“Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” - Benjamin Stevenson

🌨️ Regarding the title, actually? Yes. Actually. That is the premise of this story. Every member of Ernie Cunningham’s extended family, from his mother, to his estranged wife, to his step-father, and the list goes on to include an aunt, an uncle, and sister-in-law, among others (!) has killed someone.

🌨️ Murder mystery fans will enjoy this one. Stevenson combines a dry sense of humor with a creative narrative format, with classic elements of this genre: an estranged family gathered for a grudging reunion at a remote ski resort with an ominous snow storm looming on the horizon.

🌨️ Ernie speaks directly to the reader as both the author of a true-life murder mystery and the detective; he’s both Sherlock and the slow-witted Watson. Stevenson laces Ernie’s narrative with how-tos and tips on writing a murder mystery (see below for examples). It lends much-needed levity to a fractious (understatement) family reunion.

🌨️ If you enjoyed this novel, you’ll appreciate “Magpie Murders” or “A Line to Kill” by Anthony Horowitz.