Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

35 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

plansplotsblots's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder

fabacious'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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Colonisation

jill_holly's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

A dark and slower burn crime thriller set in the deep South. I loved the character of Titus who was complex and interesting. I particularly liked the moments with his dad and brother. I found the random love triangle to feel forced though and it didn't add much to the plot, so I could have done without that. 

The plot was harrowing. The crimes Titus is investigating are brutal, especially against the backdrop of racial tensions in a fictional small county in Virginia. The story had lots of tension with bursts of action. And, the narration was absolute perfection by Adam Lazarre-White. I felt like I was watching a movie!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder

cammyvee's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

DO NOT read this book before looking at the content warning. S.A. Crosby is an incredible writer- that’s not contested. 
But you won’t sleep well after reading this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Antisemitism, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Murder

mlweih's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

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

brittanyisbooked's review against another edition

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

alexiusr's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Murder

catsinbooks'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings