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A review by jhbandcats
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
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.
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.
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.
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