Man, S. A. Cosby can write! I mean - He. Can. WRITE!

📖 Quick Synopsis: “a Godfather-inspired Southern crime and dazzling family drama”—and that’s exactly what it is.

King of Ashes is a tightly wound family saga about debt, danger, and protecting your own. It’s dark, tense, and unforgiving. Roman Carruthers is the perfect morally gray character. All he wants is to save his family. But in trying to be a savior for his little brother, Dante, he ends up entangled with a dangerous gangster—and in the process, discovers that his DNA might just be built for a life of crime. He uses his financial savvy to try and pay off the gangsters, but this moral compromise begs the question: Can doing a bad thing for the right reasons still make you a bad person?

Read this if you like:
✨Organized Crime + High Stakes Retribution
✨Dark family drama with deep-seated lies and trauma
✨Big emotion & even bigger twists
✨Poetic writing + an explosive ending

🎧 Narration Note: Adam Lazarre-White and S. A. Cosby are a match made in heaven. ALW is Cosby’s voice. He brings the grit, Southern drawl, and Black soul to Cosby’s stories. KOA contains a lot of characters, but ALW handles them all brilliantly—each voice distinct, making it super easy to follow on audio.

Final Verdict: 👍 King of Ashes is fire! 🔥 Raw, real, unforgettable! I’ll read anything Cosby writes. Every. Time.

Roman Carruther escaped his run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run to become a high-powered and successful man in Atlanta. When his father is hospitalized, he must return home and help save his family, no matter the cost.

S.A. Crosby has a unique and amazing writing style, and like his other novels, King of Ashes will pull you in immediately. It is dark and disturbing, but you cannot help but flip the pages. It is a must-listen for new and old fans!

This book had all of SA Cosby’s typical grit and was a super fun, fast-paced read. This exploration of family and the darker side of what you’ll do for those you love was interesting and very compelling. The narration by Adam Lazarre-White (who voices all of Cosby’s books) is absolutely perfect for bringing this dark world to life. Fair warning: this one doesn’t pull any punches with the violence.

The story follows Roman Carruthers who comes home due to a family tragedy only to find his younger brother Dante in deep with some very bad people, his sister Neveah completely overburdened and overwhelmed, and his family’s crematorium business at risk of going under. Think Southern Gothic meets family drama, with late-series Breaking Bad energy: desperate choices turn to cold calculation. Everything is all wrapped in that signature Cosby intensity for the perfect noir masterpiece.

Um, excuse me? Why is this the first S.A. Cosby book that I’ve read?!? Gritty, raw, intense. I could not put this one down. The audio narration was superb! How far would you go to save your family?

S.A. Cosby knows how to hit you where it hurts. This ugly part of our society does exist and Cosby can tell that story. This book is full of tears and horror and love and hope and all the things that make a book go Boom. Adam Lazarre-White is the perfect voice for this dark look into gangs and the consequences. His voices are different enough to not get confused during the listening of the book and he paces it perfectly. This book is now one of my favorites by Cosby. (check trigger warnings)

This was my first S.A. Cosby book and he had now gained a new fan. KOA was amazing to listen to. It started off slow but picked up with so many twists and turns. Nothing was predictable. Thank you for the ALC!

S.A. Cosby is an absolute admirable author! He is a must-read, must-buy, must anything to grab his books! King of Ashes was beyond great, very descriptive with his words, his story line for this book was highly engaging, I listened and then read his book! I plan to read it again with my local book club!

Another great read from S.A Crosby! Definitely an epic tale that was incredibly immersive. Crosby writes worlds and characters that feel so real and are multi-layered. Overall I enjoyed this book but it definitely dragged on at the end.

S.A. is back with another banger!!! Roman the oldest, is summons to come back home to deal with his father that has been in an accident. The details to said accident was express until he finally touched down. This is where he finds out that his brother is behind it and Roman has no choice but to clean up the mess that his brother left behind. While doing this he is also met with details from the past, that he would have never expected.

The Master of Suspense does it again this one!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: King Of Ashes⁣
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: S.A. Cosby⁣
⁣
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱:⁣
⇥ Unlike anything I’ve read before! Dark, violent, wildly thrilling—and the ending nearly gave me a heart attack.⁣
⇥ I loved the sibling dynamic. Their bond was heartfelt and messy in the best way—even if Dante was the classic screw-up.⁣
⇥ Roman. Hot. Fascinating. Carried the entire story on his broad, muscular shoulders. Gimme more books with him in them. ⁣
⁣
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗱:⁣
⇥ Not a knock on the story itself, but the audiobook narrator was tough to hear in the car. The deep bass in his voice became muddled through car speakers—headphones helped a lot. If you’re debating formats, I’d recommend physical or eBook.⁣
⇥ S.A. Cosby’s writing is stellar, but wow he loves a simile. Nearly every page had one like this: “He moved through their world like a dolphin gliding through water.” Once I noticed it, I couldn’t unsee/unhear it.⁣
⁣
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:⁣
This book was SO GOOD. It ultimately landed at 4.5. The ending felt right—gritty, fair, and realistic for the world Cosby created. There were some jaw-dropping twists and heart-pounding moments, and I really loved the main character. So many layers and satisfying side plots. READ THIS BOOK. But be prepared for lots of derogatory language and some really uncomfortable scenes.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely mesmerizing! The writing is top-tier; Cosby truly is a maestro in his craft!

The plot unfolds brilliantly, and the character development is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s gritty, raw, and brimming with emotion. The ending absolutely knocked the wind out of me! While it took a moment to hook me, by the halfway point, I was completely captivated, and by the conclusion, I was head over heels.

