Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

65 reviews

blacksphinx's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't normally read this kind of book - a modern crime thriller. I heard good things about it through the grapevine, and I was overwhelmed with hours and hours of tasks at work that would keep my hands busy but nothing to think about it. I checked it out from the library on a whim and I've been amazed at how good it was.

S.A. Cosby knows how to put words in front of each other, really painting a vivid image of this rural southern community and its conflicts. This is only enhanced by Adam Lazarre-White's incredible narration which brought each character to life. I found this book to really take its ideas and themes seriously and with the level of nuance they deserved, even if I felt some points could have been pushed farther or were fumbled. It hit more often than it missed.

I wouldn't say it's perfect? There's a question I wanted answered that didn't, there's a romantic plot line that I felt didn't really add anything, and sometimes I found the narration to be repetitive (yes there's a serial killer running around and you want to catch him, I've been reading the book I know this!). But when the book finished playing, I didn't think it detracted enough from my overall enjoyment and appreciation to give the book anything less than 5 stars. I am absolutely going to go and read the rest of S.A. Cosby's books now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Pregnancy

There is a brief description of an unseen character dying from HIV/AIDS in the 80's.

lferris's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

ripxreads's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia and Violence

Minor: Religious bigotry

rebel_rocketman's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry

klbreyfogle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

An engaging thriller that unraveled like a mystery.  The lines of the small town were so artfully drawn I felt like I could feel it's oppressive borders. The characters came alive even as they were dying on the page and I worried  that no one was safe.  This story was a good mix of small town southern politics and scary urban legends. I was worried when it started with a school shooting, but it quickly moved past that, into darker territory.  I loved Titus, he is a true hero. It was easy to root for him, easy to forgive him and hard to let him go as the book ended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

jenlikesbigbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder

astifelreads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“The Word is perfect but the way men interpret it is corrupt. And your teacher is full of s**t. Titus could remember the shock of hearing his mother curse. It was like seeing Jesus drinkin henny.”

This is only my second S.A Cosby read but after the first book I read by him I couldn’t wait to read another of his novels. He doesn’t write what I’d consider a traditional thriller. This particular book is more like a very gore-y mystery. If you’ve ever watched Criminal Minds the deaths in the book can be graphic and dark like that show. So that being said I loved this book. I think he wrote another fabulous novel. 

“That idea you gotta save everything, that’s pride. You know what they say about pride and the fall.”

This book starts off with a school shooting where a beloved teacher is shot by a former student. The town is in an uproar after it happens and that’s before they learn the terrible secrets uncovered by the police after they look into it. A serial killer has been on the loose in the county and has managed to stay under the radar. I was on the edge of my seat with this one. I raced to the end to find out who it was. The characters were intriguing and human. The plot was believable and the racism Titus faces as the first black sheriff is realistic to today. I would recommend as long as you’re comfortable with the trigger warnings. 

“Scott was the type of man who complained about the world being too sensitive these days without ever acknowledging the irony of his own fragility. Where some saw equality he saw conspiracies against his manhood, his identity.”

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

emziesreads's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

SA Cosby does it again. Another excellent exploration of race, power, and Southern small town society through the lens of crime. Couldn't put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

Moderate: Religious bigotry

tlaynejones's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

I enjoy SA Cosby’s books, they are fast paced and compelling reads which include some interesting social commentary. Having said that they have more of a profoundly masculine feel than most books I would consider reading. This is not necessarily good or bad, but is noteworthy for its consistency and thoroughness. This is a world of straight cis men relating to other straight cis men. There are a few peripheral women, but they aren’t fleshed out, and mostly just provide a reflection for the male character to bounce off of. There were no identified or implied queer characters in this book. Considering Cosby’s last book was an examination of homophobic toxic masculinity in Black southern men, I found this interesting. 
I plan on continuing to read Cosby, as a queer woman I do understand the desire to immerse yourself in and explore the subculture to which you belong. Especially when that culture is largely erased and oppressed by the dominant images. But a part of me does wonder if Cosby’s love of, and questioning of, his culture will include more feminism in the future?
CW for ALL the violence in this book. Including towards children. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Blood, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail