All of Us Murderers

A young man’s visit to his cousin’s gothic mansion turns deadly in this solid Edwardian mystery from Charles (the Doomsday series). After losing his job, Zeb Wyckham agrees to visit his cousin, Wynn, at Lackaday House, his Dartmoor country estate. When Zeb arrives, he learns that his ex-lover, Gideon Grey, is Wynn’s secretary, and his cousins Hawley and Dash—plus his brother, Bram—have all recently taken up residence at Lackaday. Then Wynn announces he’s leaving the estate to his cousin Jessamine, and whichever male relative marries her will obtain the inheritance. Hawley makes a play for the girl, and Bram proposes to back Zeb as a marriage candidate and split the inheritance with him, since Bram is already married himself. Zeb, who still pines for Gideon, wants nothing to do with the scheme and attempts to flee Lackaday. On his way out, misty conditions on the moors trap him at the property, where he finds someone dead. As the tension ratchets up, Zeb tries to find an escape before he and Gideon become the next victims. Twisty, atmospheric, and more than a little indebted to Agatha Christie, this satisfying whodunit with a queer twist will keep readers up all night. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (Oct.)