Update June 17: second TikTok post
👉 May 25 update: Posted on TikTok. No spoilers.
King of Ashes shocked me to the soles of my feet. This is one hell of a dark ride, a fine novel that is as much a powerful family saga as a brutal crime thriller. I thought I was ready for this from reading Razorblade Tears. I was not ready.
I want everyone to read this novel–as long as you aren't too upset by graphic crime fiction.

S. A. Cosby yanked me into another tense, scary, wide-ranging crime thriller that pulses with pressure and desire.
In his masterful weaving of exceptional characters, secrets, tragedies, and the fallout of drug abuse and bad choices, Cosby delivers a novel suffused with aching love.

Roman, a successful financial advisor, goes back home to his crematory-centered family after receiving word that his father is in the hospital. The situation turns complicated and dangerous, with the hard-earned business and all their lives at stake.
S. A. Cosby brings this family and place fully to life. There's a deep thread of love that ties it all together.

This audiobook features excellent narration by Adam Lazarre-White. I was glad to see he reads all of S. A. Cosby's novels from Macmillan Audio. 
Lazarre-White, a highly talented voice actor, captures emotional nuances and performs this large cast of characters with distinctive vocal characteristics for each one. With his resonant, versatile voice, he's a one-man full-cast recording. He became one of my favorite narrators from the beginning of Razorblade Tears. The music and audio quality are flawless.

Roman has surprising dimensions. He’s a wonderfully unusual male MC, imaginative, nerdy, self-aware, and repelled by misogyny. I'd enjoy another book about this appealing vision of manhood: Protective, sexy, sharp, powerful, and with his own flexible moral code. There's so much heart in this novel. Roman and the complex web of hardcore criminals he battles kept me enthralled. The emotional honesty in the book makes it a knockout.

I'm eager for more audiobooks written by S.A. Cosby and performed by Adam Lazarre-White.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These opinions are solely my own. I'll add the TikTok link.

I absolutely loved King of Ashes! The story is dark, gritty, and violent, but it’s also beautifully written in a way that pulls you deep into the Carruthers family drama. When Roman gets called home after his dad’s car accident, things are already spiraling—his brother Dante’s tangled up with dangerous criminals, and their sister Neveah is holding the whole family and their crematorium business together like a boss.

Roman really reminded me of Michael Corleone from the first Godfather movie. Like Michael, even when Roman was doing some seriously “bad” things, I never stopped rooting for him. There’s just something about his mix of smarts and fierce loyalty that makes you want him to come out on top, no matter what.

The plot is intense, with Roman stepping into a world of real gangsters that’s way more dangerous than the wannabes he’s used to. Meanwhile, Neveah is digging into the mystery of their mom’s disappearance, which adds a haunting edge to the story. The writing is sharp and evocative—it’s not just about the action, but the emotions and the family ties that keep everything burning.

Adam Lazarre-White’s narration was absolutely perfect. He brought just the right amount of gravitas, grit, and emotional nuance to every character—especially Roman. His voice acting made the southern noir atmosphere feel even more immersive, and his pacing and tone kept the tension high without ever feeling overdone. It’s one of those performances that elevates the entire experience.

If you like your reads with a mix of grit, heart, and complex characters who keep you hooked, King of Ashes is definitely one to pick up—especially in audio. It’s one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish.

Can’t wait to see what S.A. Cosby comes up with next!




#KingofAshes
#NetGalley

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first book that I have read from this author, The concept was intriguing being a godfather inspired book. There was nothing wrong with this book, at all. In fact I can see why many people like it or will like it. However, for me it just didn't work.

The audiobook was done really well and was easy to listen to. The atmosphere was great and filled with tension which I really enjoy in a book. Now, the writing did seem to be going in circles when it came to the characters and their conversations. With the interactions between the siblings not only being the same but they also just felt surface level. Nothing seemed to really be dealt with between them or explored further. There were a few points while listening to the audiobook where I was bored and just not interested in what was going on, but I feel like it was mainly due to the writing and not the audiobook itself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced audiobook of this title for my honest review.

Author: S.A. Cosby

Genres: Historical Fiction/Fiction/History/AA Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Roman Carruthers returns home after his father’s car crash that he later finds out wasn't an accident. Not only is his brother, Dante in trouble, but puts the entire family at risk. With Roman being a sharp financial whiz, he thinks that he can buy Dante's way out of trouble. His sister Naveah's only concern is finding out what happened to their mother, but Roman and Dante are hiding a family secret.

