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King of Ashes
A son returning home.
A dangerous debt.
Secrets about to ignite . . . and a family consumed by flames.
Roman Carruthers left the smoke and fire of his family's crematory business behind in his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia. He is enjoying a life of shallow excess as a financial adviser in Atlanta until he gets a call from his sister, Neveah, telling him their father is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident. When Roman goes home, he learns the accident may not be what it seems. His brother, Dante, is deeply in debt to dangerous, ruthless criminals.
And Roman is willing to do anything to protect his family. Anything.
A financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, Roman must use all his skills to try to save his family while dealing with a shadow that has haunted them all for twenty years: the disappearance of their mother when Roman and his siblings were teenagers. It's a mystery that Neveah, who has sacrificed so much of her life to hold her family together, is determined to solve once and for all.
As fate and chance and heartache ignite their lives, the Carruthers family must pull together to survive or see their lives turn to ash. Because, as their father counseled them from birth, nothing lasts forever.
Everything burns.
A dangerous debt.
Secrets about to ignite . . . and a family consumed by flames.
Roman Carruthers left the smoke and fire of his family's crematory business behind in his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia. He is enjoying a life of shallow excess as a financial adviser in Atlanta until he gets a call from his sister, Neveah, telling him their father is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident. When Roman goes home, he learns the accident may not be what it seems. His brother, Dante, is deeply in debt to dangerous, ruthless criminals.
And Roman is willing to do anything to protect his family. Anything.
A financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, Roman must use all his skills to try to save his family while dealing with a shadow that has haunted them all for twenty years: the disappearance of their mother when Roman and his siblings were teenagers. It's a mystery that Neveah, who has sacrificed so much of her life to hold her family together, is determined to solve once and for all.
As fate and chance and heartache ignite their lives, the Carruthers family must pull together to survive or see their lives turn to ash. Because, as their father counseled them from birth, nothing lasts forever.
Everything burns.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2025
4422 people are currently reading
93071 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,248 reviews
July 1, 2025
Easy 5 stars but who is surprised
June 22, 2025
My 3rd S.A. Cosby book and as expected, a wild ride! Roman returns to his hometown in VA to find out his brother Dante is mixed up with one of the local gangs. A few parts of this book made me like, physically nauseous… I’m talking me having to put the book down and go onto TikTok to find old Vine videos to make me laugh and get my mind off of it. And for how dark some parts were, I thought the ending was SO rushed and anticlimactic?! I was so disappointed!! I flipped the page and was like “wait, that’s it?! It’s over?!?!” Hence the 4 star rating
June 29, 2025
DUST TO DUST... ASHES TO ASHES!!!!!
Mr. Cosby has done it again! Back with his new release King of Ashes, we are shoved deep into the Southern Virginia realm of crime and family drama. When Roman Carruthers comes back home after his father is hospitalized after being in a car accident. Roman soon comes to find out that his brother Dante is responsible as he is knee deep in debt with some very dangerous criminals. Trying to keep his brother out of trouble and help pay of this debt, he also has to deal with his sister Neveah who has been trying to keep the family business running while also trying to uncover her own answered questions about her father. Roman has a lot on his hands to contend with but her will do ANYTHING to protect his family.
I say it EVERY SINGLE TIME I read a Cosby book but again this book read like a movie in my mind! It was so exhilarating, fast paced with high octane action and these characters had me absolutely locked in!
As per usual Cosby has you falling in love with the main character and accepting their vigilante ways and I am not mad at it! Roman is not perfect by any means and is extremely flawed but if he told me to jump, I would ask ‘how high!!?’. His love for his family was unmatched and I was rooting for him to give those gangsters their well-deserved comeuppance/ tragic deliverance.
For Dante, I spent the majority wanting to slap the piss out of him! He read extremely childish and reckless to me with no regards to how other people are constantly having to clean his f&ck ups and it really riled me up! I understood and could empathise with his past trauma, but I needed him to grow a pair of balls… FAST!
Ahhhh Navaeh! A broken soul trying to keep the family business afloat while dealing with her own demons. My heart ached for her while she hunted for resolution for her mother’s unresolved death. She was a tough character, who spoke out and wouldn’t be pushed down and I really admired her. I love how Cosby never makes his female leads be dainty ‘oh woe is me’ kind of characters!
Throughout the book we are following the intense action of Roman having to work with the criminals while also trying to device a plan to make them suffer. It was very poignant reading the family dynamics of all three siblings and how they all navigated grief in their own ways. I could not get enough. The story flowed effortlessly, and I struggled to put it down! I knew where the story was heading but there were some parts in the end that absolutely floored me! I promise you will either have this 😐or😮 this reaction!
If you want an adrenaline, family charged and grippingly raw story to read, I highly advised you pick this gem up! Everyone played their role superbly and all I can say is… Please Mr. Cosby get your pen and paper out and don’t leave me wanting too long for your next masterpiece!
♾️INFINITY STARS!♾️
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
ITS FINALLY RELEASE DAY!
If he writes it... you best believe i am reading it!
Going to struggle to put this down! Lets GOOOO!
🧡🧡🧡
Mr. Cosby has done it again! Back with his new release King of Ashes, we are shoved deep into the Southern Virginia realm of crime and family drama. When Roman Carruthers comes back home after his father is hospitalized after being in a car accident. Roman soon comes to find out that his brother Dante is responsible as he is knee deep in debt with some very dangerous criminals. Trying to keep his brother out of trouble and help pay of this debt, he also has to deal with his sister Neveah who has been trying to keep the family business running while also trying to uncover her own answered questions about her father. Roman has a lot on his hands to contend with but her will do ANYTHING to protect his family.
I say it EVERY SINGLE TIME I read a Cosby book but again this book read like a movie in my mind! It was so exhilarating, fast paced with high octane action and these characters had me absolutely locked in!
As per usual Cosby has you falling in love with the main character and accepting their vigilante ways and I am not mad at it! Roman is not perfect by any means and is extremely flawed but if he told me to jump, I would ask ‘how high!!?’. His love for his family was unmatched and I was rooting for him to give those gangsters their well-deserved comeuppance/ tragic deliverance.
For Dante, I spent the majority wanting to slap the piss out of him! He read extremely childish and reckless to me with no regards to how other people are constantly having to clean his f&ck ups and it really riled me up! I understood and could empathise with his past trauma, but I needed him to grow a pair of balls… FAST!
Ahhhh Navaeh! A broken soul trying to keep the family business afloat while dealing with her own demons. My heart ached for her while she hunted for resolution for her mother’s unresolved death. She was a tough character, who spoke out and wouldn’t be pushed down and I really admired her. I love how Cosby never makes his female leads be dainty ‘oh woe is me’ kind of characters!
Throughout the book we are following the intense action of Roman having to work with the criminals while also trying to device a plan to make them suffer. It was very poignant reading the family dynamics of all three siblings and how they all navigated grief in their own ways. I could not get enough. The story flowed effortlessly, and I struggled to put it down! I knew where the story was heading but there were some parts in the end that absolutely floored me! I promise you will either have this 😐or😮 this reaction!
If you want an adrenaline, family charged and grippingly raw story to read, I highly advised you pick this gem up! Everyone played their role superbly and all I can say is… Please Mr. Cosby get your pen and paper out and don’t leave me wanting too long for your next masterpiece!
♾️INFINITY STARS!♾️
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
ITS FINALLY RELEASE DAY!
If he writes it... you best believe i am reading it!
Going to struggle to put this down! Lets GOOOO!
🧡🧡🧡
August 28, 2025
S.A. Cosby has done it again—and this time, King of Ashes scorches the soul. Each time I read one of his novels, I tell myself there’s no way he can top his last masterpiece. There has to be a limit to this kind of excellence. But then I turn the final page, slack-jawed and speechless, wondering how a book just grabbed my throat, twisted my heart, and left my brain spinning. King of Ashes is a ferocious, emotionally charged, gory, and deeply human story of broken family bonds, revenge, regret, and the cost of survival.
This isn’t just crime fiction. It’s operatic noir lit on fire, pulsing with tension and soaked in blood, guilt, and gasoline.
The story centers around three estranged siblings pulled back into each other’s orbit when their father—owner of the family crematorium—is left in a coma after a mysterious attack. Roman, the eldest, has long abandoned his Southern hometown and painful memories for a sleek life in Atlanta as a financial consultant to the wealthy elite. But duty—and damage—bring him home. What he finds is a family on the verge of collapse: his sister Neveah is carrying the emotional and financial weight of the family business, exhausted and bitter; and his brother Dante is spiraling into a drug-fueled abyss with a debt to terrifying crime lords—the Gilchrist brothers—that threatens to swallow them all.
Roman, skilled in strategy but emotionally armored, steps into the line of fire to protect his family. But in Cosby’s hands, that’s never a clean or noble thing. The choices Roman must make are morally corrosive and complex. Can you save your family without destroying yourself? Is it possible to be a hero when everything around you is already in ruins?
Dante is raw, heartbreaking, and infuriating. Watching him self-destruct is like watching a slow car crash—you want to look away, but Cosby won’t let you. And Neveah? She’s the storm holding it all together with white-knuckled rage. Tired of being invisible. Tired of shouldering everything. And increasingly suspicious that their missing mother’s disappearance may have been no accident. Her fury and unraveling are just as compelling as the high-stakes criminal plot.
And then there’s the villainy—oh, the villains. The Gilchrist brothers are two of the most chilling, sadistic antagonists I’ve encountered in years. Their cruelty is not cartoonish—it’s precise, deliberate, and terrifying. Cosby gives them the weight and horror of true evil, and their looming presence adds a pressure-cooker intensity to every page.
At its core, King of Ashes is a story about how trauma smolders in families like embers in dry grass—how old secrets can ignite new devastation, and how loyalty, love, and vengeance can all wear the same face. The emotional depth here is staggering. Cosby doesn’t just write gritty thrillers—he writes about what pain does to people. And he does it with prose that cuts like a blade and burns like truth.
By the end, I was drained. Hollowed out. And weirdly grateful for it. King of Ashes left me shaken and wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling like I'd just watched a brilliant, harrowing film directed by Ryan Coogler and written by the ghost of Greek tragedy.
This is Cosby’s darkest, boldest, most explosive novel yet. And if you’re brave enough to pick it up, just know: you won’t come out the same.
One of the best books of the year. Do not miss it.
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This isn’t just crime fiction. It’s operatic noir lit on fire, pulsing with tension and soaked in blood, guilt, and gasoline.
The story centers around three estranged siblings pulled back into each other’s orbit when their father—owner of the family crematorium—is left in a coma after a mysterious attack. Roman, the eldest, has long abandoned his Southern hometown and painful memories for a sleek life in Atlanta as a financial consultant to the wealthy elite. But duty—and damage—bring him home. What he finds is a family on the verge of collapse: his sister Neveah is carrying the emotional and financial weight of the family business, exhausted and bitter; and his brother Dante is spiraling into a drug-fueled abyss with a debt to terrifying crime lords—the Gilchrist brothers—that threatens to swallow them all.
Roman, skilled in strategy but emotionally armored, steps into the line of fire to protect his family. But in Cosby’s hands, that’s never a clean or noble thing. The choices Roman must make are morally corrosive and complex. Can you save your family without destroying yourself? Is it possible to be a hero when everything around you is already in ruins?
Dante is raw, heartbreaking, and infuriating. Watching him self-destruct is like watching a slow car crash—you want to look away, but Cosby won’t let you. And Neveah? She’s the storm holding it all together with white-knuckled rage. Tired of being invisible. Tired of shouldering everything. And increasingly suspicious that their missing mother’s disappearance may have been no accident. Her fury and unraveling are just as compelling as the high-stakes criminal plot.
And then there’s the villainy—oh, the villains. The Gilchrist brothers are two of the most chilling, sadistic antagonists I’ve encountered in years. Their cruelty is not cartoonish—it’s precise, deliberate, and terrifying. Cosby gives them the weight and horror of true evil, and their looming presence adds a pressure-cooker intensity to every page.
At its core, King of Ashes is a story about how trauma smolders in families like embers in dry grass—how old secrets can ignite new devastation, and how loyalty, love, and vengeance can all wear the same face. The emotional depth here is staggering. Cosby doesn’t just write gritty thrillers—he writes about what pain does to people. And he does it with prose that cuts like a blade and burns like truth.
By the end, I was drained. Hollowed out. And weirdly grateful for it. King of Ashes left me shaken and wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling like I'd just watched a brilliant, harrowing film directed by Ryan Coogler and written by the ghost of Greek tragedy.
This is Cosby’s darkest, boldest, most explosive novel yet. And if you’re brave enough to pick it up, just know: you won’t come out the same.
One of the best books of the year. Do not miss it.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 11, 2025
The guy literally is incapable of missing. This one was action packed from the get go and touched on a lot of themes but at its core it was your typical S.A. Cosby madness of a novel with his vivid writing.
Everything Burns!
5/5
Everything Burns!
5/5
June 2, 2025
This really kinda reminded me of Raising Kanan lol you know the Power spinoff? Except make it in the south. And instead of mommy drug dealer issues it’s daddy. 😅 Full review in a bit - I really enjoyed it 3.5 stars I think?
I've been seeing such high praise for this author, so I've been wanting to get to one of his books for a while now - literally any of them 😅 saw this audio available on NetGalley and thought I'd give it a whirl! 🤞
Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
Thriller x Suspense
Southern Crime Drama
Plot Twists
Expected Pub Date - 06/10/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian for the advanced audio copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
I've been seeing such high praise for this author, so I've been wanting to get to one of his books for a while now - literally any of them 😅 saw this audio available on NetGalley and thought I'd give it a whirl! 🤞
Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
Thriller x Suspense
Southern Crime Drama
Plot Twists
Expected Pub Date - 06/10/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian for the advanced audio copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
April 26, 2025
S.A. Cosby has delivered another thrilling, gripping, shocking, intense and beautifully written book! He continues to amaze me with his lyrical and emotion evoking writing. I like to call what he writes Southern Grit. It is gritty, raw, brutal, beautiful, and so very human. He shows us the best and the worst in his well-rounded characters. He doesn't shy away from violent scenes as he doesn't shy away from showing the vulnerability in his characters. Speaking of characters, that is what it is all about for me with his books. S. A. Cosby writes characters that I grow to care for, become invested in, and enjoy spending time with. He also creates characters that I enjoy booing and hissing at as well. He shows the good, the bad, and the in-between in his books. Make no mistake about it, King of Ashes is bloody fantastic! In fact, it's so hot that it might just burn its way onto your favorite book list.
Who says you can never go home again? Roman Carruthers is called home after his father has been in an accident. His sister, Neveah, and his father have been running Carruthers Crematorium, the family business while his brother, Dante has gotten himself into some hot water with local criminals. When Roman learns that his father's accident may not have been an 'accident' and that his brother, Dante has put them all in danger, he knows he must step in.
Roman is a whiz with number and is a fast thinker but will that be enough to save them when danger comes calling?????? Holy Moly! This book becomes intense fast and when S.A. Cosby puts his foot on the pedal, he never let up. The action, drama, tension, dread, and sense of doom never end. There is no down time as the danger mounts and smoke keeps pumping out of the crematorium.
If that is not enough, there is also the mystery of what happened to their mother who went missing all those years ago. Family secrets, loyalty, danger, and survival all come into play as Roman does his best to save his family in a town where everything burns!
Whew! As I mentioned, this book is beautifully written, raw, gritty, and hard to put down. I was instantly drawn into this book which ferociously grabbed my attention and never let go. I loved the fully fleshed out characters, vivid descriptions, their relationships, and the riveting plot in this book.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life!
If S.A. Cosby writes it, I am going to read it!
Highly Recommend.
*Witches Words buddy read with DeAnn and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to gather their thoughts on King of Ashes!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Who says you can never go home again? Roman Carruthers is called home after his father has been in an accident. His sister, Neveah, and his father have been running Carruthers Crematorium, the family business while his brother, Dante has gotten himself into some hot water with local criminals. When Roman learns that his father's accident may not have been an 'accident' and that his brother, Dante has put them all in danger, he knows he must step in.
Roman is a whiz with number and is a fast thinker but will that be enough to save them when danger comes calling?????? Holy Moly! This book becomes intense fast and when S.A. Cosby puts his foot on the pedal, he never let up. The action, drama, tension, dread, and sense of doom never end. There is no down time as the danger mounts and smoke keeps pumping out of the crematorium.
If that is not enough, there is also the mystery of what happened to their mother who went missing all those years ago. Family secrets, loyalty, danger, and survival all come into play as Roman does his best to save his family in a town where everything burns!
Whew! As I mentioned, this book is beautifully written, raw, gritty, and hard to put down. I was instantly drawn into this book which ferociously grabbed my attention and never let go. I loved the fully fleshed out characters, vivid descriptions, their relationships, and the riveting plot in this book.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life!
If S.A. Cosby writes it, I am going to read it!
Highly Recommend.
*Witches Words buddy read with DeAnn and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to gather their thoughts on King of Ashes!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 17, 2025
4.5 🌟 SO intense, really good audiobook!!
July 8, 2025
Cosby is back serving up a story of gritty, dark noir violence in Virginia.
This isn’t for the faint of heart. We got guns, gangs, thugs and drugs.
There is a lot of testosterone going on in this ghetto. It’s raw and visceral. Corruption from the bottom up. Trying to fix a problem a brother committed is a messy business.
While his writing is exceptional, I wasn't as invested with the character as I would have liked.
That aside, Cosby remains the King of Grit Lit.
4⭐️
A buddy read with Tracy 😊
This isn’t for the faint of heart. We got guns, gangs, thugs and drugs.
There is a lot of testosterone going on in this ghetto. It’s raw and visceral. Corruption from the bottom up. Trying to fix a problem a brother committed is a messy business.
While his writing is exceptional, I wasn't as invested with the character as I would have liked.
That aside, Cosby remains the King of Grit Lit.
4⭐️
A buddy read with Tracy 😊
March 31, 2025
Roman ...ROMAN ... WTFFFF ROMAN😭😭😭😭😭 I knew S.A Cosby was not going to let me down. The buildup to that grand finale was EPIC. The question is..... how far will you go to protect your family????
April 26, 2025
King of Ashes reads like a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy. With a charismatic and dynamic main character, this book is action-packed and truly unputdownable. Gripping and thought-provoking at times, SA Cosby has written another magnificent work.
King of Ashes navigates familial relationships, especially the complex relationship between brothers. The book also covers how evil and the evil acts humans commit are a result of the situations we are put in.
King of Ashes is my 5th read by Coaby and it solidified my opinion that Cosby is one of the most influential and best writers in modern times. As a fan and avid reader of the classics, I can see readers still enjoying Cosby’s work decades from now. With its timeless messages, dimensional characters, and powerful writing King of Ashes will definitely be on my list of best books of 2025!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by one of my favorites, Adam Lazarre-
White. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
King of Ashes by SA Cosby will be available on June 10 from Pine and Cedar. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!
King of Ashes navigates familial relationships, especially the complex relationship between brothers. The book also covers how evil and the evil acts humans commit are a result of the situations we are put in.
King of Ashes is my 5th read by Coaby and it solidified my opinion that Cosby is one of the most influential and best writers in modern times. As a fan and avid reader of the classics, I can see readers still enjoying Cosby’s work decades from now. With its timeless messages, dimensional characters, and powerful writing King of Ashes will definitely be on my list of best books of 2025!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by one of my favorites, Adam Lazarre-
White. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
King of Ashes by SA Cosby will be available on June 10 from Pine and Cedar. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!
June 23, 2025
Now Available
Five Fiery Burning Stars 🌟
“King of Ashes” will stay with me forever! It was my first time reading S.A. Cosby, and won't be my last. I have read everything about his work, and many GR friends have shared positive thoughts about his writing, and he truly deserves all the praise and accolades. This book has proven true.
This book is going to shatter people’s souls. King of Ashes is, at its core, a book about family and the responsibilities of loving and caring for family. Sometimes, that might mean a regular check-in, a phone call, or a text. The story starts very simply, with the family patriarch in the hospital and the eldest son, Roman, returning to ensure all is well. Spoiler alert: All is NOT WELL. His sister Neveah feels depleted from caring for the family's crematorium business and emotionally holding down the family. His little brother, Dante, has done the unthinkable and landed all of them in dire straits.
Of course, Roman does what proper elder siblings do, and steps up to ‘fix’ things. Here is where the story goes from being interesting to a wild rollercoaster ride. His determination to resolve their issues adds layers of taut suspense, and an urgency to the complexity unfolding narrative, heightening the emotional stakes and drawing readers deeper into the turmoil of their lives. We witness the lengths families will go to for the ones they love. Beyond the many quotable lines about life, choices, and family, we get an in-depth view of how people turn themselves inside out for those they love. “King of Ashes” was a gritty, gut-churning path of street justice and life-level chess. Hauntingly poetic! Every chapter resonated with me in a way I will never forget.
The book is gripping and intense—dark and gritty, rooted in real-life situations, and hard-hitting. You might feel like sharing it with everyone you know.
This book is for you if you love family crime stories or urban southern fiction, gripping, fast-paced stories filled with taut suspense and family secrets. I say this because I stayed up until 4 AM to finish it. I had a hard time pressing pause. When I wasn't listening, I was thinking about it.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, who delivered an outstanding performance. His deep, resonant baritone voice brought each character to life, adding depth to the story. His delivery created a haunting and intense experience. The conclusion was so powerful that it reminded me of Shakespeare's writing, leaving a lasting impression. Lazarre-White's skillful narration added rich texture to the narrative, crafting an immersive atmosphere that made the characters feel real, as if I were part of their world.
Good books are common, but great books that teach and change you are rare. "King of Ashes" is one of those rare finds. S.A. Cosby has captured my attention, and I look forward to reading more of his work. I highly recommend you grab a copy, which is now available.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not obligated to provide a review.
Five Fiery Burning Stars 🌟
“King of Ashes” will stay with me forever! It was my first time reading S.A. Cosby, and won't be my last. I have read everything about his work, and many GR friends have shared positive thoughts about his writing, and he truly deserves all the praise and accolades. This book has proven true.
This book is going to shatter people’s souls. King of Ashes is, at its core, a book about family and the responsibilities of loving and caring for family. Sometimes, that might mean a regular check-in, a phone call, or a text. The story starts very simply, with the family patriarch in the hospital and the eldest son, Roman, returning to ensure all is well. Spoiler alert: All is NOT WELL. His sister Neveah feels depleted from caring for the family's crematorium business and emotionally holding down the family. His little brother, Dante, has done the unthinkable and landed all of them in dire straits.
Of course, Roman does what proper elder siblings do, and steps up to ‘fix’ things. Here is where the story goes from being interesting to a wild rollercoaster ride. His determination to resolve their issues adds layers of taut suspense, and an urgency to the complexity unfolding narrative, heightening the emotional stakes and drawing readers deeper into the turmoil of their lives. We witness the lengths families will go to for the ones they love. Beyond the many quotable lines about life, choices, and family, we get an in-depth view of how people turn themselves inside out for those they love. “King of Ashes” was a gritty, gut-churning path of street justice and life-level chess. Hauntingly poetic! Every chapter resonated with me in a way I will never forget.
The book is gripping and intense—dark and gritty, rooted in real-life situations, and hard-hitting. You might feel like sharing it with everyone you know.
This book is for you if you love family crime stories or urban southern fiction, gripping, fast-paced stories filled with taut suspense and family secrets. I say this because I stayed up until 4 AM to finish it. I had a hard time pressing pause. When I wasn't listening, I was thinking about it.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, who delivered an outstanding performance. His deep, resonant baritone voice brought each character to life, adding depth to the story. His delivery created a haunting and intense experience. The conclusion was so powerful that it reminded me of Shakespeare's writing, leaving a lasting impression. Lazarre-White's skillful narration added rich texture to the narrative, crafting an immersive atmosphere that made the characters feel real, as if I were part of their world.
Good books are common, but great books that teach and change you are rare. "King of Ashes" is one of those rare finds. S.A. Cosby has captured my attention, and I look forward to reading more of his work. I highly recommend you grab a copy, which is now available.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not obligated to provide a review.
April 28, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version and it was fantastic. The narrator is brilliant and creates the perfect ambience to elevate the story.
It is a great crime story revolving around family secrets, written in the gritty and bleak style S.A. Cosby masters so well.
The characters are complex and interesting, their relationships realistic, and the story is so dark and compelling.
I loved it.
Thank you so much Macmillan audio for this ARC!
It is a great crime story revolving around family secrets, written in the gritty and bleak style S.A. Cosby masters so well.
The characters are complex and interesting, their relationships realistic, and the story is so dark and compelling.
I loved it.
Thank you so much Macmillan audio for this ARC!
July 26, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
How far would you go to protect the people you love? This is the question at the center of this book, and let’s just say that the answer is “all the way”… At least that’s true for Roman, the protagonist/anti-hero in this book.
This is vintage Cosby, for better or for worse. It comes with all the things I love about his books. The writing is beautiful, the vibes are grimy, the story is relentless in its viscousness. The protagonist is always more of an anti-hero, and their imperfections and lack moral congruity is what makes them so compelling.
This is probably my favorite book of his yet. There were some flaws. There was some repetitiveness in the middle section that weighed it down for instance. But the power of this story was in its raw humanity and emotional volatility. I’m pretty sure I experienced the entire spectrum of emotions as I made my way through this book and the ending will leave your jaw on the floor. This is what makes Cosby so special. His ability to paint the most vivid of settings is unparalleled. His fearlessness to just “go there” is unique. His words are nakedly poetic despite being grounded in natural language.
Run out and read this if you haven’t already, and if this is your first Cosby book, go read the rest of his books too.
How far would you go to protect the people you love? This is the question at the center of this book, and let’s just say that the answer is “all the way”… At least that’s true for Roman, the protagonist/anti-hero in this book.
This is vintage Cosby, for better or for worse. It comes with all the things I love about his books. The writing is beautiful, the vibes are grimy, the story is relentless in its viscousness. The protagonist is always more of an anti-hero, and their imperfections and lack moral congruity is what makes them so compelling.
This is probably my favorite book of his yet. There were some flaws. There was some repetitiveness in the middle section that weighed it down for instance. But the power of this story was in its raw humanity and emotional volatility. I’m pretty sure I experienced the entire spectrum of emotions as I made my way through this book and the ending will leave your jaw on the floor. This is what makes Cosby so special. His ability to paint the most vivid of settings is unparalleled. His fearlessness to just “go there” is unique. His words are nakedly poetic despite being grounded in natural language.
Run out and read this if you haven’t already, and if this is your first Cosby book, go read the rest of his books too.
June 11, 2025
I know I’m in the minority here...
King of Ashes is a generous three star read for me—and, honestly, my least favorite book by S.A. Cosby so far. The premise was incredibly intriguing, and I was excited to see it unfold. There’s family drama, secrets, gangs, money—all the ingredients for a gripping story.
Cosby excels at atmosphere. He paints Jefferson Run as a town steeped in darkness and tension, and I really felt that. Certain scenes and chapters were absolutely gripping, and I appreciated the complex family dynamics at play.
That said, my biggest issues were with the writing and pacing.
The writing felt repetitive. I lost count of how many times we were reminded that Rome is wealthy now, how poor they were growing up, and how their parents built the crematory from scratch. Whenever Rome dealt with his brother’s messes, it felt like the same conversation played out with the twins over and over again. And Rome’s inner monologue—while at times insightful—was also repetitive. Because of this, much of the book felt like it was spinning its wheels.
It’s been a while since I last read Cosby, but I don’t remember his writing feeling this simplistic. Some of the sentence structure felt choppy, and the overuse of similes became a distraction rather than a stylistic flourish.
It also took me about 50–60 pages to really settle into the story and the writing. But even then, the pacing and repetition made it hard to stay engaged—I found myself reading a page or two and then putting it down. I ultimately switched to the audiobook just to get through it.
King of Ashes is a generous three star read for me—and, honestly, my least favorite book by S.A. Cosby so far. The premise was incredibly intriguing, and I was excited to see it unfold. There’s family drama, secrets, gangs, money—all the ingredients for a gripping story.
Cosby excels at atmosphere. He paints Jefferson Run as a town steeped in darkness and tension, and I really felt that. Certain scenes and chapters were absolutely gripping, and I appreciated the complex family dynamics at play.
That said, my biggest issues were with the writing and pacing.
The writing felt repetitive. I lost count of how many times we were reminded that Rome is wealthy now, how poor they were growing up, and how their parents built the crematory from scratch. Whenever Rome dealt with his brother’s messes, it felt like the same conversation played out with the twins over and over again. And Rome’s inner monologue—while at times insightful—was also repetitive. Because of this, much of the book felt like it was spinning its wheels.
It’s been a while since I last read Cosby, but I don’t remember his writing feeling this simplistic. Some of the sentence structure felt choppy, and the overuse of similes became a distraction rather than a stylistic flourish.
It also took me about 50–60 pages to really settle into the story and the writing. But even then, the pacing and repetition made it hard to stay engaged—I found myself reading a page or two and then putting it down. I ultimately switched to the audiobook just to get through it.
February 26, 2025
oh my god - the s.a. cosbyverse and the jordan harperverse have just merged and i am SWOONING
**********************************
apologies to the book i was 50 pages into before the mail came. king cosby will not be denied.
**********************************
apologies to the book i was 50 pages into before the mail came. king cosby will not be denied.
June 18, 2025
My first read by S.A. Cosby!! Yay!! I have been wanting to read a book by this author for quite some time and I finally got to it with my June, 2025 BOTM pick! Now, I will say that I did like this book, but I didn’t love it. In fact, there were several times that I almost skipped over half the book just to see how it ended- but I did read every page just to make sure I didn’t miss anything (and believe me, I didn’t miss anything).
This story is about Roman Carruthers going back home to Jefferson Run, after he hears his father is in the hospital in a coma. Once Roman arrives home, he learns that his brother Dante has gotten himself into some serious trouble with the Black Baron Boys (BBB). Roman’s sister Neveah, is stressed out and running the family crematory business by herself. Roman wants to help his sister Neveah with the family business as well.
Once together, the three siblings are not only mourning their father in the hospital, but they are still grieving the disappearance of their mother from many years prior. Roman knows he has to take care of his family, and definitely clean up his brother’s mess that he’s gotten himself into.
All this story talked about is how great Roman is with money, as he is a financial advisor from Atlanta. It was repeated so often, I had to roll my eyes at about the 100th time. Like okay- we heard you the first time! I also don’t think people from the streets care about the stock market and flipping money the way Roman could in this book, it just seemed unrealistic to me.
Without any spoilers, I didn’t buy many parts of this book either. The BBB was a tough gang (that I certainly wouldn’t want to cross), that would kill you just for looking at them the wrong way- but they kept sparing Roman and his family. Yeah, okay….
This may not have been a favorite read for me by S.A. Cosby, but I am still willing to give him another chance as I do want to read some of his other books. I do want to mention, as others have, that there is lots of violence in this story, and it may not sit well with others.
“Money is like acid. It burns through everything. Friendships, family, lovers, husbands and wives. Whatever bond you think you have, money will make that shit dissolve. It’s acid. Don’t ever lie to yourself and think it ain’t.”
This story is about Roman Carruthers going back home to Jefferson Run, after he hears his father is in the hospital in a coma. Once Roman arrives home, he learns that his brother Dante has gotten himself into some serious trouble with the Black Baron Boys (BBB). Roman’s sister Neveah, is stressed out and running the family crematory business by herself. Roman wants to help his sister Neveah with the family business as well.
Once together, the three siblings are not only mourning their father in the hospital, but they are still grieving the disappearance of their mother from many years prior. Roman knows he has to take care of his family, and definitely clean up his brother’s mess that he’s gotten himself into.
All this story talked about is how great Roman is with money, as he is a financial advisor from Atlanta. It was repeated so often, I had to roll my eyes at about the 100th time. Like okay- we heard you the first time! I also don’t think people from the streets care about the stock market and flipping money the way Roman could in this book, it just seemed unrealistic to me.
Without any spoilers, I didn’t buy many parts of this book either. The BBB was a tough gang (that I certainly wouldn’t want to cross), that would kill you just for looking at them the wrong way- but they kept sparing Roman and his family. Yeah, okay….
This may not have been a favorite read for me by S.A. Cosby, but I am still willing to give him another chance as I do want to read some of his other books. I do want to mention, as others have, that there is lots of violence in this story, and it may not sit well with others.
“Money is like acid. It burns through everything. Friendships, family, lovers, husbands and wives. Whatever bond you think you have, money will make that shit dissolve. It’s acid. Don’t ever lie to yourself and think it ain’t.”
July 27, 2025
Wow. This really played havoc on my emotions. Review will follow once I have had a chance to clear my head and process my feelings.
June 10, 2025
S. A. Cosby knows how to spin a good yarn and King of Ashes is no exception!
Roman Carruthers returns home to Jefferson Run, Virgina because his dad is in a coma. Waiting at home are both his sister, Neveah and his younger brother Dante. Also waiting there is the memory of their mother, missing for many years and presumed dead. While Roman has been away in Atlanta, building a prosperous career as a money manager, Neveah has been home running the family crematorium and Dante has been burying his troubles and worries in various pill bottles and gallons of liquor. As it turns out, Dante has gotten himself into real trouble and now owes the local sydnicate money, so much money that his life is now in danger. Roman puts his singular set of skills to the task of extricating his brother from the situation, helping Neveah keep the family business going, and all the while worrying about his comatose father. You will have to read this to see if Roman is successful in these endeavors!
I have been a fan of S.A. Cosby since I read his first book and I'm still here years later. His crime novels are gritty, raw and often heartbreaking. He pulls no punches and you will find no traditional happy endings in his books. What you will find is a view of real American lives in the American south, and as such, his work is not often pretty because many of those lives are not pretty.
I was rooting for Roman quite a lot at first, but being an S. A. Cosby character means you are not one dimensional and as the tale progressed my feelings about Roman changed quite a bit. For whatever reason, Roman reminded me a lof of Walter White from the televsion show Breaking Bad. If you've seen that brilliant series, you know that Walter started out trying to protect his family and look out for their future. But somehow along the way, Walter slowly changed from the protagonist into...something else. I am not saying that Roman's changes were similar to Walter's....or am I? I guess that depends on the viewpoint of the reader.
I listened to this book, narrated by the incredible Adam Lazarre-White. He has narrated most of Cosby's work and together they make a great team. I mean this in the way that Ray Porter & Jonathan Maberry have created the world of Joe Ledger, and in the way that Scott Brick and Gregg Hurwitz have created the world of Orphan X. If you've read these series' you know what I am talking about. It's the strange phenomenon where a writer and a narrator combine to create something of a higher level than just a mere "book." That said, I also want to mention that Adam Lazarre-White might have the sexiest voice to ever exist, or at least the sexiest since Barry White. LOL
Cosby's work often reminds me of Dennis Lehane's. While Lehane is generally focused on the Boston area, Cosby focuses on Virginia. Maybe it's the old axiom "write what you know" but these two authors have never let me down. I don't know if they're even capable of doing so. It's a great feeling to pick up a book by one of your favorite authors and KNOW that you're going to enjoy it before you even start. The only negative thing about finishing their books is beginning the wait for their next one. If you're a fan of dark, gritty crime novels with colorful characters and horrible moral complications, this is the book for you!
My highest recommendation!
*ARC from Macmillan Audio
Roman Carruthers returns home to Jefferson Run, Virgina because his dad is in a coma. Waiting at home are both his sister, Neveah and his younger brother Dante. Also waiting there is the memory of their mother, missing for many years and presumed dead. While Roman has been away in Atlanta, building a prosperous career as a money manager, Neveah has been home running the family crematorium and Dante has been burying his troubles and worries in various pill bottles and gallons of liquor. As it turns out, Dante has gotten himself into real trouble and now owes the local sydnicate money, so much money that his life is now in danger. Roman puts his singular set of skills to the task of extricating his brother from the situation, helping Neveah keep the family business going, and all the while worrying about his comatose father. You will have to read this to see if Roman is successful in these endeavors!
I have been a fan of S.A. Cosby since I read his first book and I'm still here years later. His crime novels are gritty, raw and often heartbreaking. He pulls no punches and you will find no traditional happy endings in his books. What you will find is a view of real American lives in the American south, and as such, his work is not often pretty because many of those lives are not pretty.
I was rooting for Roman quite a lot at first, but being an S. A. Cosby character means you are not one dimensional and as the tale progressed my feelings about Roman changed quite a bit. For whatever reason, Roman reminded me a lof of Walter White from the televsion show Breaking Bad. If you've seen that brilliant series, you know that Walter started out trying to protect his family and look out for their future. But somehow along the way, Walter slowly changed from the protagonist into...something else. I am not saying that Roman's changes were similar to Walter's....or am I? I guess that depends on the viewpoint of the reader.
I listened to this book, narrated by the incredible Adam Lazarre-White. He has narrated most of Cosby's work and together they make a great team. I mean this in the way that Ray Porter & Jonathan Maberry have created the world of Joe Ledger, and in the way that Scott Brick and Gregg Hurwitz have created the world of Orphan X. If you've read these series' you know what I am talking about. It's the strange phenomenon where a writer and a narrator combine to create something of a higher level than just a mere "book." That said, I also want to mention that Adam Lazarre-White might have the sexiest voice to ever exist, or at least the sexiest since Barry White. LOL
Cosby's work often reminds me of Dennis Lehane's. While Lehane is generally focused on the Boston area, Cosby focuses on Virginia. Maybe it's the old axiom "write what you know" but these two authors have never let me down. I don't know if they're even capable of doing so. It's a great feeling to pick up a book by one of your favorite authors and KNOW that you're going to enjoy it before you even start. The only negative thing about finishing their books is beginning the wait for their next one. If you're a fan of dark, gritty crime novels with colorful characters and horrible moral complications, this is the book for you!
My highest recommendation!
*ARC from Macmillan Audio
August 11, 2025
After Roman Carruthers receives word that his father has been in a terrible car accident, he returns home to be with his brother, Dante, and sister, Naveah, and closer to the hospital where his Dad is being kept.
The accident was serious, and the prognosis is grim. They aren't sure if Dad will ever fully recover.
Roman has been away from his hometown, where his family owns and operates a crematorium, for many years. He's built himself a highly-successful career in Atlanta, and seems to have left central Virginia in the past.
Now that he's returned though, he must confront his younger brother, Dante's, dangerous criminal enterprises, which have left him riddled in debt, as well as his sister, Neveah's, burn out, as she struggles to hold everything together with regards to the family and the business.
Roman is a bit gobsmacked by the current state of his family. He didn't know things had progressed this far, particularly in regards to Dante's debt and substance use issues.
In doesn't take Roman long to parse out that his father's crash wasn't an accident, and Dante's recklessness has placed them all in very grave danger.
Vowing to get his brother out of trouble, and save his family, Roman offers his very applicable services to the criminal overlords hunting down his brother. Roman is an expert negotiator and he's sure he can see this through, and free Dante from his debts.
Concurrently, his sister is working on her own mystery project. She's trying to determine what exactly happened to their mother, who disappeared years before.
There's so much going on in King of Ashes. The most impressive part is Cosby's incredible skill at writing such a complex story, while keeping it flowing naturally, and never making the Reader feel overwhelmed.
I enjoyed how quickly it all kicks off as well, as far as getting Roman back to Jefferson Run and involved with the flourishing criminal underworld there.
Additionally, this is a Long Game story, IYKYK, which is one of my favorite tropes in this kind of novel. Roman, as an MC, is incredible. He was so easy to root for. I loved his courage and determination in spite of the danger, no matter what, he was gonna fight to reach his goals.
I also enjoyed him as a bit of a reverse prodigal son. In spite of his successful time away, he still did seek a bit of forgiveness in a way from the other members of his family.
All the other characters were really well done too. Dante, though frustrating as heck, the guy's literally a walking liability, was still believable and sympathetic, and I loved Naveah as well.
The plot was fast-paced and kept me super invested. I had no moments where I wasn't fully locked into the audiobook while listening to it. I adored it.
In short, S.A. Cosby's gripping, gritty stories, paired with the impeccable narration of Adam Lazarre-White, is nothing short of perfection. A winning combination!
While I was completely invested in this story, and maybe because I was so invested in it, I'm NGL, it CRUSHED me. This one is going to stick in my brain for a long, long time.
This is a must for everyone's Summer Reading List!!
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. S.A. Cosby is an auto-read author for me, and this firmly secures his place on that list!
The accident was serious, and the prognosis is grim. They aren't sure if Dad will ever fully recover.
Roman has been away from his hometown, where his family owns and operates a crematorium, for many years. He's built himself a highly-successful career in Atlanta, and seems to have left central Virginia in the past.
Now that he's returned though, he must confront his younger brother, Dante's, dangerous criminal enterprises, which have left him riddled in debt, as well as his sister, Neveah's, burn out, as she struggles to hold everything together with regards to the family and the business.
Roman is a bit gobsmacked by the current state of his family. He didn't know things had progressed this far, particularly in regards to Dante's debt and substance use issues.
In doesn't take Roman long to parse out that his father's crash wasn't an accident, and Dante's recklessness has placed them all in very grave danger.
Vowing to get his brother out of trouble, and save his family, Roman offers his very applicable services to the criminal overlords hunting down his brother. Roman is an expert negotiator and he's sure he can see this through, and free Dante from his debts.
Concurrently, his sister is working on her own mystery project. She's trying to determine what exactly happened to their mother, who disappeared years before.
There's so much going on in King of Ashes. The most impressive part is Cosby's incredible skill at writing such a complex story, while keeping it flowing naturally, and never making the Reader feel overwhelmed.
I enjoyed how quickly it all kicks off as well, as far as getting Roman back to Jefferson Run and involved with the flourishing criminal underworld there.
Additionally, this is a Long Game story, IYKYK, which is one of my favorite tropes in this kind of novel. Roman, as an MC, is incredible. He was so easy to root for. I loved his courage and determination in spite of the danger, no matter what, he was gonna fight to reach his goals.
I also enjoyed him as a bit of a reverse prodigal son. In spite of his successful time away, he still did seek a bit of forgiveness in a way from the other members of his family.
All the other characters were really well done too. Dante, though frustrating as heck, the guy's literally a walking liability, was still believable and sympathetic, and I loved Naveah as well.
The plot was fast-paced and kept me super invested. I had no moments where I wasn't fully locked into the audiobook while listening to it. I adored it.
In short, S.A. Cosby's gripping, gritty stories, paired with the impeccable narration of Adam Lazarre-White, is nothing short of perfection. A winning combination!
While I was completely invested in this story, and maybe because I was so invested in it, I'm NGL, it CRUSHED me. This one is going to stick in my brain for a long, long time.
This is a must for everyone's Summer Reading List!!
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. S.A. Cosby is an auto-read author for me, and this firmly secures his place on that list!
June 10, 2025
This is my first time reviewing an audiobook. Adam Lazarre-White is S.A. Cosby's extremely
talented narrator across all his novels. He has a deep and compelling voice. This is the third
time for me experiencing Cosby's books in audio format. On all three occasions Lazarre-White
sucked me directly into the storyline.
Let's talk about Cosby now. Absolutely love his gritty noir style. What an extremely talented
wordsmith he is. His dialogue is extremely intelligent and biting.
This book is so atmospheric. When our protagonist Rome is confronted by the antagonists I
feel sweat rolling down the back of my neck. That is how deep this author can pull you into his
story.
Because of his precise and tight writing style I understand how an individual might feel when
trapped in a situation almost like an insect specimen pinned to a display board where it cannot
escape and is there to be examined.
Character development is something I treasure in a novel. Cosby takes us way back into the
family's history to help us understand why Rome and his siblings react as they do in situations.
This book makes you wonder constantly when or if our protagonist will cross the line into
becoming an antagonist.
This is definetely a drama of a very fractured family. The eldest brother tasks himself with trying
to glue back together a family severely damaged by very bad choices that family members have
made in the past, especially his addict baby brother.
Reading a saga based around a family who own a mortuary is quite creepy. We experience the
inner workings of a crematory.
It is so fascinating to be dragged into this families problems and have to face dark and
dangerous gang bosses as well as crooked cops and politicians. Throughout the novel I felt so
invested in the siblings and the “good” guys and gals they have to aid them in helping the family
survive.
A huge thank you to S.A. Cosby, his publisher Flat Iron Books and NetGalley for allowing me
access to an advance copy of The King of Ashes. Publication Day is June 10, 2025
talented narrator across all his novels. He has a deep and compelling voice. This is the third
time for me experiencing Cosby's books in audio format. On all three occasions Lazarre-White
sucked me directly into the storyline.
Let's talk about Cosby now. Absolutely love his gritty noir style. What an extremely talented
wordsmith he is. His dialogue is extremely intelligent and biting.
This book is so atmospheric. When our protagonist Rome is confronted by the antagonists I
feel sweat rolling down the back of my neck. That is how deep this author can pull you into his
story.
Because of his precise and tight writing style I understand how an individual might feel when
trapped in a situation almost like an insect specimen pinned to a display board where it cannot
escape and is there to be examined.
Character development is something I treasure in a novel. Cosby takes us way back into the
family's history to help us understand why Rome and his siblings react as they do in situations.
This book makes you wonder constantly when or if our protagonist will cross the line into
becoming an antagonist.
This is definetely a drama of a very fractured family. The eldest brother tasks himself with trying
to glue back together a family severely damaged by very bad choices that family members have
made in the past, especially his addict baby brother.
Reading a saga based around a family who own a mortuary is quite creepy. We experience the
inner workings of a crematory.
It is so fascinating to be dragged into this families problems and have to face dark and
dangerous gang bosses as well as crooked cops and politicians. Throughout the novel I felt so
invested in the siblings and the “good” guys and gals they have to aid them in helping the family
survive.
A huge thank you to S.A. Cosby, his publisher Flat Iron Books and NetGalley for allowing me
access to an advance copy of The King of Ashes. Publication Day is June 10, 2025
September 4, 2025
i liked this so much! i loved RAZORBLADE TEARS by him and have been excited to pick up another. his books are a bit intense/graphic from a thriller perspective (think PRETTY GIRLS by Karin Slaughter vibes) so you deff have to be in the “mood” for a heavier thriller going in, but it was soooo well done!
i found myself thinking about this when i wasn’t reading it which is always a good sign. my favorite part about his books is how action packed they are—there’s just so much going on in every page that it sucks you in immediately and you find yourself always wanting to pick it back up.
i’m noticing a lot of thrillers i’ve been reading recently are a good blend of thriller and family drama, and this was also in the similar vein. i really enjoyed being fully immersed in this family and all their drama and seeing how everything intertwined. he did a good job of you feeling super connected to the characters and what would happen to them.
what didn’t work for me was the resolution of the plot with the siblings’ mother, but i really enjoyed the other plot even with the ending (not saying anything more!!!). also the crematory of it all was a little intense for me and i was wondering why it was needed and then it became a part of the story 👀
everyone was talking about the shocking ending and i was expecting a bit more there based on the hype i saw! but still will always love a good “wow” end-of-a-thriller-moment
pick this up the next time you’re looking for an action packed thriller you don’t want to put down!!!
i found myself thinking about this when i wasn’t reading it which is always a good sign. my favorite part about his books is how action packed they are—there’s just so much going on in every page that it sucks you in immediately and you find yourself always wanting to pick it back up.
i’m noticing a lot of thrillers i’ve been reading recently are a good blend of thriller and family drama, and this was also in the similar vein. i really enjoyed being fully immersed in this family and all their drama and seeing how everything intertwined. he did a good job of you feeling super connected to the characters and what would happen to them.
what didn’t work for me was the resolution of the plot with the siblings’ mother, but i really enjoyed the other plot even with the ending (not saying anything more!!!). also the crematory of it all was a little intense for me and i was wondering why it was needed and then it became a part of the story 👀
everyone was talking about the shocking ending and i was expecting a bit more there based on the hype i saw! but still will always love a good “wow” end-of-a-thriller-moment
pick this up the next time you’re looking for an action packed thriller you don’t want to put down!!!
July 1, 2025
SA Cosby has never done me wrong, and this is no exception. I could read a book and not know the author and if it was SA Cosby I would know immediately because no one writes a story like him… NO ONE!
This is a story about 3 siblings who are brought into a horrific gang war when the youngest brother accidentally double crosses the wrong men. Now older brother, Roman has to do the absolute unthinkable to save himself and his brother and sister.
This was graphic, raw, brutal and in your face and I loved every second of it!
This is a story about 3 siblings who are brought into a horrific gang war when the youngest brother accidentally double crosses the wrong men. Now older brother, Roman has to do the absolute unthinkable to save himself and his brother and sister.
This was graphic, raw, brutal and in your face and I loved every second of it!
April 17, 2025
Huge thanks of gratitude to Pine & Cedar Books, Flatiron and S.A. Cosby for the gorgeous gifted copy. 🔥
S.A. Cosby is back at it again with this Godfather-inspired, southern noir thriller! A lyrical experience with the human condition called morality. His characters are bold, brave and full of heart that grip you!
Roman Carruthers returns to Jefferson Run, Virginia after five long years. His father is left in a coma after a terrible car accident. Neveah, his sister will continue running their family business, a Crematorium.This leaves his sister, Neveah, and brother, Dante, to pick up the pieces. Was their father’s wreck an accident or intentional?
Roman will soon learn that Jefferson Run is controlled by ruthless criminals who are after Dante. He will have to take matters into his own hands… because family is family. However, there still lingers the question of what happened to his mother so many years ago after she disappeared. And how will the Crematorium play out in all of this???
BRAVO, Cosby! I had a total ‘Training Day’ moment that had me screaming out loud!!! Hell yeah 🙌. Go hard or go home… because eventually, everything burns 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I absolutely loved it!
Pub Date 6/10/25
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
S.A. Cosby is back at it again with this Godfather-inspired, southern noir thriller! A lyrical experience with the human condition called morality. His characters are bold, brave and full of heart that grip you!
Roman Carruthers returns to Jefferson Run, Virginia after five long years. His father is left in a coma after a terrible car accident. Neveah, his sister will continue running their family business, a Crematorium.This leaves his sister, Neveah, and brother, Dante, to pick up the pieces. Was their father’s wreck an accident or intentional?
Roman will soon learn that Jefferson Run is controlled by ruthless criminals who are after Dante. He will have to take matters into his own hands… because family is family. However, there still lingers the question of what happened to his mother so many years ago after she disappeared. And how will the Crematorium play out in all of this???
BRAVO, Cosby! I had a total ‘Training Day’ moment that had me screaming out loud!!! Hell yeah 🙌. Go hard or go home… because eventually, everything burns 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I absolutely loved it!
Pub Date 6/10/25
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 18, 2025
4.5 Stars. I was excited to receive the ARC for S.A. Cosby's latest book, The King of Ashes. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this exhilarating and gritty family drama. It was a violent, brutal, and disturbing story of family secrets, loyalty and revenge. Although the story was dark, the writing was lyrical and packed an emotional wallop. Cosby is an absolute favourite author, and I stop whatever I am reading to move his books to the top of my list. The talented narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, does an outstanding job, and it was impossible to put the book aside.
A crematorium is in the background and sometimes moves to the forefront. As events become darker, the only light emitted is from the crematorium furnace. The family characters are flawed and intriguing while evoking sympathy. They make some terrible choices. I found it fast-paced, gory, explosive, and stress-inducing. I loved it!
"Everything burns, but sometimes end up in the gutter where they belong." My only problem was the vast number of secondary characters, girlfriends and sociopathic gang members. With an audiobook, it wasn't easy to go back and keep the names straight. I intend to read a print book as soon as it is available. I have no doubt it will be a 5-star review.
Roman Carruthers is called to come home because his father was in a terrible car accident, and lies near death in a coma. His father and mother started the Carruthers Crematorium, and the father was referred to as the King of Ashes. The mother disappeared when the three children were teenagers. Roman is proud of being a financial genius with the talent of making his clients rich. He rarely uses ethical means, but as long as his client's funds increase, so do his. Roman arrives to find his younger brother Dante in danger. He owes a lot of money to hardened gangsters, borrowed to support his alcohol and drug addictions. His sister, Neveah, is exhausted from running the crematorium alone and has little time on her own. She is obsessed with her mother's disappearance. Rumours have circulated that their father murdered her. Dante keeps a reckless lifestyle, always making their problems worse.
Roman will do anything to save his family. It has become clear that his father's fatal injury was not an accident. Roman is overconfident. He pays most of Dante's debt to the gangsters but thinks he can make a deal with them. He tells them he can earn them significantly more money than they are owed. They refuse, and Roman ends up doing some jobs for them as demanded. Is Roman morally justified in going so far to save his siblings? How much is too far? He has no experience dealing with deadly, depraved sociopaths.
The story has many disturbing twists. It is highly recommended, but be aware that it is grim, brutal and heart-wrenching. The publication date is June 10th.
A crematorium is in the background and sometimes moves to the forefront. As events become darker, the only light emitted is from the crematorium furnace. The family characters are flawed and intriguing while evoking sympathy. They make some terrible choices. I found it fast-paced, gory, explosive, and stress-inducing. I loved it!
"Everything burns, but sometimes end up in the gutter where they belong." My only problem was the vast number of secondary characters, girlfriends and sociopathic gang members. With an audiobook, it wasn't easy to go back and keep the names straight. I intend to read a print book as soon as it is available. I have no doubt it will be a 5-star review.
Roman Carruthers is called to come home because his father was in a terrible car accident, and lies near death in a coma. His father and mother started the Carruthers Crematorium, and the father was referred to as the King of Ashes. The mother disappeared when the three children were teenagers. Roman is proud of being a financial genius with the talent of making his clients rich. He rarely uses ethical means, but as long as his client's funds increase, so do his. Roman arrives to find his younger brother Dante in danger. He owes a lot of money to hardened gangsters, borrowed to support his alcohol and drug addictions. His sister, Neveah, is exhausted from running the crematorium alone and has little time on her own. She is obsessed with her mother's disappearance. Rumours have circulated that their father murdered her. Dante keeps a reckless lifestyle, always making their problems worse.
Roman will do anything to save his family. It has become clear that his father's fatal injury was not an accident. Roman is overconfident. He pays most of Dante's debt to the gangsters but thinks he can make a deal with them. He tells them he can earn them significantly more money than they are owed. They refuse, and Roman ends up doing some jobs for them as demanded. Is Roman morally justified in going so far to save his siblings? How much is too far? He has no experience dealing with deadly, depraved sociopaths.
The story has many disturbing twists. It is highly recommended, but be aware that it is grim, brutal and heart-wrenching. The publication date is June 10th.
May 29, 2025
Author S.A. Cosby’s KING OF ASHES is a bold, brutal, in your face Southern Noir family drama by that begs the question, "What would you do to protect your family?". Like Cosby's preceding books, this tension laden story is a gritty, raw, gut-wrenching masterpiece with blood, sweat, and tears permeating every page. Settle in your favorite corner before starting this highly addictive page burner. It's a wild ride!
Roman Carruthers, a financial guru, left his run-down hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, and the family Crematorium business he detested in the rearview five years ago, seeking the bright lights and opportunities of the big city. Over time, Roman built a reputable, profitable business as a respected expert managing clients’ money and making them wealthy. He's living the good life when a phone call informs him his father is comatose following a near fatal car crash, and he's needed back home. Roman has no choice but to swallow his dread and return to the place he fled to pay his dues with plans to make an appearance and then get back out as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Roman's plans change when he finds his sister, Neveah, exhausted and nearing the end of her rope as she single handedly works killer hours to keep the Crematorium running while keeping vigilance by her father's hospital bed and riding shotgun over younger brother, Dante, whose bad decisions put him in a dicey situation with local, lowlife criminals. Upon arrival, Roman analyzes the situation as he would any mathematical problem and proceeds with a plan to pay off Dante's debt; however, events backfire and quickly escalate out of control. He learns the hard way that Dante's careless actions have attracted criminal elements way beyond the local thugs. Someone with power is seeking retaliation against his family, leaving him to wonder if his father's car crash was a warning . . . not an accident. Now, everyone Roman cares about is in danger, and to Roman, family is everything. Money won't buy them off, but Roman knows how the game is played. Swallowing his pride and the bile rising in his throat, Roman crosses over to the dark side, selling his soul to the devil in a bargain that may forever bind him to the small town life he worked so hard to escape. While he doesn't like it, one lesson Roman learned from his father is that everything burns. And he's not above striking the match that'll burn this town down around them to save his family.
Cosby never lifts his foot off the gas in KING OF ASHES. From beginning to end, it's an action-packed, fast paced family drama with flawed, larger than life characters battling impossible odds in an age-old battle of good vs. evil, but in doing so, what do they become? What sets Cosby's characters apart is their strong family ties, hearts of a lion, keen sense of morality even as they're forced to cross lines in the name of old timey justice, and their ability to display vulnerability while stepping up as antiheroes all in the name of family. Fueled by an increasing tone of impending doom, nonstop action drives the maddening pace forward through flawlessly woven, twisted, multiple plot lines towards an explosive climax that left me breathless. Family skeletons along with all the dark family secrets escape to wreak havoc in this epic southern noir thriller. Who will remain standing when they sift through the ashes? Highly recommended to readers who enjoy fast-paced, graphic, family drama thrillers.
