Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

"Family is gravity. I realized then what Sofia had told me back at the very start of all this. Family is not whose blood runs in your veins, it's who you'd spill it for."

I am giving this book 4 1/2 stars and would recommend it. I'm not usually a huge fan of mysteries, but I enjoyed this family-centered one immensely. I am still thinking about it today having finished it yesterday AND read another book in the interim.

The story's narrator is Ernest Cunningham (Ern), who introduces us to his unique family by sharing the story of how he helped his brother Michael bury a body. The story then jumps to a family reunion at a mountain lodge three years later that Ern reluctantly attends. There, we meet Audrey (mother), Marcelo (stepfather), Sofia (stepsister), Katherine (aunt), Andy (uncle), and Lucy (sister-in-law). Other characters are introduced, including Erin (Ern's estranged wife), Juliette (the lodge owner), and Officer Darius Crawford, who is called to investigate the first murder that occurs while the family is together.

Although the book is called Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, the murders are not the point of the story; the family is. The family who is brought together at the lodge to see someone who has been away for quite a while. The family whose history and issues are doled out in satisfying chunks as the bodies keep piling up at the Sky Lodge. The family trying to determine if a serial killer named the Black Tongue has now started targeting its members.

Ern is a great narrator with a sense of humor about himself and his family, though sometimes he gets bogged down in the details. Most of the time, those details establish the atmosphere (mountain lodge during massive snow storms) and the family dynamics quite well. There were only a couple of parts where I urged Ern to get back to the story at hand. Otherwise, I thought the story proceeded at a good pace. The revelations doled out along the way kept me engaged and wanting to solve the mystery of these deaths as badly as Ern did.

this was an interesting read to say the least. i did end up liking it but it wasn’t as favorite. i feel like there was a few things the author could’ve done so that i could’ve enjoy this a bit more. but either way it was still a fun story to read. it was nice following the main character talk to us directly and tell us the story of which is all of his family commuting murders.

A cozy Australian serial killer mystery and family drama set at a snowy mountain resort where the author is actually the MC and speaks directly to readers in hindsight. I went into this one blind. Definitely humorous and twisty. The writing style is creative and not like any other cozy mystery I’ve read and I enjoyed it!

3.5-4 stars

Thank you to Mariner Books, Benjamin, and NetGalley for advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Posting a more detailed book feature/review to my instagram @tirwinreads on 2/10/23 in partnership with @Bibliolifestyle.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was such a hoot! Ernie is going to his family reunion up the mountain at a ski resort and hotel, cliche? Yes! And that’s the whole point of this book! They haven’t gotten together in a few years because of a specific event that Ernie facilitated…meanwhile, major events like dead bodies start showing up on the hill…

Ernie proceeds to talk to the reader explaining how and why everyone in his family has killed someone, and it’s not what you think!

The whole book is written with a satire that found me smiling often. It is written with a clever hand that kept me guessing and intrigued!

If you liked The Thursday Murder Club or Magpie Murders, I would suspect you’d like this smart mystery!

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the complimentary e-copy of this book.

This was such a crazy, mind-boggling story! The premise of the plot is that the Cunningham family is having a reunion at a ski resort, and once a snowstorm hits there's a murder, another murder, and lots of secrets coming to light.

The story is told from the perspective of Ernest and is broken up by family member. Ernest tells the story of each family member and who they've killed, all while leading up to the main mystery, which I won't talk about in this review because to do so would be to give away some of the plot twists. Just know that this is a brilliantly-written mystery that will leave you guessing the whole time.

4 ⭐️

Ernest Cunningham is part of an unusual family. Everyone in his family has, in some form or fashion, killed someone. The novel begins with Ern joining his family in a snowy chalet for an uncomfortable reunion. This reunion is particularly uncomfortable for him because his family hasn't quite forgiven him for testifying against his big brother in a murder trial three years before. However, the family soon has other larger matters to worry about when an unifldentified body turns up in the snow and the Cunningham clan slowly becomes implicated in this murder, along with a few others. But which Cunningham is truly guilty?
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This book has been compared to Knives Out, and, in some regards, I can see that. The family dynamic at work is definitely complicated and darkly humorous. However, what this book is lacking, in my opinion, is a straight-forward mystery. The backstory of the Cunninghams is so convoluted, it was truly difficult to follow, even as it was explained. There was no chance of guessing the murderer here because I could barely keep up with what the author was plainly conveying. That made this a book that was difficult to get hooked on and really want to read.

This book was fun and witty with dark humor included as well. The prologue drew my attention and the premise was really unique. The narrator, Ern, is an author. he helps other authors write crime and mystery books. All the while, his own family is a mystery. Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn’t grip me as much as the prologue. I wanted to love the book but I just had such a hard time getting into it. The writing was great, I definitely think the author has a lot of talent and a unique point of view. I would absolutely read another one of his books and try again. It took me longer to read this book than many in the past. I think it just fell flat for me.

Interesting concept right from the start, being inside the head of the narrator. Ernest is a character and shares insight with us about his dysfunctional family. Everyone in his family has killed someone, so who could be the murder at this family reunion?! I thought I had solved the mystery, only for him to remind me that in this chapter he stated that it couldn’t be them. This playful thriller had the right amount of humor and twist and turns to keep me guessing. I look forward to reading more from this author.

If you’re looking for a work that’s similar to the movie “Knives Out,” then “Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson would be my recommendation. This novel makes the gears in your brain turn, and I was constantly creating different theories throughout. I was pleasantly surprised to have satire in a mystery thriller, and it made me want to read more books like this. It felt like a quick read, filled with giggles, confusion, and gasps. The writing style fits well with the unreliable yet witty and observant narrator. Stevenson made a very unique and intriguing mystery that will keep you turning pages. Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for this read in exchange for an honest review!

Everyone in Ernest’s family has killed someone. Some multiple times, some only once. Some elaborate, and some boring. But killed someone nonetheless.

I expected to fall head over heels for this book after reading some trusted folks reviews. While I did really enjoy this one, it wasn’t the five star book I expected. I really loved that Ernest was our main narrator, and that he broke the fourth wall several times through the book. It felt much more like being told a story than reading a story. Overall I found this a fun story!

I am going to have to come back to this book later. While I do find the writing style to be quirky and amusing, I am having a hard time following the mystery. So much going on at once. So many people. I will come back to it because I am enjoying how it's written, but DNF for now. So I can't comment on the overall quality of the book.

If like me, you grew up binge reading Agatha Christie and you dig the vibes of Knives Out movies then you certainly must read Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone! If you like your murder mysteries slightly offbeat and memorable, with the narrator breaking the 4th wall, you absolutely must pick up this one. I already know it's going to be one of my 2023 favorites and it's only January. I am also thrilled that this is not the last of Ernest Cunningham - book 2 is already in the works.

Ernest Cunningham writes books about writing books. This story of his family's unusual and deadly reunion at a ski resort follows Ronald Knox's 10 commandments of detective fiction. As a storm hits the resort, a body is found. While trying to unravel the mystery at hand and navigate the minefield of complicated family relationships, Ernest tells us a story about each one of his "killer" family members.

I picked this book for the cover and the title and stayed for the writing and the plot. Narration style was distinctive and set this book apart from other books in the genre. I would love to see this turned into a mini series. Though it took me longer to write the review than to finish reading the book it's still early enough in season that I anticipate seeing this book on many bookstagram/BokTok accounts - it just has that wide appeal vibe to it.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me an early copy of this treat in exchange for an honest review!

READ THIS BOOK. This is the most fun and unique whodunnit I have read in a long time. It is incredibly smart and has plot twist after plot twist. For lovers of classic mysteries (think Agatha Christie, KNIVES OUT type things) - this one is for you. The narrator starts out by proclaiming that “everyone in his family has killed someone” (how’s that for an intro) and takes you through just who has killed who while on a family retreat in the mountains.

Our narrator, Ernest Cunningham, is witty and sarcastic - the perfect combo. If you have a dark sense of humor 🙋🏻‍♀️ this will be right up your alley. Ern writes books on how to write a good mystery novel, so he talks directly to you the reader and knows exactly what he is doing with every word he write.

I don’t think I was smart enough for this book (kidding kind of). Your brain will be scrambling to figure out who did what and how all the stories connect the entire time. You really have to pay attention and tbh I missed a lot of clues. There are a lot of hints at the beginning that will be called back later. It’s just chef’s kiss.

This mystery is told by Ernest Cunningham, reliable narrator, or so he claims in the Prologue. The location of most of the drama is a ski lodge in the mountains of Australia where the Cunningham family reunion is taking place. Ernest is attending under duress, but arrives willing to make the most of it and try to get back into the family's good graces. Over the course of the tale details on the deaths each family member caused or was involved in comes to light as part of an ongoing mosaic that slowly pulls back the revealing curtain that finally reveals the killer and provides a nice send-up the Golden Age mystery vibe. An interesting take on trying to do a Golden Age mystery in today's world. Nicely done!

Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this title!

