What an amazing story!

I've read the last few S.A. Cosby books and have been very impressed with the writing. The characters are realistic and well-developed. I can picture where the scene is taking place even though I've never been to these locales. And I love how Cosby builds the tension throughout the book. The plot is well thought out and the twists that the author puts in are really impactful.

This story is about a son who is called back to his hometown when his father is involved in an accident and clinging to life. However, he soon realizes that there may be more to the incident than meets the eye. He has to deal with his brother's knack for getting into trouble and helping his sister keep the family business (a crematorium) afloat. So many varied storylines brought together brilliantly by the author.

Since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention the wonderful narrator, Adam Lazarre-White. He's been the narrator for all of the Cosby books I've listened to. He brings the characters to life and adds big dose of personality to each one.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first S.A. Cosby book, and I’m officially a fan. First, thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook. The narration by Adam Lazarre-White was outstanding , one of the few audiobooks where I never got tired of the voice. His performance kept me fully engaged and truly brought the story to life.

The book follows Roman and his two siblings as they navigate a serious family crisis. It blends mystery, crime, violence, and drama with a slightly dark tone that reminded me of something I’d see on the Investigation Discovery Channel. The pacing was good, with twists and emotional moments that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

The plot was well-structured, and the character development, particularly Roman’s was solid, making it easy to connect with the story. I found myself constantly wanting to keep listening, and I didn’t want it to end.

I’m giving this one 4.5 stars, it was gripping, well-performed, and deeply engaging. I’m already looking forward to diving into more of S.A. Cosby’s work!

Title: King of Ashes
Author: S.A. Cosby
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Genre: Thriller
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White
Pub Date: June 10, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars!
Pages: 352

Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante,
Roman Carruthers returns home to Jefferson Run, VA when he learns his father had been in a serious car accident and is still in a coma. But it turns out it wasn’t an accident, it was a warring. A message sent to his younger brother Dante to pay up on a large debt.
Roman, is a financial advisor actually a financial whiz with a talent for making his clients wealthy. Roman knows he needs to save his family and ends up working for the gangsters.

I am new to this author- true he has tons of books! His long time followers gave amazing reviews ‘his best ever’ etc.
I read a lot of thrillers but nasty mean Gangsters are not a fun group. Story has tender moments but is violent and disturbing - an uncomfortable read for me. I was curious about the mother so hung in there.

Narrator Adam Lazarre-White was great and his voice definitely adds to the characters and brings the to life and the story is all too real!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books: for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 10, 2025.

S.A. Cosby does it again in his newest Southern Grim thriller. Money manager to the rich and famous Roman returns to his roots after his father is in a car accident, only to find out his brother got into some serious trouble with the wrong people. What follows is Roman's action packed journey to do anything to save his family.
What I liked: S.A. Cosby's writing is always so amazing, and King of Ashes is no exception. His characters are so multi-dimensional and raw. The setting is vivid, and the story will keep you on your toes.

I loved the narrator for the audiobook! He adds so much to the story and would definitely recommend the audiobook for his accent work alone.

What I did not like: I often did not appreciate how women are described in this book. Most of the time I chocked it up to the character's view of them, but it still left me feeling uneasy. They are often oversexualized and feel more like plot devices than real characters in themselves.

The ending also felt a bit rushed to me, especially when compared to the pace of the rest of the book. There were two portions of the ending that we learn about after the fact instead of witnessing on page, which felt hollow since we had followed the characters in their own chapters throughout the book.

Overall, if you liked Cosby's other books you will definitely like this one too, but it was not my favorite from him.

trigger warnings for: graphic violence, sexual content, gang violence, gun violence

Whew! One thing Cosby is going to do is take you for a ride!

I really enjoyed that we are following 3 siblings as they are navigating the coma their father is in and the disappearance of their mother. They have a long history of grief over their mother so when their father gets into a wreck and lands in the hospital-it will not only force them together, but push them apart.

This definitely gave me the feelings of Razorblade tears-less brutality-but still plenty to go around. I found myself cheering on all of the siblings, but also so angry about how they were all keeping secrets from each other. But… it wouldn’t be a Cosby book if we weren’t being pulled in every direction.

I will say I felt like towards the end it became very obvious in what was going to happen. I wish we would have had a bit more of a twist, but overall I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC!

The eldest of three returns home when he finds out his dad has been in a terrible accident. The family and their business are now at risk, thanks to his younger brother. This was truly a wild ride, but I expect nothing less from S.A. Cosby. There were moments where I wondered if he would be able to stick the landing and he eventually showed me why you should never doubt him.

Wow!!!! King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby is pure fire. With a gripping dual timeline, explosive secrets, and a raw sibling bond, it’s fast-paced, emotional, and unforgettable. 5/5 — a must-read.
The narrator for the audiobook was amazing!

Wow! This was such a masterpiece. I’m already a big fan of SA Cosby but this exceeded my expectations. I loved how the theme of fire and ashes was woven throughout this book. Roman as a main character was so complex and fallible but I especially loved the way his intellect helped him to navigate such a complex situation. The sibling dynamics were so accurate and no matter what happened, their love for one another was apparent. This story was gripping from start to finish. Heartbreaking at points. Action packed. I was sent on a wave of emotions throughout but I absolutely loved this. The mystery element as well was masterfully done. Bravo to SA Cosby on this book.

S.A. Crosby is a fantastic author, but I do prefer the audiobook version of his novels because the narrator is AMAZING. His voice is so smooth, and he really is fantastic with changing the tone for various characters. The storyline was great, I wasn't expecting some of the things that happened at the end at all.

