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A review by justinkhchen
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
4.0
4.25 stars
A multi-faceted, gritty small town mystery, All the Sinners Bleed feels like a HBO crime series in the best way possible: dimensional characters, a setting with an underlying sociological tension, and not shying away from putting violence on page when necessary.
The novels takes its time setting the scene; with my previous reference point from S.A. Cosby being the Michael Bay-esque, fast-paced Razorblade Tears, I was initially a little thrown off by the intentionally slow pace. All the Sinners Bleed is more tension rather than action, and I came to appreciate it allotting space to flesh out characters and their complex dynamics (racism is very thought-provokingly explored here) before kick-starting the central mystery. Speaking of mystery, while the serial killer plot unfolds at a steady pace, with many gruesome set pieces making me wince along the way, I did find the reveals a little too straightforward (in many cases the red herring turn out to be the truth).
All the Sinners Bleed is eloquently written, drenched in dread, and featuring many current societal issues, which makes the violence all the more visceral and close to home. I wouldn't label this a 'fun' thriller—but if you're seeking something immersive with a fleshed-out protagonist (I can see this being a series starter), this will be the one to pick up.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A multi-faceted, gritty small town mystery, All the Sinners Bleed feels like a HBO crime series in the best way possible: dimensional characters, a setting with an underlying sociological tension, and not shying away from putting violence on page when necessary.
The novels takes its time setting the scene; with my previous reference point from S.A. Cosby being the Michael Bay-esque, fast-paced Razorblade Tears, I was initially a little thrown off by the intentionally slow pace. All the Sinners Bleed is more tension rather than action, and I came to appreciate it allotting space to flesh out characters and their complex dynamics (racism is very thought-provokingly explored here) before kick-starting the central mystery. Speaking of mystery, while the serial killer plot unfolds at a steady pace, with many gruesome set pieces making me wince along the way, I did find the reveals a little too straightforward (in many cases the red herring turn out to be the truth).
All the Sinners Bleed is eloquently written, drenched in dread, and featuring many current societal issues, which makes the violence all the more visceral and close to home. I wouldn't label this a 'fun' thriller—but if you're seeking something immersive with a fleshed-out protagonist (I can see this being a series starter), this will be the one to pick up.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**