One of my top YA horror books is Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood. What did I think of her latest? Check out my review of All These Bodies, plus a Q and A with Kendare!
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All These Bodies by Kendare Blake
Published on September 21, 2021 by Quill Tree Books. Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance review copy.
Synopsis: In the summer of 1958 a string of murders plagues the Midwest. The victims are found in their cars and in their homes—even in their beds—their bodies drained, but with no blood anywhere. The Carlson family is slaughtered in their Minnesota farmhouse, and the case gets its first lead: 15-year-old Marie Catherine Hale is found at the scene. She is covered in blood from head to toe, and at first she’s mistaken for a survivor. But not a drop of the blood is hers. Michael Jensen, son of the local sheriff, yearns to become a journalist and escape his small-town. He never imagined that the biggest story in the country would fall into his lap, or that he would be pulled into the investigation, when Marie decides that he is the only one she will confess to. As Marie recounts her version of the story, it falls to Michael to find the truth: What really happened the night that the Carlsons were killed?
Review of All These Bodies
All These Bodies is not the typical YA thriller/horror book and that’s a good thing. It has a gritty, true crime feel and is set in the 1950s, loosely based on a couple of real cases.
All These Bodies does have move at a deliberate pace but maintains a VERY creepy vibe. It doesn’t hit you right in the face with twists and drama, but builds tension slowly. Michael is the teenage son of the sheriff. A young woman named Marie is arrested and jailed in his town because police she was involved in a series of mysterious murders. Marie announces that Michael is the only one she will talk to. Michael, an aspiring reporter, is somewhat dismayed at the way Marie is being tried and convicted in the media and wants to help her tell her story.
The overall vibe of All These Bodies reminded me a fair amount of Anna Dressed in Blood in that both books feature a male main character investigating an appealing/dangerous/slightly creepy girl who is covered in blood. Is Marie just misunderstood or is she truly evil?
All These Bodies raises questions about the possibility of paranormal explanations. Or is that just Marie trying to charm Michael into thinking she’s innocent? The book’s ending was somewhat unresolved which didn’t thrill me but I guess I understood.
A Q and A with Kendare Blake, courtesy of Booksparks
What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel?
In 1958, 19-year-old Charlie Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate went on an 8-day murder spree through the Midwest. I was always fascinated by that story, and especially about Caril Ann, such a young girl caught up in so much cold, casual, killing. Over the years that the novel took shape, other influences arose, including the brutal 1959 slaying of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, which was the focus of Truman Capote’s novel In Cold Blood.
The story is told from Michael’s point of view. What inspired you to write this from the viewpoint of the character who is not the person who they think is doing the killings?
When the book was first taking shape, I always knew it would be a sort of interview or confessional, but for a minute there it was more in the style of Interview with the Vampire. But the mystery of this story resides within Marie. She is questioned, judged and characterized by everyone who hears her name or sees a picture of her face or reads her story. Those questions, what we choose to believe and why – are kind of the point. Once you meet Marie, you’ll know why I chose to tell her story through Michael.
What’s next for you in the bookish world?
After All These Bodies, I’m kicking off a new trilogy set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer launching February 2022. It’s called In Every Generation, and it’s so much fun that I almost can’t talk about it without screaming.
Ahhh me too. If you’re a Buffy fan, check out my Buffy content while you are waiting for the book:
Which Member of Buffy’s Scooby Gang Are You: A Quiz
Quiz: Which Buffy Villain Are You?
Unresolved endings aren’t always the best.
I agree, Mary!
This does feel very similar in style to Anna Dressed in Blood but I loved that one and this seems different enough to stand on it’s own.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Definitely completely different. And yet with a tiny bit of the same dynamic!
You’re the second person I’ve seen review this and say you didn’t love the ending which sucks. The premise really had me intrigued and thinking about giving this book a shot but now I think I might just give it a miss instead.
Yeah unresolved endings are becoming more and more popular which is a shame! I did like the rest!