Reviews tagging 'Grief'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

48 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

smilagros's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

When I first started this book, I honestly thought it was getting a 5✨. But I think that this needed a couple of more edits to make the story flow better because some of the descriptions were just not necessary. But the bad guy…. He was CREEPY. The lead up to finding him was giving me goosebumps. I was checking behind my shower curtain because of the descriptions of him and what he did. I do not love this one as much as razorblade tears but I think I will read all of his works.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment

condls27's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

A gripping, dark mystery that will keep you engaged to the very last sentence. Take care and check trigger warnings before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Murder

takeaim's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

SA Cosby is  Must-Read
Intense and riveting. Unforgettable, and too close to today's headlines. Please check trigger warnings. Despite the despicable crimes under investigation by a Black sheriff in a small Southern town, the author does not veer into gratuitous sensationalism. Nor does he glide over raw emotions in the face of unspeakable acts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, 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

drsa's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

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

clak5686's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Often you will read a book with a great plot/characters but the writing isn't great.   Other times you will read a book where the writing is great but the plot/characters aren't great.  This book has great writing and great plot/characters.  It is graphic and often times hard to read.  It makes you feel things you don't want to feel.  It makes you consider things you might not want to think about.  Overall, this is an outstanding read.  I will definitely be reading more books by this author.  I highly recommend this book but check trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Domestic abuse

mysterymom40's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury

adiajamille's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Absolutely enthralling! I had never read anything by him before and absolutely loved it. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. The plot moves at a good pace. And tbh I think it would be an excellent tv series, in the right hands. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism