Son returns home for his family and finds out that his younger brother got involved with some dealers and was fronted $300,000 of product. Everything was used by his friends or stolen. Now he has to think up something fast for his brother. He talked to the dealer with his brother and gave him $200,000 back promising the rest by the end of the week but that wasn't good enough. His brother paid for his carelessness and the clock was ticking. Great storyline and a little forbidden romance.

S.A.Cosby is just that guy!!! This book was phenomenal!!! Adam Lazarre White, the narrator, is exquisite. The store played like a movie. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to have a minute to be able to listen. It is suspenseful, funny, sad with romance and family drama and action! I will say, the ending, I wish it was more positive but life doesn’t work out that way all the time. If Mr. Cosby writes it, I WILL READ IT!!! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!!!!

S.A. Cosby’s books are like crime poetry. In his latest, King of Ashes, the main characters aren’t exactly innocent but fall in the morally gray area. But what happens when those characters end up getting entangled with straight up villains? How far over the line are you able to go in order to survive and still call yourself a good person? Roman, the protagonist, has to deal with the bad decisions of those around him, his own bad decisions, and the bad decisions he has inherited.

One of the best things about Cosby’s writing is that his language isn’t flowery, but you can feel the humidity and smell the smoke in the air. The violence borders on horror at times, but it’s not gratuitous. Everything about his writing is visceral. You might not like the protagonists, but you root for them to survive and are compelled to find out how it happens.

The audiobook narration was superb. Adam Lazarre-White gave the right kind of gravity to the story. This was intense and haunting, and the ending could have been written by Shakespeare. Highly recommended.

My jaw is still on the floor after finishing this book!

Once again I have to applaud S. A. Cosby for a phenomenal thriller. I was hooked from the very beginning and had to force myself to stop listening so I wouldn’t rush through the audiobook. It is so easy to be absorbed in his stories in general, but his narrator is also so amazing. Not only is Cosby a great storyteller but the narrator brings the work even more to life!!

Roman gets a call in the middle of the night from his sister back home in Virginia. He drops everything to head back to his family when he is informed their father was in an accident and is in a coma, but upon arrival this accident is looking a little more suspicious than it appears. As Roman uncovers the truth behind it all new secrets are revealed and huge mess needs to be cleaned up. Although Roman is used to cleaning up messes this is one he may not make it out alive from…

It is no surprise that Adam Lazarre-White brought the heat!!!! The narration was powerful, intense, and it captured every layer of these complicated characters. He IS the voice of Cosby’s books. If he’s not narrating, I don’t want it!

The Godfather inspired plot had me locked in. The imagery conjured by the words is so vivid, visceral, and cinematic AF! This is a dark, emotionally charged story layered with grief, betrayal, and how far one is wiling to go for their family.

Man oh man was I excited when I saw a new book from S.A. Cosby was being released. I am a huge fan, and have yet to read a book from him that doesn't disappoint. King of Ashes follows main character Roman as he returns home after his father goes into a coma as a result of a violent car crash. Roman reunites in southern Virginia with sister Neveah, who runs the family crematorium, and Dante, who has gotten caught up with the wrong crowd and drugs. When Dante reveals to Roman that he is in major drug debt to a local group of criminals, Roman uses his professional wealth advisory skills to dig the family out of trouble. But being in debt to violent mob bosses becomes more than Roman counts on, and he quickly finds himself in a desperate attempt to keep his family safe. Cosby does it again in this dark, seedy, realistic family drama. The audiobook was incredible to listen to. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

First thank you to Macmillan audio, flat iron books and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Roman is the oldest of his family and called back home when his father is in the hospital. He has been very successful but he comes home to a big mess created by little brother Dante. His sister Naveah is looking into the mystery surrounding their mother’s disappearance. They all agreed to protect each other after their mother’s disappearance and this situation shows how far they will take that promise.

What I love: I love s a Cosby but listening to this book took my love to a whole another level. Adam latezzer-white did an amazing job with the narration. He handle all of the voices and it was perfection. This book is amazing. I heard the comparisons to the the godfather but think this is better. He makes you connect to every character emotionally, roman and his vow to make things better, naveah and her loyalty and nurturing manner, Dante the youngest and his issues. I had so many conflicting emotions reading this book. The morally gray characters really make you question your beliefs. I love his books and can’t wait to read the next one

S.A. Cosby seldom disappoints. His work is gritty. There is lots of violence, so if you have a tender heart or a queasy stomach, this may not be the book for you. His books are always ALMOST too much for me to handle, and were it not for this man's story telling and flawed but vivid characters, I probably would not read them. This book moves at a fast pace, which may be a positive or a negative. This is the first book of his that I ever listened to as an audiobook but I think that it works better for me with his books. S.A. Cosby is a master story teller and there is something to be said for listening to it being brought to life by a good narrator instead of seeing the words on a page. I also loved the premise of the father owning a crematorium, hence the title King of Ashes, and the overarching themes in the book. While this is not nearly All the Sinners Bleed (so far, my favorite of his books), this is clearly my second favorite.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest opinion.

“𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨.”

S.A. Cosby is a master of his craft. Truly. It takes phenomenal talent to write a brutally violent book infused with tenderness, devotion, and love such that the reader is left with their heart laid bare. And that’s exactly what he does better than anyone else. Nothing I write in this review will come close to being worthy of his brilliance. Nothing.

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 takes us to Virginia where the Carruthers family is reeling from an accident that landed their patriarch in a comatose state. Roman, eldest sibling and successful financial advisor, returns home to help his sister, Neveah, tend to their dad and manage the family crematorium. It quickly becomes apparent that younger brother, Dante, has run afoul of some nefarious gangsters who are behind their dad’s accident. Thus begins a spiral into hell.

This book is gritty, raw, and graphically violent. While gore is not my thing, Cosby is the rare author who uses ugliness to accentuate the beauty found in his books. Juxtaposed against the brutality is a story of love, devotion, sacrifice, and suffering. The Carruthers siblings are no strangers to pain since the disappearance of their mother. As the story progresses and the truth unravels, it becomes clear how heavy and destructive the burdens of guilt and secrecy weigh on the soul.

Roman is willing to do anything and everything to protect his siblings, but at what cost? The end of this book found me both screaming and speechless. 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 is a masterpiece. If you have not read S.A. Cosby’s work, do yourself a favor and remedy that immediately.

Adam Lazarre-White narrates this exceptional audiobook. His performance had my pulse racing and heart pounding. He took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions and elevated the story to epic levels. This is a stellar performance worthy of a standing ovation. 👏🏼

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen and review!

Wow, this was a great story! I listened to this on audio and loved the experience. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. I felt like I was watching an action movie playing before my eyes. This had action, mystery, and tons of drama. Roman is a strong character and someone who would do anything for his family. So many things that played out made me so sad, and a lot of the things that happened are tragedies that would play out if this was a true story. Overall, I loved this one!

There are not many authors that I am willing to read with little care about the ending. I am typically a happy ending only person, but if S. A. Cosby writes it, I know whatever the outcome the experience will have been worth it. King of Ashes is beautifully and brutally written. His stories carry the gratuitous violence you see in Quentin Tarantino films. While I fully recognize this will not be for everyone, it something he uses as a tool to creative a thought provoking narrative. What he chooses to include has more meaning than simple shock value. I read this alongside a friend and we had one of the best book discussions I have had in awhile.

Plot - 5
Fast moving, thought-provoking twists

Writing and Editing - 5
Astoundingly beautiful prose

Character Development - 5
Quality look into morally grey people

Narrations - 5
Adam Lazarre-White has the ideal cadence and gravitas for this story

Personal Bias - 5
Was fully engaged the entire listen.

Final Score - 5

Thank you S. A. Cosby, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advanced review listening copy. My opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.25 stars)

I really liked this one. S.A. Cosby delivers another gritty, emotionally layered story that pulls you in from the first scene and doesn’t let up. I listened to the audiobook (thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!), and the narration was excellent—it brought the characters to life and matched the dark, intense tone of the story perfectly.

I especially enjoyed the character work here. Cosby has a knack for creating people who feel real—flawed, haunted, but still striving for something better. The tie-in with Brains That Bleed Tears was a nice surprise and added depth to the universe he’s building. It felt like a wink to readers who’ve been following along with his work.

While it didn’t quite reach the top tier of Blacktop Wasteland or Razorblade Tears for me, it’s still a standout read that solidifies Cosby as a go-to author for crime fiction with heart and grit.

Highly recommend for fans of fast-paced, character-driven noir with emotional punch.

King of Ashes is a gripping, emotionally charged, and unflinchingly honest novel that shows S.A. Cosby at the height of his storytelling power. Known for his raw, Southern noir style, Cosby delivers a narrative that burns hot with righteous anger, aching sorrow, and brutal beauty.

This book doesn’t just tell a story—it confronts generational pain, cycles of violence, and the haunting pull of vengeance. The characters, particularly the protagonist, are richly drawn and deeply flawed, making them heartbreakingly human. Cosby forces the reader to wrestle with hard questions: What do we owe the dead? What does justice look like when the system fails? And is there ever peace after rage?

The pacing is relentless, the dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the emotional core hits hard. Cosby’s prose cuts like a knife—lean, poetic, and packed with weight. Every chapter builds tension while digging deeper into themes of legacy, trauma, and redemption.

