, and is determined to prove it. Pilson (the investigator) is a horrible character, so cruel to Marie (who is a 15 year old girl), bullying her and painting her in the worst light possible. When child sexual abuse is implies in Marie's past, he chooses to frame it (particularly when talking to her) as her <em>deliberately seducing a man who was supposed to be caring for her</em>.

The inclusion of Pilson and his awfulness is a really good narrative ploy, because you instinctively hate him for being a misogynistic pig with a closed mind. It means you are more likely to believe the paranormal aspects of Marie's story.

💭My review: 🐻
I was soo excited about this book, it had everything I love in books, mysteries and vampires and crime. The story didn't disappoint but that ending was just meh. I was a little let down by it. It was just so simple for a pretty strange story. I really enjoyed the mysteries and creepiness of the story with so many details and backstory. I had a very hard time putting the book down. I think the author did an awesome job. I really enjoyed her writing. I'm a big @kendareblake fan. I also LOVE the book cover it's really attractive. I really enjoyed this book and it's perfect for the spooky season coming up. I also think that the relation between Micheal and Marie is pretty cool.

When a teenage girl is found at a murder scene drenched in blood, how can anyone comprehend the truth behind the murders, or the unharmed girl?

Marie Catherine Hale is just a year younger than Michael Jenson, so there’s no way he can fathom that someone even younger than him could possibly kill people - especially if it also means leaving them bloodless, as the serial killer plaguing the midwest has been doing! Michael feels safe and curious hanging out with her at the jail where his father is the sheriff, but being given the responsibility of interviewing her for the truth behind the murders is a daunting task.

This was a unique, slow-burning thriller. Michael wasn’t sure whether he believed a lot of what Marie told him, but he also didn’t have any better alternative stories. Regardless, just listening to her version of events was making enemies all over town for Michael and his family. Marie was the closest thing they had to someone for the community to blame for the death of a family they had all liked and respected.

Overall, I’d give this one 3 out of 5 stars. It was surprisingly easy to forget that Michael and Marie were high-school-aged kids. While there were no jump-scare moments, the thrill was almost psychological in nature. The book was definitely about Marie’s telling of the story.

All These Bodies was clever and complex; the world-building was thoughtful and complete as were the characters, whom at times I forgot were not flesh and blood but fictional. Some readers will feel some disappointment by the lack of answers upon the conclusion, but I feel like it's true to the story and to the themes within; there are some incidents where there will always be more questions than answers. The place and time setting were ideal for the type of story told, and the quiet and powerful commentary about what happens to women's stories when cycled through the media, a town's collective belief, and then spread across a nation; how it's easier to make black and white assumptions and conclusions where sometimes there is only grey and how events can snowball leading to a person making certain decisions.

A sleepy Minnesota farm town finds itself in the middle of a gruesome murder spree when the latest "Bloodless Killer" murders claim the lives of a local family. The victims are completely drained of blood and without any signs of a struggle. But this time, a young woman, not yet 16 years old, is found standing in the middle of the crime scene, covered in the victims' blood. And while it seems obvious she has something to do with the killings, she can't have done everything herself. So what is she hiding, and who is she protecting? She declares that she will tell her story, but only to one person: Michael, the 17-year-old sheriff's son. Burdened with finding out the truth, Michael is tasked with figuring out how to make sense of the unthinkable.

I struggle with how to categorize this book, because it is indeed suspenseful, but it's not quite technically a thriller. The main action has all happened. The central conflict is trying to figure out what happened. Because Marie, the young woman at the center of it all, insists she isn't a killer, but she won't give up the name of the man she insists actually did the killings. And waiting to hear all of those details really kept me turning pages. I had to know whether Marie was lying, telling the truth, and whether she would reveal how she came to be covered in blood at the crime scene - something obviously very incriminating.

In the end, most of those questions are answered, and it's quite a story, something that felt very satisfying, although that seems a strange word under the circumstances, once you read it you'll know what I mean.

The characters of Marie and Michael were really interesting and well-developed and I greatly enjoyed watching how they interacted and Michael's emotions as he struggled with recording Marie's story and wanting to believe her, but feeling pressure from outside forces. It was really well done in that aspect.

Overall, this was a great thematic, atmospheric and suspenseful read. I recommend it highly to anyone looking for a different type of mysterious read!

Kendare Blake gives readers the perfect spooky season read with her latest release, All These Bodies.

Set in 1958, All Theses Bodies is the perfect example of what happens when true crime meets supernatural fiction. 17-year-old Michael Jensen is the son of the local sheriff in rural Minnesota and has aspirations of becoming a journalist, but little does he know that the biggest story of his life is about to be dropped in his lap when a local family becomes the next victims in a string of bizarre murders. Their bodies, like the others, are drained of blood, and there’s not a drop left in sight. Enter Marie Catherine Hale, who is found standing covered in blood in the middle of the crime scene. At first, she is perceived as a victim and key witness, but when it’s revealed that none of the blood is hers, she is soon labelled as an accomplice.

As those around him hunt for answers, Michael must turn to the one person who may just know the truth. But is he willing to hear it, and most importantly, will he believe what Marie has to tell him, before their time runs out? With the perfectly suspenseful backdrop of a small town set to ignite, Blake once more crafts a powerfully atmospheric novel with characters that stand up off the page. This unique way of weaving urban legend with true crime will have readers racing to find out what happens next.

So, let’s begin at the heart of the novel. The scary thing about All These Bodies is that it reads very closely to true crime. The ominous presence of the supernatural vampire does little to dissuade the reader’s belief, and that is the true power of this author—to make us believe in the inconceivable. Blake has also stated that she drew inspiration from two real-life crime events. These include the 1958 murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate—the young couple left eleven people dead in Nebraska and Wyoming. As for the murder that happens in Michael’s small town, this is inspired by the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kanas. It’s this carefully handled fascination with true crime that brings this book to life, as the author takes things one step further and includes the ‘what if’ element of vampiric lore.

And here’s the thing—while we should know outright that something like this couldn’t be real, the way in which the author handles suspicion and disbelief makes this story that much more believable. Michael’s constant struggle with his want to believe Marie and his need to get to the bottom of the story is transferred onto us as the reader: whenever he outrightly questions her truth, we are also there for when he experiences something unexplainable. It’s this constant play between truth and what we perceive as believable that suspends the audience’s disbelief enough for the story to flourish.

Blake has also very cleverly chosen her main protagonist. Michael is an open book, not yet completely tainted by the views or opinions of the adults around him, and is extremely likable. He is chosen by Marie because she recognises him as one of the only people that may accept the tricky position of believing her story. The range of emotions we as the reader experience through him is well done—his interaction with Marie’s story is set to change his life in more ways than one.

As for Marie, she is purposely complex. She’s a young teenage girl, seemingly without guardians, in a small town run by middle aged men. Here we see the author push back against outdated views of fragile femininity, as Marie’s role in the story is revealed. Initially, she is thought as of ‘just a girl’ without power. While recounting her tale to Michael, we see a different version of Marie emerging. As Michael states, this unknown girl is about to challenge everything he knows. It is through the exploration of Marie that the author also provides an important discussion on the role of one’s choices, and how the choices we make in the moment define our path. Sometimes, as Marie finds out, there are no right choices to make, only equally hard ones.

The only main critique for this book concerns its villain. While the focus is predominantly on Michael, Marie, and the ‘Bloodless Murders’, we experience this ominous figure who menaces the story from the shadows. For those that like a fully resolved ending and a secure ‘gotcha’ moment, this may be the only piece of the story that doesn’t quite come through. However, it can be argued that the intent of the author is clear here: not all stories, especially in the instance of true crime cases, are so easily wrapped up; and not all villains are so easily defined.

Perfectly combining fact, fiction, and urban legend, All These Bodies is definitely a book for your wish list—especially if you’re a lover of a good true crime podcast. Blake’s experience as an author is clearly evident throughout the novel as she takes the reader on a suspenseful, and original, supernatural man hunt.

I don’t know what to say. This book was entertaining and frustrating. A murder case with a touch paranormal made you want to believe Marie’s unbelievable story. Blake also shows how people can turn on each other, and that small towns are no exception. A great read!

In the summer of 1958, Marie Catherine Hale is found standing in the Carson's living room, surrounded by their dead bodies and drenched head to toe in blood while not a drop remains in the deceased. Is she a victim? An accomplice? Or the murderer herself? The only one who gets the answers to these questions is Michael, a 17-year old aspiring journalist who becomes involved in the Bloodless murders when Marie refuses to tell her story to anyone but him.

The way Blake created Marie's character by shrouding her in a cloak of mystery for the entire novel had me hooked right from the beginning. So many questions were raised during Michael's discussions with Marie--I was constantly re-evaluating her story of how she came to be at the center of these murders despite previous assumptions. By the ending though, it's clear that it never really mattered what story she told, everyone had already made their judgments against her.

At its core, All These Bodies is about truth and how it's able to be swayed by people's prior beliefs, experiences, and prejudices. By having a sense of ambiguity about the murders and who was truly behind them, it leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions and ask themselves what they believe which I thought was the perfect way to end the book.

I enjoyed reading this book! It is 1958 in Minnesota where the Carlson family is slaughtered with Marie on the scene of the death and now Michael must study the investigation as Marie will only tell him her story. This book gave me This Is Our Story and One of Us is Lying vibes but with more death. I have only read Three Dark Crowns from this author but I knew I had to check out this book as I love mystery and thrillers. I enjoyed the writing of this book with the mystery and all but I have to say that the middle part of the book kind of went downhill. The beginning and the ending of the book was good though. So the pacing was also a little wacky at times. I also enjoyed the setting of this book as the time period shows how feminism was during the time period and that no one will listen to Marie.

The main character is Marie in this book and it's told from her pov. I really enjoyed her character as she is mysterious and you can't tell if she is a victim or a murderer. I enjoyed her story in this book a lot but I do have to say that there really wasn't much character development in the book but the mysterious part did make up for it. The main side character of this book is the detective but other then that I have to say there really weren't many side character's in the book. There is romance in this book which I didn't enjoy really as it took away from the story.

The ending was well done and I enjoyed how the creepiness went all the way to the end. I really enjoyed this book and haven't read anything like this in a while. I did have some minor problems with this book mostly with the middle being very slow but other then that the mystery/thriller was just amazing. I feel that this book is a combination of many different books as I can see so many books that I can compare this one too. I totally recommend reading this book and shelving it for a spooky Halloween read.

This is the first book by Kendare Blake that I have read. I have heard nothing but good things, so I was looking forward to it, but for me this just fell flat. I am not a fan of open endings or supernatural elements that I wasn't expecting. When I read the description, I assumed there would be a true crime element to it, not just a supernatural excuse for the crime. If I wanted to read a book about werewolves or vampires, etc, that's what I would have chosen. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either.

"Tell the truth and shame the devil. I always thought that would be easy. But what do you do when the truth that you're faced with also happens to be impossible?"

All These Bodies has been one of my most anticipated 2021 releases since it was first announced. The fact that it blends a historical aspect with the mystery/horror subject piqued my curiosity, and the first 1/3 of the book had me riveted. I think the middle chunk was what really bogged the story down, as it became less about the murders and more about the relationship between Marie and Michael. Once things ramp back up toward the end, there's a brusque "conclusion" that didn't really give me the insight I wanted into what was going on all along. This book might suffer from the "trying to fit too many things into one story and not making any of them great" conundrum, and without a satisfying ending, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Not exactly sure who to recommend this one to, but I know the right reader is out there. Maybe those who like more of a textbook feel to their serial killer thrillers?

What I Loved

> 🩸All These Bodies is unlike anything i've ever read before. The only way I can explain the vibe of this novel is by saying it's like a true crime novel and a ghost story had a baby. Also it gave me Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler feels with the main villain of the story having a weird effect on the people they come in contact with.

