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andyzaka's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
barbiegirl1993's review against another edition
The premise of a real-life serial killing family drew me in… but book is all telling and no showing. It has so much potential but it’s just so flat. I couldn’t get into it.
the_pink_pharmacist's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Kind of interesting to hear this version of the story. Just a tad darker than a what I currently need.
rpych2's review
3.0
I like that this truly put the fiction in historical fiction, because the Benders were never caught and we have very little information about them. So it was fun to see the author’s creative vision at work when it came to the characterization of them and what ultimately became of them.
I loved how they basically characterized Kate as the mastermind of all of it, as well as using her business as a medium as a grift (because I’ve always personally believed that psychics/mediums are the biggest con-artists out there). The gruesome details were great as well, and I like how each character devolved in a different way as the murders were piling up.
The two things I didn’t love though were how cartoonishly dumb John was. How has nobody sat him down and told him to get over his stepsister and move on with his life so his temper and jealousy doesn’t get them caught? (Which is truly a disgusting sentence to even write out). And unfortunately, I don’t think the writing style was necessarily for me, though I did like the story a lot. And I think that came down to too much talk of Kate’s suitors and too many interludes of Hanson when the outsider’s perspective didn’t add as much. Still a really fun story though.
I loved how they basically characterized Kate as the mastermind of all of it, as well as using her business as a medium as a grift (because I’ve always personally believed that psychics/mediums are the biggest con-artists out there). The gruesome details were great as well, and I like how each character devolved in a different way as the murders were piling up.
The two things I didn’t love though were how cartoonishly dumb John was. How has nobody sat him down and told him to get over his stepsister and move on with his life so his temper and jealousy doesn’t get them caught? (Which is truly a disgusting sentence to even write out). And unfortunately, I don’t think the writing style was necessarily for me, though I did like the story a lot. And I think that came down to too much talk of Kate’s suitors and too many interludes of Hanson when the outsider’s perspective didn’t add as much. Still a really fun story though.
nanc_282's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Blood, Child death, and Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Dementia
meaganmart's review
3.0
Much like the author, Camilla Bruce, I found the story of the "Bloody Benders" to be absolutely fascinating. I flew through this novel (and then through several Wikipedia pages) to try and learn more about the mysterious family that appeared in Kansas, went on a murder spree, and then left as suddenly as they had come. They were never found, never brought to justice, and we have no idea if they moved on with their murder spree in a new area or if they adopted a quiet life within the normal operating boundaries of the law.
Impeccably researched and compulsively readable All the Blood We Share is one that will capture the minds and imaginations of fans of thrillers and true crime alike!
Impeccably researched and compulsively readable All the Blood We Share is one that will capture the minds and imaginations of fans of thrillers and true crime alike!
breckenthereader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookishbekka's review
5.0
Fascinating and horrifying. This book is loosely based on a true story about a family of serial killers. Very well written and hard to put down.
mla2282's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was fine but kind of boring. And, the backstory seemed pointless and did not make the main character sympathetic.