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brittanysreadingcorner's review against another edition
5.0
Crime fiction ✅
Complex / developed characters ✅
Plot ✅
Tense ✅
Complex / developed characters ✅
Plot ✅
Tense ✅
erickibler4's review against another edition
4.0
A very good crime thriller from Cosby. He consistently creates characters in these non-series books that you want to read about again. In this book, the protagonist is Nathan Waymaker, a former Marine, former Sheriff’s deputy, and murderer. He has an impetuous nature and an anger management problem. And listen — he’s not even the most interesting character. Nathan’s friend, Skunk, is the real badass.
The only thing keeping this book from a five star rating is the inept sexual banter between Nathan and his friend (with benefits) Lisa, who is a porn star (yeah, I know).
But count me among Cosby’s constant readers. I’ll keep picking up what he’s putting down.
The only thing keeping this book from a five star rating is the inept sexual banter between Nathan and his friend (with benefits) Lisa, who is a porn star (yeah, I know).
But count me among Cosby’s constant readers. I’ll keep picking up what he’s putting down.
bibliocamera's review against another edition
5.0
This author wrote one of my favorite books of 2023, All The Sinners Bleed. It’s brilliant.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.
bookhoarder76's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited for this one because I loved Razorblade Tears so much. I didn't realize that he wrote this one before that one. He has definitely improved as a writer! It was ok and I will read more by him as they come out.
edlib's review against another edition
5.0
This author wrote one of my favorite books of 2023, All The Sinners Bleed. It’s brilliant.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.
ghiblireads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I loved this just as much as the first! It was a true dark and gritty southern thriller - I enjoyed every second of it. The pace was fast and the writing was really good. I especially liked how the violence was written. It got quite graphic at times which I enjoyed. There was a tense atmosphere throughout the book I loved Nathan. He was so funny and really complex. He was morally grey but I think he had a good heart. I liked his determination and bravery a lot. His past intrigued me and I loved all the little details we got about it. He was a real badass and I loved seeing him fight. The other characters were well written too; I loved Walter, Lisa and Skunk. The setting was amazing - a corrupt Southern town with a religious background. I enjoyed all social commentary on race and police corruption. The cops in this book made me so angry. The plot was twisty and got incredibly messed up. I loved how the mystery was unraveled and there were some great reveals along the way that surprised me. Some things I guessed but I hadn’t put it all together. The big ending was intense and had me on the edge of my seat! This book really had it all: gangsters, crime lords, twisted preachers and crooked cops. It was bleak but I absolutely loved it.
cook_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Very well done mystery thriller! Loved it! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t see anything coming. Love that I finished the book with no questions. Every part in the story was wrapped up. Second book I’ve read of Cosby’s, & he’s a new favorite
lefttoread's review against another edition
What Works
Cosby’s strength clearly lies in his ability to craft intense, hard-boiled action scenes. His writing has a raw, unapologetic edge that makes the violence and tension feel palpable, reminiscent of classic noir but with a distinctly Southern twist.
Cosby also succeeds in creating a protagonist who is intriguing, if somewhat familiar within the genre. Nathan Waymaker is a flawed, morally ambiguous character who fits well into the world Cosby has built. His background as a former law enforcement officer and his current status as a funeral home worker add a unique element to the story, providing dark humor that works well for a noir narrative.
What Falls Short
Where the novel falters is in character descriptions, particularly when it comes to the female characters. Each female character except for one maybe, was sexualised. It had that typical male gaze feel to it whenever a female character was introduced.
Overall Impression
As a debut novel, My Darkest Prayer showcases S.A. Cosby’s potential as a writer of gritty crime fiction. His ability to convey atmosphere and tension is impressive, and despite the flaws, it’s a solid entry into the genre and suggests that Cosby has much to offer in future works.
Cosby’s strength clearly lies in his ability to craft intense, hard-boiled action scenes. His writing has a raw, unapologetic edge that makes the violence and tension feel palpable, reminiscent of classic noir but with a distinctly Southern twist.
Cosby also succeeds in creating a protagonist who is intriguing, if somewhat familiar within the genre. Nathan Waymaker is a flawed, morally ambiguous character who fits well into the world Cosby has built. His background as a former law enforcement officer and his current status as a funeral home worker add a unique element to the story, providing dark humor that works well for a noir narrative.
What Falls Short
Where the novel falters is in character descriptions, particularly when it comes to the female characters. Each female character except for one maybe, was sexualised. It had that typical male gaze feel to it whenever a female character was introduced.
Overall Impression
As a debut novel, My Darkest Prayer showcases S.A. Cosby’s potential as a writer of gritty crime fiction. His ability to convey atmosphere and tension is impressive, and despite the flaws, it’s a solid entry into the genre and suggests that Cosby has much to offer in future works.
suminumi01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
edlib's review against another edition
5.0
This author wrote one of my favorite books of 2023, All The Sinners Bleed. It’s brilliant.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.
So, I was eager to read another of his mysteries.
This is his first novel. And I enjoyed it immensely. It’s visceral descriptive writing. The dark noir is like a thick blanket of storytelling, a cloak of darkness. It’s small town America in the south and all it’s inequities.
I was immediately impressed by the author’s ability to tell a such a compelling & complicated story. To create such vivid characters and express so many raw emotions. I empathized with the hopelessness and was invigorated by the quest for answers.
I loved Nathan as a main character. And “I handle the bodies” is a statement that haunts me in how many ways it can be interpreted.
This is a book that I very highly recommend.