Anticipated pub June 10th!
Thanks to my besties at Macmillan Audio for the approval to read new S. A. Cosby! As always this author brings a darkly gritty story packed with drama.

The characters are what really drove this story for me. The main characters in the Carruthers family each have their own issues; some more dangerous than others. With all the problems for the family, readers can really tell they love each other though, despite all they have been and are currently going through. The story also has some good twists. Roman is quite a clever character.

This is very descriptively written. The story is very readable due to the descriptions of the settings, characters, situations, etc. I thought this was a fantastically written story.

The narrator for this was fantastic and brought the characters to life wonderfully. I have enjoyed the stories of this author that this particular narrator has done. It's a winner for me!

Lawd hamercy I hope this turns into a new series! This book has had me shook from the start, it's fast paced and action packed thuggery. Educated thuggery at that! The Carruthers Family appears to be winning, but life has set them up for failure at the onset as they all seem to have a demon to excise. When the little brother decides he wants to make a name for himself, he sets into motion a path of destruction that threatens to tear the whole town down. This book, its author, and its narrator are fire for the summer reading list. Whew!

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby was amazing! One of my favorite authors and he's done it again! The narrator Adam Lazarre-White is a true artist and I was him to narrate everything ever. They truly are the dream team and I cannot wait for more from both!!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

He did it again. S.A. Cosby wrote another banger. Known for his famous crime fiction novels, Blacktop Wasteland, Razorblade Tears, All the Sinners Bleed - which is going to be adapted by Netflix - Cosby consolidates himself as a crime fiction writer proving he doesn’t only write crime fiction, he redefines it.

I adore how he writes the dialogues in his books, and Adam Lazarre-White delivers an incredible performance, as always. He is probably one of my favorite narrators. Lazarre—White keeps the pace, brings all character’s voice to life, and creates tension keeping you hooked in the novel.

The King of Ashes is dark, violent, and written with a lyrical prose. Each act of violence has emotional weight. At times, I felt I was going to scream and other times I felt like crying. The atmosphere of this novel is thick with dread, and the author presents moral questions that are hard to ignore. Cosby doesn’t need me to say this, but he is a great Southern noir writer.

Us or them. That's really the major theme of this book. "There were no lines, only choices. Us or them."

Is this what it's like being the oldest sibling? My word! Roman was stressed! Here we follow Roman and his siblings as they deal with their father being in a coma and the events that led up to this moment. Events dating all the way back to when their mother disappeared when they were children.

This felt like a slow burn (pun intended?). A suspenseful, criminal slow burn that I was unprepared to end. I didn't see anything coming. I feel like I should have, but I was so engrossed in the story and the emotions of it all that I was very shook at the end. S.A. Cosby is so great at taking you through it! I was hooked the entire time.

I had never read anything from S.A. Cosby before, but I will now. This was such a heavy read. Diving deep into intricate family dynamics. It's unrelenting, raw, written with brutal honesty. The audiobook narration was top notch. I couldn't get enough of this. I think you should go into this blind and let this book consume you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC!

S.A. Cosby does not miss - King of Ashes is an absolute masterpiece. Cosby’s storytelling is so vivid and compelling, it felt like I was watching a movie. I was on edge the entire time, completely engaged and unable to stop listening. I had to know how Roman was going to get them out of it.

And that ending?! A heartbreaking plot twist that left me reeling.

The narration was immaculate. Shoutout to Adam; he delivers every time. His performance captured every raw emotion and brought the story to life in the most powerful way.

This is a 5-star read and easily one of my top books of the year.

If S.A. Cosby writes it, I’m reading it! This is one author that NEVER disappoints.
This book was insane! Fast paced, and twists I never saw coming. The characters are diabolical. The story had me on the edge of my seat.
I make it a point to listen to the audiobooks for this author. Adam Lazarre-White knocks it out of the park every single time!


Thank you to Macmillan for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

King of Ashes follows Russell and his never ending quest to protect his family. In an effort to keep his family safe he devises a plan to outsmart the gangsters that after his little brother, Dante.from then on he begins to make questionable choices and actions that further complicate their safety and sanity.
In the end he is far from the man that first stood before him, but at the end of it all “everything burns” and that’s all that matters.

King of Ashes is a dark, well-paced Southern family drama thriller that is not to be missed! Well-written with interesting characters, this story will hold your attention and have you biting your nails. I especially enjoyed the narration for the audiobook, I will listen to anything that Adam Lazarre-White reads!

S.A. Cosby is an automatic read! All of his books have been 5-stars, and King of Ashes was no exception. Gripping, shocking, gritty, intense, raw, human, beautifully written! Cosby has a writing style that is lyrical and evokes emotions. His characters are real, vulnerable, human, in-depth. His books include scenes of violence, and King of Ashes has more violence than his other works. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and it held my attention until the very end! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, was fantastic in bringing this book to life!

SA Cosby is an auto buy author for me and has yet to disappoint! The synopsis of King of Ashes isn't typically something I would go for but I trust the author that much and I was right to do so.

I think where Cosby shines is in the relationships between characters, especially within families. The focus in this one is on siblings and how unique that relationship is.

This book is raw and gritty and emotional and everything I have come to love about Crosby's writing. It was very easy to immerse myself into the story.

Also, as always with his books, that audiobook was fantastic!

S.A. Cosby never misses. King of Ashes had me locked in from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook, and Adam Lazarre-White’s narration is *chef’s kiss*. These two together? A dream team. Just know, when this book drops, you need it on your TBR immediately.

S.A. Cosby is so good at drawing you in and blurring the lines of moral ethics and revenge. You find yourself rooting for the vigilante violence until it crosses your mind that mate, just maybe the violence has actually turned them
Into the bad guys.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for the advanced listener copy of this audio book.

This is a gritty, emotional and thrilling tale that explores what lines one would be willing to cross in order to protect the ones they love. This novel really makes the reader think about the long-term repercussions of actions on those around you, while also exploring topics of addiction and mental health. Cosby grabs your attention in such a shocking way at the very beginning and refuses to let you go as he takes you on a nail-biting adventure filled with crime, death and all the scheming. Fans of the Television series Power will not be able to put this book down!

This is the first novel of Cosby's I have read, and it definitely will not be the last. I love his symbolic and thought-provoking writing style.

The audio narrator, Adam Lazarre-White has a deep baritone voice that does well for the main character, and many of the side characters. However, the voices he uses for the female characters are kind of cringy.

4 Stars
Trigger Warning- BDSM

S.A. Cosby does not miss. King of Ashes is a gripping, emotionally heavy Southern noir that digs into family, grief, and the weight of the past. It’s raw, complex, and soaked in atmosphere—the kind of story that stays with you.

The book follows Roman Carruthers, a successful financial advisor who returns to his small hometown after his estranged father is shot. What he thinks will be a quick trip becomes anything but. His younger brother is caught up in dangerous debts, his sister’s holding their crumbling family together, and there’s a long-buried mystery around their mother’s disappearance that refuses to stay buried.

I was lucky enough to receive an ALC (thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!), and I have to say—the audiobook narration by Adam Lazarre-White was phenomenal. He brought so much intensity and emotion to Roman’s character. Definitely one of the best narrations I’ve heard all year.

I’m giving this one 4 stars—while the character work and themes were incredible, the pacing lagged a bit in the middle for me. Still, it’s a powerful story, and Cosby’s writing is as sharp and soulful as ever.

King of Ashes releases June 10, 2025—add this to your list if you’re into gritty, character-driven thrillers with serious emotional weight.

S.A. Cosby has once again proven why he’s at the top of the modern thriller game with King of Ashes. From the very first page, Cosby plunges you into a world steeped in violence, secrets, and redemption, delivering a gritty narrative with the emotional weight of Shakespearean tragedy and the pulse of a ticking time bomb.

The characters are beautifully flawed, tough, human, and unforgettable. Cosby doesn’t just write crime fiction; he writes about broken people trying to survive a broken world, and somehow still clinging to hope. His prose is sharp and poetic, filled with brutal honesty and southern soul. Every sentence crackles with tension. Every chapter cuts deeper.

What makes King of Ashes shine is Cosby’s ability to balance high stakes action with gut-wrenching emotion. The story moves like a freight train, but never at the expense of character depth. You’ll come for the thrills, but you’ll stay for the truth Cosby writes into every page.

King of Ashes is not just a crime novel—it’s a cathartic journey through grief, revenge, and redemption. One of the best reads of the year. If you're a fan of Blacktop Wasteland or Razorblade Tears, this book will leave you breathless.

S.A. Cosby has a way of capturing your attention and draw you into the world created. I couldn't get enough of where this was going - even through the gruesomeness of it. S.A. knows how to write a story.

The book was engrossing and good. Characters were kind of horrible but interesting, which helped push the story along. I really enjoyed it, but the ending irked me.

Are you a S. A. Cosby fan? Check out King of Ashes. It was an amazing read. I listened to it in audiobook form and really enjoyed it. It's available soon.