Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

56 reviews

nahret's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

 A difficult read, ngl. Not only are the murders absolutely, horrifyingly gruesome, the atmosphere in fictional Charon County is nothing short of oppressive. There's the racism that the US, and the South especially, is built on; the author makes it clear at every point, that there is no escaping the legacy of slavery. And not just because we never actually arrived in a post-racial America, but specifically because the White Supremacists in Charon hold on to their questionable heritage with incredible dedication and an all-consuming hatred for everyone who is not a straight white cis man.

And then there's religion. Charon has an abundance of churches (which, again, I hear is normal in the South), and religion might as well be the protagonist of this novel. It permeates every aspect of life in this town, from intimate familial relationships all the way up to politics and administration. Consider this, if you will, a content warning in case of religious trauma; this book will probably cause a reaction.

This story hits all the important notes of a crime novel:
- the sense of danger is constant
- the resolution of the case proceeds at a steady pace
- the characters behave in a consistent manner
- all ends are tied up in a satisfying conclusion

My only quibble with the book was the sheriff's inner monologue. I mostly liked the prose, but sometimes the bible quotes, idioms, similes, and metaphors became a bit much. They certainly helped with the whole Southern vibe, but they don't need to pop up every other sentence.

However, solid read, with as happy an ending as possible under the circumstances. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Slavery, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

sweaterdad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.75

Loved this book! I’m not a huge fiction reader so I asked some friends for a rec and so glad they sent this one my way. I was hooked after the first couple of chapters and really loved the cast of characters. Definitely a dark read, but so important given our current sociopolitical state. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

charlottedante's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Murder

herelieshenry's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Racial slurs

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. 

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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 who

kidnaps, sexually abuses, and ritually murders

Black teenagers.

thekrujue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder

kianau_reads's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Murder

ford_defect's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Genocide

brittanyisbooked's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Cosby is such a talented author and his books never disappoint. In comparison to others, this one wasn’t my favorite although I can’t pinpoint a specific reason. I did feel like this book focused more on the community than individual characters, which was cool. It’s always rare to find a book that you can call the town a character and have it done well and this is one of those cases. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

faeriegodmutha's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

I rather enjoy a Christ-haunted psychological terror type novel and this was very solid. Great writing,plot, setting.... Very unsettling but beautifully written!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism