Everything burns ….
S.A. Cosby is a new author for me, and King of Ashes just proves why he is so popular. This book hooked me from the very beginning—I couldn’t stop reading. The drama, the tension, the way it dives into messy family dynamics and trauma… it was all so good.
Roman comes back home after his dad ends up in a coma from a car accident, and things are rough. His brother, Dante, is in deep with some dangerous people, and his sister, Nevaeh, is barely holding it together while running the family crematorium. The vibes are intense right away.
This story is dark, gritty. It’s all about complicated family relationships and how far you’re willing to go for the people you love. The characters are flawed and make bad decisions, but they feel so real. I was fully invested.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and Adam Lazarre-White killed it. His voice fit the story perfectly. If you’re into audiobooks, you know how important a narrator is to the story!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC—I’m so glad I got early access and was introduced to a new incredible author.
#Netgalley #MacmillanAudio #SACosby #KingOfAshes
My Rating Scale:
1 Star – I wish I could get that time back. Just not good at all.
2 Stars – It was okay. I wasn’t excited about it, but it held my attention enough. I don’t feel like my time was totally wasted.
3 Stars – A really good read! I probably won’t pick it up again, but I enjoyed it and might recommend it to someone.
4 Stars – Great book! I really liked it and would definitely recommend it to others.
5 Stars – One of my absolute favorites! I likely own a physical copy. I’d happily read this one again.

In Jefferson Run, VA, a man is suspiciously run off the road and now remains in a coma. Neveah pleads with her oldest brother Roman to return home. The family is a fixture in town, operating the local crematorium for years. Roman, Neveah, and their reckless brother Dante reunite and begin to reflect on their past. Soon the brothers haphazardly stumble into an unexpected and seriously dangerous crime life. This thrilling family saga, filled with grief, guilt, and redemption, is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio review: The audio is amazing, I would highly recommend. The narrator REALLY brings the characters to life.

Review: I LOVED this book at the start. My rating went from a 6 star new favorite until about halfway, then a 5 star, then 4, and I finally landed on a 3 star. The first half of the book was a lot of deep character development, morally grey characters, heartfelt moments, etc. I felt very connected to the characters and cared about what might happen to them. I was also invested in the plot elements which there are several different things happening in this book. I don't typically like organized crime type of books but I enjoy SA Cosby and as fellow Virginian I enjoy reading about my state. Somewhere after the halfway point, the story started to get more and more repetitive and the characters were doing things that seemed "out of character." Which is usually fine, and important actually to watch characters fall apart or reactive to challenging situations. However, something just really got irritating about these characters. I would love to talk with others about this. The characters go through a lot of really difficult things but their intentions stop matching their actions and it started making less and less sense.

The plot twists or resolutions also frustrated me. I can't say more about that but I wasn't happy with the way it ended. I will accept most endings of books but for this it just felt more of the "why in the world would this be the outcome," even when I look through the lense of trauma and imperfect characters.

I do think people will mostly enjoy this story. S.A. Cosby's writing is amazing, all the way through the story. The character arcs, choices made by characters and some dialogue is what started to fall flat for me. But his word choice and ability to craft scenes is spectacular all the way through.

Upon learning of his father’s coma, Roman heads back to his Central Virginia hometown. When he gets there, he finds his sister running the family’s crematory and his brother in trouble with a local gang. Roman, using his finance background, tries to help his brother pay his drug debts, but instead he ends up missing some teeth and allowing the gang to use the crematory to dispose of their crimes. Roman is smart though and he’s determined to protect his family no matter what it costs, but as his father always said, everything burns. S.A. Cosby has woven another intricate story filled with secrets and violence with the setting being as integral to the story as the characters. The city of Jefferson Run has a small town feel with enough detail to keep Virginian readers absorbed. The narrator of the audiobook also gives an incredible performance; while his female voices are a little trying, the sinister voices of the gang members make up for it. S.A. Cosby is a must read author for mystery readers; making readers root for his morally gray characters is his specialty!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced audiobook copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't know how to explain this but all I know is.... S.A Cosby is officially my new favorite author. He just does not miss. I literally get lost in every book he writes. He weaves the most amazing stories and keeps you on the edge of your seat! This story of family, love, lost, and finding a way to save those you love.... man.... S.A. Cosby can do NO wrong in my eyes! He is who he thinks he is! Thank you NetGallery for this most opportunity!
This is ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and to MacMillan Audio for the ARC of King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby.

This is my second Cosby read, my first being Razorblade Tears. Cosby continues to be a master of suspense, and navigating the risks a person is willing to take to protect their family.

In King of Ashes, it felt like Cosby made an even darker turn from Razorblade Tears in the journey of Roman, the oldest of three siblings, who returns home to Virginia after his father has been in a car accident. It turns out Roman's brother, Dante, has been involved in drug dealing gone wrong, and is in debt to the wrong people, and they are more than willing to go after his family. Hoping to protect Dante, their sister, Neveah, and their comatose father, Roman inserts himself with the crew, but can he save his family using his financial skills? Or will they push him too far?

