All the Blood We Share

by Camilla Bruce

Blood is thicker than water . . . and murder is best kept in the family

At first the townspeople of Cherryvale welcome the arrival of medium Kate Bender and her family.

Kate's messages from the Beyond give their dreams hope, and her mother's potions cure their ills - for a price.

No one knows about their other business, the shortcut they offer to a better life. And why shouldn't Kate's family prosper? They're careful. It's only from those who are marked, those who travel alone and can easily disappear, that the Benders demand their pound of flesh.

But even a gifted seer like Kate can make a misstep.

Now as the secrets festering beneath the soil of the family orchard threaten to bring them all to ruin, the Benders must sharpen their craft - or vanish themselves...

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Historical, True Crime, Mystery

Hardcover

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Camilla Bruce was born in central Norway and grew up in an old forest, next to an Iron Age burial mound. She has a master's degree in comparative literature, and have co-run a small press that published dark fairy tales. Camilla currently lives in Trondheim with her son and cat.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so sure I’ll suffer from recurring nightmares after reading Bloody Benders’ absolutely bloody, vicious, bleak, dark story! Camilla Bruce did a magnificent job, giving voices of this monstrous family. With realistic narrations of Kate and Elvira, she help us to witness true nature of evil and darkness!

Third narrator is Hanson: young townie, helping Benders to build their house, forming a bond with them is such an innocent voice, created by the author ( I wish he may have been a real person who became a journalist to write about the true crime story of the family) the only person who starts doubting about true intentions of the family.

In the history, Benders were a family of serial killers who lived and operated in Labette County, Kansas, United States, from May 1871 to December 1872. The family consisted of John Bender, his wife Elvira and their son John Jr. and daughter Kate.

This book based on the real events, opening with Benders’ moving to Cherryvale after getting away from crimes they’ve committed.

Kate Bender: young, cunning, attractive daughter of the family is a cold blooded killer, hardly restraining the need to shed more blood. Her mother Elvira help her daughter get away with murder because she raised her as a criminal, forcing her pickpocketing, flirting with old men at the young age. They left their old life and she trusts her daughter pay her back by gaslighting people with her fake ability to talk with the spirits.

William Bender, step father of Kate thinks her daughter can talk with the angels. The same angels can whisper to her for informing the loaded visitors who stay their house which turned into an inn! As angels keeps whispering his son John and William attack those wealthy visitors to steal their money and dear Kate grabs her knife to finish the business her family started.

John, step brother is also obsessed with Kate and he doesn’t hesitate to get his hands dirty if he sees any man getting too close to Kate’s vicinity.

The Bloody Benders are villains, cold blooded killers, human stains, grifters, liars, manipulators!

So what happened to the Benders? Did they get caught? Did they pay for their sins? Or did Kate use for spiritual connections to get away from the murders?

The gripping, engaging storytelling skills of Camilla Bruce allure you from the beginning! You cannot put the book down and the fictional parts were developed perfectly.

I highly recommend it to true crime,historical thriller lovers!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce is a historical fiction novel based on a real family of serial killers known at the Bloody Benders. While the names of the family aren’t consistent in the retellings, Bruce uses William Bender, father of John, his wife Elvira, and her daughter Kate. William and John arrived in Labette County, Kansas near the small town of Cherryvale in 1871. Once their home and barn are built, Elvira and Kate arrive by train.

The newcomers are welcomed and use part of their home as a general store and inn for those passing along the nearby trail. Kate poses as a medium while she and Elvira also use potions to cure ills of the local inhabitants (for a price). However, the Benders are greedy and want a better life. People begin to disappear, and three of them are found dead. What has happened to the others that have disappeared? Are they dead or alive? Where are they?

The characterization of this novel is terrific. The actions, reactions, and descriptions gave me a clear picture of the Bender family members and several of the locals. William is calm, a planner, and always thinking of the future. However, he goes through a significant personality change during the course of the novel. Elvira seems erratic, greedy, bitter, and abusive to Kate. Kate is bold, shows no regret or sadness, and shows enjoyment in evil deeds. John works hard, but is jealous and angry. This mixed bag of traits made for an interesting and frightening mix in the novel.

The story alternates points of view between Kate, Elvira, and Hanson, a boy from the nearby trading station. This worked okay but occasionally disrupted the flow. Additionally, the writing was fluent at times and felt stilted and stylistic at other times. The world-building was so realistic and atmospheric, but it also made me shudder in horror at times. The novel brings strong, startling, and stressful images to life. The suspense involves who will live and who will die, as well as what will happen to the Benders. I didn’t expect several twists. The ending isn’t as definitive as I would have liked. Themes explored include family dynamics, relationships, greed, secrets, murder, anger, and jealousy.

Overall, this story is startling, violent, horrifying, thought provoking, and emotional, with great world-building and characterization. It was a hair-raising and chilling read. The author has a note section at the end that explains some of the many questions that remain about the Benders and where she has fictionalized the story.

Berkley Publishing Group and Camilla Bruce provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 22, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

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My 2.9 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dang, this family is for real!?

Meet the "Bloody Benders". Not one serial killer, but four. Pa, Ma, John, and the alluring, and extrovert Kate.

It's 1871, The Benders had fled Pennsylvania and called Cherryvale, Kansas home. Pa and John built a one-room home on the Osage Indian trail. They used a canvas curtain to divide the home into two parts, the front as an inn and store and the back as family quarters.

A newcomer Kate was quite popular in town. Her looks and talents as a medium and healer often bring the attention she craves.

Ma! Ma is my least favorite character. I feel Ma is so conflicted. She complains about the killings yet she loves the loot! Maybe she hates the clean up.

Pa and John are just weird. I think they're quite sick in the head. John was obsessed with Kate. Pa claimed Kate speaks to angels. Did I say weird? The two men did the heavy lifting.

Travelers heading west who stop by the Bender's Inn mostly likely would never be seen again. A hot bowl of Ma's stew and drinks offered by Kate and ... pop goes the weasel.

This story just blows my mind. It just doesn't seem possible! The author did a fantastic job and tells the story so vividly so much so I think the stench came through the pages. 😆 I wish there are FACTS to read because I would love to know what really happened to the Benders. Recommend for those who are into true crime and mysteries.
TW: Violence, blood, gore, death of children/animals).

Thank you, Berkley and Netgalley for this DRC.
Published Nov. 22, 2022.

Love Murderpedia for its illustrations and photos.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bloody good book!

I love when I learn things while reading. I had never heard of the Bloody Benders prior to reading this book. I had no idea that there was a family of serial killers who killed travelers who stayed with them at their home/Blender Inn. Camilla Bruce has brought the sadistic family to life and told a tale of a family of killers who had no problem taking their pound of flesh.

The family that kills together...

The family William Bender (husband), John Bender, (son of William), Elvira (married to William) and Kate (Elvira's daughter) arrived in Cherryvale, Kansas looking to put the past behind them. They needed to start over due to actions that Kate had taken. Running from trouble did not stop them from going back to their blood thirsty ways. You can't change the stripes on a zebra, and you can't stop this family from killing.

The family is welcomed to town, and they quickly set up shop. Elvira sells potions while Kate poses as a psychic. She speaks to angels after all. But soon, there begins to be a crack in the family. John is obsessed with his sister, William makes strange comments about Kate, both men are quick to temper, Kate is cunning and manipulative, Elvira is often angry and hostile. All of them are messed up. All of them help in their own way with killing.

Soon travelers begin to go missing. It’s a harsh world on the trail anything can happen. But if you make the mistake at staying at the Bender Inn, it just might be the last mistake you make!

This was based on the true story of the Bloody Benders. Online the father William is referred to as John, Sr. but the story remains the same. This family had no problem with killing, sure Elvira might vacillate about it, but she sure loved enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Camilla brought the pages to life with her description, Characterizations of the family members and through the POV of multiple narrators. The narrators are Kate, Elvira, and Hanson, a local boy who helped in the building of their home.

I found this book to be gripping, dark and atmospheric. There is a sense of unease throughout the book and in the family’s home. I could feel the darkness in the family members, their issues with each other, and their combined greed. I was fascinated that a family would kill together. I turned to the internet and found that several families have killed together- many luring and killing travelers.

Camilla Bruce wowed me with In the Garden of Spite and delivered in this riveting book as well. Fans of Camilla Bruce and true crime will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet the “Bloody Benders”, a family of serial killers who arrive in Cherryvale, Labette County, Kansas in 1871. There’s Kate, the daughter who is a spiritualist, she’s beautiful but reckless and most certainly has the devil on her heels. To say there is a darkness in her is an understatement. Then there’s Elvira, the mother, with whom Kate does not have the best of relationships. Finally, there’s William Bender, Kate’s stepfather who believes she “walks with angels“ and his son John who is obsessed with Kate. William and John build a house outside Cherryvale on the Osage Trail and open up the roadside inn. Weary travellers beware, especially if you appear to have something of value…….

This is quite clearly a dark, brooding and bloody story of shocking wickedness and depravity. What the author presents here cleverly weaves fiction with what little facts are known of the infamous family other than their deeds and it is a horror story that is gruesome and macabre in places. The characters of each of the Benders are portrayed very well giving you the chills.

It seems to me that the writing is a bit detached in places and somewhat unemotional which I’m sure is entirely intentional as it lets their despicable actions speak for themselves. What is present in abundance is tension, not only between the Benders themselves but also in their interactions with others. This is further heightened by the period of time and by the place. It oozes atmosphere, you can see the dusty plains state and the vast endless prairie stretching ahead and the huge skies which can be pictured with your minds eye. Of course, the opening up of the plains and the isolation allows the Benders rather a lot of latitude to pursue horrible practices.

In addition, there are times when the storytelling feels extremely creepy, it’s not just the killings but there’s a mystical dark arts element especially via the séances which are of course very popular at this time. This Gothic element lends itself well to the unfolding drama.

Overall, this novel leaves you feeling very uneasy just as it should but it’s most certainly not for the faint of heart. It’s extremely intense and a story of such evil that it freezes your blood.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction takes us to the Kansas plains of 1871. The Benders have just arrived, hiding out from previous “problems” in Pennsylvania and Indiana.
Beautiful Kate dreams of life on the stage as a medium. These were the days when spiritualism was all the rage. Her mother is just trying to keep them all safe and thinks they need to lay low, but her concerns fall on deaf ears. The story alternates between their two POVs, along with that of a young man from the trading post nearby.
There’s a deep sense of darkness and brooding tension. Everyone in the family possess tempers and father and son are clearly unbalanced. And killing travelers is such an easy get rich quick scheme. But I couldn’t decide if they were a group of equal psychopaths or were the men in thrall to Kate. Whichever, no one in the family had a strong moral compass.
This is a very fast read. I was caught up in the plot and curious to see what would be their undoing.
The writing is pretty basic, but Bruce does a good job of giving the reader a real sense of time and place.
Little is known about the Benders, as Bruce explains in her Author’s Note, so this is much more fiction than fact. The ending highlights some important issues though - how society looks to punish a woman, especially a pretty one, for “stepping out of line” and how “even regular people can be capable of despicable acts under the right circumstances.”
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

[Indieflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale based on the true story of a family of serial killers in Kansas during the 1800s. Even though the premise of this one intrigued me, I struggled to stay engaged with it. I don't know if it was the writing style, the characters or something else, I just can't put my finger on why, but it failed to hold my interest and I was glad when I finished it. A disappointing 2.5 stars rounded up, I'd give top marks for the cover though.

[Frank Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much evil can occur when one family goes horribly wrong??

Man, can Camilla Bruce write some fantastic historical fiction/horror!!!

1871, Cherryvale, Kansas -

A German family of four called the Benders have recently moved to town and open an Inn for weary travelers. They are hardworking, speak little English, and a bit peculiar, but the locals are eager to welcome them. Little do they know that this is not your ordinary family. In fact, this is a family that's quite abnormal - they are in fact a family on the run from crimes they've committed in other states. These are incredibly dark crimes indeed, and if Kate, the eldest child and most charming of the bunch, and a 'spiritualist' by trade, engages you for a reading, you'd best beware! Whilst reading for her customers her brother John would suddenly emerge from behind a curtain, swinging a hammer and bludgeoning the unfortunate victim about the head, only for Kate to then deliver the coup de gras with a knife across the neck. Then the family eagerly pounces, robbing their prey and doing away with the remains in the cellar, living off of the fruits of their evil deed. Only times are tough and not all travelers journey with enough funds to tide a family of four over for very long, so a few weeks later yet another victim. Then another, and another. Will the towns people begin to notice and their luck finally run out on them?? Or will the ever pungent stench from the cellar attract unwanted attention?!

I'd never heard of the Bloody Benders prior to reading this, but now I want to go back and do some extensive research! I think what appeals to me the most, is that by all accounts it seems Kate was the leader of this vile pack, and what became of them is largely unknown...talk about one spooky mystery!

Bruce has such a wonderful talent for bringing these unlikable, dark and evil characters from our history to life on the pages, and in a way that makes you want to read until the very last page and that's pretty much exactly what I did! Never have I read a historical fiction novel this quickly, and that is a trait of phenomenal storytelling by one of my new favorite authors!

I say go into this one as blind as possible, like I did, and you won't be disappointed. Be prepared for some guts and gore, mild animal cruelty, cursing, violence, etc., You get the hint, these were horrendous people!

[Bill Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account (even though mostly fictional) of the bloody Benders of Kansas, a family of serial killers that terrorized the prairie in the early 1870s.
I had never heard of these killings until reading Camilla Bruce’s story, now I’m inclined to track down more info, even though apparently very little is actually known of them.
Told through the eyes of Kate Bender, her mother and a neighbor boy it is a very riveting account that will have you turning pages quickly wondering what is going to happen next.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Early in Spring, we killed a landowner and buried him behind the house, on a patch of soil meant to become an orchard."

The Bloody Benders of Kansas used to be a story that I was obsessed with. I've always wanted to travel to the location where their cabin used to be but it has long been demolished. Their story just always stuck with me and I'll always be fascinated, so this book was a must-read for me.

What really captures your attention is the cover. Even if you've never heard of this family before, the cover certainly draws you in. The faceless family standing around a pentagram lets you know that something evil lurks between these pages. An evil that you won't ever forget. Well, I was wrong and I would like to forget.

The story started off interesting because you really wanted to know what in the hell was going on. Why was this family picking up and moving to a different state with all of their belongings? You learn very quickly what is happening and you wait for something sinister to go down. It happens and you just kind of shrug it off. It wasn't very exciting and I grew bored after reading the first hundred pages. I did enjoy the first part of this journey but the rest didn't draw me in like I thought it would.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was fantastic! I picked this book up based on the cover alone and I don’t think that I ever read the book’s description before diving in. I was immediately enthralled by this story of the Bender family. To say this murderous family was dysfunctional would be an understatement. I hate to admit that I didn’t realize that this book was based on actual events until I read the author’s note at the end of the book. I was floored but it makes sense that criminals would have had a much easier time staying hidden during this time period. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.

This story is told from 3 points of view. Kate is a younger adult who helps the family by earning money as a medium. Her mother, Elvira, is not your typical loving mother and often comes across as bitter about the things her family has put her through. Kate and Elvira live with Elvira’s husband, William, and son, John. Hanson is a young man in town who ends up spending time with the family. It was clear from the start that this was not a normal loving family. They move to Kansas in order to hide from the crimes of their past only to commit more in their new life. This family of four had no problems murdering anyone that they thought they might benefit from.

This book was full of surprises. These characters could do anything at any moment so the story kept me on my toes. I loved that there were so many twists and turns. The historical setting was incredibly well done and it really illustrated the dangers of living during this time period. It was amazing how these characters were able to fool so many of the neighbors and got away with everything for so long. This story is probably not for the faint of heart since it is often bloody and violent.

