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aleciatalbot's review against another edition
5.0
All the Sinners Bleed is a serial killer mystery/thriller about Titus, the first Black sheriff in a rural county in the South, as he struggles to track down a serial killer targeting Black children in the area, while also dealing with white supremacist vitriol and distrust of police in the community.
There are so many layers within this novel, and it felt like so much more than just a serial killer mystery. Titus’s inner narrative throughout the story gives attention to the realities of small-town America. There were so many poignant lines that made me stop and put down the book so I could take a second before moving on.
I loved that Titus was heroic, but flawed, and his family and deputies provided fascinating side characters. The plot was perfectly paced, with intense action happening between slower parts of the investigation.
Trigger Warnings:
torture, violence, murder, racism, hate crimes
I will be recommending this one to everyone interested in dark thriller/mystery novels. A fantastic read, and I cannot wait to read more from S. A. Cosby.
There are so many layers within this novel, and it felt like so much more than just a serial killer mystery. Titus’s inner narrative throughout the story gives attention to the realities of small-town America. There were so many poignant lines that made me stop and put down the book so I could take a second before moving on.
I loved that Titus was heroic, but flawed, and his family and deputies provided fascinating side characters. The plot was perfectly paced, with intense action happening between slower parts of the investigation.
Trigger Warnings:
torture, violence, murder, racism, hate crimes
I will be recommending this one to everyone interested in dark thriller/mystery novels. A fantastic read, and I cannot wait to read more from S. A. Cosby.
lefttoread's review against another edition
After reading All the Sinners Bleed and My Darkest Prayer, I find myself caught in a bit of a dilemma with S.A. Cosby's work. On one hand, the writing is solid—Cosby has a definite knack for creating atmosphere and painting vivid pictures of his settings. However, despite the promising writing style, I found it challenging to truly connect with the stories.
For me, All the Sinners Bleed felt somewhat dry. It had all the elements of a gripping thriller—murder, a complex protagonist, small-town secrets—but it somehow lacked the spark needed to fully engage me. There were moments of tension and intrigue, but overall, I expected more depth or perhaps a greater emotional pull. Instead, the narrative felt a bit restrained, like it was holding back from its full potential.
That said, I'm not entirely ready to give up on S.A. Cosby just yet. There's something about his writing that suggests he could deliver a novel that truly resonates with me. I've heard great things about Razorblade Tears, and that may be the deciding factor in whether I continue exploring his works. I'm hopeful that it will bring the balance of strong writing and compelling storytelling that I've been looking for.
For me, All the Sinners Bleed felt somewhat dry. It had all the elements of a gripping thriller—murder, a complex protagonist, small-town secrets—but it somehow lacked the spark needed to fully engage me. There were moments of tension and intrigue, but overall, I expected more depth or perhaps a greater emotional pull. Instead, the narrative felt a bit restrained, like it was holding back from its full potential.
That said, I'm not entirely ready to give up on S.A. Cosby just yet. There's something about his writing that suggests he could deliver a novel that truly resonates with me. I've heard great things about Razorblade Tears, and that may be the deciding factor in whether I continue exploring his works. I'm hopeful that it will bring the balance of strong writing and compelling storytelling that I've been looking for.
thara_pei's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
vanessa10readsbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readingrandbow's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
apozerycki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.75
elisebrancheau's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
throwback682's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this on a recommendation from a friend and dove in without checking the trigger warnings first. YIKES.
So I was not prepared for the subject matter. It was also copaganda which isn’t up my alley.
That being said, the narrator was excellent. The plot was really solid, the subplots were also good. The main character’s romantic relationships (past and present) were my least favorite part I think.
This is a murder mystery/crime drama/serial killer story but it’s also about racism in the South, grief, family stuff, religious trauma, and more. I think the writer is talented and smart.
So I was not prepared for the subject matter. It was also copaganda which isn’t up my alley.
That being said, the narrator was excellent. The plot was really solid, the subplots were also good. The main character’s romantic relationships (past and present) were my least favorite part I think.
This is a murder mystery/crime drama/serial killer story but it’s also about racism in the South, grief, family stuff, religious trauma, and more. I think the writer is talented and smart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Stalking, and Car accident
Minor: Sexual content, Excrement, and Vomit
The plot involves a sheriff’s department looking for a killer wholiedora's review against another edition
3.0
The plot line was the only thing that kept me reading to the end of this. I wasn't invested, in fact I didn't care at all about any of the characters, and was so glad this wasn't a book that relied on them to propel the story.
kpeninger's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I could kick myself for waiting so long to read one of SA Cosby's books. This was an incredibly fast-paced crime thriller with so much heart and a fantastic mix of simple and heartwrenching prose. The characters were amazing, each and every one drawn with empathy and yet a hard eye towards the actions they take. The plot was well-constructed and very fair to the reader. The sense of place was phenomenal, with Charon being a character in its own right. The one issue I had was that I thought the end wrapped up a little too quickly. Looking forward to trying some more books by this author!