Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listeners copy of this new S.A. Crosby novel.

This is a really gripping and emotionally intense novel. The writing is sharp, the characters feel real, and the pacing keeps the tension throughout the story. The author has a talent writing gritty, morally complex stories, and this book is no exception. The narrator makes it all the more realistic.

I found myself fully invested in the protagonist’s journey, even when the story line delved into darker territories. The depictions of gang activity, in particular, were visceral and at times made me squeamish...but not in a way that took away from the story. Instead it depicted the high stakes and harsh realities the characters faced.

While it’s wasn't always an easy listen, this is a powerful, compelling novel I highly recommend it to readers who appreciate raw, character-driven crime fiction.

S. A. Cosby has done it again. Roman Carruthers is called home after his father is in a car accident which has left him in critical condition. Upon arriving home to crime filled Jefferson Run, VA, Roman begins to think his father's accident was no accident. His brother, Dante is in debt to local criminals and has put them all in danger. Roman comes up with a plan to help his brother. His sister, Neveah has been running Carruthers Crematorium with her father and has always questioned her mother's disappearance. This book is actioned packed with violence, family secrets and the lengths one will go to protect his family. In Jefferson Run, everything burns! I highly recommend the audio version as Adam Lazarre-White is a phenomenal narrator.

King of Ashes, written by S.A. Crosby and narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, is a family fictional and crime mystery that I could not put down! I have loved this authors books in the past and was very excited to get approved for this audiobook. It did not disappoint!
This story revolved around the Carruthers family. When Roman, the eldest child and main character gets a phone call from his sister Neveah that his dad has been hurt and he needs to come home, the reader wonders if he knows what he is signing up for. The family has a cremation business that he will need to help with, but as Roman reconnects with his sister and brother Dante, Roman realizes there might be more to his fathers injuries, and he may be in Virginia longer than planned.
I loved this book! Really enjoyed the family relationships and dynamics, and the criminal aspects of this book, also appreciated that there were some things left hanging in the end, and that I think it could make room for more books or for the reader to use their imagination.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the most intense book that I have experienced in a while, including Cosby's other works. Roman is the epitome of an anti-hero, but as a reader you can't help but root for him to succeed in his quest to save his brother and sister. To say that were a few jaw dropping most along the way is selling this book short; I think that I said "wow" out loud at least twenty times in the last two hours of listening. Readers/Listeners will be on the edge of their seats trying to figure out how Roman will try to solve the problem of the gangsters hunting his family while simultaneously keeping secrets from those he needs to protect.

The narration by Adam Lazarre-White is amazing as always! I am at a loss for words as to what more to say without giving away the plot points of this book. One thing I will say is that it was nice to see a cameo from Ike Randolph (Razorblade Tears) as Cosby rarely connects the characters in his novels.

Absolutely amazing! S.A. Cosby has done it again! King of Ashes was everything I needed and more. Cosby always does a phenomenal job with storytelling. You’re never left with plot holes and trying to decrypt the ending. I really enjoy how straightforward his stories are. Reading his books always feel like watching a movie due to the descriptive writing style. King of Ashes was no different. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to figure out how the main character Roman was going to handle things! Also, I loved the character pop ups from previous books! Like little robin eggs for those who have read Cosby’s other books! Although this book was thrilling and exciting through and through, there was an underlying emotional impact that pulls at your heartstrings! King of Ashes leaves you with the question of “how far will you go for the people you love?”

King of Ashes is S.A. Cosby at his bold and gritty finest. As usual, his razor-sharp prose breathes life into his well-crafted characters in a way that is truly amazing to witness. I’ve loved everything Cosby has written, and this one might be his most cinematic yet. Seriously, someone needs to adapt this.

Roman Carruthers is an incredible protagonist—complex, loyal, morally gray, and somehow both ruthless and tender. Watching him get pulled back into the chaos of his family, while navigating the criminal underworld with ice-cold precision, is utterly addictive. And Neveah? She’s just as compelling—a woman carrying the weight of her family and digging through the ashes of their past, determined to find the truth.

Cosby blends family drama and crime thriller with effortless skill, weaving in grief, loyalty, rage, and redemption until the lines blur completely. The writing is electric, the stakes are sky-high, and every chapter hits like a gut punch.

King of Ashes isn’t just a thriller—it’s a southern gothic tragedy with teeth. I’m obsessed. Cosby proves once again that he’s one of the best crime writers alive.

And Adam Lazarre-White is absolute perfection as a narrator. I hope he continues to narrate every one of Cosby's books.

Note: Reviewed as an audiobook courtesy of Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. And, as always, the narrator is so important when listening to a book - and Adam Lazarre-White did a fantastic job.

Roman Carruthers is called home to Jefferson City, Virginia when his father is in a horrible car accident. Roman’s sister, Neveah, and brother, Dante, are still living there, Neveah helping her father run the family business, a crematorium, and Dante being a man of questionable morals. Dante has gotten himself in deep trouble, and that trouble might be related to the crash. Roman is totally dedicated to his family, and quickly realizes that he must stay and clean up the mess that Dante has created. Added to the mysteries of the story is that their mother disappeared many years ago. Roman embarks on a journey to save his brother and sister from some very violent and evil gangs that rule the city. Question is: Can Roman act quickly and decisively enough to save them and allow him to return to his home and business in Atlanta?

This is the 3rd book I have read (listened to) by Cosby and each of them has been top-notch. He has once again written a dark story that has well-developed and complex characters, non-stop action, plenty of violence, and a semblance of morality. It is simply a great read from a very good author.

His pen worked overtime! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian audio for audiobook of King of Ashes. Just a remarkable and gritty story. S.A. knows how to write complex protagonists and there is always more to story. Just a great body of work!

King of Ashes is another hit by S.A. Cosby. The narrator did an awesome job at bringing these characters alive. I loved the twists and turns of this novel that showcases family drama at its best. Roman Carruthers comes home to help out his family after his father's tragic accident. Little does he expect to have to help out his little brother who hangs with the wrong crowd. Interweave this with his mother's mysterious disappareance years ago and now in present day Roman's family getting involved with the wrong people. This novel kept me guessing and reminded me why S.A. Cosby is one of my favorite authors.

I will literally read anything that S A Cosby writes! He is an amazing storyteller! He can really describe a scene with such emotion and sets the scene for the story. I swear this NARRATOR though takes the S A Cosby books to another level. With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the audiobook.

S. A. Cosby is a mastermind
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I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Listeners Copy for the audiobook of Cosby’s upcoming release, King Of Ashes (thank you Flat Iron Books and NetGalley). This is only my second book of his and he’s 2/2 easy and I’m dying to read the others. As for his newest one, the one we’re here to discuss: King Of Ashes is AWESOME.
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Cosby might be the king (ha) of dark thrillers or crime noir or whatever the hell you wanna call it. King Of Ashes is about a gentleman who returns home after his father was in an accident which put him in a coma. Upon his return home, he learns his younger brother is in debt to some, let’s call them shady, people. In trying to help with this issue, he gets sucked into dark places. Definitely not the best synopsis, but trust me, it’s GOOD.
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This book is captivating, it’s relentless, it’s absolutely badass and brutal as hell. There’s a few scenes that had me cringing and quite a few “oh shit,” moments. The characters are excellent — they feel so real and all the family drama is really rough, but also so natural. Along with all the darkness and brutality, King Of Ashes has a ton of heart. That ending is also 🤌🏼
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Overall, King Of Ashes is an easy 5/5 from me. I highly recommend you check it out as soon as you can… or at the very latest, when it hits shelves June 10th. At least get those preorders in!

Wow. I just finished this book and am a little speechless. It was very gritty and dark. It explored themes of sexism and racism. There was quite a bit of violence so it was difficult to read at times, but it was satisfying how everything came together. Adam Lazarre-White is a phenomenal narrator and really brought this story to life. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby is a darkly intense Southern crime thriller that delves into the complex bonds of family and the destructive power of secrets. When Roman Carruthers, the protagonist of the novel, returns home after his father's automobile accident leaves him in a coma, he finds his brother, Dante, entangled with dangerous criminals, and his sister, Neveah, struggling to hold the family together. Cosby's pulse-pounding writing style and description of violence create a haunting story, set against the backdrop of the family's crematorium, which symbolizes death and buried truths. The mystery surrounding their mother's disappearance adds another layer of intrigue, as Neveah seeks answers while Roman confronts the criminal underworld to save his brother as he descends into moral ambiguity.

Cosby masterfully explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the lengths one will go to protect their own. The characters are superbly developed while also very flawed, evoking empathy even in their darkest moments. More than simply a crime thriller, this gripping thriller coaxes the reader to examine how individuals are shaped by their environment, history, and choices, and how secrets can poison relationships.

The pacing of King of Ashes is relentless, building suspense to a shocking and emotionally devastating climax. Cosby's exploration of family dynamics, the impact of past trauma, and the cycle of violence will resonate deeply with the reader. King of Ashes is a powerful and unforgettable work that solidifies S.A. Cosby's place as a major voice in the genre and in contemporary American literature.

SA Cosby is really a great writer. Consistently! Thank you for the ALC! Highly recommend all of his books! Keep them coming!

Any new release by SA Cosby is an immediate read. Either book form or audio. I got to listen to this audiobook and Adam Lazarre-White once again does a fantastic narration of the book. He is the only narrator i want for Cosby books. Overall the book is tense, while feeling slow paced but in a fast sort of way. Love everything about this and highly recommend!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Macmillan for the gifted audio!

This was my first time listening to an S. A. Cosby book and I have heard nothing but good things about his work.

I wish I heard how nitty gritty and intense he was too, because sadly this was just not for me! I was overly disturbed most of the time!

The narrator was great though, so no complaints on the audiobook production side!

This was my first experience with SA Cosby but I’m a big thriller fan and this one definitely delivered. Intense, dark, graphic, but I was in it for every second. I had to re-listen to the last couple of chapters over again because it all happened so fast! The audio is 100% perfection and I’ll be looking forward to more audiobooks read by Adam Lazarre-White.

S.A. Cosby knocked it out of the ballpark on this one! It was gritty, realistic, and twisty. I liked how the main character started out very much in control, but then started to unravel a bit. His dedication to his family brought depth to his character. This book keeps you guessing until the very end. This is the best book I've read by this author!

Thank you to Macmillan Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC and audio ARC of King of Ashes. WOW. I’m officially updating my bio to include thriller girly because the way I’ve been devouring S.A. Cosby’s entire catalog is insane.

No one crafts character connections like Cosby. King of Ashes is a powerful, emotionally raw story that centers around Roman and his siblings, Neveah and Dante, as they navigate the kind of family secrets that don’t just haunt you, they burn everything in their path.

When Roman returns home after his father is run off the road and left in a coma, he’s thrust back into the family and community he thought he left behind. But the pull of family is strong, and dangerous. Roman soon finds himself trying to save his younger brother Dante, who’s entangled with a dangerous crowd where mistakes can mean death.

Cosby masterfully explores questions like, How far will you go to protect the ones you love? How many lies will you tell to keep bigger secrets hidden? And at what point do you become the villain in your own story? The tension is thick, the stakes are high, and the emotional depth is staggering.

This novel is a brutal, brilliant reminder that everything, relationships, truth, even identity, can and will burn when pushed to the edge. King of Ashes is gripping, intense, and unforgettable.

King of Ashes follows the clash of members from two strong families from Jefferson Run, Virginia, a small, fading town outside Richmond. Generations of one family have a history of criminal behavior, incarceration, drug dealing and gang violence, while the other family has adhered to the principles of hard work and perseverance to earn a better life by building a respected local business. When a son of the latter family becomes indebted to the gangsters, his older brother, who years ago left home to acquire a serious education, returns. Now a polished financial advisor in Atlanta, the older son proposes to the tormentors that he will use his skills and connections to more than payoff the debt, so they can release his younger brother, sister, and aging father from threats of physical harm.

Through a series of suspenseful encounters which intensify as the story moves along, the novel explores the power contest between these adversaries, each driven by family loyalties. By offering stock manipulation gains and money laundering profits, can the lawful outmaneuver the immoral and convince them to become less vengeful, or will the thugs, through sadistic intimidation and brutality, force the respectable to dirty themselves beyond repair?

Cosby’s language is so effective at describing the physical, and his dialog is so realistic in capturing emotion, that as I moved through the story I felt like I was watching a gripping screen production, an experience no doubt enhanced by the extraordinary narration skills of Adam Lazarre-White. Often using the most beautiful language to depict the most repellant things, King of Ashes is exceptionally well plotted and paced, with unceasing tension and unforeseeable twists. This novel burns red hot !


Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for providing this advance copy.