I thought that the trio of narrators did an amazing job with the story. Teri Clark Linden, Cindy Piller, and Michael Crouch were all able to bring the story to life through their narration. I feel like they each captured the personalities of the characters they represented perfectly. I listened to this audiobook for hours at a time and found it almost impossible to set aside. I do believe that their narration added to my enjoyment of this story.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining and bloody story about a group of characters that kept me guessing. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and the audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I was so here for the creepy western frontier vibe in this horror novel! I hadn't heard of the Bloody Benders before, but now that I've read this book and the Wikipedia page ;), I think this was an entertaining take on that story that wove the known historical details into a convincing and compelling story of this family of serial killers in frontier Kansas in the 1800s. I'm not sure that I needed both POVs from each of the Bender women, but overall, a great example of successful historical horror

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book and I really enjoyed it. Camilla Bruce has definitely become a new favorite author.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely scintillating and remarkable fictionalised account of the serial killer family ‘The Bloody Benders’ told mostly from Kate’s perspective. Wonderful writing, and a storyline that kept me gripped until the end (I still wonder what happened to them.)

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Blood We Share is a historical fiction novel inspired by true events dealing with the “Bloody Bender” family. A family of serial killers who lived and operated out of a rural Kansas town. While there in Kansas, the Benders embarked on a killing spree motivated by greed and a desperate need to regain what they lost.

While I did enjoy All the Blood We Share, I didn’t quite like it as much as I did Bruce’s first novel, In the Garden of Spite. I believe that this lack of enthusiasm stemmed from my wanting a lot more gruesome details which All the Blood We Share didn’t deliver. I for one enjoy morbid and gruesome details so that is probablly why All the Blood We Share didn’t meet my expectations. I can understand, however, how some readers would enjoy All the Blood We Share over In the Garden of Spite due to the nature of the main villains in each novel.

I was somewhat disappointed in the overall flavor of All the Blood We Share because Bruce’s previous novel really captured my attention. I attribute my disappointment due to Bruce’s desire to capture a larger audience that want a taste of the macabre, but weren’t invested in the gruesome details. Three mediocre stars.

I received a digital review copy from Berkely Publishing Group. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weirdly, Bruce's author's note is the most interesting part of the book to me. I totally vibe with the story she was trying to tell! I find it super interesting and fun!
But the actual book..... Not really my thing. I honestly found it a bit boring.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

•
The Benders are the “cotton eye Joe” of the serial killing world. Where did they come from? Where did they go?! If you’re anything like me, then you’ve done your fair share of serial killer dumpster diving and are probably just as fascinated by their story. If you’re not like me…. well then you’re probably “normal” (not that there’s anything wrong with that 😏).

Bruce does a fantastic job of giving us this historical fictionalized version of home life for the Benders. Good luck travelers. Ain’t nothing worth a bowl of stew and a place to lay your head (while it’s still attached, ahem). It’s one thing to be faced with being murdered by just one person…. Let’s not underestimate the power of family. 😉

Lesson learned: never sit with your back toward a curtain.

A brilliantly written tale of the Bloody Benders and please y’all, don’t forget to read the Author’s Note!

Stay sane everyone. 💋

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone else fascinated by serial killers? The Benders were a family of serial killers. They lived in Labette County, Kansas, from May 1871 to December 1872. John Bender, his wife Elvira, their son John Jr. and daughter Kate. It is believed they killed over eleven people, including one child.

I listened to the author’s previous novel, In The Garden Of Spite and was excited to try her latest offering.

Bruce did a wonderful job of introducing us to the Benders. John and John Jr. arrived in Kansas first, then Elvira and Kate arrived by coach. They set up a homestead near the road at the end of town where they took in travelers offering meals and space by the fire to sleep for the night. Elvira sold herbal remedies and Kate claimed to be a spiritualist

We get their history as we get to know them and are given Kate’s perspective along with that of a neighbor. It makes you wonder how well you know your neighbor. The story was atmospheric and kept me enthralled.

The Bender family was twisted from Kate’s upbringing to John Jr.’s infatuation with Kate. Kate’s stepfather John believes Kate hears angels telling her who to kill to benefit the family’s coiffures. The relationship between Kate and her mother was odd and caused friction.

The tale was twisted and kept me on the edge as I waited for them to crack or be discovered. The author skillfully captured the period and the dangers, all while showcasing this dysfunctional family and its twisted family business. Not much is known about the Benders, but Bruce did a splendid job of imagining their darkness and the crimes that occurred. It was well researched and hit upon what we know of them while offering a dark and macabre tale.

Fans of stories based on serial killers will want to add this one to their bookshelf. I felt the author did a good job of keeping us slightly detached as she conjured up the murderous acts and depravity of this family. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/11/26/...

Thank you, Camilla Bruce, for once again introducing me to a gruesome piece of American history with All the Blood We Share, a novel based on the Bloody Benders. This family of serial killers purportedly killed more a dozen travelers while operating a general store and inn on the Kansas frontier from 1871 to 1872, and to this day their fate remains unknown. Combining real events with ideas from her own imagination, Bruce’s latest historical horror drama offers up a riveting take on what could have really happened.

As the story opens, Kate Bender and her mother Elvira are in the middle of making the long dusty journey from their old farm in Pennsylvania to their new homestead on the Kansas prairie. Things are tense between the two women, though at this point all we know is that they are fleeing from the law. Elvira clearly blames Kate for putting them into this situation, but the younger woman only sees opportunity. An aspiring spiritualist, Kate has big dreams of making a name for herself as a famous clairvoyant and isn’t about to let this latest hiccup in their lives—or her mother’s harping—derail her ambitions.

Meanwhile, at their destination in Cherryvale, Kate’s stepfather William Bender and his son John are preparing their newly staked property and getting it ready to receive the women. Unbeknownst to Elvira, who only wishes to lie low, her husband has other plans, fixing up their home to take in some money as a traveler’s rest stop and lodging. At a nearby trading post, a young boy named Hanson observes all of this activity and offers the Benders some help in getting their business set up, forming an even stronger bond with the family once Kate and Elvira arrive.

But getting established on the frontier takes time and money, and the Benders are getting impatient. Soon, lone travelers passing through Cherryvale start going missing, causing dark rumors about the Benders to circulate amongst the townsfolk. Never one to keep a low profile though, Kate remains intent on making waves and seeking fame, to the consternation of her mother who is doing her best to hold the family together even as their bloodlust rages on.

Much like how the author’s previous novel Witch in the Well was more akin to the paranormal horror stylings of her book You Let Me In, this one was more in keeping with the genre traditions and tone of her other historical novel about a notorious serial killer, In the Garden of Spite. So if you enjoyed that book, there is a strong chance you will like this one too. As well, I’ve come to the realization that I love the way Bruce writes her killer women; their personalities are just so strong and powerful, yet also so diabolical and completely insane! While much of the story unfolds though the eyes of Kate, Elvira, and Hanson, it is the first’s devious and deliciously unreliable POV that really stole the spotlight. Kate has a clear vision of the future all planned out for herself, and she’s not beneath lying, cheating, manipulating, or even killing to get what she wants. Woe to anyone who dares stand in her way.

On a wider and more general scope, All the Blood We Share is also about family ties, as the title suggests. The Benders have a saying: “We take care of our own.” Even as Kate chafes against her mother’s disapproving gaze, she’s aware she can never escape the blood ties that bind them. Historically, we know the Benders committed a number of heinous murders together, some of which were portrayed in this book in vivid, grisly detail. Hence, while this might not be classified as horror in the traditional sense, there are enough of these uncomfortable, distressing sequences that if you are a reader with a weak stomach, you might want to reconsider picking this up.

Additionally, knowing that Bruce had to work around true events while still managing to work in her own flare and ideas makes this novel even more impressive. The setting too was convincing and intensely atmospheric, evoking the old west vibe. Even though it is a mystery what ultimately happened to the Bloody Benders, the book also delivered an ending that was surprising yet still realistic and satisfying. If you have a penchant for historicals—especially historical crime fiction—you will definitely want to read All the Blood We Share.

Audiobook Comments: A great listen with fantastic performances by the narrators who brought the characters to life, especially Kate and Hanson.

[Jodie | GeauxGetLit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Camilla Bruce’s fictional take on The Bender Family of the late 1800s. I never heard of this extremely macabre family before, but after reading this excellent portrayal of them, I need to know more.
A family of killers is who they are at their core. Told in the perspectives of Kate, the daughter, Elvira, the Ma, and Hanson, the outsider who was a possible witness to some of the events that took place at the Bender House.
Kate with her fine looks and charming personality was able to captivate many suitors and lead them into her home to fulfill her bloodlust desires.

Superb storytelling and I highly recommend

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I loved this! I really liked the author’s prior book about Belle Gunness, but this one was even better!

The author takes us deep into the psyches of the Bloody Benders – especially Kate and her mother – and it’s sooooo good. As horrible as they were, she also made them all too human.

The book is violent, of course, and you’re there for every slice of a knife or slam with a hammer. And some of what happens is just so very sad.

An intense read – even more so as it’s based on true events! Loved this one.

• ARC via Net Galley

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Blood We Share is historical fiction based on the Bloody Benders, a real family of serial killers in the Old West.

The book’s premise fascinated me on its own, but even more so because a version of this story actually happened. Women are rarely known to be serial killers, and here we have a family with two of them.

I thought the setting and atmosphere were extremely well done. I could envision the vast expanse of the land, the disconnect from city life, and how easy it might be for a pretty, devious female to con lonely men.

I loved the author’s vision of the family, regarding their personalities and how they related to one another. These were some messed up genetics.

Unfortunately, I didn’t connect well with the writing style. I can’t say why, exactly. Something didn’t click for me, and I didn’t feel the emotions from the characters or their actions. Consequently, this was an interesting read that didn’t hit me as hard as it should have.

*I received an eARC from Berkley Publishing, via NetGalley.*

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to keep this one short and to the point. I didn’t love this. Not because it isn’t a great historical fiction book. I just wasn’t in the right space for it. And there was a lot of graphic and chilling detail that I wasn’t prepared for that I am sure I should have been.
This is the story of the Bloody Benders, a family of serial killers who set up home in Cherryvale, Kansas in 1871.
This story alternates between the POV of Kate(the daughter), Elvira( the mother) and Hanson, who was a boy who worked at the nearby trading station. Kate poses as a medium and Elvira uses potions to cure the locals of their ailments but they want more from life. Soon people begin to disappear and then 3 are found dead. The townspeople want to know what happened to them and what happened to the others that are missing and if they are still alive or dead.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[A. Hadessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Portrait of a Killing Family and their way through spilling blood to self destruction.
What a shame not to know how exactly the elders died.
I got a bit annoyed with the main character. ...
other than that this was good

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I did not know too much about the Bloody Benders until I read this book, and while it is a fictional novel about them, it is quite good, as in creepy, wild, and DARK. I was blown away at the evil going on in this family that all originates with daughter Kate and eventually permeates throughout the rest of them. She performs the first kill, and when the family leaves town to save her from being hung, the father decides to take up some land and build / run an inn known as the Bender Inn. From there the Benders realize it is quite easy to take in strangers who travel alone and take what is rightfully theirs… Amiright? There is a lot more to this story, and again, not much is known about this serial killer family so the author does the best with what she has here (and says as much in the author’s note at the end) but this was quite an enjoyable tale that I could not put down. The audio was fantastic and it was even better listening to this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the digital galley to review.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE BLOOD WE SHARE is a finely melded Historical Fiction character study with Frissons of Supernatural and Spiritualism, that fascinating fad and telling trend of the 19th century, on both sides of the Big Pond (Atlantic Ocean). The renamed "Bender" family, fugitives for their lives, remind me of an ill-driven team of oxen, in which it's every animal for itself, and nothing is accomplished. With these personalities and this degree of conflict, it's no surprise that tension and Suspense ratchet continuously, and self-destruction is the mode du jour.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based loosely on a true story, I found this book hard going at times. Not really my favourite book by Camilla Bruce.

[Landen Beijes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sucker was a great book I’d say. Definitely not a genre (true crime, but fictionalized) I’ll dabble in too frequently seeing as it’s all terrible, but I was motivated to turn every page.

[Amy Imogene Reads]

Exciting!! Thanks so much to Goodreads and Berkley for my giveaway ARC copy. Camilla Bruce is one of my most-watched authors. She's dark, unrelenting, and determined to showcase the darkness of the female psyche. Very much looking forward to this interpretation of the Bender family.

Thanks to Berkley and Goodreads for my giveaway ARC.