Published by Berkley Publishing Group Genres: Crime, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, True Crime
Format: ARC, eBook
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.