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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rep : ADHD, M/M Relationship
CW: Ableism, Homophobia
🔎Queer Historical Mystery (Early 1900s)
🏘️Gothic Mansion
🥀Exes in Force Proximity
💰Fight Over Inheritance
👪Complicated Family Dynamics
✍🏻Grandfather was a Famous Author
What I Loved
1) The way Zeb's ADHD is written has helped me understand someone in my life who has ADHD and recognise my own ableism and how I can rectify that so this book truly means a lot to me (I do not have ADHD so please look at reviewers who do to see whether they think the portrayal is accurate). "He'd been sitting as close to still as he could, which was to say fidgeting relentlessly and hoping it wasn't annoying his driver too much." Throughout the book Zeb deals with ableism from his family and it is truly heart-breaking. "It's always stop fidgeting and pay attention, as if that wasn't what fidgeting is for."
2) The atmosphere was so well built. I rarely find myself so completely immersed that I feel the time period coming to life but with this book I did. So if you are looking for a historical mystery that doesn't actually gloss over the historical element, definitely check this out.
3) The dry humorous moments in this book really worked for me.
"I didn't hear you come in. Will you please cough or something?" "I did cough" "Cough louder."
4) I did love the relationship between Gideon and Zeb. They had miscommunications at the beginning but they talked about their problems and the following quote truly sums them up perfectly.
"You are excessively chaotic," Gideon said. "I'm excessively orderly. On average, we could work."
5) The epilogue was too fucking funny. The quote about Goodreads had me actually laughing.
Summary
Please read this book when it is released it was so good! The mystery genre often lacks queer diversity and I will be reading more of K.J. Charles' work because the writing was great.
Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and K.J. Charles for this eARC. This review is all my honest opinons.
Rep : ADHD, M/M Relationship
CW: Ableism, Homophobia
🔎Queer Historical Mystery (Early 1900s)
🏘️Gothic Mansion
🥀Exes in Force Proximity
💰Fight Over Inheritance
👪Complicated Family Dynamics
✍🏻Grandfather was a Famous Author
What I Loved
1) The way Zeb's ADHD is written has helped me understand someone in my life who has ADHD and recognise my own ableism and how I can rectify that so this book truly means a lot to me (I do not have ADHD so please look at reviewers who do to see whether they think the portrayal is accurate). "He'd been sitting as close to still as he could, which was to say fidgeting relentlessly and hoping it wasn't annoying his driver too much." Throughout the book Zeb deals with ableism from his family and it is truly heart-breaking. "It's always stop fidgeting and pay attention, as if that wasn't what fidgeting is for."
2) The atmosphere was so well built. I rarely find myself so completely immersed that I feel the time period coming to life but with this book I did. So if you are looking for a historical mystery that doesn't actually gloss over the historical element, definitely check this out.
3) The dry humorous moments in this book really worked for me.
"I didn't hear you come in. Will you please cough or something?" "I did cough" "Cough louder."
4) I did love the relationship between Gideon and Zeb. They had miscommunications at the beginning but they talked about their problems and the following quote truly sums them up perfectly.
"You are excessively chaotic," Gideon said. "I'm excessively orderly. On average, we could work."
5) The epilogue was too fucking funny. The quote about Goodreads had me actually laughing.
Summary
Please read this book when it is released it was so good! The mystery genre often lacks queer diversity and I will be reading more of K.J. Charles' work because the writing was great.
Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and K.J. Charles for this eARC. This review is all my honest opinons.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
I really enjoy Charles’ writing but this was not my favorite showing of theirs. It took me a while to orient myself at the beginning of the novel as I was trying to parse the time and place of the novel. That started me off a bit on the wrong foot. I enjoyed Zeb as a character but wish the romance with Gideon was more prominent in the story. It took a backseat to the machinations of family members and inheritance game.
Rating: 3.5 rounded up
I really enjoy Charles’ writing but this was not my favorite showing of theirs. It took me a while to orient myself at the beginning of the novel as I was trying to parse the time and place of the novel. That started me off a bit on the wrong foot. I enjoyed Zeb as a character but wish the romance with Gideon was more prominent in the story. It took a backseat to the machinations of family members and inheritance game.
Rating: 3.5 rounded up
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!
This was an excellent read. I love how KJ Charles writes, and this little genre shift from romcom into slight gothic horror was a delight! The twists and turns were so much fun and I loved the ending and how everything wrapped up. Another great read from KJ Charles!
This was an excellent read. I love how KJ Charles writes, and this little genre shift from romcom into slight gothic horror was a delight! The twists and turns were so much fun and I loved the ending and how everything wrapped up. Another great read from KJ Charles!
mysterious
tense
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
This was a fun locked room (well, technically locked manor) mystery that had me hooked fairly early on. Part of the enjoyment of reading a mystery novel is the balance of not guessing the ending or a twist too quickly but also not having the reveal be something implausible. All Of Us Murderers did a great job maintaining the balance of a believable mystery and I think a future reread will be enjoyable in order to look out for what extra details I may have missed during my first read. I will say, it took me an embarrassingly long time to realise this was set during the Edwardian period rather than more recently - I just assumed I was supposed to believe rich Brits were Like That and it became vastly more enjoyable when it clicked this was a period piece.
I quite enjoyed being in my fellow ADHD king Zeb’s head as the story unfolded as he made for a likeable narrator and the queer ADHD rep (even if that’s not what we’re calling it in the time period) was refreshing. Zeb and Gideon’s interactions kept me hooked as the story unfolded but I felt the ending was a bit rushed. The epilogue felt a bit cheesy and pulled me out of the story as the ending felt a bit too rushed, turning what could’ve been a 4.5* story into a generous 4* read. If Zeb or Gideon had been less endearing, this would have been a 3* from me but I greatly enjoyed the characters. I'll be looking into reading more novels by KJ Charles after enjoying the writing style and characterization here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eArc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I quite enjoyed being in my fellow ADHD king Zeb’s head as the story unfolded as he made for a likeable narrator and the queer ADHD rep (even if that’s not what we’re calling it in the time period) was refreshing. Zeb and Gideon’s interactions kept me hooked as the story unfolded but I felt the ending was a bit rushed. The epilogue felt a bit cheesy and pulled me out of the story as the ending felt a bit too rushed, turning what could’ve been a 4.5* story into a generous 4* read. If Zeb or Gideon had been less endearing, this would have been a 3* from me but I greatly enjoyed the characters. I'll be looking into reading more novels by KJ Charles after enjoying the writing style and characterization here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eArc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is one of my favorite book covers. Perfection. This was the first non-audiobook I've managed to finish in forever, so that says a lot. I really liked the two MCs and the setting was very fun. I think this book achieves what its going for in terms of tone, but for me it wasn't a total match as a reader. It was hard to both care about the characters and their predicament while also feeling that aspects of the story were meant to be over the top bonkers. I'm just not sure the emotional elements all landed for me as the story neared its end simply because the plot was so silly. And even though I think its meant to be an homage and be silly, I missed the intricate and immaculate plotting I usually love in a KJ book. Again, I think this is more an issue with me as a reader not being a perfect match for what this book is going for. If you're looking for something fun with lovable MCs and what I found to be really great ADHD representation, this is a good bet. If you can appreciate the camp a bit more than I did I think you'll adore it.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
KJ Charles never disappoints. This time with a classic Gothic tale and perfectly flawed lovers.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this from NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely amazing! I loved the gothicness, the mystery, the gas lighting, not to mention the characters! They were all so interesting with such interesting motives and backgrounds. Loved the MC and the love interest, I highly recommend this!
Absolutely amazing! I loved the gothicness, the mystery, the gas lighting, not to mention the characters! They were all so interesting with such interesting motives and backgrounds. Loved the MC and the love interest, I highly recommend this!
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
KJ Charles's authorial genius shines once again in this satirical Gothic country house mystery crossed with second chance romance.
The Wyckham family is, undeniably, monstrous. They're conniving, backstabbing, and cruel. And they're all at Lackaday House, called there by their cousin Wynn, current heir to the family fortune and its appalling Gothic pile. Zebedee, youngest of the family and despised by the rest, arrives for what he thinks will be a pleasant two week visit with his mysterious cousin, only to find himself in a viper's nest. On top of that, his glowering ex-lover is there in the role of Wynn's private secretary. The house is creepy. The servants are unnerving. The company is dreadful. And beaming cousin Wynn is delighted to host them all as he considers who will inherit upon his death.
This is simultaneously a complex mystery, a gothic thriller, a romance, and a rollicking good time. Zeb's internal monologue gives the story humor and verve. His staunch moral character gives it its soul. A brilliant achievement.
The Wyckham family is, undeniably, monstrous. They're conniving, backstabbing, and cruel. And they're all at Lackaday House, called there by their cousin Wynn, current heir to the family fortune and its appalling Gothic pile. Zebedee, youngest of the family and despised by the rest, arrives for what he thinks will be a pleasant two week visit with his mysterious cousin, only to find himself in a viper's nest. On top of that, his glowering ex-lover is there in the role of Wynn's private secretary. The house is creepy. The servants are unnerving. The company is dreadful. And beaming cousin Wynn is delighted to host them all as he considers who will inherit upon his death.
This is simultaneously a complex mystery, a gothic thriller, a romance, and a rollicking good time. Zeb's internal monologue gives the story humor and verve. His staunch moral character gives it its soul. A brilliant achievement.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oh my goodness this was such a delight! I binged this so fast; can’t remember the last time I’ve done that!
This was a unique one from KJ Charles, but she knocks it out of the park, as usual. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that’s a queer romance, gothic novel, and murder mystery all in one. It never feels like too much, though, and it makes it stand out from her other novels. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously, which I love.
At first, I wasn’t sure about Gideon, but I loved Zeb from the start. The way she portrays his ADHD is soooo relatable and made me feel seen. He can’t force himself to work on things he’s not interested in? Yup. He loses himself in intense focus once he actually has the opportunity to concentrate on something he’s interested in? Yup. He can’t stop talking or fidgeting? Yup. I’ve never seen an ADHD character portrayed in historical fiction so I really appreciated that. He was also hilarious! I took pics of so many lines I loved while reading on my kindle and I rarely do that.
The plot kept me guessing the whole time. I didn’t see the ending coming, but it wasn’t so out of left field as to be annoying.
All in all, I loved this one and would highly recommend it!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was a unique one from KJ Charles, but she knocks it out of the park, as usual. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that’s a queer romance, gothic novel, and murder mystery all in one. It never feels like too much, though, and it makes it stand out from her other novels. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously, which I love.
At first, I wasn’t sure about Gideon, but I loved Zeb from the start. The way she portrays his ADHD is soooo relatable and made me feel seen. He can’t force himself to work on things he’s not interested in? Yup. He loses himself in intense focus once he actually has the opportunity to concentrate on something he’s interested in? Yup. He can’t stop talking or fidgeting? Yup. I’ve never seen an ADHD character portrayed in historical fiction so I really appreciated that. He was also hilarious! I took pics of so many lines I loved while reading on my kindle and I rarely do that.
The plot kept me guessing the whole time. I didn’t see the ending coming, but it wasn’t so out of left field as to be annoying.
All in all, I loved this one and would highly recommend it!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!