Many thanks to my friends at @macmillan.audio for the #gifted audiobook.

 

Darkly compelling.  Gritty and complex. Cosby’s emotionally charged fourth novel proves he is the future of crime thrillers.  

 

Whether writing about the outlaw (in his previous works) or lawman (in this latest), Cosby enthralls.  This is a “one sitting” book.  Provocative and page turning, it was just the explosive thrill ride I’ve come to expect of Cosby.  

 

“Charon County was founded in bloodshed and darkness.”

 

A small, southern town firm in the clutches of history.  A serial killer targeting Black youth.  Titus Crowne, the first Black sheriff of Charon County, must balance the lines of justice amongst the complexities of race and religion in the American South. 

 

Gritty and raw!  This storyline is exacting and propulsive.  From the adeptly plotted hunt for a serial killer to the cinematic backdrop of the rural south, I was fully absorbed.  Scenes crafted with nuance created the perfect juxtaposition between everyday life and the unfolding horror.  The sense that danger lurked among the mundane parts of normalcy created an unnerving scene, rife with complexity and terror.  

 

Cosby’s writing is hard-edged and highly skilled.  It’s smart and textured.  It’s full of emotion yet loaded with action.  It’s expertly balanced between poetry and structure with significance embedded in both.  

 

Though captivating, this isn’t a comfortable read.  It’s dark and gory.  Violence is on full display.  

 

But maybe most provocative is the examination of the misuse of religion and politics.  This story begs the questions we need to be asking.  An unflinching look at hard things done with a soft touch, allowing a timely and thorough examination that creates a platform for discussion.

 

Did I cheer at that ending?  YES, I did.  👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻   Meticulously crafted and full of verve, All the Sinner’s Bleed is a tour de force!

 

🎧  @realadamlw has given voice to all of Cobsy’s novels.  Each time, he creates the perfect execution, especially for the main character.  And this time is no different.  His deep and gravely voice has such nuance, allowing him to shift tone and create a full emotional experience pertinent to the scenes.  Lazarre-White is one of my favorites and a truly talented voice artists.