Our narrator, Ernest, is an author. He's joining his family for a reunion at a remote snowy location. Importantly, this will be the first time he spends with his brother Michael since his confessions put Michael behind bars.
Following Robert Knox's 10 commandments, Ern delivers us the tales of his family members and who they have each killed. There will also be more murder.
The writing style was conversational, and I loved the side shares by Ernest where he tried to help us along.
I loved this. Though I had a few inklings about whodunnit, I absolutely lost the trail at various places and suspected everyone, repeatedly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is an ode to the lore of Sherlock Holmes mysteries with the precision of moving parts and character motivations throughout the book that will leave most readers struggling to keep pace even in advance of a laughably overstuffed and unfathomable conclusion that makes a mockery of jumping the shark. Despite a theoretically open expanse, the wintry backdrop renders the book a locked room mystery, with every advancement, fake, back step, and reveal performed with a watchmaker’s precision that, when orchestrated with the narrator’s conversational, casual delivery, creates a satisfying mystery with a guide. Ideal for readers who want the reveal to be presented to them as opposed to working at the mystery throughout the book. When not acting in the service of the mystery, the characters are largely believable and three dimensional, although it is worth noting that all those precisely calibrated motions of all the characters are for the mystery first, and their own motivations second; realism is something less than a central concern to the writer. But for a population looking for a cozy in disguise or concerned with the mechanisms of how a mystery plays out, this is an extremely satisfying read.

I was not a fan of this premise; it felt like the author was just trying too hard. The narrator was beyond annoying.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” is a fun thriller / mystery that is so unique and outrageous, it’s hard to put down.

The Cunningham family’s reputation proceeds them: narrated by self-proclaimed “reliable narrator” Ernest Cunningham, we are introduced to each member of his family & hear how they each killed someone as we gather clues around the broader mystery of what exactly this family has gotten themselves into.

To me, this book sets out to refresh the “closed door” thriller where characters are stuck in an isolated cabin during a storm (think “The Hunting Party” or “The Sanatorium” — but self aware!). By having our narrator Ernest guide us through the story, it turns the typical thriller tropes upside down: he regularly breaks the 4th wall to make sure readers pick up on clues (literally chapter 14.5 is a list recap of all of the clues thus far!) and gives us funny, direct foreshadowing like “in about 4 chapters or 10 minutes, someone is going to die.” Also, in the vein of being fully transparent with the audience, Ernest even calls out the symbolism in the book, including his own name (Ernest = earnest = reliable narrator).

There are several deaths in this book, and imo the characters move on from them VERY quickly, but because of the satirical tones, it weirdly works. The unraveling of the overarching mystery was sneakily very complicated, and the book kind of went off of the rails at the end (enjoyably so, though!). TBH what is going to stick with me is not all of the motives behind each characters’ actions, but rather Ernest’s voice and how he told the story.

Definitely recommend this for thriller lovers and non thriller lovers alike — I can see why it was a fan favorite of 2022!👏🏼

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

I was excited my request was approved; I mean, check out the title! Of course I had to read this!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is another Agatha Christie wannabe; a group of suspicious characters (in this version, the cast of suspicious people are a family and everyone has something to hide, natch) stranded in at a winter resort as a storm rages.

The main character, Ernest, aka Erna, writes how-to books for a living, including how to write a murder mystery, which makes him the most obvious character to tell the story of what happened.

As a result, the tone of the writing is both humorous and very meta as Ern constantly talks to the reader, as if he's Deadpool.

I'm not a fan of this literary device; I wish authors would stop using this method.

It's not artsy or unique. It's distracting and frustrating and takes me out of the story every time Ern reminds me he's writing this story.

Also, titling each chapter after a relative and introducing flashbacks as to how Ern is connected to this particular member of the family was also not the best way to introduce each person into the story.

The plot was messy. Convoluted. Hard to believe.

Ern's family do sound interesting. I would have liked to know more about them, but the story isn't about his family, but about Ern and how smart he is.

He's not. He's not witty or clever. I didn't dislike him, but I didn't like him. Perhaps it was the tone of the writing, or how Ern was already positioned as an outsider to his family, but I wasn't a fan of his.

The way Ern ties up the mystery, how each person is involved and how he figured it out based on very mundane 'clues' was ridiculous. Not to mention the appearance of Jeremy.

It was hard to take each reveal seriously. My ability to suspend disbelief was already balanced on the precipice when the Black Tongue was introduced, but as Ern explained how he came to his conclusions was my breaking point.

The writing was good, and I was intrigued by his relatives, but the mystery and how everyone factored in was needlessly complicated.