King of Ashes is gritty, fast-paced, and emotionally charged. It’s got everything: suspense, heart. The family dynamics are intense, the action is sharp, and the writing is raw in the best way. Perfect for fans of thrillers that hit hard and don’t let up. I couldn’t put it down.

The writing style and pacing of King of Ashes kept me fully engaged from start to finish. S.A. Cosby masterfully builds emotional tension, and in this story, it’s done flawlessly. The family dynamics, simmering secrets, and ever-present danger made this a compelling and gritty listen. Roman is a standout character. He’s sharp, determined, fiercely loyal, and his descent into the criminal underworld to protect his family was both tense and rewarding to follow. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be picking up more from S.A. Cosby in the future.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Another SA Cosby winner!!! I can’t wait to read the physical copy as well. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t stop listening. I was hooked from the first minute! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

Things I loved:

A layered, propulsive plot that grabs and doesn’t let go

Characters so human they practically breathe off the page

That signature S.A. Cosby blend: brutal, lyrical, and deeply Southern

King of Ashes is Southern Grit at its finest. S.A. Cosby delivers another knockout—equal parts raw and beautiful, with characters that feel heartbreakingly real. Roman’s story is tense, brutal, and complex, and Cosby never shies away from showing both the violence and vulnerability that shape a man like him. You care about these people, even when you know they’re spiraling—and maybe especially then.

The audiobook? Chef’s kiss. The narrator’s performance is gripping and moody, adding even more weight to every scene. Cosby has a gift for slipping real-world issues into fast-paced crime fiction without ever feeling preachy. There are moments here that challenge how you think about family, loyalty, justice, and survival—and remind you that street-level decisions are rarely black and white.

This book is smart, scorching, and filled with moments that linger. Cosby writes like every word matters, and in King of Ashes, every one of them hits.

In true S.A. Cobsy fashion, the book is narrated by Adam Lazarre-White. They go together like peanut butter & jelly! The dynamic duo!

S.A. Cosby’s newest plot-focused thriller novel follows a man named Roman. His dad is in a car accident and ends up in a coma, so Rome comes back to his hometown to help with their family business, a crematory. Their property keeps getting vandalised & finally Rome’s little brother, Dante, admits that none of it was an accident. He owes a local gang a over $300k for some product he got fronted & they been sending messages that no one in his family is safe. Roman, a financial advisor, makes a deal with the gang—he’ll flip their money and triple it using the stock market. He also grants them access to the crematory & its facilities. Soon after, Roman realized that the gang isn’t ever going to let him out of the arrangement & takes matters into his own hands to keep his family safe. Whewww. This was a wild ride. The twists & turns had me gagged! Another 5 star read from S.A. Cosby.

Thank you NetGalley, McMillan audio and S.A Cosby for this audio ARC. Once again S.A Cosby left me speechless. I love his style of storytelling. The narrator Adam Lazarre- White did a good job bringing this story to life. Roman trying to save his family has found himself in the middle of a mess with a group of bad people trying to cover his brothers debt all while his father is in a coma fighting for his life. A family fighting to stay alive takes some crazy twists and turns. I respect Rome for all he did for Devonte and nevaeh but miscommunication and trust brings out the worst. I really enjoyed this book please read it because this author is an auto buy for me.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! MR. COSBY. SIR. Every book is a masterpiece. Roman is such a composed wild card. Is that possible? The ending DESTROYED me 😭 the way Cosby writes plots that carry you. He is able to make you feel what the character is feeling. I cried with Roman, I wanted to scream with his sister, I wanted to collapse in depression with his brother. The weight of this world they carry like atlas on this family was so palpable. They would all do anything for one another, but none of them felt free to do anything but fix it themselves, in their own way. His stories are so real, and because of that he will always be my favorite author

This was insane! I loved this and the narrator was fantastic! I loved his voice and I loved how I knew every character like they were personal friends of mine! S,A, Crosby is still on my top list!! Loved this!

My jaw is still on the floor! I don’t have much to say without spoiling aside from this is such a good story! If this was a show I would absolutely tune in! Definitely pick this one up if you like strong family bonds, crime and drama!!

King of Ashes was a cinematic high octane thriller where we follow a family that has already suffered so much trauma and it’s about to get worse. Roman has come back home after the family’s father was in a suspicious car accident that left him in a coma. Now, Roman has to be the big brother again and fix the problems his little brother created and prevent them all from being killed.
The narrator was PERFECT for this title. He even voiced the women in a believable way (and that is hard to do!). His voice is engaging and fits the dark mood so well.
All of the characters in the story felt so realistic. This could’ve been a TikTok story time for all I know. I loved the plot twists, i literally had my mouth agape!  I disliked the ending because I felt like it was a little too perfect. (Taking off half a star for that). I wish some things would not have been given closure. I recommend this to all crime thriller lovers!

S.A. Cosby is such an exciting author! His books are brutal, visceral, frenetic and so eloquently written, it's hard to put them down once you've started.

King of Ashes was one of my most anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint. With an incredibly strong narrator in Adam Lazarre-White, the story takes off immediately.

The plot, featuring an older brother coming home to clean up the mess of his younger brother and face the ghosts of the past feels fresh and dynamic. The antagonists are brutal but well developed and there is a richness to the story that flourishes with Cosby's magnificent prose.

Godfather adjacent I suppose, but it deserves so much praise in its own right. I recommend this to anyone and everyone that enjoyed Cosby's previous works or is itching for a new crime tale.