All of Us Murderers Book Review - No Spoilers
I mentored a group of teen writers last month, and one of them submitted a gothic short story so atmospheric and tense that I literally had to put it down for a moment to catch my breath. She had this misty manor, a web of family secrets, and a slow revelation that left me genuinely unsettled. I told her she reminded me of why I love gothic fiction so much: the fog, the dread, the secrets folded inside secrets. I thought about that story while reading All of Us Murderers, because K.J. Charles does exactly what my young writer was reaching for—and she absolutely nails it.
Plot Summary
All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles is a gothic historical mystery romance published by Poisoned Pen Press. Zeb Wyckham is summoned to Lackaday House for a meeting with his powerful, notoriously unpleasant family. Complicating matters considerably: Gideon, his ex-lover, is there too—now working for the family patriarch. As fear and paranoia mount, it becomes clear that someone in the family may be a murderer, and Zeb has nowhere to turn but the man who once held his heart. Set in a fog-shrouded Victorian manor full of dark secrets and even darker family members, this is a story of a cursed family, a gripping mystery, ADHD representation, and a deeply earned second-chance romance between two men who still love each other.
Why I Love This Book
I love how All of Us Murderers layers so many pleasures at once without any of them getting lost. The mystery is genuinely baffling—I couldn't guess the ending, which is rare and delightful. The gothic atmosphere is perfection: I could feel the damp moors and flickering gaslights. But what got me most was Zeb and Gideon. Zeb is a wonderfully drawn character with ADHD, written with care and period-appropriate context. Gideon is steady, patient, and quietly devoted in the most swoon-worthy way. Their reunion doesn't feel manufactured—it's earned, complicated, and entirely believable. K.J. Charles brings her signature wit and social commentary, and the supporting cast of absolutely awful family members is deeply entertaining.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy gothic fiction, historical mystery, LGBTQ+ romance, or second-chance love stories with genuine emotional weight, All of Us Murderers is an exceptional choice. This is a book that rewards patience—the mystery and romance both build steadily toward immensely satisfying conclusions. The romance is secondary to the mystery but absolutely present and deeply felt. Readers who loved A Marvellous Light or other queer historical romances with strong plotting will feel right at home.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Off-page sexual assault, off-page rape and abortion references, sexual abuse discussion, graphic violence, explicit sex scenes, fear of outing (historical context, homosexuality criminalized), bullying, ADHD representation, family toxicity and manipulation.
Tagged As
gothic romance, historical mystery, LGBTQ+ romance, second chance romance, Victorian setting, K.J. Charles, Poisoned Pen Press, murder mystery, gothic manor, ADHD representation, morally complex family, enemies to lovers adjacent, slow burn, explicit, HEA, queer historical fiction
Steam Level
🌶🌶🌶 Moderate
All of Us Murderers has explicit steam, but it's woven naturally into the romance arc rather than dominating the book. The heat serves the characters and the story—it's meaningful, intense, and well-written, with the mystery firmly at the forefront throughout.
