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A Family of Killers
From the author of The Perfect Place to Die and Don't Go to Sleep comes another chilling horror that explores the eerie story of America's first serial killer family.
Warren Bullock always thought he was a decent person. But lately he's been haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to commit unspeakable acts of violence against the people around him.
And then the rumors start... There have been a string of disappearances in southeastern Kansas, and his father's friend is one of the missing travelers. When Warren's father leaves to investigate and doesn't return, Warren knows this is his chance to prove that he is stronger than his darkest impulses.
As he makes his way through Kansas, he finds himself at a suspicious inn run by the Benders, a family with deeply unsettling mannerisms. They watch every move he makes, stand over him in his sleep, and the daughter seems to be able to see into both the past and future.
As he delves further into the disappearances, he realizes one or all of the Benders may be responsible for all the missing people―and might be the reason his father never came home. It's up to Warren to set things right, even if that means giving into the voice he has been working so hard to ignore.
Warren Bullock always thought he was a decent person. But lately he's been haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to commit unspeakable acts of violence against the people around him.
And then the rumors start... There have been a string of disappearances in southeastern Kansas, and his father's friend is one of the missing travelers. When Warren's father leaves to investigate and doesn't return, Warren knows this is his chance to prove that he is stronger than his darkest impulses.
As he makes his way through Kansas, he finds himself at a suspicious inn run by the Benders, a family with deeply unsettling mannerisms. They watch every move he makes, stand over him in his sleep, and the daughter seems to be able to see into both the past and future.
As he delves further into the disappearances, he realizes one or all of the Benders may be responsible for all the missing people―and might be the reason his father never came home. It's up to Warren to set things right, even if that means giving into the voice he has been working so hard to ignore.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
87 people are currently reading
5535 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
August 13, 2024
I'm shocked by how much I liked this book, only because I typically dislike historical anything. But historical horror based off the very first family of serial killers????? Uhhhh yeah. I'm down for that!
At over 350 pages, I was nervous I would lose interest. But instead, I couldn't put it down. It moved fast and didn't disappoint as it continued on! Highly recommend!
At over 350 pages, I was nervous I would lose interest. But instead, I couldn't put it down. It moved fast and didn't disappoint as it continued on! Highly recommend!
May 7, 2024
Thanks to SourceBooksFire for my advance copy of this book - releases Aug 6, 2024
This was a great read. Although it takes place back when horses were peoples only transportation, as you read this it feels like a modern-day setting while still having that western touch. So if you like westerns, or don’t like them, this book is for both groups of people.
When his father disappears, Warren takes off by horse to go look for him. But there’s a slight issue, too many people are disappearing and there’s rumors of outlaws killing them.
Warren has his own secret thought - the voice - that speaks to him multiple times a day telling him all the ways in which he could kill someone. There’s also a family secret that Warren has no knowledge of.
This was an intriguing read - I loved the characters and all the sinister undertones. As the story progresses it just gets better and better.
This was a great read. Although it takes place back when horses were peoples only transportation, as you read this it feels like a modern-day setting while still having that western touch. So if you like westerns, or don’t like them, this book is for both groups of people.
When his father disappears, Warren takes off by horse to go look for him. But there’s a slight issue, too many people are disappearing and there’s rumors of outlaws killing them.
Warren has his own secret thought - the voice - that speaks to him multiple times a day telling him all the ways in which he could kill someone. There’s also a family secret that Warren has no knowledge of.
This was an intriguing read - I loved the characters and all the sinister undertones. As the story progresses it just gets better and better.
July 29, 2024
Last year I read a book by this author that I really enjoyed called Don’t Go To Sleep. So when this historical fiction horror story about a serial killer family in Kansas was sent to me, I was extremely eager to read it.
Overall there was a lot of interesting bits to this story. I can’t believe living this close to where all the actual history of the Bender family happened, that other than a few very small stories on the news recently about an anniversary or something, I didn’t know much about this story. I liked how at the beginning of each chapter there was a snippet from real news stories when it was all going on. To be fair, there wasn’t exactly a complete record of these events to give a lot more to the story, which I think gave this author a lot of openings to write his story the way he did.
The story was really about Warren coming into his own, growing up. As the youngest son in a family where he’d also been quite a few years behind his other brothers, he’d kind of had things easier and not only did he not feel like he was capable of as much as his brothers, no one else in the family saw him that way either. There was a lot of interesting history and even geography type of facts told as he traveled to try to find his father who had left to find a friend of the family who hadn’t shown up when he and his infant daughter were supposed to. So this was also a bit of a survival story, as Warren had to remember how to survive in the wilderness. Of course he’d always had his family to do all the actual work, so even though his father and brothers had shown him what to do, it wasn’t ingrained and something he had practice at doing.
Warren had a lot of issues going on with himself to deal with as well. First he totally had social anxiety, didn’t like to be around a lot of people, and didn’t know how to always talk to strangers or even people he knew. He seemed to be a bit of a germ-a-phobe as well. And finally he had this voice inside of him telling him to do horrible violent things to people. Even his own family members. Just to see the gory results. To be fair, I feel like that last aspect didn’t need to be part of the story? But maybe it was just to show that it could be easy to do those things or to give empathy to the Benders? I don’t know. I feel like there were other parts the author had in the story that showed that well enough without this extra bit.
There was a lot of excitement in this story. A tornado, bandits trying to rob him, stampeding buffalo herds, the Benders themselves, and just getting lost too. There was code breaking, solving a mystery and using clues to try to find the Benders. I could see my students enjoying this one for sure!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
Overall there was a lot of interesting bits to this story. I can’t believe living this close to where all the actual history of the Bender family happened, that other than a few very small stories on the news recently about an anniversary or something, I didn’t know much about this story. I liked how at the beginning of each chapter there was a snippet from real news stories when it was all going on. To be fair, there wasn’t exactly a complete record of these events to give a lot more to the story, which I think gave this author a lot of openings to write his story the way he did.
The story was really about Warren coming into his own, growing up. As the youngest son in a family where he’d also been quite a few years behind his other brothers, he’d kind of had things easier and not only did he not feel like he was capable of as much as his brothers, no one else in the family saw him that way either. There was a lot of interesting history and even geography type of facts told as he traveled to try to find his father who had left to find a friend of the family who hadn’t shown up when he and his infant daughter were supposed to. So this was also a bit of a survival story, as Warren had to remember how to survive in the wilderness. Of course he’d always had his family to do all the actual work, so even though his father and brothers had shown him what to do, it wasn’t ingrained and something he had practice at doing.
Warren had a lot of issues going on with himself to deal with as well. First he totally had social anxiety, didn’t like to be around a lot of people, and didn’t know how to always talk to strangers or even people he knew. He seemed to be a bit of a germ-a-phobe as well. And finally he had this voice inside of him telling him to do horrible violent things to people. Even his own family members. Just to see the gory results. To be fair, I feel like that last aspect didn’t need to be part of the story? But maybe it was just to show that it could be easy to do those things or to give empathy to the Benders? I don’t know. I feel like there were other parts the author had in the story that showed that well enough without this extra bit.
There was a lot of excitement in this story. A tornado, bandits trying to rob him, stampeding buffalo herds, the Benders themselves, and just getting lost too. There was code breaking, solving a mystery and using clues to try to find the Benders. I could see my students enjoying this one for sure!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
September 1, 2024
Usually, when I finish a book by this author, I am left wanting more. You'd think that was a good thing, but it's not in this case. I always feel like there was something missing or lacking, and the story wasn't wholly finished. This book did not leave me feeling too much of that, and I'm so glad! I like the authors work and his stories, but the lack of completeness drove me crazy.
October 20, 2024
This was kinda a bore, what started off as a promising story line quickly became a back burner to another more less interesting one. And the original one was a bust by the end.
May 16, 2025
A Family of Killers was a very eye-catching book. It starts off with the protagonist Warren having an interesting problem with a murderous voice in his head. He learns to control the voice throughout the book, but it still lingers around taking over his thoughts. The book starts to take a twist when his Father one night takes him on a secret task. Where he then learned his dad’s secret and the towns.
Getting farther into the book there seemed to be random mysterious disappearances including one of their family friends. Warren's father said he would go on a 10 day trip to try and find his friend. When his 10 days came and went with still no sign of his dad he grew worried. Once he convinced them to let him go things just got weirder when he ended up staying with a strange family. And as it went on he discovered odd things about the disappearing, who could be behind them, and things about the family.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a very easy book to get hooked to, It’s very suspenseful and attention grabbing. If anyone likes murder mysteries, crime, or even just less boring books, I would 100% recommend this book.
Getting farther into the book there seemed to be random mysterious disappearances including one of their family friends. Warren's father said he would go on a 10 day trip to try and find his friend. When his 10 days came and went with still no sign of his dad he grew worried. Once he convinced them to let him go things just got weirder when he ended up staying with a strange family. And as it went on he discovered odd things about the disappearing, who could be behind them, and things about the family.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a very easy book to get hooked to, It’s very suspenseful and attention grabbing. If anyone likes murder mysteries, crime, or even just less boring books, I would 100% recommend this book.
November 22, 2024
A story from the 1800's, I'll be there
I think the author captured his scenes perfectly I enjoyed it...
Didn't knew about the Benders, had to go looking for their story,
this is a great historical fiction, about a boy troubled with a voice telling him to kill, he had to fight the voice then it was finding Nemo instead here Nemo was going through the wilderness, storms, buffalos and outlaws to find his dad.
I like how every chapter has a newspaper clip from that time about the events
I think the author captured his scenes perfectly I enjoyed it...
Didn't knew about the Benders, had to go looking for their story,
this is a great historical fiction, about a boy troubled with a voice telling him to kill, he had to fight the voice then it was finding Nemo instead here Nemo was going through the wilderness, storms, buffalos and outlaws to find his dad.
I like how every chapter has a newspaper clip from that time about the events
September 2, 2024
This was boring, and then it really picked up, and then it got kind of boring again. So I’ll give it 3 stars. I have never heard of the Bender family, but I have now learned they were a real “family” of serial killers, so I really like this historical fiction telling of the murders and what could have happened to them. Thanks Libro.fm for the ALC!
July 13, 2025
This was such a wild rollercoaster! Historical fiction set in the country in the late 1800’s about a serial killer family?! I’m so in.
It exceeded my expectations, I enjoyed this a whole lot and the ending was just *chefs kiss* in my opinion
(Brb gonna go research the Bender family now)
It exceeded my expectations, I enjoyed this a whole lot and the ending was just *chefs kiss* in my opinion
(Brb gonna go research the Bender family now)
August 22, 2024
3.5 stars
The entire book is based on a real serial killer family from the late 1800's. Each chapter begins with newspaper excerpts that made the story even more historical!
The entire book is based on a real serial killer family from the late 1800's. Each chapter begins with newspaper excerpts that made the story even more historical!
February 27, 2025
Interesting concept well executed, wish it had been slightly longer.
August 3, 2024
Thank you Source Books for the ARC! It was a fun read but a little predictable.
September 23, 2024
A family of Killers follows Warren who has been haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to commit acts of violence against the people around him. There have been a string of disappearances in southeastern Kanasa and his father's friend is one of the missing people. Waren's father leaves to investigate but doesn't return. So Wareen knows he has to go and find his other. On his travels, he meets the Benders a family who runs an inn. Soon he realizes the Benders might be the ones who are responsible for all the missing people.
This sounded like it was going to be really good. However, this book just missed the mark for me. I feel like this book was trying to be a historical fiction, thriller, and horror book all at once. I felt like this book had a lot of unnecessary details that just made the book more confusing. I really did want to like this one. But It just really missed the mark for me. I do really like this author though. This was just one of his books that I think you can skip.
Thank you so much source books for the copy of this book.
This sounded like it was going to be really good. However, this book just missed the mark for me. I feel like this book was trying to be a historical fiction, thriller, and horror book all at once. I felt like this book had a lot of unnecessary details that just made the book more confusing. I really did want to like this one. But It just really missed the mark for me. I do really like this author though. This was just one of his books that I think you can skip.
Thank you so much source books for the copy of this book.
April 30, 2025
I’m not normally a fan of historical fiction, but I do enjoy true crime. So when I came across this book about one of the first known serial killer families in the US, I had to read it. I think this was very well done. It was fast-paced and easy to get hooked. I also really love how it portrayed OCD (and not just the cleaning obsessed OCD we normally see portrayed in books). Well done!
August 6, 2024
What a surprisingly interesting read!! I received an ARC of this from my local bookstore and as it comes out tomorrow I needed to get to it, and I was not disappointed! I loved the historical aspect of this as well as “The Voice” that Warren struggles with throughout the book, it made it so much more intriguing. Very very good for a YA thriller!!
October 1, 2025
An interesting overall read, I think the thing that interested me most, and really, really tugged on my heartstrings, was Warren's struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive thoughts. Good god, it's so gruesome but done so well that it hurt to read parts of it and I'm here for that representation. The description of the Benders was fun, and I resorted to sing google translate whenever they were speaking German cause I wanted to know what the hell was going on.
(I was really hoping we'd get a crossover either from Etta or Gianna, but alas)
(I was really hoping we'd get a crossover either from Etta or Gianna, but alas)
June 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
October 20, 2025
This book was super annoying, and I’m sorry. I wish I could say otherwise, because it was an interesting premise, in theory. But when the main character is such a dud that a) even the maniacal voice is in his head is telling him what a f*k up he is, and b) I forgot his name so much that whenever someone said “Warren” I asked, who is that? —when those two things are true, then obviously there is something seriously wrong. And it’s not the crazy killer family.
That’s not a spoiler, by the way. It’s the name of the book. A Family of Killers. So you know when our “hero” comes across a freaky-deaky family in the woods in the search for his father, that’s going to be the family of killers. And that’s not really a spoiler either, because he gets to their house on page 66. out of 370.
“But Megan, there’s so much book left, what is the rest of the book about? Is it how he is staying at their house and he keeps noticing weird behaviors, things that just don’t seem right, until he finally realizes these are the people he’s been looking for, only to discover it’s too late??”
No. That would be a much better book. What actually happens is he stays with them one night, gets sucked up a tornado, some other dude pretty much tells him that “oh yeah, that family is probably the one doing all the murders around here” he decides to go back and confront them, only to find out they have left (like two weeks ago? time is very murky in this book) and all that is left of them is this stinky smell that smells like….dead bodies. Then he spends FOUR CHAPTERS recruiting people to dig up Spot A (no bodies) Spot B (no bodies) Spot C (no bodies) until finally he thinks the orchard that he clocked ON PAGE 66 is where the bodies are. And everyone congratulates him on being so smart to figure it out and I’m like that was the last place you looked! Then he spends the rest of the book trying to track down the Killer Family and mostly f*king up about it. You know how much this “Family of Killers” is actually present? Like 3 chapters, I’m serious. This is not a book about them, it’s a book about a kid who overcomes his self-doubt and intrusive thoughts through, at the end of it, dressing up like a cowboy and getting a hug from his mom.
Also, at the beginning of the book he is “haunted” by “a Voice” that tells him he should k*ll people and describes super intricate ways of doing so, only for the Voice to kind of shut up less than half way through, and when the time comes that he actually does have to k*ll someone, he actually TRIPS OVER THE GD FLOOR BOARD AND MISSES. And then realizes, “Oh, you know what? Now that I see all these d*d people, I don’t think I really am a murderer just waiting to happen. This doesn’t appeal to me.”
That’s not a spoiler, by the way. It’s the name of the book. A Family of Killers. So you know when our “hero” comes across a freaky-deaky family in the woods in the search for his father, that’s going to be the family of killers. And that’s not really a spoiler either, because he gets to their house on page 66. out of 370.
“But Megan, there’s so much book left, what is the rest of the book about? Is it how he is staying at their house and he keeps noticing weird behaviors, things that just don’t seem right, until he finally realizes these are the people he’s been looking for, only to discover it’s too late??”
No. That would be a much better book. What actually happens is he stays with them one night, gets sucked up a tornado, some other dude pretty much tells him that “oh yeah, that family is probably the one doing all the murders around here” he decides to go back and confront them, only to find out they have left (like two weeks ago? time is very murky in this book) and all that is left of them is this stinky smell that smells like….dead bodies. Then he spends FOUR CHAPTERS recruiting people to dig up Spot A (no bodies) Spot B (no bodies) Spot C (no bodies) until finally he thinks the orchard that he clocked ON PAGE 66 is where the bodies are. And everyone congratulates him on being so smart to figure it out and I’m like that was the last place you looked! Then he spends the rest of the book trying to track down the Killer Family and mostly f*king up about it. You know how much this “Family of Killers” is actually present? Like 3 chapters, I’m serious. This is not a book about them, it’s a book about a kid who overcomes his self-doubt and intrusive thoughts through, at the end of it, dressing up like a cowboy and getting a hug from his mom.
Also, at the beginning of the book he is “haunted” by “a Voice” that tells him he should k*ll people and describes super intricate ways of doing so, only for the Voice to kind of shut up less than half way through, and when the time comes that he actually does have to k*ll someone, he actually TRIPS OVER THE GD FLOOR BOARD AND MISSES. And then realizes, “Oh, you know what? Now that I see all these d*d people, I don’t think I really am a murderer just waiting to happen. This doesn’t appeal to me.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2024
It is not often you see serial killer/horror historical fiction, especially not with a male teen protagonist. Who very much appears to have some of the worst OCD symptoms - intrusive thoughts especially, and the social anxiety that accompanies. And a Westward Expansion setting!
And as scary as it looks, there is very little of your actual gore or violence - grossest thing in here is the MC pulling a piece of wood out of his leg after getting caught in a tornado. Plenty of suspense and dread, though - difficult to put down once you've picked it up.
I've seen another reviewer wish that the author had explored the motives for the murders, and I think this is where most readers will fall down an internet rabbit hole. The Benders appear to have just been awful people - criminals who stole anything from anyone who they could get to hold still long enough to bonk on the head. That kind of motive is always going to be mysterious to those of us who are not sociopaths.
The absence of the Osage people is notable and hard to excuse. Yes, they had been paid off by this point in time and sent packing, but one would expect them to be around. There's even a mention of the Ingalls family, who had settled briefly in the area but who left even before their crops came in because Ma was freaked out by the Osage. (What the hell was so bad about Wisconsin, CHARLES.)
BUT. The one thing that pissed me off came just after the 50 page mark - 50 pages is what I give a book before I commit to reading it. Our main character, Warren, who as previously mentioned is socially awkward, is searching for his father who has gone missing. He has little success in his queries until he spots a young woman peacefully reading a book. He walks up to her, says - literally, "What book?" and when she reveals that she is reading Dickens, proceeds to have a pleasant conversation with her and eventually gets around to asking after his father.
LADIES. Do we recognize this situation? Is Warren mistaken in thinking that a woman reading a book is just killing time until she can have a conversation with a man she doesn't know? BRYCE. You are a librarian for fuck's sake. It's possible we have even met. Do I have to get a t-shirt? Do I have to start a "The More You Know" campaign? This poor chick probably has to read her Dickens in 10-page increments because buffoons like this guy keep seeing her activity as a conversation opener.
ARGH. I'm going to go work on a spreadsheet until I calm down.
And as scary as it looks, there is very little of your actual gore or violence - grossest thing in here is the MC pulling a piece of wood out of his leg after getting caught in a tornado. Plenty of suspense and dread, though - difficult to put down once you've picked it up.
I've seen another reviewer wish that the author had explored the motives for the murders, and I think this is where most readers will fall down an internet rabbit hole. The Benders appear to have just been awful people - criminals who stole anything from anyone who they could get to hold still long enough to bonk on the head. That kind of motive is always going to be mysterious to those of us who are not sociopaths.
The absence of the Osage people is notable and hard to excuse. Yes, they had been paid off by this point in time and sent packing, but one would expect them to be around. There's even a mention of the Ingalls family, who had settled briefly in the area but who left even before their crops came in because Ma was freaked out by the Osage. (What the hell was so bad about Wisconsin, CHARLES.)
BUT. The one thing that pissed me off came just after the 50 page mark - 50 pages is what I give a book before I commit to reading it. Our main character, Warren, who as previously mentioned is socially awkward, is searching for his father who has gone missing. He has little success in his queries until he spots a young woman peacefully reading a book. He walks up to her, says - literally, "What book?" and when she reveals that she is reading Dickens, proceeds to have a pleasant conversation with her and eventually gets around to asking after his father.
LADIES. Do we recognize this situation? Is Warren mistaken in thinking that a woman reading a book is just killing time until she can have a conversation with a man she doesn't know? BRYCE. You are a librarian for fuck's sake. It's possible we have even met. Do I have to get a t-shirt? Do I have to start a "The More You Know" campaign? This poor chick probably has to read her Dickens in 10-page increments because buffoons like this guy keep seeing her activity as a conversation opener.
ARGH. I'm going to go work on a spreadsheet until I calm down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bryce Moore for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Family of Killers coming out August 6, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Warren Bullock always thought he was a decent person. But lately he's been haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to commit unspeakable acts of violence against the people around him.
And then the rumors start... There have been a string of disappearances in southeastern Kansas, and his father's friend is one of the missing travelers.
When Warren's father leaves to investigate and doesn't return, Warren knows this is his chance to prove that he is stronger than his darkest impulses.
As he makes his way through Kansas, he finds himself at a suspicious inn run by the Benders, a family with deeply unsettling mannerisms. They watch every move he makes, stand over him in his sleep, and the daughter seems to be able to see into both the past and future.
As he delves further into the disappearances, he realizes one or all of the Benders may be responsible for all the missing people―and might be the reason his father never came home. It's up to Warren to set things right, even if that means giving into the voice he has been working so hard to ignore.
I really enjoy this author’s writing. I think it’s a good mix of historical and horror. This book definitely didn’t disappoint! I’m from the Midwest, so I’ve read a few books on the Benders. It’s super creepy and intriguing history to learn about. I thought Warren was definitely an interesting character. He’s thrown into the action of westward expansion and the building of America. I loved the journey he went on. I think a lot of the book is focused on him. It would’ve been nice to see a little more into the other characters’ storylines. But I loved the book. It held my attention!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical true crime mixed with fiction!
Warren Bullock always thought he was a decent person. But lately he's been haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to commit unspeakable acts of violence against the people around him.
And then the rumors start... There have been a string of disappearances in southeastern Kansas, and his father's friend is one of the missing travelers.
When Warren's father leaves to investigate and doesn't return, Warren knows this is his chance to prove that he is stronger than his darkest impulses.
As he makes his way through Kansas, he finds himself at a suspicious inn run by the Benders, a family with deeply unsettling mannerisms. They watch every move he makes, stand over him in his sleep, and the daughter seems to be able to see into both the past and future.
As he delves further into the disappearances, he realizes one or all of the Benders may be responsible for all the missing people―and might be the reason his father never came home. It's up to Warren to set things right, even if that means giving into the voice he has been working so hard to ignore.
I really enjoy this author’s writing. I think it’s a good mix of historical and horror. This book definitely didn’t disappoint! I’m from the Midwest, so I’ve read a few books on the Benders. It’s super creepy and intriguing history to learn about. I thought Warren was definitely an interesting character. He’s thrown into the action of westward expansion and the building of America. I loved the journey he went on. I think a lot of the book is focused on him. It would’ve been nice to see a little more into the other characters’ storylines. But I loved the book. It held my attention!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical true crime mixed with fiction!
Read
December 6, 2024In the book "A Family Of Killers" by Bryce Moore, the PROTAGONIST Warren feels overwhelmed by the sinister voices in his head. These voices try to temp him into doing diabolical actions. Throughout the story he continuously fights the thoughts until one night his father went to investigate a friend's disappearance but he failed to return. He instinctively pushed the thoughts away and went after his father, in an attempt to bring him home. During his travels, Warren comes across a mysterious family that watches him constantly, stands over him while he sleeps, and has a daughter that claims can see the past and future. Warren ended up leaving then returning to the now abandoned, but once full, house that the Binders once called home. He finds out that the Binders (ANTAGONIST) killed everyone that has been going missing all along Kansas. At the end he killed the binders and escaped with the daughter of the binders.
I connect to this book because I want to be a detective and solve crimes. In the book, Warren has several depression and thoughts like he isn't good enough. I feel like I and others have a one point felt that way in some way. I also feel like people around the world has thoughts that they shouldn't have, such as sinister or devilish.
I overall like this book because I enjoy reading horror or detective stories. I really like how the author created Warrens CHARACTER and the way he described his overall personality. I also really liked the timeline that it was set in because it was set in the 1800's. The setting being 1800's added more of a suspense and I really enjoyed reading this book.
I connect to this book because I want to be a detective and solve crimes. In the book, Warren has several depression and thoughts like he isn't good enough. I feel like I and others have a one point felt that way in some way. I also feel like people around the world has thoughts that they shouldn't have, such as sinister or devilish.
I overall like this book because I enjoy reading horror or detective stories. I really like how the author created Warrens CHARACTER and the way he described his overall personality. I also really liked the timeline that it was set in because it was set in the 1800's. The setting being 1800's added more of a suspense and I really enjoyed reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
"A Family of Killers" is based upon the true story of the Benders, a family of serial killers in 1870s Kansas who murdered upwards of twenty men. We follow Warren Bullock, a seventeen-year-old whose father goes in search of his friend who went missing on his way through Kansas. When his father does not return, Warren goes on a search to find out what happened, all the while battling his inner Voice urging him to kill anyone who gets in his way...
I am not typically a fan of Westerns, with their colonial overtones smeared over with the glossy veneer of adventure. However, "A Family of Killers," while having Western elements, leans more into a story of survival. I wouldn't consider this book a murder mystery, as it's fairly obvious who is behind the mysterious disappearances as soon as the Benders are introduced (not to mention the summary pretty much gives it away). Instead, much like the film "The Revenant," much of the tension comes from the lengths Warren goes to stay alive in a harsh environment, among dangerous men and women, to seek his revenge.
There is a hint of bildungsroman, as it is heavily coded that Warren is neurodivergent, avoiding socializing with others and preferring a set routine and schedule. How he overcomes this hesitancy to succeed in his mission is compelling and you can't help but root for him as he thinks his way out of each obstacle.
Thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am not typically a fan of Westerns, with their colonial overtones smeared over with the glossy veneer of adventure. However, "A Family of Killers," while having Western elements, leans more into a story of survival. I wouldn't consider this book a murder mystery, as it's fairly obvious who is behind the mysterious disappearances as soon as the Benders are introduced (not to mention the summary pretty much gives it away). Instead, much like the film "The Revenant," much of the tension comes from the lengths Warren goes to stay alive in a harsh environment, among dangerous men and women, to seek his revenge.
There is a hint of bildungsroman, as it is heavily coded that Warren is neurodivergent, avoiding socializing with others and preferring a set routine and schedule. How he overcomes this hesitancy to succeed in his mission is compelling and you can't help but root for him as he thinks his way out of each obstacle.
Thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 9, 2025
Honestly this is a fantastic book.
I know there were some complaints and I honestly feel like that's because this was a slow burn, and wonderful building slow burn, as soon as this started my heart broke for the MC, poor kid, sounds like he struggles with OCD and Anxiety which are both things i deal with, how many times have i thought, am I a bad person for having thoughts that are intrusive, which is the crux of my OCD.
Then tie in the anxiety and you are get locked into a OCD loop and cant get out, for our MC that was that he was a bad person a killer, etc. which i don't think he was , i don't think he'd ever have done it, because at his root he's not, he's just living in a time period when no one understands mental health.
That being said, having those disorders and living in basically the wild west , not a great mix, and I can see how he ended up feeling so different from his family.
But when he decided to go after his Pa, I was PROUD , I loved it, his journey realizing he CAN do this shit, he can be smart, he is worth something other then just a burden.
The build up takes a bit before it pays off, but in my opinion it paid off, Id actually like to see a continuation of his story where HE becomes like a local lawman or something.
This one hit home for me, fabulous, you have a huge fan after this .
I know there were some complaints and I honestly feel like that's because this was a slow burn, and wonderful building slow burn, as soon as this started my heart broke for the MC, poor kid, sounds like he struggles with OCD and Anxiety which are both things i deal with, how many times have i thought, am I a bad person for having thoughts that are intrusive, which is the crux of my OCD.
Then tie in the anxiety and you are get locked into a OCD loop and cant get out, for our MC that was that he was a bad person a killer, etc. which i don't think he was , i don't think he'd ever have done it, because at his root he's not, he's just living in a time period when no one understands mental health.
That being said, having those disorders and living in basically the wild west , not a great mix, and I can see how he ended up feeling so different from his family.
But when he decided to go after his Pa, I was PROUD , I loved it, his journey realizing he CAN do this shit, he can be smart, he is worth something other then just a burden.
The build up takes a bit before it pays off, but in my opinion it paid off, Id actually like to see a continuation of his story where HE becomes like a local lawman or something.
This one hit home for me, fabulous, you have a huge fan after this .
September 4, 2025
**NOT JUST SPOILERS, BUT PLOT AND ENDING AS WELL**
I have written this review to help me remember the plot when I inevitably forget it after tomorrow. You are more than welcome to read it, but know that I have spoiled the whole book.
Set in the 1870s. Warren is the youngest male of a family of 8. His Dad was a judge, but retired. All of Warren's brothers have moved on to start families of their own. Warren has bad thoughts of killing people. It bothers him enough that he is constantly aware of his surroundings and potential weapons. There have been men going missing in the area, including a friend of the family. Warren's father sets off to try to find his friend or figure out what happened to him and the others, but he doesn't return after 2 weeks. Warren decided to set off on his own to find his father. He comes across a German family - the Benders. They let him stay the night, but they act weird around him. Ma & Pa don't speak any English. John & Kate, their grown kids, speak English, but John laughs like a hyena, and Kate is rather provocative. Warren is quite enamored by Kate and decides to stay the night. The following day, John & Kate take Warren to where they think his Father went. Kate fakes a seance that seems pretty damn real, telling him that his Father and friend are dead and he needs to head to Indian territory to find his killers. Warren takes off in that direction. He has many adventures on this trip - a tornado, a stampede, and general misery. After the tornado, a man finds him and nurses him back to health, telling him all about how awful the Benders are. Convinced that they had something to do with his Father's death/disappearance, Warren sets off to find them, but when he gets there, they're gone. He finds a crawl space under their floor filled with old blood. A bunch of men come, and they tear up the property and find all the bodies of the missing men. Warren finds a few papers with numbers on them and cracks the code to find their next meeting space. He plans an ambush and winds up killing all of them and going home.
There is a ton of inner dialogue - all Warren's. This book was nothing like I expected. The summary did not mention this was set in the 1870s, or I never would've picked it up. I'm glad I made it through it, but it didn't excite me.
I have written this review to help me remember the plot when I inevitably forget it after tomorrow. You are more than welcome to read it, but know that I have spoiled the whole book.
Set in the 1870s. Warren is the youngest male of a family of 8. His Dad was a judge, but retired. All of Warren's brothers have moved on to start families of their own. Warren has bad thoughts of killing people. It bothers him enough that he is constantly aware of his surroundings and potential weapons. There have been men going missing in the area, including a friend of the family. Warren's father sets off to try to find his friend or figure out what happened to him and the others, but he doesn't return after 2 weeks. Warren decided to set off on his own to find his father. He comes across a German family - the Benders. They let him stay the night, but they act weird around him. Ma & Pa don't speak any English. John & Kate, their grown kids, speak English, but John laughs like a hyena, and Kate is rather provocative. Warren is quite enamored by Kate and decides to stay the night. The following day, John & Kate take Warren to where they think his Father went. Kate fakes a seance that seems pretty damn real, telling him that his Father and friend are dead and he needs to head to Indian territory to find his killers. Warren takes off in that direction. He has many adventures on this trip - a tornado, a stampede, and general misery. After the tornado, a man finds him and nurses him back to health, telling him all about how awful the Benders are. Convinced that they had something to do with his Father's death/disappearance, Warren sets off to find them, but when he gets there, they're gone. He finds a crawl space under their floor filled with old blood. A bunch of men come, and they tear up the property and find all the bodies of the missing men. Warren finds a few papers with numbers on them and cracks the code to find their next meeting space. He plans an ambush and winds up killing all of them and going home.
There is a ton of inner dialogue - all Warren's. This book was nothing like I expected. The summary did not mention this was set in the 1870s, or I never would've picked it up. I'm glad I made it through it, but it didn't excite me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
Warren knows he's dangerous. The Voice in his head always has him looking for weapons and describes violent ways of killing whoever is in the room with him. But when Warren's father goes into the Kansas wilderness looking for a missing friend and doesn't return, Warren is the only one who find out what happened. What ensues is an engaging adventure as Warren follows his father's trail and lands on a bigger mystery than he ever could have imagined. It will test every bit of Warren's resolve and resourcefulness if he wants to make it back home alive.
This story is almost a historical horror, which isn't something I've really read before. All the details surrounding the Voice and the actions of the Benders would solidly land this book in our horror section. Discovering that the Benders were a real family of serial killers and that the entire book is based on that historical truth, including the newspaper excerpts at the beginning of each chapter, makes it more historical than I originally realized. Although this book won't be for every reader and the story sometimes drags in places, many of our horror fans will be delightfully engaged with this based in reality story.
I read an ARC from Edelweiss.
This story is almost a historical horror, which isn't something I've really read before. All the details surrounding the Voice and the actions of the Benders would solidly land this book in our horror section. Discovering that the Benders were a real family of serial killers and that the entire book is based on that historical truth, including the newspaper excerpts at the beginning of each chapter, makes it more historical than I originally realized. Although this book won't be for every reader and the story sometimes drags in places, many of our horror fans will be delightfully engaged with this based in reality story.
I read an ARC from Edelweiss.
