Reviews with content warning for Violence - All the Sinners Bleed

Cosby tells a tale that is repulsive, shining light on crime in the South and how it particularly leaves people of colour in the USA without a sense of justice. When a crime is perpetrated against a white person, we find the story everywhere. This happens far less frequently with POC victims.

We cover a story of racism, crime, true justice, and self-forgiveness. Following our main character --a Black sheriff named Titus Crown--we work with him to catch a serial killer while also facing what it means to be a Black cop in the South. A true Southern noir.

This book shines where it delves into Titus as a person. In fact, I hope to read more books about him. He is both likable and unlikable, you root for him and you also think "Come ON, Titus!!!". Cosby masterfully attacks the geopolitical hotspot of the South, racial bias, and the question of what is justice?

I think what I would love to see in a future book is strong female characters. There are female characters, and Cosby seems to want me to see them as strong while also not making them a focal point of the story. This is fine, I don't absolutely need a woman to centre a plot, but if I am correct, Cosby wants me to see the female characters he writes as strong. They seem more like props to motivate the main character, in a James Bond kind of way.

Regardless, I loved this book, and would love to read more in the future. Thanks, Cosby, for telling a story that provoked thought, outrage, and love.

Content Warnings

alewo27's review against another edition

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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!

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revolvingreads's review against another edition

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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? No

5.0

TW: If your stomach turns easily, the graphic descriptions of *violent crime* in this book may prove to be too much.

Excellent story teller pairing a fast paced story with challenges to social-cultural norms of the region.

Content Warnings