Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

60 reviews

megmccreery's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was so dark and twisted but so layered. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I loved it and was genuinely creeped out. I would love to see this turned into a movie.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The setting of this book is a gritty southern town in Virginia. You have a newly elected sherif who is black. He was voted in from the black community and the new residents that are moving in. The other side of the county is white and they are apart of a group called the sons of the confederacy. As if the racial tension was not enough. You also have the backdrop of a serial killer running amuck in the town. 

Please read trigger warnings before diving into this one.

S. A. Cosby does a wonderful job describing the town and the tension that Titus (sheriff) has to navigate through. However, there were a few plot holes for me on this one. He introduces tons of characters some who do not have anything to do with the major crime that is being investigated. I also wanted to know more about the connection of the actual criminals once they were uncovered. He left too many loose ends for me. 

Regardless I felt this book was just ok.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

afriduss's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

tracie_mcd's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was my favorite of his books! It really was a propulsive thriller from start to finish! It had me on the edge of my seat. While it was graphic (as I’ve seen it described in other reviews), it didn’t seem more graphic than was necessary to build the suspense and terror in the story.  It was definitely gritty, and SA Cosby is a master at setting up the tension in the atmosphere as the two story lines collided so expertly at the end of the book. He is masterful and just keeps getting better and better with every book!! Highly recommend!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, and Slavery

booktellswitht's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

SA Cosby doesn't miss. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

thingsreadinbed's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

bellasandrarose's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I would like to read another one of S.A Cosby’s books that has a less horrific crime plot. I think my level of enjoyment can only reach a certain capacity given the subject matter. I loved the final scene and I think that was the perfect way to finish the book. Really enjoyed reading a crime/thriller that didn’t centre a small town/suburban white woman, I don’t think there’s enough represensation in the genre. I really liked how race and religion were central, integral elements, because IRL they are and in my experience it’s not taken into account enough in the genre (esp. race!). 

I’m in two minds about the number of characters and

the reveal of the killer

. I definitely got confused at times but it was nice to have a bigger pool of “ooooo it could be anyone”. I think it also made Charon more vivid, characters weren’t just their occupation, they each got a little backstory

which is why I struggled with the reveal, I’m not sure that character was ever introduced? if he was I don’t remember him

. It made me feel like everyone knows everyone and because I’m not a part of the town of course I’m going to be a little lost. 

Writing-wise there were times where words were repeated that I think could have been crafted a bit and I think the characters did maybe need something a little deeper each to make them stick (like Pip was great cause he was the old one but Davy and Steve and I swear there’s another one were the same person in my head). Also one time they said

6 dead kids and I got confused, did they not find the 7th body? can’t remember

Overall, I enjoyed and I will check out some more from this author

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol

Minor: Religious bigotry

shainabriley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

szyca's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

alewo27's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 stars are not enough for a book so far ahead of all the other thrillers being written today, it's off the charts. Beautifully written, complicated, perfectly fleshed-out characters, a tense, nail-biting narrative from start to end. I cannot say enough about how fantastic this book is. I read this on audio, which I highly encourage, as the narrator is so spectacular! If you are a fan of Criminal Minds, this book is definitely for you. Or if you want a gorgeous story about the real life race issues in the American South today from an author with the voice to tell it right, you need to read this book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder