Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

34 reviews

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

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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

katiearcher's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

This book hits the ground running and never stops! If you want a fast paced book this is it! I love Cosby’a writing style; I will definitely be reading more of his books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Alcohol

zazzy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

burnourhistory's review against another edition

dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mar10flo's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

javafenn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

This book needs a SERIOUS trigger warning for child murder, child sexual assault, and violence. I read this because it was on Obama’s list of books from 2023. The story was excellent! Don’t get me wrong. Titus is a likable character who just wants to be a good sheriff and he is! The topics in this story are just so serious. I don’t think I would have read it if I had known. Reading through it though it was good and i loved figuring out who the killer was! Definitely a good story just very heavy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

tkhenry99's review against another edition

4.0

i really just did not care about the MC’s personal life at all but the crime he was investigating was really interesting and the social commentary is super important 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism

silkyyy's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racial slurs

Minor: Vomit

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

Thrilling, mysterious and I couldn’t see any of it coming. I really enjoyed the ride. This author is someone who can weave in social commentary so beautifully with real life, gore, and small town life. He never misses. Highly recommend. The ending and whodunnit lost .25 for me because it felt not connected. But still, read this book!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I love SA Cosby - I would probably read a phone book if I knew he’d written it. That said, I have some quibbles with this book. 

I’m tired of the crazed serial killer story. If there were as many serial killers as serial killer novels, there would be a huge dip in our population. The weakest part of the story was about the fanaticism and insanity, the abuse to the victims, and the descriptions of the torture chamber. 

A minor complaint: when the sheriff finds the old woman who knew of the young boy, she doesn’t say his name and he’s referred to as “the boy” thereafter. Why no name? It wouldn’t have given anything away. 

Also, it felt like the killer was a rabbit pulled out a hat. I don’t think anyone would have figured out his identity by the end.

The strongest parts deal with the racism embedded in the South (and indeed the whole US) and the way Black people are confronted with it every day. The topical issues of white supremacy and rabid Confederacy adherents show that the worst bits of the story are all too real, not fiction at all. 

It’s a shame that Cosby is likely preaching to the choir - I can’t imagine any racist deciding to read to the end of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail