An incredibly atmospheric countryside mystery that sets you into an enclosed location as questions unfold, relationships unravel, and hysteria peaks until the final reveals. A gay relationship rekindles amidst it all.

Whooooo boy, the end of this one really had me white knuckling my way through all that tension. I was STRESSED.

Zeebadee, recently fired from his latest job as a clerk, is contacted by his Cousin Wynn, a man who is basically a stranger to him, and is invited to come visit and spend some time with him at Lackaday House. Almost immediately upon his arrival Zeb discovers that there is more at play in the house than he realised, when he arrives to discover his (genuinely terrible) brother, sister in law and cousin already there alongside his ex-lover.

In respect to this book in the context of the larger catalogue of KJCs works, I think that this one sits closer to Death in the Spires, in that the romance is really more of a subplot to the main mystery, compared to many of her other works which can be more romance forward. Although that being said all the normal trademarks I associate with KJC books are present; vibrant characters, rich historical settings, sexy chemistry and a bit of spice. All of it makes a very satisfying reading experience.

I did admittedly take a little while to find my feet here, you are dropped into the middle of some established and very messy interconnected relationships, that all have their own histories and while that background is progressively revealed as the story unfolds you do need to trust the process a little.

I LOVED the tone and setting of this book, the Edwardian setting in a massive Gothic Mansion? So atmospheric. I also love the boom of British occultism that occurred in the late Victorian era so the occult overtones here had me hook, line and sinker.

Zeb was a real stand out character for me. I thought that his ADHD representation was wonderful and it really made me appreciate the struggles people went through when so little was understood about the condition during this time, and the only solution people bothered with was to scold and beat the child. Despite the challenges and cruelty he has experienced Zebs heart of gold and capacity for kindness were really his defining traits (making the moments when he displayed a quiet confidence and self assurance to assert himself when necessary all the more satisfying).

I really do love a good second chance romance and thought that the trope here was used well between Gideon and Zeb. I’ll admit through that while I came around to Gideon by the end of the story it took me a while to get there, potentially because I felt so protective of Zeb as a character. However, as we learn more about what went wrong between Gideon and Zeb and the things that went unsaid I found myself forgiving and rooting for them to get together, but he was one of the KJC love interests that I struggled to vibe with more so than others.

*Insert my generic ride or die disclaimer for everything KJC writes and my inherent biases this causes*

A fun historical gothic mystery/thriller where the tension continues to ratchet up right to the end! I had a great time. 4.5 rounded up ❤️


Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Planned Release October 7 2025

All of Us Murderers starts with Zeb, a down-on-his-luck man from a wealthy family, arriving at his estranged cousin’s estate for what’s supposed to be a short visit. Once there, he finds himself locked in with the ex-lover he wanted to avoid, the rest of his thoroughly unpleasant family, and is expected to compete for both the inheritance and the hand in marriage of his… cousin’s protégée who is also his cousin? 😐

Honestly, this might be my favorite K.J. Charles yet. The book is laugh-out-loud funny in places, and Zeb, the main character, is a pure cinnamon roll you can’t help but root for, without ever feeling like a caricature. While I can’t speak to the ADHD representation personally (as it’s not my own brand of neurospiciness), it still felt respectful and blended seamlessly with Zeb’s personality.

The locked-door mystery is both thoughtful and well-crafted. There *are* some far-fetched elements, but the humor is perfectly balanced with genuine suspense, and it never feels overdone. For me, it’s a masterclass in the genre. I was thrown for a loop in the first half [(what do you mean, we’re suspecting ghosts and there’s no murder yet?!) (hide spoiler)] but I was thoroughly engaged the whole time. Pacing-wise, the book is rock solid. The ending really stands out, too; I appreciated that the entire story is confined to the manor, even though some reviewers complained that made the ending feel “abrupt.” The epilogue is well-rounded, and the last few sentences had me laughing out loud.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say I wished for a bit more pining between the romantic leads before they jumped into bed. It felt a little fast for me. However, their history is well-drawn, and I appreciated the lack of miscommunication drama. I also really liked that the romance didn’t overshadow the mystery; I don’t know why people always expect K.J. Charles to write romantic smut when she’s been crafting strong plotlines for years at this point.

The book tackles some heavy themes (CW for [slavery and rape (hide spoiler)]), as well as reflections on injustice, legacy, and privilege. It does so thoughtfully, without ever feeling preachy or heavy-handed.

In conclusion, this might be the strongest release in K.J. Charles’s catalogue yet (a relief after Copper Script, not gonna lie); it was everything I wanted but didn’t dare hope for. I’m so thankful I got to read this!

4,5 ⭐
A gothic mansion filled with possibly sinister entities, a gloomy Dartmoor setting, truly delightful family reunions, inheritance built on blood...and sweet and hot romance.

Honestly, the ingredients couldn’t have been better for me - except for the second-chance romance. This trope rarely works for me. On one hand, there must be a valid reason for the characters to separate in the first place, and at the same time, the reason can’t be grievous enough to make me not root for the reconciliation.

But damn did it WORK, and work incredibly well!

Wow, was I swept off my feet by Zeb and Gideon, their chemistry was a very comfortable one, and the way they navigated their previous misunderstandings was heartwarming. These two truly gave off the good old “made for each other while being opposites” vibe.

Zebedee Wyckham isn’t usually the kind of character I tend to gravitate towards, but somehow, he won me over completely, and I would fight for him (not spiders though, sorry Zeb). He’s a fidgety, scatterbrained motor-mouth that’s utterly relatable to everyone with ADHD, and being in his head made me grin, laugh, and hurt in sympathy. His struggles with self-worth after being put down constantly by everyone, starting with his aforementioned delightful family, seriously pulled at my heartstrings.
And Gideon Grey, organized, reserved, inexperienced Gideon. He and Zeb shouldn’t have worked in theory, but oooh boy I can’t imagine them NOT being perfect for each other.
And that gentle exploration of a new kink?? So hot! I wouldn’t mind peeping in on the continuation of that lol 👁️👄👁️

I’m almost disappointed I didn’t get more of them as a couple - almost because for me, the balance between the mystery/suspense and the romance was perfect - which might mean there will not be enough romance for some readers, mind you. But the pace wasn’t slowed down by an overabundance of romantic scenes, the mounting tension kept the story going, and yet, Zeb and Gideon together were such a highlight that I loved their every moment.

The mystery regarding the mansion and the inheritance of a powerful Wyckham family? I’ve never been to an escape room, but reading this book was very much like being in one. I felt trapped with Zeb and Gideon, and I wanted out, I wanted them to get out, and it made my heart pound like crazy at times. Most of the storyline isn’t unpredictable, but there were enough little gasp-worthy moments that kept me completely hooked.

The ending came a bit too abruptly for my tastes and I deflated like a balloon, though to be fair, most of it was definitely relief. And the epilogue made me cackle, so cheeky!

To sum it up, All Of Us Murderers is a new contender for my favorite KJ Charles novel (though I still haven’t read many of them), up there with Death in the Spires ❤️

An incredibly fun gothic thriller! The mystery & romance elements were really well done, and it fulfilled all the parts of a gothic that you'd want. Heartily recommend!

A note to start: while K.J. Charles is primarily a writer of m/m historical romance, this book is a Gothic novel with a m/m romantic subplot.

And what a Gothic novel! A mysterious house with ghostly figures and flickering lights, a cast of truly dreadful people (not our hero; he's a sweetheart), dark family secrets, foreboding weather, overly convoluted plots and the occasional bout of hysterics. Charles leans in to the tropes of the genre with great relish, resulting in a read that is true to genre conventions, although free of the casual racism and misogyny often present in older Gothic works. The atmosphere is creepy and steadily more claustrophobic as the story progresses, and the sense that something is going on under the surface is apparent early on, but the plot twists are deftly done.

Highly recommended for lovers of creepy Gothic tales.

I wanted gothic haunting, but what I got was family drama. Unfortunately, the vibes were just not it for me. I was quite bored through the first 50% of the book, where it didn't seem like anything but arguing between characters was happening.

In the second half, things at least did get more exciting and I felt more entertained. But I was still quite disappointed with...how mundane it all was. It's not quite what I thought I was signing up for. Plus, the plot seemed laid out in a way that there really was no big reveal. Because everything felt gradually known.

3.5/5

I knew I needed to read this book the second I read the blurb. Crimson Peak meets Knives Out but gay?! How could I say no to that?! Crimson Peak is one of my all-time favorite movies, just check my Letterboxd!

But I do have to say, that I was a tad disappointed with this. Not a lot, but I just wanted more from it. It needed more oomph, as I've been saying lately. I think maybe my hopes were so ridiculously high because of that blurb description relating to movies that I really enjoy.

I did like how ambiguous some things are, I do think that really helped to add to the mystery. By that, I mean how you couldn't really figure out what everyone's motive was. You can't tell who is bad and who is good (besides the main characters, of course).