The narration by Adam Lazzare-White was outstanding and deserves every accolade! He breathed life into the story with his incredible voice, making the experience truly unforgettable. Just like the previous titles they collaborate on.
A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This kind of intense crime drama is not normally in my wheelhouse, but I can appreciate why S.A. Cosby is considered the master of this genre. The book is intense and violent, with characters who are complicated and conflicted. The plot took a lot of satisfying turns, and the ending was just what this kind of book needs. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is excellent with the perfect drawl for the region and nice differentiation of characters.

Whoa. This one was wild!

It's gritty, violent and emotionally intense. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Author S.A. Cosby delivers a brutal family crime drama with a twisty plot and crazy good writing. The “ashes” theme runs through everything—dark, smart and symbolic in a way that sticks with you.

Roman Carruthers comes home to chaos: his dad’s in a coma, his brother’s in deep with some bad people, and his sister’s barely holding the family (and the crematorium) together. The story is packed with secrets, drugs, gangs, bad cops—you name it.

Adam Lazarre-White absolutely nails the narration. His voice gave me Dion Graham vibes, but it's even smoother. He made the characters come alive and really pulled me in.

That said, it was a little too gruesome for me. I’m a big fan of S.A. Cosby (esp. Blacktop Wasteland), but this one pushed my limits. If you love dark crime stories with serious emotional weight, this one’s for you.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the early listen via the NetGalley app!

Another fantastic book from Cosby! I had the audiobook for this one and the narrator is fantastic. The writing and the narrator combined makes this very cinematic - I was totally engrossed. All the characters are complex and layered. I read an interview that Cosby did about this book where they were talking about it being Shakespearean and I agree. There is plenty of tragedy and flawed characters doing their best. I love how Cosby's books are not only great stories but also address issues of race and class.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook for review.

DNF at 34%. This book was not pulling me in as much as his other books. Although I really enjoyed the narrator the story just didn’t captivate me

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby. This novel hit me hard. It’s gritty, raw, and absolutely unforgettable. Cosby’s writing pulls no punches, delivering characters and moments that sting with emotional truth. The plot unfolds with tension and intensity, and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, he throws in another twist that knocks you off balance. While some scenes are darker or more brutal than I expected, the storytelling is so compelling that I couldn’t stop reading. Cosby doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and the result is a powerful, immersive ride. If you’re looking for a thriller that digs deep and doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, this one won’t disappoint.

King of Ashes is a gritty, fast-paced story packed with raw emotion, high-stakes tension, and unforgettable characters. S. A. Cosby’s masterful storytelling shines even brighter in the audiobook format—brought to life with a narrator whose delivery adds depth and intensity to every scene. I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t stop listening. Such a thrilling, page-turning (or should I say, can’t-stop-listening) experience! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Y’all. King of Ashes was EVERYTHING.

S.A. Cosby is one of my favorite authors (Razorblade Tears is legit one of my favorite books of all time) so I’ve been counting down the days for this release. I grabbed the physical copy and was lucky enough to get an ALC through NetGalley (thank you!!), and let me tell you… it did not disappoint.

SA Cosby’s writing always feels like a movie. It’s intense, but it’s also so emotional. He writes strong Black men protecting their families with so much heart and depth. It gets me every time!

The story is layered and heavy in the best way. Dark, yes… but also full of humanity. There was a twist that completely caught me off guard, I can’t lie. Oh and the cameos from characters in his other books?? Literal chefs kiss! I was crying and smiling at the same time lol

If you love crime fiction that hits hard, makes you feel something, and has characters that stay with you long after the last page… run, don’t walk! This man doesn’t miss!

Thank you to Netgally and MacMillan Audio for this ARC.
What an epic and emotionally charged story - I was hooked from the start and thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. The narration was spot-on, perfectly capturing the raw tone of the novel.
Cosby delivers gritty Southern noir that's as dark as it is gripping. The plot is layered but never messy, with each thread seamlessly woven into a cohesive fast-moving narrative.
We follow Roman Carruthers, who returns home after his father ends up in a coma. Upon arrival, he finds his brother entangled with dangerous criminals over unpaid debts. In an attempt to protect him, Roman strikes a deal - using the family-owned crematorium (run by his father and sister, Nevaeh) in a scheme that quickly spirals into something much bigger and darker, laced with the promise of revenge.
Parallel to the storyline is the haunting mystery of Roman's mother, who vanished years ago - her abandoned car the only clue left behind.
This is a dark, raw, and compelling tale of family, secrets, grief, and loyalty. Cosby masterfully explores how loss shapes each family member in different ways. The characters are deeply flawed and incredibly relatable, making this powerful blend of crime fiction and family drama.
Highly recommended - especially in audio format.

4.25 stars - this was FANTASTIC! & the only reason I can't rate it higher is because I liked Razorblade Tears a liiiittle bit more by S. A. Cosby & rated that one 4.5 stars! Side note, if you plan on reading King of Ashes, I highly suggest you read Razorblade Tears first if you haven't.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Cosby has the same narrator for all of his books, and it just REALLY works for the type of stories he writes. This was no different. The narrator did a phenomenal job.

King of Ashes is raw, gritty, and shocking. It is about a family that runs the local crematorium in their small town, and all of the drama that happens when you live in said small town. There is a lot of violence, drug and alcohol use, gangs, and stuff of that nature. It had me on the edge of my seat and the end made me cry. It was an emotional rollercoaster; so worth it, though! Cosby truly knows how to write flawed characters. It felt like they were real.