Tropes and themes: family loyalty and sacrifice, moral corruption, unresolved family trauma and secrets.

Character: One of my least favorite characters were Dante. He was extremely impulsive and often childish. He had to constantly be reminded of the situation his actions put the entire family in. Even after being redirected to not do things, he would do them anyway. Some of his actions in the book were completely selfish but, in the end, the author brought clarity to how his guilt and trauma created these repressed behaviors. Dante had failed to heal from all those years of harboring a family secret.

Thoughts: The audiobook narration was excellent, capturing the serious tone of S.A. Cosby’s story with just the right level of intensity. The narrator's delivery matched the mood of the book perfectly, keeping the story engaging.

Overall, the book started out great with a lot of character development and providing historical facts in order to identify present behaviors. The author often does a great job at introducing characters into the book and providing historical context for the type of interactions they have throughout. One of the themes that resonated with me is that of family secrets and how repressed trauma will hinder personal and developmental growth. At the end of the book, I was able to gain clarity on Dante's impulsivity, drug and substance use and "childish' behaviors. Dante was internalizing family secret, which is something he would never be able to heal from. Not addressing childhood trauma often leads to substance use disorders, impairing brain development and emotional regulation. "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can seriously impact brain development, emotional health, and behavior. About 64% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one ACE, and those with four or more are much more likely to suffer from depression or attempt suicide." (CDC, 2025).

One of the most memorable moments is that Roman was the oldest and he did whatever it took in order for his family to be safe. He showed a sense of selflessness; determination and was very family oriented. All he could think of was his family. This demonstrated a positive representation of the black family. Although there was some dysfunction, at the end of the day, they all had a love for each other that covered any problem. S. A. Cosby also does am amazing job at positively representing black families.

However, there were some things about the book that I didn't like was the introduction of too many characters. Although, the author does an amazing job at introducing them into the storyline, I had a hard time keeping up with all of them in the book, often feeling lost and asking myself, "who is this." In addition, S. A. Cosby has a tendency to rant in his books and then jump back into the story. I felt as if some of the detail of the book was not needed as it added nothing to the overall storyline, which is what made this a four-star read.

This is the first book I've read by S.A. Cosby so I went into this a bit blind to his writing. If you like Mob Boss Crime Thrillers you will love this book! I have never read one like it and while it isn't really my thing, it was still good. It would make for a great movie! It can be a bit gruesome and there is a lot of language so if that's not your thing, steer clear.

Roman found himself in a tough situation cleaning up after his brother yet again. Messing with BBB is no joke. So Roman uses his knowledge in making money to hatch a plan to get his brother and his family out of harms way.

It’s either us or them. And I choose us.

The plan unfolds slowly with a twisted surprise about their mother that took off then they were teens.

Wow! This one left me a bit breathless. It is full of extreme emotion and violence. Roman heads home to help with his family's business after his father has a car accident that leaves him in a coma. His sister has been running their cremation business on her own and he finds that his little brother's life is imploding. Roman's brother got into some bad trouble with the local mob and his life is now in trouble. Roman steps in to help in ways he never would have imagined. This book focuses on the question of what makes a person good or bad and what situations drive people to make decisions they wouldn't have otherwise. There is family love, devotion, and loyalty in spades. There are action-like scenes and drama. Nothing and no one is safe in this book. Cosby does not hold back. Part of what works so well is his writing is so strong it sucks you in and brings the tension and characters to life. If you can handle the dark and gore, I would recommend this one. It is different from anything else you will read.

Adam Lazarre-White once again handles the narration flawlessly. He has performed all of Cosby's book and really seems to understand what Cosby is trying to do in his work. The characters are portrayed so specifically well. I love Cosby's writing, but find that Lazarre-White's narration levels it up. I highly recommend taking in this world via the audio format.

First, I'll listen to anything Adam Lazarre-White narrates lol. Second, I devoured this book. Nothing like a good southern thriller, with moving money, schemes, deals and betrayals. Roman s doing anything to keep his siblings and their family's business safe, making moves like the King on a chessboard can he claim it all without losing it? S.A. pulled me in with this one and had a grip, I'm already recommending it to everyone-one of my tops of 2025.

Got this book courtesy of #SACosby and #NetGalley. Expected to like it just from the synopsis but ended up loving it 🥰🥰 Roman's guilt begins to draw you in BEFORE you meet the rest of his dysfunctional family. I like that Jealousy brought him some measure of peace even though her brothers brought loads of chaos. I'd like to see where he and Jealousy end up since the book ended with her realizing that his catchphrase, "everything burns," could include her brothers. I'd recommend for book club or something along those lines.

Wow! This book is amazing! Generational secrets, mystery of missing family member, and seeing just how far one brother will go to protect his little brother was all just insanely goiod.

Roman Carruthers, his little brother Dante, and their sister Neveah haven't seen each other in a very long time until their father ends up in the hospital and in a coma. When Roman goes home to be with his siblings and see his dad, he has no idea what he's in for. Turns out that little bro was in over his head in debt to the Black Baron Boys (BBB) to the tune of $300,000! Roman being the protector and an astute and wealthy businessman jumps in; however, the BBB are not happy that his offer to pay them off isn't all the money immediately. Thus starts the crazy violence and unbelievable acts that Roman will go through in order to protect his family.

In addition to all they're going through, their sister, Neveah, just can't give up her search for what happened to their mother many years ago. She simply disappeared and nobody knew what happened, if she'd been killed, ran off, etc.

There are SO many secrets and twists that you find at the end of the book that it's unbelievable but so exciting that the author pulled it all off.

I was lucky enough to have the audio version which was done so well. The narrator Adam Lazarre-White was absolutely perfect for narrating the story of the Carruthers family. I thought the pacing was spot on and his voice intonations were done so well. He drew me in emotionally, created anxiety in me at the appropriate moments in the plot, and just overall did an incredible reading.

Wow - that is really all I need to say about this phenomenal book - S.A. Cosby has written some of my favorite books of all time, and this one is no different.

Roman was such a complicated character to root for - he was doing so many bad things, in order to protect his family. Dante & Cassidy were definitely frustrating because they were doing anything to make Roman's life more and more difficult, even though it was Dante's fault they were in this situation to begin with. Neveah was the character I was rooting for the most - so many things were kept from her, and I really wanted someone to fill her in on what was happening. I would gladly read another story about her life post King of Ashes.

Adam Lazarre-White did a fantastic job as the narrator for this story. He helped bring these characters to life and made me even more invested in this family and what was happening. I cannot wait to listen to more of his stories.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.

SA Cosby is a must read author for sure, so I was excited to get early access to this one. This one at its heart is a family story. Roman is summoned home when his father has an accident. He finds himself drawn back into the family dynamics. His sister is overwhelmed running the family's crematorium and his brother is in debt to some serious thugs. Looming over all of them is the decades old disappearance of their mother.

As always with Cosby, it was easy to sink into this world and find yourself invested in these characters. The story was gritty and there was not a dull moment. As always Lazar White's narration was pitch perfect. My only criticism of Cosby is I wish he would write a strong female character in one of his stories, there was real potential in these women but they ended up as side notes as always. That said while I have enjoyed Cosby’s previous books this is the first to get five stars from me.

I loved this fast pace thriller by SA Cosby. A man named Roman goes back to his childhood home to help his brother and sister with their family business. His dad, is in a coma after being attacked. His younger brother is in big trouble and is dealing with some really bad guys. Roman will do anything to protect his family, at any cost. At the same time, he is dealing with the disappearance of his mother from when he was a teen.

I enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was fantastic!

This was nothing short of amazing! Every Cosby book gets better and better and I love that he’s perfecting his craft. The tension and emotions this book brought me 😩 I couldn’t stop yelling 😂. Per usual, this was a movie.

S.A. Cosby killed this book and Adam killed the audio 🔥 Thank you MacMillion for this audio arc !

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (book cover is in image) is a African American crime fiction novel involving Roman Carruther and his quest to save his brothers life from the gang he owes money to. In this fast paced novel Cosby once again takes us on a dark, violent journey Roman experiences to save the lives of himself and his family by initially offering his services as a financial guru to earn the money his brother owes and eventually working for the gang.

The narration by Adam Lazarre-White was just as expertly done as the one he did for Cosby's Razorbalde Tears and Blacktop Wasteland. I am quickly becoming a fan of Lazarre-White. I strongly recommend him as a narrator, and always recommend SA Cosby, as I have loved all books of his I have read so far.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date Jun 10 2025

#MacmillanAudio
#KingofAshes
#SACosby
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#yarisbooknook
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This is hard. I have loved every one of Cosby's previous books and recommend them to everyone. But this one, while as brilliant as all the previous books, is ugly. Ugly people doing ugly things. I realized about a third of the way through that I was cheering on the "good" guys because they are marginally better than the bad guys. By the two-thirds mark I was thinking that at least the bad guys have psychopathy as an excuse. And this isn't even including the S/M. Perhaps some of this makes sense later on or perhaps picks up a glimmer of justification, but when the protagonist (I can't call him the hero, or even the anti-hero) oversees his own torture session, I gave up.

If I could split the star rating, it would be 5 stars for the writing, 1 star for the story.

Roman Carruthers returns to his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia in the middle of family trauma and a gang war. His younger brother, Dante got on the wrong side of the Black Baron Boys. Roman has to think quickly to keep them all alive. Meanwhile his sister Nevaeh is running herself ragged running the family crematorium. She’s fighting an internal battle, blaming their father for her mother’s disappearance (and likely death) when they were teens and generally not living any sort of life. Roman will do anything to save his family and is family motto is, “everything burns.”
This was my first S. A. Crosby novel and it earns all the hype. The storyline is suspenseful and so real. You’ll feel like you’ve fallen in to a modern mafia movie. King of Ashes is a new twist on the Godfather meets Shakespearean tragedy. I was all in and couldn’t get enough. If you want an audiobook that will have you putting off everything to keep listening - this is it.
I was very impressed with the narration. Adam Lazarre-White brings several characters to life, each with their own unique voice, southern drawl and dialect. It was so well done that the listener can tell who’s talking just from the voice.
There’s a lot of adult language and gruesome crime so it may not be for everyone. If you’re looking for a suspenseful, urban, family drama, I highly recommend King of Ashes.

After Roman Carruthers receives word that his father has been in a terrible car accident, he returns home to be with his brother, Dante, and sister, Naveah, and closer to the hospital where his Dad is being kept. The accident was serious, and the prognosis is grim. They aren't sure if Dad will ever fully recover.

Roman has been away from his hometown, where his family owns and operates a crematorium, for many years. He's built himself a highly-successful career in Atlanta, and seems to have left central Virginia in the past. Now that he's returned though, he must confront his younger brother, Dante's, dangerous criminal enterprises, which have left him riddled in debt, as well as his sister, Neveah's, burn out, as she struggles to hold everything together with regards to the family and the business.

Roman is a bit gobsmacked by the current state of his family. He didn't know things had progressed this far, particularly in regards to Dante's debt and substance use issues. It doesn't take Roman long to parse out that his father's crash wasn't an accident, and Dante's recklessness has placed them all in very grave danger.

Vowing to get his brother out of trouble, and save his family, Roman offers his very applicable services to the criminal overlords hunting down his brother. Roman is an expert negotiator and he's sure he can see this through, and free Dante from his debts. Concurrently, his sister is working on her own mystery project. She's trying to determine what exactly happened to their mother, who disappeared years before.

There's so much going on in King of Ashes. The most impressive part is Cosby's incredible skill at writing such a complex story, while keeping it flowing naturally, and never making the Reader feel overwhelmed. I enjoyed how quickly it all kicks off as well, as far as getting Roman back to Jefferson Run and involved with the flourishing criminal underworld there.

Additionally, this is a Long Game story, IYKYK, which is one of my favorite tropes in this kind of novel. Roman, as an MC, is incredible. He was so easy to root for. I loved his courage and determination in spite of the danger, no matter what, he was gonna fight to reach his goals. I also enjoyed him as a bit of a reverse prodigal son. In spite of his successful time away, he still did seek a bit of forgiveness in a way from the other members of his family.

All the other characters were really well done too. Dante, though frustrating as heck, the guy's literally a walking liability, was still believable and sympathetic, and I loved Naveah as well. The plot was fast-paced and kept me super invested. I had no moments where I wasn't fully locked into the audiobook while listening to it. I adored it.

In short, S.A. Cosby's gripping, gritty stories, paired with the impeccable narration of Adam Lazarre-White, is nothing short of perfection. A winning combination! While I was completely invested in this story, and maybe because I was so invested in it, I'm NGL, it CRUSHED me. This one is going to stick in my brain for a long, long time. This is a must for everyone's Summer Reading List!!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. S.A. Cosby is an auto-read author for me, and this firmly secures his place on that list!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. Mr. Cosby came with the heat. I really enjoyed listening to the audio of this book. The narrator did a wonderful job. He really brought the characters to life. Roman Carruthers is back home after a car accident that has left his father in a coma. Roman has been doing well for himself and knows that he needs to come back home to help his other siblings get through this tough time.

Dante, the youngest sibling, has been running from something his whole life. His father took care of him while he was partying with the wrong crowd. He is now indebted to the local gangsters in town. Roman is trying to fix Dante's problem without getting Neveah, their sister, involved. This book takes readers on a ride. It is well worth the ups and downs of this rollercoaster. Readers will be dealing with loops and curves until the very end. Will the Carruthers' family make it out of this hole alive? There are a lot of people that want to see them fall. The family is one of the few prominent families in Jefferson Run. Roman is forced to make some tough decisions to keep his family safe. Nothing is safe from the streets. Once you are involved, there is no way to get out. Roman is smart, but can he solve this problem? The family seems to be falling apart while their father is in the hospital. Roman, as the oldest, must find a way to put the pieces back together again or burn everything.

S.A. Crosby stokes the flames of revenge in his latest thriller

In S.A. Crosby’s latest novel, “King of Ashes,” money manager to the stars Roman Carruthers has long abandoned his Virginia roots. For years, he’s been living large in Atlanta, making millions for his clients, and indulging in every fantasy he can imagine. The deep scars of a troubled childhood remain buried within him and his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, a small city on the edge of ruin by crime, drugs, and zombie buildings.
He's also left behind his ambitious father and sister, Neveah, who run the family’s crematorium business, and his wayward younger brother, Dante, who can’t quit his addiction to drugs, women, and the dark underbelly of Jefferson Run. They are all haunted by the twenty-year-old disappearance of their beloved mother, Bonita, whose death sparks layers of guilt that binds them together while pulling them apart.
The prodigal son, Roman returns home when his father is hospitalized after a near fatal auto collision with an oncoming train. He immediately discovers that Dante is deeply in debt to a local gang that rules Jefferson Run, and which is threatening his family at every turn. He suspects the gang is responsible for recent tire slashings at the crematorium and his father’s accident.
As the oldest sibling, Roman feels obligated to protect his kin and the thriving business his father sacrificed so much to establish. He immediately enters “big brother protective” mode and is drawn into a world of corruption and crime to save his brother, sister, and comatose father. As a result, Roman becomes trapped in a web of betrayal, power struggles, and murder that won’t let him go. Each day presents deadly choices that leave him wondering whether there is a way out of the fiery hell called Jefferson Run.
“King of Ashes” is a dark, complicated “Southern noir” tale of family relationships, and the way the Carruthers family deals with the tremendous weight of guilt they carry over their mother’s long-ago disappearance. For twenty years, the siblings have lived without closure of the unsolved mystery of their mother’s vanishing. Their obsession with their mother colors every aspect of their lives; every decision they make and turns every dream into a nightmare. Neveah is convinced her father incinerated her mother in a jealous rage, while the boys try to make peace with the memories of growing up without a loving mother but with a dominating, career-consumed father. Having raised themselves, it is no wonder they cling to each other like life preservers in a storm.
At the heart of “King of Ashes” is the adult siblings realization that their parents are human beings with fatal flaws, and trying to preserve them as idols has reaped a heavy moral price. Neveah has begrudgingly dedicated her life to the family business. Roman has bolted from Jefferson Run to distance himself from his family’s issues, and baby brother Dante has struggled to identify his place within a family of strong, competent personalities. Ultimately, it is Dante’s stupid mistakes that shake the family, and their futures, to the core, and makes each sibling reexamine their priorities.
In “King of Ashes,” Crosby drives home that the small-town cycle of violence and crime can be without escape and deadly. Drive-by shootings, crooked cops, fire bombings, and drug deals gone awry are some of the obstacles the characters face as they struggle to survive Dante’s fatal error. However, Roman quickly grasps the hierarchy of power within his hometown, and that loyalty and revenge force him to engage in previously unthinkable actions to protect his loved ones.
“The King of Ashes,” once again, proves that S.A. Crosby is a mesmerizing crime fiction storyteller. And he cleverly utilizes his in-depth personal knowledge of the crematory business (his wife is a mortician) as the framework for a heart-pounding tale of murder and revenge. The depth and sincerity of the Carruthers siblings and their trials will resonate with the reader long after the final explosive page.