August 17, 2024
This novel has a lot of intrigue, tension, and a hint of creepiness. I appreciate how the author creates tension, and the vivid descriptions transport me to the past. Based on the family of America's first serial killers, I thought that was incredibly interesting. Texas, Kansas, and Missouri in the late 1800s made for a nice setting.
What I found less appealing about the book was its pace. The plot became a bit monotonous as it proceeded to move slowly after an initial promising start. The entire investigation seemed to have taken up far too much time at one point, both in terms of the book's plot and timeline. I don't think it was a good thing that some things went unanswered because it left the plot seeming unfinished.
Furthermore, although I respect Moore's choice to depict mental illness within a historical framework, this subject wasn't well handled. The topic of mental health appeared a little stereotyped and understudied.
It was nonetheless an intriguing read in spite of its flaws. I would suggest this book to anybody who enjoy fiction blended with historical true crime.
What I found less appealing about the book was its pace. The plot became a bit monotonous as it proceeded to move slowly after an initial promising start. The entire investigation seemed to have taken up far too much time at one point, both in terms of the book's plot and timeline. I don't think it was a good thing that some things went unanswered because it left the plot seeming unfinished.
Furthermore, although I respect Moore's choice to depict mental illness within a historical framework, this subject wasn't well handled. The topic of mental health appeared a little stereotyped and understudied.
It was nonetheless an intriguing read in spite of its flaws. I would suggest this book to anybody who enjoy fiction blended with historical true crime.
January 3, 2025
Content warnings: murder, blood, gore, death of a parent, animal death, death of an infant, gun violence, physical injury, intrusive thoughts, racism towards First Nations populations, mob mentality, lynching, graphic descriptions of corpses
3.75 stars
I really love how Moore takes horrifying true crime events from the past and weaves them into compelling young adult thrillers. My favourite is still The Perfect Place to Die because it's so indescribably tense and gripping, and HH Holmes was a creepy little freak of a man. But this was fun too, because it's a case I knew nothing about so I got to go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and I love that!
I will say, the middle section of this dragged for me, and I suspect that's because for a lot of the time, Warren is off on his own, tracking and hunting down those responsible and, like, it was a necessary part of the story? But at the same time, it's literally just a teenage boy and his horse out on the prairie with no human interaction and it got a little boring there for a while.
The ending made up for it though, so I guess there's that?
3.75 stars
I really love how Moore takes horrifying true crime events from the past and weaves them into compelling young adult thrillers. My favourite is still The Perfect Place to Die because it's so indescribably tense and gripping, and HH Holmes was a creepy little freak of a man. But this was fun too, because it's a case I knew nothing about so I got to go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and I love that!
I will say, the middle section of this dragged for me, and I suspect that's because for a lot of the time, Warren is off on his own, tracking and hunting down those responsible and, like, it was a necessary part of the story? But at the same time, it's literally just a teenage boy and his horse out on the prairie with no human interaction and it got a little boring there for a while.
The ending made up for it though, so I guess there's that?
June 23, 2024
In the wilds of Kansas in the 1870's the homesteaders were afraid of two things - traveling through the Indian Territory and outlaws. Warren's family are lawman and he being the youngest is untested and constantly fighting the voices in his head telling him to commit violent acts (even to his own family). When his father leaves to search for a missing friend doesn't return Warren sets out to find him. Along the way he stops to water and feed his horse as well as ask after his father. One stop is to a strange cabin where the family acts wrong. The teenage daughter convinces Warren during a seance that his dad is dead and he should hunt down the killers. It is only much later that he discovers who the killers really are. This is a slow burn coming-of-age true crime story in a western setting with a bit of horror thrown in . Based on a real serial killer family it is very violent, intense and it will appeal to adults as well as young adults. This is a western IN COLD BLOOD. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
July 19, 2024
3.5 Stars
I'm surprised by how much I liked this book, since I didn't particularly enjoy Bryce Moor's Don't Go to Sleep. Happy to report that this book, in terms of writing and story, is a definite improvement! Though I did dislike the sort of sticky mental health narrative here (which relies on more negative stereotypes than I would have liked), I think it ultimately surpasses that early fumbling. Was this the best book ever? I mean, not particularly. But getting a decently done historical thriller (based on true crime!) is a nice change of pace.
Anyway, I've got some more to say here, and all of that will be in my full review, publishing at Gateway Reviews on September 6, 2024. Swing by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I'm surprised by how much I liked this book, since I didn't particularly enjoy Bryce Moor's Don't Go to Sleep. Happy to report that this book, in terms of writing and story, is a definite improvement! Though I did dislike the sort of sticky mental health narrative here (which relies on more negative stereotypes than I would have liked), I think it ultimately surpasses that early fumbling. Was this the best book ever? I mean, not particularly. But getting a decently done historical thriller (based on true crime!) is a nice change of pace.
Anyway, I've got some more to say here, and all of that will be in my full review, publishing at Gateway Reviews on September 6, 2024. Swing by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
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