Running alongside this story is the past history of the family and their mother's disappearance 20 years prior which has left an indelible mark on the siblings and their father. As her brothers keep her out of the loop on the new dangers Dante has caused, Neveah takes it upon herself to find out what really happened those 20 years ago.

Both siblings are trying to save their family, just in different points of time. Cosby wonderfully shows how trauma lingers, both in Roman's present actions, and in how he and Neveah talk about their lives since losing their mother and the affect it had on their relationships with each other and with others. All interactions with Dante sting - you want to help him and you want to hate him in equal measure for his damage and his ineptitude while his siblings navigate life in their own guarded and damaged ways.

S.A. Cosby maintains his auto-buy status with his newest release!

The drama in this book was gripping from the very beginning. I love the family dynamics and the dealing with trauma represented in this book.

Can’t wait to add a physical copy of this book to my shelves when it comes out in June.

The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, has a fantastic voice. I would definitely recommend the audio version.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my arc in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This man doesn’t miss! Every book I’ve read by S.A. Cosby has been LIT, and King of Ashes is no exception. From the very first page, I was hooked by the gripping mystery surrounding a mother’s death and the timeless dynamic of two brothers, one the responsible protector, the other the chaotic black sheep constantly in trouble.

Cosby is a master of the thriller genre. The pacing is relentless, the twists are sharp, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, Another curveball. The emotional depth and tension kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

What I especially love is how Cosby writes strong, complex Black male protagonists. Roman, the main character, stands out even among Cosby’s other unforgettable leads. He’s calculated, educated, and in control, handling business with a quiet intensity that commands respect. While he shares some traits with characters from Cosby’s previous novels, Roman is entirely his own man.
And …. there’s a cameo from a character in one of Cosby’s earlier books that made me gasp. That moment alone was worth the read.
If you’re a fan of thrillers with heart, grit, and razor-sharp writing, you won’t regret picking this up. In fact, you’ll probably be left wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I am of the opinion that SA Cosby can do no wrong and that he has one of the best audiobook narrators in the business. This is why I'm happy to say that King of Ashes did not disappoint in any way.

In King of Ashes, Roman is called back home by his sister Nevaeh because their father is in a coma, due to a serious accident. Upon arriving home he finds an angry sister, because she was left by him to work with their father in the crematorium, the family business. He also finds his unreliable brother Dante, is in all kinds of trouble.

SA Cosby is the master at creating morally gray characters that you can't help but love and cheer for and Roman is no different. He is smart and willing to do what it takes to save his family.

I can't say enough to express how much I loved King of Ashes. If you are sleeping on SA Cosby and his books (especially the audiobooks), you need to add them to the top of your TBR. I can't recommend this book and all the rest of his books enough.

This book was amazing! My first book by S.A. Cosby, and now, I want to read every. single. one. of his books!! I love his writing style. This story was going me a mixture of Ozarks and Gone in 60 Seconds vibes.

It was a bit of a slow burn for the first half, but it paid off in the second half. The way this author develops a story and then unleashes all the twists and shock moments… I’m impressed. He may even be one of my new favorite authors. I loved it. My mind was blown in the last few chapters. Would definitely recommend. The audio was 👌🏻!

Everything burns.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Roman Carruthers thought he had escaped the confines of Jefferson Run, his run-down central Virginia hometown, as well as the family business, Carruthers Crematorium, now run by his younger sister Neveah and their father. Having left Jefferson Run behind to go to business school, Roman has made a name for himself as someone who can make his clients a lot of money. But when he returns home after his father ends up in the hospital, Roman realizes that his father's accident was, in fact, no accident, and that his troubled young brother Dante has put them all in danger. Trying desperately to take control of the situation and make up for Dante's mistakes, Roman is forced to make hard, sometimes impossible choices to protect what's left of his family.

"King of Ashes" is smoldering, gritty, tense, and unputdownable. Filled with complex, well-rounded characters, it is an unflinching, often brutally violent Southern gothic tale of an impoverished rural town buckling under the weight of gang violence and addiction, and one man's desperate attempt to save those he loves from destruction.

S. A. Cosby delivers another powerhouse book with his latest novel. "King of Ashes" is a gritty, unflinching descent into a world where violence simmers just beneath the surface and morality is anything but clear-cut. The characters, Roman in particular, are beautifully flawed - morally grey, shaped by trauma, rage, and survival. They face choices that are as brutal as the world around them, and Cosby, in his eloquent, razor-sharp prose, never lets them off easy. Yet, amid the darkness, there's a profound humanity that keeps you turning the book's pages.

A raw, riveting read, "King of Ashes" cements Cosby’s place among the best voices in contemporary Southern noir.

I listened to the audiobook, and its narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did a spectacular job of voicing all the different characters and bringing this book to life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"King of Ashes" is slated to be released on June 10, 2025.

Thank you! to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
This is one of my very favorite authors!
All the trigger warnings for anything you can imagine.
Very rough, raw, violent, graphic but it broke my heart over and over. I usually find myself crying through the entire last 2 hours of every book of his I read.
The narrator is excellent and PERFECT for this book.

I listened to the audiobook King of Ashes by S.A Cosby. I definitely recommended Roman returns to Jefferson run after 5 years because his father is in coma. Upon his returns he realizes he can never outrun his mother disappearance and soon slips into the role of protector when his brother is the wrong people money. I have read Cosby book Razorblade Tears. I thought there was no way Cosby could create another story with a cast of characters that will stay with me forever. He did it!!! Although this book does have similar themes as RazoBlade Tears it stands out because its underlining mystery. I had no idea thoughout the book who i could trust. I believe adding other characters POV helped tie the story together immensely. READ IT!!

Dear King of Ashes,
S.A Cosby triumphs again. You had such relentless pacing to the twisted situation that the Carruthers siblings find themselves in. Each one of the siblings brought their own pain into their present and it complicated so much for each of them. Your characters were so exquisitely flawed and hurt that they felt quite real. I loved the way that you tied together their pasts and presents. I cannot remember another book that had my jaw on the floor as often. You are so dark and violent and entertaining, but you also said so much more than just the people and story on your pages.

S. A. Cosby does it again! I have a love hate relationship with his books. I love his character development and his storylines, but I hate the amount of violence and the vivid way he writes about it. He’s just so good at what he does.

King of Ashes is about a family in the south that owns a crematory business. This family has been wrecked by tragedy and it’s yet another tragedy that brings oldest child Roman back home from Atlanta. While home, Roman gets caught up cleaning up his baby brother’s mess after he gets involved with some shady people. The way that Cosby writes about these morally gray characters has the reader rooting for a character and upside down on what’s right and wrong.. This story touched dysfunctional family secrets, childhood trauma, different ways people handle grief, and family loyalty. How far would you go to protect your family? The story is engaging and thrilling from start to finish.

I can’t end this review without giving props to the narrator. They really brought the listener to the south with the different accents and helped the story to be an immersive experience.

Roman comes back home after his father is in a car accident, and he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family and family business together.

This book was action packed, dark, and gritty. I read the entire book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It navigates complex family relationships and shows how far you go to protect the ones you love.

The characters were flawed and made bad choices, but it was so emotional and deeply human. I really liked this one and can’t wait to read more from this author.

this book was 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞!!!🤯
Brutal, emotional, raw… it had me feeling all the emotions.

The writing is beautiful… but it’s S.A. Cosby, so duh… but those last few chapters had me so stressed… I was legit scared to see what would happen next.

I’m honestly still trying to process it. Just do yourself a favor and pick this one up, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Macmillan Audio ALC
S. A. Cosby is one of my absolute favorites, and he knocked it out of the park with this one. It will easily be one of my top books of the year. The story is dark, gritty, and so violent, and yet I didn't want it to end. I love his writing because of how his characters are deeply human and flawed. Roman was so complex. It was interesting to hear about his work and how it played such a pivotal part in the novel. I don't know how to talk about this book too much, though, because it's best read without prior knowledge and to just let Cosby slowly unravel the story each riveting layer at a time. He's not afraid to have quite a bit of darkness in this story, which made it so compelling. I also loved the setting of a family crematorium and all that brought to the story here. I get to see him when he's on tour, and I can't wait to hear more about his inspiration and writing process.
If you're able, I highly recommend listening to his books on audio because of Adam Lazarre-White's performance. I could not image reading a Cosby book without his narration because of how well he becomes each and every character. They are all distinct, yet it's just him. He's definitely one of my absolute favorite narrators to listen to.

Absolutely loved this book. It really shows how far a family member will go for the ones he loves. I loved the writing style and how all the twist insurance came together at the end. I didn’t like how it ended, but I understand why it ended the way that it did. Phenomenal book all the way around.

S. A. Cosby has never disappointed me, and King of Ashes may be my favorite of his novels. No one can create such sympathetic characters, strong yet flawed, deep love and integrity yet with dark sides that tremble at the ledge of the abyss.

Roman comes home after his father's accident. But soon he learns that his little brother Dante has made a huge mistake with the wrong people and his sister, Naveah, is barely hanging on, lonely and bitter. Roman has skills, knows people, and steps up to help, but even his best intentions cannot keep his family's situation from quickly spiraling, down, down and further down.

Gaspingly violent yet tender and desperate, Cosby pulls the reader into a web of gangsters and psychopaths. As Roman makes choices, the tension builds so perfectly, that you CANNOT stop reading.

Adam Lazarre-White is just a master of narration. His deep voice displays humor, tenderness, rage and fear. I miss him when the book ends.

A masterful thriller.