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own. This title is scheduled for release June 10, 2025. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
Roman Carruthers, a financial guru, left his run-down hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, and the family Crematorium business he detested in the rearview five years ago, seeking the bright lights and opportunities of the big city. Over time, Roman built a reputable, profitable business as a respected expert managing clients’ money and making them wealthy. He's living the good life when a phone call informs him his father is comatose following a near fatal car crash, and he's needed back home. Roman has no choice but to swallow his dread and return to the place he fled to pay his dues with plans to make an appearance and then get back out as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Roman's plans change when he finds his sister, Neveah, exhausted and nearing the end of her rope as she single handedly works killer hours to keep the Crematorium running while keeping vigilance by her father's hospital bed and riding shotgun over younger brother, Dante, whose bad decisions put him in a dicey situation with local, lowlife criminals. Upon arrival, Roman analyzes the situation as he would any mathematical problem and proceeds with a plan to pay off Dante's debt; however, events backfire and quickly escalate out of control. He learns the hard way that Dante's careless actions have attracted criminal elements way beyond the local thugs. Someone with power is seeking retaliation against his family, leaving him to wonder if his father's car crash was a warning . . . not an accident. Now, everyone Roman cares about is in danger, and to Roman, family is everything. Money won't buy them off, but Roman knows how the game is played. Swallowing his pride and the bile rising in his throat, Roman crosses over to the dark side, selling his soul to the devil in a bargain that may forever bind him to the small town life he worked so hard to escape. While he doesn't like it, one lesson Roman learned from his father is that everything burns. And he's not above striking the match that'll burn this town down around them to save his family.
Cosby never lifts his foot off the gas in KING OF ASHES. From beginning to end, it's an action-packed, fast paced family drama with flawed, larger than life characters battling impossible odds in an age-old battle of good vs. evil, but in doing so, what do they become? What sets Cosby's characters apart is their strong family ties, hearts of a lion, keen sense of morality even as they're forced to cross lines in the name of old timey justice, and their ability to display vulnerability while stepping up as antiheroes all in the name of family. Fueled by an increasing tone of impending doom, nonstop action drives the maddening pace forward through flawlessly woven, twisted, multiple plot lines towards an explosive climax that left me breathless. Family skeletons along with all the dark family secrets escape to wreak havoc in this epic southern noir thriller. Who will remain standing when they sift through the ashes? Highly recommended to readers who enjoy fast-paced, graphic, family drama thrillers.
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own. This title is scheduled for release June 10, 2025. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
June 7, 2025
***This story is extremely violent***
How far would you go to save your family is the question that Roman Carruthers has to deal ith in this violent story that S.A. Cosby created.
Roman, a very successful investor is called back home because his father was involved in a devastating car accident. The Carruthers family owns a crematorium and his sister, Neveah, tries to hold it and the family together. Dante, the younger brother is heavily involved in drugs and his mistake in a drug transaction lands him and his family into dire straights. Bubbling in the background is the mysterious disappearance of their mother years ago.
Roman tries to remedy the threats but this tough group of gangsters who make any remedy impossible. They want their pound of flesh and will do heinous things to get it.
Roman must resort to his street creds, and in the process much blood is shed in often very violent an graphic ways. However Roman is smart and he has the wits to outsmart this rugged group of thugs. Will he lose this battle for his family or will they all perish at the hands of evil?
How far would you go to save your family is the question that Roman Carruthers has to deal ith in this violent story that S.A. Cosby created.
Roman, a very successful investor is called back home because his father was involved in a devastating car accident. The Carruthers family owns a crematorium and his sister, Neveah, tries to hold it and the family together. Dante, the younger brother is heavily involved in drugs and his mistake in a drug transaction lands him and his family into dire straights. Bubbling in the background is the mysterious disappearance of their mother years ago.
Roman tries to remedy the threats but this tough group of gangsters who make any remedy impossible. They want their pound of flesh and will do heinous things to get it.
Roman must resort to his street creds, and in the process much blood is shed in often very violent an graphic ways. However Roman is smart and he has the wits to outsmart this rugged group of thugs. Will he lose this battle for his family or will they all perish at the hands of evil?
June 24, 2025
I'm giving S A. Cosby a standing ovation right now.
July 1, 2025
This was a highly anticipated read for me. This author has easily become a must-read for new releases. His ability to create books that feel like movies in your mind, and his phenomenal relationship with Adam (narrator) is unmatched.
This book was a bit slow for me. I put it down a few times because I couldn't connect with the characters as quickly as his other works, but I was interested enough to keep going. By the end? On the edge of my seat. His ability to walk you through different scenes, seemingly at the same is just.... chefs kiss!
That ending?!? WHAT.
In his true fashion, there were also comical moments that literally made me laugh out loud. So far, this ranks 5th in my favorite books of his that I've read.
6.7/10 would recommend. If you really want to read something by him?
How I'd rank his books:
1. Razorblade Tears
2. Blacktop Wasteland
3. All the Sinners Bleed
4. My Darkest Prayer
5. King of Ashes
Pre-read:
I can't WAIT to read this. I think I love this author??
This book was a bit slow for me. I put it down a few times because I couldn't connect with the characters as quickly as his other works, but I was interested enough to keep going. By the end? On the edge of my seat. His ability to walk you through different scenes, seemingly at the same is just.... chefs kiss!
That ending?!? WHAT.
In his true fashion, there were also comical moments that literally made me laugh out loud. So far, this ranks 5th in my favorite books of his that I've read.
6.7/10 would recommend. If you really want to read something by him?
How I'd rank his books:
1. Razorblade Tears
2. Blacktop Wasteland
3. All the Sinners Bleed
4. My Darkest Prayer
5. King of Ashes
Pre-read:
I can't WAIT to read this. I think I love this author??
June 4, 2025
"Everything burns."
In King of Ashes, SA Cosby masterfully tells a story of crime, power, family, loyalty, and betrayal in a propulsive and action-packed novel. Roman Carruthers is the eldest sibling of three who is a successful financial advisor in Atlanta. He returns home to the crime-ridden small Virginia town outside of Richmond when his father suffers an accident and ends up on life support. His siblings live there, and he finds out the trouble his little brother Dante has gotten himself into with a violent gang. Roman helps Dante out of love and loyalty and finds himself dancing with the devil. How far will he go to protect his family?
Cosby's work is powerful, raw, and visceral. His prose is beautiful, reflective, and even religious juxtaposed against the violence and darkness of the gangsters. It is reminiscent of The Godfather and shows that nothing good comes from violence and lies. This book is so different from any other crime fiction novel I've read. To be honest, some parts are difficult and uncomfortable to read. The research that Cosby made is evident in his knowledge of financial markets and real estate investments and how profits can be made both legally and illegally. I found that aspect of it fascinating as well as the world many Americans live in in inner cities across the country where innocent people become victims and pawns of criminals and gang violence. If you enjoy crime fiction and want to read something that makes you think, I highly recommend King of Ashes.
Many thanks to Pine and Cedar Books, Flatiron Books, and SA Cosby for the gifted copy as part of the Flatiron First Look Influencer program. #FlatironPartner
CW: gritty subject matter linked to gangster activity, including drugs and violence. There are no detailed descriptions, but enough that it may be triggering for some.
In King of Ashes, SA Cosby masterfully tells a story of crime, power, family, loyalty, and betrayal in a propulsive and action-packed novel. Roman Carruthers is the eldest sibling of three who is a successful financial advisor in Atlanta. He returns home to the crime-ridden small Virginia town outside of Richmond when his father suffers an accident and ends up on life support. His siblings live there, and he finds out the trouble his little brother Dante has gotten himself into with a violent gang. Roman helps Dante out of love and loyalty and finds himself dancing with the devil. How far will he go to protect his family?
Cosby's work is powerful, raw, and visceral. His prose is beautiful, reflective, and even religious juxtaposed against the violence and darkness of the gangsters. It is reminiscent of The Godfather and shows that nothing good comes from violence and lies. This book is so different from any other crime fiction novel I've read. To be honest, some parts are difficult and uncomfortable to read. The research that Cosby made is evident in his knowledge of financial markets and real estate investments and how profits can be made both legally and illegally. I found that aspect of it fascinating as well as the world many Americans live in in inner cities across the country where innocent people become victims and pawns of criminals and gang violence. If you enjoy crime fiction and want to read something that makes you think, I highly recommend King of Ashes.
Many thanks to Pine and Cedar Books, Flatiron Books, and SA Cosby for the gifted copy as part of the Flatiron First Look Influencer program. #FlatironPartner
CW: gritty subject matter linked to gangster activity, including drugs and violence. There are no detailed descriptions, but enough that it may be triggering for some.
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