King of Ashes isn’t just a crime novel—it’s a literary gut punch that lingers. It reminds us that sometimes, survival isn’t enough. Sometimes, what’s left behind tells the real story.

This book was great. Intense, fast-paced, and definitely up there with Cosby’s other work. It’s a little bit of a departure from the type of main character he has in that he is more morally grey than the others, and I found that it really worked for this book.

King of Ashes was the perfect title for this story, because S.A. Cosby definitely brought the smoke! I was extremely emotionally invested in these characters & wanting to see how these 3 siblings stories conclude, made me want to abandon all other duties and finish this book.

This story was dark and addictive, the tension filled moments made me feel as though I watching some of these scenes take place. It shows how deep family can bring you down, and weave you into a web that you never saw coming!

Roman, Dante & Neveah have all have their different ways of coping with unhealed childhood trauma. I loved the flashbacks from present day and 2003 as Cosby slowly closed this gap to sheds some light on why these siblings have their unique way of doing things!

Dante & Cassidy were the 2 characters that made me want to scream at them numerous times! The way they frustrated me is unhealthy, however as I stated I was emotionally invested!

Overall, an excellent, well written, thought provoking story. I enjoyed the narration, especially as Roman. Adam Lazarre-White did an amazing job bringing life to his character. This 13 hour audiobook was a breeze, as I savored every minute. Fans of Cosby will certainly enjoy this one, and those that are not familiar with his work will certainly enjoy it as well! Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ - 6.10.25

It was just okay😩😔

I wish I could say that S.A. Cosby has done it again, but this book didn’t hook me like his others. I thought the story and characters were extremely predictable and distant. I usually find his characters to be riveting with relatable layers and nuance. Here everything felt like something I’ve seen or read before.

As it comes to the narration, I will always enjoy this narrator’s approach. Although with this being his fifth work with Cosby, I began to feel less distinction between Roman and Cosby’s previous leading men. Even though I love the narrators voice and tone I wished for more differentiation. I also felt it would’ve been helpful to have a woman narrator to cast more space between the few female characters.

I will be sitting on this read for a while before sharing an in depth review. I’m just disappointed as this was a read I had down to be my number one read of the year.

Roman Carruthers returns to Jefferson Run, Virginia after several years. His father is in a coma after a car accident. Neveah, his sister is running the family business, a Crematorium. And then there is the brother, Dante. The family is messy. The characters are flawed.

The story has many disturbing twists. I do highly recommended it, but be warned that it is dark, brutal and heart-wrenching. The pace is fast. I did struggle to keep up with all the secondary and tertiary characters in the audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date is June 10. A must add to your TBR.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

This is probably my favorite book I’ve read of S.A. Cosby so far. The provocative writing, compelling characters, and ominous tone throughout kept me wanting to find out how it ends. Similar to his other books, this is graphic and violent so keep that in mind as you begin. The narrator of this audiobook did the voices so well, I felt like I knew the characters personally. The time and care the author took to develop the story and the surrounding world makes you feel like you might actually be living in small town Virginia. I would recommend this book for a buddy read or book club because there are so many aspects to discuss. This is not a book to skip over! I was very impressed. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I’ve read numerous books by S.A. Cosby and have enjoyed all of them but this one lacked a little. While the storytelling that Cosby is known for was still there, the characters needed a bit more depth for me. However, there were many unexpected twists in this book I was floored by! Overall, not my favorite work but still good.

“Everything burns.”

HOW. How do I even write this review?? It’s S.A. Cosby. One of the greats. A voice unlike any other, full of soul, grit, smoke, honey, and fire. I can’t even find the words to sum up King of Ashes.

My emotions are too big. Finishing this was akin to walking out of the theater after being completely submersed in the movie Sinners. The entirety of my time spent with this book, the world was static around me. My head was underwater, the world was turned off. 100% of myself was IN. THIS. BOOK. I felt emotionally drained walking out of Sinners, because I had laughed, cried, gasped, covered my face in fear and horror. I was a husk. And that’s exactly how I feel after finishing KOA. A husk. Emptied. Like I am an outline of ash and one gentle breeze is going to dissipate my entire being.

This book.

Not many people can write like S. A. Cosby. It is unreal how he can do what he can do with words. His storytelling is so rich, it’s like sitting around a campfire. Slowly inhaling that smoke, listening to a wisened voice tell a story from yesteryear. It hypnotizes you. It warms you, just like the flames from the bonfire - and yet, it chills you to your core. His voice is captivating, sobering, enlightening; truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

Razorblade Tears is my favorite book ever. Yes. In a lifetime of reading, averaging 220 books a year, my favorite of all time. There are three authors at the top of my list, and he is once and King of Ashes solidifies this position. You need to read this.