Scan barcode
A review by ojtheviking
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
3.0
Sometimes choosing to read a book simply because of its title pays off. This is definitely such a case. I had not heard of this book (nor, admittedly, its author) before I randomly discovered it in some list of recommended novels. And honestly, the title caught my eye so much that I decided to give it a chance. No regrets whatsoever.
This novel takes the typical murder mystery and puts a few spins on it, including a humorous one. It sort of makes sense, as author Benjamin Stevenson is also a stand-up comedian. But it's a very smooth blend with solid pacing; the humor never gets too silly, nor does the mystery get too convoluted.
One of the most interesting parts of this novel is how meta it is. The narrator is very self-aware. He's sometimes talking directly to the reader/listener (yes, he even accounts for the possibility that some of us are listening to the audiobook), he knows when he's being vague or somewhat misleading, he knows what parts come across as clichéd, and he keeps referring to things that will be revisited in later chapters. In essence, not only is he a character in a crime novel, he is also aware that he is in one, and even acknowledges that his role as a narrator is the only reason he comes across as a main character. That's a very nice approach.
Still, the writing is solid beyond being funny. If you stripped away all the humor, the actual mystery would still be intriguing and cleverly put together. It's just that with the added humor, the drama within the family has a touch of parody in it. Old secrets and lies, betrayals, rumors – all of the stuff you'd expect in a crime mystery involving a family gathered (and isolated) at a ski resort.
It's a quick and fun read, recommended if you want a decent mystery that will also make you chuckle every now and then!
This novel takes the typical murder mystery and puts a few spins on it, including a humorous one. It sort of makes sense, as author Benjamin Stevenson is also a stand-up comedian. But it's a very smooth blend with solid pacing; the humor never gets too silly, nor does the mystery get too convoluted.
One of the most interesting parts of this novel is how meta it is. The narrator is very self-aware. He's sometimes talking directly to the reader/listener (yes, he even accounts for the possibility that some of us are listening to the audiobook), he knows when he's being vague or somewhat misleading, he knows what parts come across as clichéd, and he keeps referring to things that will be revisited in later chapters. In essence, not only is he a character in a crime novel, he is also aware that he is in one, and even acknowledges that his role as a narrator is the only reason he comes across as a main character. That's a very nice approach.
Still, the writing is solid beyond being funny. If you stripped away all the humor, the actual mystery would still be intriguing and cleverly put together. It's just that with the added humor, the drama within the family has a touch of parody in it. Old secrets and lies, betrayals, rumors – all of the stuff you'd expect in a crime mystery involving a family gathered (and isolated) at a ski resort.
It's a quick and fun read, recommended if you want a decent mystery that will also make you chuckle every now and then!