All of Us Murderers

Last week KJ Charles released her new Gothic novel, All of Us Murderers. This is my first time reading her, but it will not be my last! This was such a fun and deliciously creepy book!

Zebedee has been invited to spend a fortnight at his distant cousin Wynn’s home, along with Zeb’s brother, sister-in-law, and some cousins. Oh yeah, and Zeb’s ex-boyfriend Gideon works for Wynn, so he’ll be there too. No one assembled gets along well, and things only get worse when a competition to earn Wynn’s entire inheritance ensues. And then there is talk of ghosts and curses, and some who think they’ve actually seen these phantoms in the house. With suspense, a second-chance-romance, and a rapid descent into mortal danger, this is a thrilling Gothic.

What I Liked:

• Creepy family that keeps getting worse. When our main character, Zeb, arrives at Lackaday House, he’s not exactly thrilled to spending his time with his family. Honestly, they’re all pretty terrible. They treat Zeb badly; they treat each other badly; they’re greedy and cruel. And somehow, as the novel progresses, these awful characters continue to amaze with their depravity. Not great for a family reunion, but great indeed for a suspenseful novel such as this!
• Ode to Gothic literature! So much of All of Us Murderers is a nod to the Gothic canon. It’s a Gothic novel itself, but it’s also constantly referencing other Gothic novels and the themes present within them. Secluded mansion, possible hauntings, sordid history, a touch of madness: it’s all here in spades. Zeb specifically notes the similarities between his stay at Lackaday House and the events that take place in his creepy novelist grandfather’s books, especially The Monastery.
• Zeb’s ADHD. A major part of Zeb’s characterization is his apparent ADHD (though he likely wouldn’t have been diagnosed during this novel’s Edwardian setting). He’s fidgety, chattery, maybe a bit scattered. I liked getting see the world through Zeb’s eyes. Warning though: Zeb’s brother mercilessly belittles him for his differences.
• Former lovers getting a second chance. Zeb and Gideon dated a year ago, but things ended badly, and Gideon isn’t ready to see Zeb in a positive light again just yet. But through forced proximity and increasing danger around them, they have the chance (and need) to reconnect. I loved their renewed chance at a relationship, in spite of their surroundings.
• Growing sense of dread and fear! Ghosts? Writing on the walls? A missing person? A murder?! Things only get freakier and more sinister as the novel progresses, and by the final third my heart was pounding from the adrenaline! The pacing here is perfectly done.

Final Thoughts

All of Us Murderers is a superb novel that’s equal parts horror and romance. It tackles some serious topics (like the atrocities of slavery and colonialism), and it has some pretty awful characters, but it’s also filled with humor and heart. Zeb and Gideon are lovable characters in their own right. This was a thrilling read, and I can’t wait to get into more of KJ Charles’s books.

Special thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy All of Us Murderers here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
Audience	Adult
Genre	Gothic; Romantic Suspense
Setting	England
Number of Pages	352
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	October 7, 2025
Publisher	Poisoned Pen Press

Official Summary

The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for from award-winning author KJ Charles.

WHO WILL SURVIVE LACKADAY HOUSE?

When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative’s remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family—but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there’s no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house’s shadowy depths…

Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House—and live to tell the tale?