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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
A gripping gothic noir murder mystery-esque book. I use “-esque” because it’s definitely also much more than that. Lovers of shows like Criminal Minds will love this book. Cosby also expertly weaves commentary on race, religion, grief, the south, and small towns through the tapestry of this story. He does so authentically - all of these themes truly play huge a part in this story and in Sheriff Titus’s life. Highly recommend this book - but only if you have a strong stomach. Lots of gore and violence and Cosby doesn’t shy away in his descriptions of those things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first S. A. Cosby’s work, and I LOVED it. At first, I caught a whiff of James Patterson’s Alex Cross series in the premise, but the comparison ended quickly. Where Patterson’s writing often falls flat in depth, nuance, and literary quality, Cosby brings richness and complexity. The prose is tight but lyrical, violent yet thoughtful, and Cosby never sacrifices character for plot—or vice versa. Titus Crown is a deeply compelling protagonist: layered, haunted, principled. He’s not just a sheriff or a symbol, but a man reckoning with his past, his community’s pain, and the spiritual weight of justice.
One of the most refreshing aspects of the novel is how authentically Black identity and culture are portrayed. There’s a stark difference between white authors (Patterson) writing Black characters versus a Black author telling stories rooted in lived experience. Cosby doesn’t just insert racial commentary—he interrogates it. The racial, social, and especially religious themes are not just touched upon; they are examined and laid bare.
This is a novel that isn’t afraid to get into the weeds of hypocrisy, inherited trauma, and the complexities of forgiveness.
One of the most refreshing aspects of the novel is how authentically Black identity and culture are portrayed. There’s a stark difference between white authors (Patterson) writing Black characters versus a Black author telling stories rooted in lived experience. Cosby doesn’t just insert racial commentary—he interrogates it. The racial, social, and especially religious themes are not just touched upon; they are examined and laid bare.
This is a novel that isn’t afraid to get into the weeds of hypocrisy, inherited trauma, and the complexities of forgiveness.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
My 1st Cosby book and it did not disappoint. Already reading 2 others by him and they are just amazing. The writing, the structure *chefs kiss*
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All the Sinners Bleed is another great novel by S.A. Cosby. The book begins with a school shooting in which the shooter, a young black man, is killed by the police. The police are led by Titus, the first black sheriff in a small county in southeastern Virginia. As the police begin to investigate the school shooting, they discover that a serial killer has been going undetected in the community for years.
While this book is a thriller, it’s also so much more. As with Cosby’s previous novel, Razorblade Tears, he weaves in important social issues while also telling an interesting story. Racism is a primary theme as Titus deals with deep-seeded racial tensions within the county. Religion is also tied in as well.
Overall, this book was extremely well-written with a unique storyline. It was a page turner that kept me guessing until the very end. My only complaint would be the sheer number of characters who were introduced as it got confusing to remember who was who at times. There was also some violence and gore, but not as much as in Razorblade Tears.
Definitely a great read as it’s hard to put down, but also because it addresses important issues that we need to continue to discuss.
While this book is a thriller, it’s also so much more. As with Cosby’s previous novel, Razorblade Tears, he weaves in important social issues while also telling an interesting story. Racism is a primary theme as Titus deals with deep-seeded racial tensions within the county. Religion is also tied in as well.
Overall, this book was extremely well-written with a unique storyline. It was a page turner that kept me guessing until the very end. My only complaint would be the sheer number of characters who were introduced as it got confusing to remember who was who at times. There was also some violence and gore, but not as much as in Razorblade Tears.
Definitely a great read as it’s hard to put down, but also because it addresses important issues that we need to continue to discuss.