My Favorite Read of January 2026

Title: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Author: Benjamin Stevenson

Publisher: Mariner Books

Publication Date: January 17, 2023

Description:

Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let’s get started.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

My brother

My stepsister

My wife

My father

My mother

My sister-in-law

My uncle

My stepfather

My aunt

Me

My Thoughts:

Last January, my favorite read was Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies. Ironically, a similar book is my favorite read for the start of 2026. They’re both humorous mysteries set during a vacation filled with deaths, and are both metafictions. But, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone still felt like nothing I’ve read. Ernest Cunningham writes “how to” books for mystery writers, but no novel could compare to his own family. The Cunninghams have a reputation for being on the wrong side of the law. When they come together for a family reunion, secrets from the past come to the surface. Ernest’s hilarious commentary leads the reader through twists and turns, and unexpected revelations about the past. A wonderful read from start to finish.