I did like the main characters, but I just wanted more from them. They had this flat, caricature feel at times. But I do love how easy this author's work is to read without feeling simple.

I also wanted a tad more of a crescendo to the ending. It felt kind of flat. It wasn't this big "oh ha" moment that I wanted, but more of a confirmation to what we've been learning throughout the whole book (sorry if that is vague, I don't want to spoil anything).

Overall, this was a fun little mystery with a touch of romance. Happy Pride Month!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

All of Us Murderers is a perfect queer gothic for the autumn. It is compulsively readable with characters to love and characters to hate, and cathartic resolutions. It is such a fun blend of mystery and romance. This was the first book I've picked up by KJ Charles, but I am eager to go and explore her backlist!

Believe it or not, this is my first book by KJ Charles. I found it entertaining and a tad bit reminiscent of Agatha Christie books, where you’re never quite sure who is bad and who is the worst. Spoiler: In this one, everyone except for the MCs is the worst. While I did appreciate the quality of the writing and enjoy the relationship between Zeb and Gideon, I honestly expected a better story from this much-loved author. There wasn’t really a twist or a surprising reveal, only a confirmation that the rest of Zeb’s family was awful. The climax didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, but I did smile at the ending. I can’t say this book has inspired me to read any others by Charles but I also wouldn’t say I’m opposed to it.

What a treat of a gothic romance! It's Dartmoor, we've got the big gothic house, the follies, the wind and the shadows, the threat of escaped convicts, and really the worst thing of all -- a large group of vaguely estranged family members fighting over a inheritance.

This book slipped down quicker than a quick thing. It built the tension until it all came spilling out in a delightful mess of revelations.

Another great read from KJ Charles.

I have been a big fan of KJ Charles’s work but this might be her best yet. All of Us Murderers is an impeccably-paced gothic mystery with a lovely second chance love story.

The two leads were delightful, and I give Charles props for introducing the characters, their backstory, and the premise so seamlessly in the first couple of chapters. This book drops you RIGHT in to the family drama, but I never felt lost. Just excited for the ride.

The blurb compared this book to Knives Out, and I think that’s an apt comparison, but only because knives out takes inspiration from the same gothic mysteries that clearly inspired this.

As an aside, I have ADHD, and this book features perhaps the best-written ADHD lead that I’ve ever read. I related SO much to Zeb’s struggles.

And if you’re thinking, I don’t know about a mystery, I just want a love story, DO NOT WORRY. There’s a lot of romance and spice here, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a delight and not what I expected at ALL! Went into this expecting a spooky ghost story and got a murder mystery familial drama in a spooky house and I loved it.

Between Death in the Spires & All of Us Murderers, I am more convinced than ever that KJC was made for mystery in addition to romance.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!!! 🥳

A duke who yearns to be free of his title. A henchman with agency. A shy, virginal Regency MC who is a guy. You can always count on K.J. Charles to pay homage and lovingly skewer literary genres, while serving up a crackling good queer romance. With All of Us Murderers, she turns her eagle eye to Gothic romance.

The book begins with MC Zebedee Wyckham's nighttime arrival at a foreboding estate where he encounters a young, barefoot woman "with a generously exposed bosom" fleeing in terror. We immediately know that we're in for a treat, as I believe that image graced the cover of approximately 75% of all Gothic novels published in the mid 20th century. Zeb has been invited to Lackaday House by a distant cousin, and he is dismayed to learn that his other awful relatives are also in attendance. Even more unexpectedly, cousin Wynn's confidential secretary turns out to be Gideon Gray, Zeb's former lover, whose hatred apparently has only deepened in the year since their relationship ended.

Wynn has gathered the various Wyckhams together to determine who will have the honor of marrying his ward (and their first cousin once removed) Jessamine, the damsel Zeb saw earlier. A dismal mansion, ominous weather, a family curse, conniving relatives, a breathless woman in peril, unfriendly servants, spectral visions - all of the ingredients for a classic Gothic.

But the MCs of Murderers are more complex than those found in any Victoria Holt or Mary Stewart mass market paperback. Zeb has ADHD: he fidgets, loses things, talks too much, and his concentration has only two settings - nonexistent and obsessional. He is viewed by most people as lazy and irresponsible. But Zeb is also kind, clever and well-read, especially when it comes to identifying and avoiding secret passageways, gloomy mausoleums, and the like.

Second chance romances rarely work for me because I'm rarely convinced that anything will be different this time around. But Gideon and Zeb, once they've reunited, clearly have a new dynamic that incorporates the patience, reassurance, and communication that were previously lacking.

KJC also pulls back the curtain on the source of the Wyckham family fortune and calls for justice, while also acknowledging the difficulty of translating a noble goal like reparations into practical reality.

Between the relationship drama and the increasing sense of danger, there's little time to breathe as KJC steers the story to its twisty, bloody conclusion. Zeb and Gideon's future is wrapped up in a satisfying and gleeful way, even if the ghastly house has the last laugh.

ARC received from author and publisher in exchange for review.

The wonderful 1970s pulp cover of this book gives you an idea of what to expect: A gothic horror tale that's also a loving homage/send-up of the genre. When Zeb Wyckham is invited to a wealthy relative's spooky Gothic manor he is understandably wary, especially when he finds out his estranged horrible relatives are there too along with his ex-boyfriend. When a fight ensues over an inheritance and spooky disturbing things start happening, he wonders if he will be able to escape with his life. Zeb was a great plucky hero and it was fun to see him use his knowledge of gothic horror stories to his advantage. His decency and need to help others was at odds with his greedy, conniving family and it was good to see his kindness pay off at a crucial moment. I loved his relationship with Gideon and how they were able to work through their breakup and differences even while dealing with the scary stuff going on. My only quibble was that I felt like the book ended a bit abruptly, but I was enjoying spending time with Zeb and Gideon so much that I just wanted to see them have more happiness together after their escape. The epilogue was a delight though, the bit about the fate of Zeb's writing career compared to his gothic novel writing grandfather was hilarious and perfect.

With "All of us murderers", KJ Charles takes the core of gothic horror and uses them to weave a narrative of mystery and second-chance romance. Set in Edwardian England, following Zebedee, who's visiting his family at his cousin's manor. He seeks to know his cousin better and have some relaxing time. Unfortunately for him, his brother and another cousin are there too. And Gideon as well, his ex, with whom he parted with on not so nice terms. Oh and there is a ghost, or something that want to pass for a ghost. Nice time awaiting him, right?

I had a great time with Zeb. He has that awareness of the genre he has been written into, helping in making some great choices. He's also deeply kind, and a little chaotic (ADHD coded, in the best, well researched way). His relationship with his family is tense, to say the least, and despite his best efforts, it's hard to push through that. In contrast, his relationship with Gideon is more nuanced, with its hardship but mostly full of love and care. Seeing them talk about what happened between them and creating a new basis was delightful.

As for the mystery plot, it was very entertaining. Full of little clues and misleading infos, playing full on the gothic atmosphere. Some things were easy to guess or to grasp with a little time, other were a delightful surprises and nice plays.

Really glad to have read this!

Few stories prove irresistible enough to make the reader ache to delay the inevitable. "All of Us Murderers" is one such rare find. Set in the Edwardian era, the novel follows twenty-eight-year-old Zeb as he’s invited to a distant relative’s estate, where a former lover, estranged family members, and horrors both sinister and increasingly gruesome await.

It’s a Gothic thriller wrapped in a mystery, pulsing along to the beat of a tender love story—a delicate dichotomy of logic and longing. True to Charles’ signature style, the novel builds from the inside out, creating fleshed-out characters that vibrate and bleed beneath the reader’s fingertips.

Charles takes her storytelling a step further here, offering a protagonist whose neurodivergence quietly shapes the narrative without ever defining it, allowing his inner world to inform the story’s rhythm in ways that feel wholly lived-in and unforced.

As with all things human, the way Zeb navigates reality frames not only his world but the course of his relationship with Gideon, never pulling focus from the story’s deeper cadence. The care and groundedness with which his character is explored offer a breath of fresh air in modern literature, which so often trades authenticity for marketability.

This resistance to worn labels or moral binaries extends to other aspects of "All of Us Murderers," from subtle critiques of the roots of British wealth to the murky ethics of its characters’ inner lives. It also embraces an exploration of sensuality that neither intrudes on the story nor bends to reductive notions of identity or desire.

And so, much of what twists and moves the tightly paced storyline stems from all that is buried deep, the hollow yearnings and cruel desires festering below the sheen of skin. This produces a pulse that demands to be traced, a dull sensation that forces goosebumps to the surface. In their wake, humour, desire, passion, vitriol, and pure horror drive a descent into madness and reckoning. The thrill of the drop wouldn’t be possible without the interplay of the story's many layers, or the tension between interpersonal dynamics and language's subtle manipulations.

"All of Us Murderers" is a delicious, wholly consuming tale—intricate yet immediate, shadowed yet clear-eyed. It's a rare story whose emotional, moral, and literary ambitions are fully realised, reminding us that clarity and truth are rarely the same thing.

got this arc from netgalley!

you might be thinking to yourself: just how gothic can this book be? and the answer is, all the gothic. it is equally as batshit as it is gothic, although i am sure there is a lot of overlap going on there. if you are ever thinking to yourself, "i want a book about rich people behaving badly and then bad things happen to them," well you have come to the right place.

kj charles is a long time favourite of mine, and this book is going to be one that i come back to over and over again (there are so many things i am sure i missed, and i can't wait to find out what they are). zeb is an extremely compelling character and also someone i would love to have as a friend. also, as far as adhd rep goes, i think he does a pretty good job. i have definitely, absolutely, 100% read worse, and i can't off the top of my head say that i have read better. gideon is cool too! but we don't live in his head so i can't tell you as much about him. i would probably like to be his friend, also, because he seems like a nice guy.

i would love to know more about jessamine, but who knows what is happening there! if we ever find out, that is amazing, and if not i promise to suffer in silence because i understand that we don't always get the answer to every little thing no matter how much i may want to etc.

anyways, i have nothing to complain about, and only things i loved, and if i just keep going about them i will end up spoiling the whole novel so i am going to stop writing now while i still can. but read this book!!! it is excellently written and plotted and you won't be able to put it down!!! unless you have bad taste, but then i can't help you.

Take some gothic horror, add spoonfuls of mystery, sprinkle in a second-chance romance, stir well and spread across Edwardian era southern English countryside and you got yourself some good food in the form of All of Us Murderers! Bone apple tea

Zeb's visit to his uncle who he hasn't seen since he was a child is about to be a nice, relaxing, fun time that he really needs. Except for when he shows up at Lackaday House, there's a surprise family reunion with his estranged cousin, brother, and sister-in-law all there being as terrible as always, perhaps even more so when they start fighting over a large family inheritance. To make matters worse, the house itself is large, empty, and ominous, and there are talks of ghosts roaming the halls and a family curse looming over them all. To top it all off Gideon, Zeb's ex, is yet another unexpected prescence at the family gathering and he's not afraid to show how unhappy he is to see Zeb again. Zeb's dream of a relaxing jaunt to the countryside's turning into an absolute nightmare.

This was such a great read! The gothic setting was fantastic and the mystery was highly intriguing. I really enjoyed the messy family dynamics and how KJC never fails to add social commentary to her novels. The romance aspect was also excellent but definitely secondary to the mystery, similar to most other KJC books. While I personally prefer a bit more romance, All of Us Murderers was well balanced.

Zeb was a wonderful and slightly chaotic MC and I thought the ADHD rep was very well done. It hurt to see how everyone dismissed him as flighty, irresponsible, and incapable but I loved his growing self-worth and how kind he was.

Zeb and Gideon were great together! I'm not usually the biggest fan of second chance romance but theirs really worked for me and the spicy scenes had me fanning myself! I do so love how great KJC is with kink in histrom - it always feels way filthier than in contemporary books and the dirty talk and kink was most excellent in this one!

i am a huge fan of kj charles’s work, so i was ecstatic to get the chance to review this book early! a gothic mystery set in edwardian times sounds exactly like something she would knock out of the park — and i’m very pleased to say she did just that.

zeb, our poor unfortunate ingenue (narrator), is lured to his family’s dark, mysterious countryside manor under false pretenses. what he finds there? a list of increasingly terrible relatives, an unfriendly skeleton crew of staff, and worst of all — his ex, currently working as his cousin’s secretary. it’s not a great start for our dear zeb, but damn if he doesn’t try and try again throughout this book! he tries to make amends with his ex, he tries to get along with his family, he tries to atone and apologize for the wounds his own family inflicts on others (which certainly isn’t easy). i really liked his determination to believe in the good in other people, especially after seeing how awful his family is. his interactions with gideon equally touched me — i loved seeing them actually communicate and talk things out, while still maintaining a nice level of angst. it was perfect.

speaking of perfect: i loved the mystery!! i expect nothing less than a perfectly plotted, perfectly paced intrigue from kj charles, and she delivered once again. there are no slow spots, and certain events genuinely gave me chills. i also appreciate that she didn’t shy away from how privilege lends itself to some truly terrible acts of cruelty and violence. overall, it was another hit from kj charles! i can’t wait for more.