> 🩸Kendare Blake brings vampires back to the darkness with this novel. I really thought the way she wove the vampire story in through Marie's history vs having Michael interact with him was really unique and added to the weirdness of the whole situation.

> 🩸 Look at that cover! At first glance it is super simple, but then the more you look the more details you notice (like the hands that make up Marie's dress....😱)

What Missed the Mark

> 🩸The pacing of the novel was just a hair too slow. I found myself dragging along just itching to move along with the story but it just kept plodding along at it's own pace like a trail horse with no interest in following the rest of the herd.

> 🩸If you're going into this novel looking for a story filled with vampires and action then I suggest you turn back now. This novel is 100% atmosphere and plot over character development.  Nothing really "happens", but the atmosphere is so creepy and makes you want to know what's going to happen next it keeps you turning pages.

> 🩸 I wanted more from our "vampire". I know that wasn't the point and I don't want to spoil anything but i definitely wanted more from that part of the story.

I loved the premise and the writing of All These Bodies, but I really wish I could have loved the actual plot more. Blake's writing drew me into the story very quickly, but I ended up with quite a lot of unanswered questions at the end and I ended up feeling like the plot was incomplete at the last page. Blake did a fantastic job at creating this tension between the narrator and the reader, but I honestly found myself not caring a lot about the narrator as I read. I was very much interested in Marie and her story. I wanted to know how the Bloodless Murders happened, who actually did it, and if there are actually vampires in this world or just something merely hinted at to scare people. Unfortunately, all these questions that seemingly propelled the plot were left unanswered and left me confused about the whole plot resolution.

The writing was great, and the story actually told on the page was unique. But I was left with a lot of questions, including whether or not this story was supposed to be paranormal in nature or just a mystery. I connected more with Marie than I did the narrator, but I'm unsure if I'm supposed to believe Marie given how unreliable the narrator was at times. All These Bodies pulled me in from the start, but very much left me wanting more.

I really, really wanted to like this, but it was too all over the place for me to actually enjoy it/understand what was happening.

All These Bodies follows a series of grisly murders and the one person who may have been involved, and a teenager who's tasked with interviewing her. All together, it sounds like a great concept for the book.

The execution left a lot to be desired. The plot felt all over the place, and the lack of closure really grated on me. I wanted answers, like you normally would when it comes to a mystery. And I know that's for the story, but it really bothered me! I wanted answers and confirmation more than anything, and I felt like I was left high and dry.

In the 1950s, a string of murders that leaves the victims bloodless surges through the Midwest. Police have no leads or suspects, until one night, in a small town in Minnesota, a 15 year old girl is found covered in blood at the scene of a recent murder. That girl, Marie Catherine Hale, is arrested and taken into custody, where she meets the sheriff's son, Michael, and he is immediately and inexplicably drawn to her. She refuses to speak to anyone about her involvement in the murders, except Michael. As Michael interviews her, over time he comes to realize that there is much more to Marie than meets the eye, even though he can't quite believe her outlandish and impossible story. To further blur lines, he can't seem to stop thinking about her. What if she's innocent? What if she's telling the truth?

I really love Kendare Blake, especially the Three Dark Crowns series. She's so good at writing the dark, slightly creepy stuff, so I had super high hopes for this one. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't my newest obsession either. I did stay up way later than planned reading this, and had a hard time putting it down, but when I got to the end it never really all came together in a particularly satisfying way. This one's middle of the road for me.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review.

Kendare Blake has been one of my favorite authors. I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and it’s easily my favorite book. I enjoy Blake’s writing it’s always intriguing. All These Bodies was a perfect read now that we are close to the fall season. I enjoyed our main male character Michael. He was very interesting and a well developed character. I loved how he conducted Marie’s interview in discovering these horrific murders. I am still not sure if there was a paranormal element involved or it’s based on the readers conclusion. The ending did not help at all. I still enjoyed this story. I enjoy reading murder mysteries especially during the spooky season . Thank you so much Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read All these Bodies.