A Book A Week

S.A. Cosby wowed me with his novel Razorblade Tears. The story about two fathers seeking revenge and redemption over the murder of their gay sons shook me to my core. I vowed to read whatever Cosby came up with next. Luckily for me, I didn't have long to wait. His latest novel All the Sinners Bleed was released last week, and his publisher kindly provided me with the audio version to listen to. The work is filled with contemplations on complex subjects, all wrapped together as a police procedural. In short, it is another must-read novel from this talented author. 

Titus Crowne built a prestigious career in law enforcement. His security expertise saw Titus rise in the ranks of the FBI, proving his ability in the upper echelon of his field. He left the FBI to return to his home in Charon County. An ailing elderly father and troubled younger brother gave Titus plenty to do, but he missed the sense of purpose that came from police work. Soon, he put his hat in the race for Sherrif. To his surprise, Titus won the race and became the first Black sheriff in the county's history. 

One year later, Titus is called to the scene of an ongoing shooting and the local high school. It is every police officer's worst nightmare. Titus expects to find the kind of mass casualty massacre that lace the headlines every week. Instead, he finds a shooter much more focused on his target. A single teacher is murdered before Titus's deputies fire the fatal shot that kills the shooter. In the immediate aftermath, the community mourns the loss of a well-loved teacher. The pastor of the local church decries the death of the young shooter. None of them, though, are prepared for the shocking truths to come out of the investigation. The teacher was a serial child abuser. The murderer was one of his victims turned accomplice. A third, masked accomplice is still at large. Titus will stop at nothing to bring this mysterious figure to justice. 

All the Sinners Bleed sees S.A. Cosby level up as an author in every way and cements his status as one of the most compelling American novelists writing today. The basic setup of the novel is very much in the tradition of classic police procedurals. The form creates a page-turning sense of urgency while allowing Cosby to delve deeper into themes of community, racism, and religion. The fictional setting of Charon County feels as palpable as any southern town I've ever visited. Complete with Confederate sentimentalists, snake-wrangling preachers, and a community divided among racial and generational lines. Cosby transports us to this place through his detailed descriptions and deeply drawn characters. There's conflict both internally and externally that helps to propel this novel to the top of his already stellar collected works. All the Sinners Bleed is the novel of the summer and already stacking up to be one of the best that I've read this year. 

For more information visit the author's website and Goodreads. 

(2023, 30)