"King of Ashes" is peak SA Cosby: full of family drama, suspense, and of course, violence. It's creative enough to feel like a new story but will be very familiar to and on point for his existing fans who enjoy his work. The audiobook narrator was great and really conveyed the intensity of the book.

Another banger from SA Cosby with incredible narration. I was so invested in this story, the characters especially the idea of someone wanting pain physically inflicted upon them to process their trauma.

S.A. Cosby does it again! King of Ashes is a dark and disconcerting tale of family, violence, and revenge. Roman and his siblings grew up with their family owning a crematorium in a town riddled with gang violence. Roman moved out for college and rarely visits, but when his dad ends up in the hospital, his sister calls him to come home. Roman finds out his little brother got mixed up with the BBB, the most ruthless gang in town, over a drug deal. To save his brother, Roman makes a deal with the devil. King of Ashes got me hooked and wouldn't let go. There were twists and turns in every chapter, and an ending that will stick with me for a long time. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, does an excellent job of telling the story and drawing the listener in. This is one of my top 3 audiobooks of 2025. 5/5 Stars!

Warning: As with all of S.A. Cosby's work, this audiobook is deeply disturbing, violent, and some scenes will have your stomach turning. There are graphic descriptions of torture.

His voice is exactly how I pictured Roman narrating his story. Thank you to NetGalley and McMillian Audio for this arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

At this point, having read 2 of his books, I feel like SA Cosby is an automatic read for me. He just tells his stories in such raw and realistic ways. I also am a huge fan of the narrator of his audiobooks, Adam Lazarre-White. He captures the myriad characters he portrays expertly.

This story kept me guessing and I couldn't stop listening. I am left feeling lots of feelings about the resolution of the story, and while they may not all be good feelings, they all mean I loved this book.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

With King of Ashes, S.A. Cosby has again swept me completely off my feet as I binge-listened to all 13 hours and 20 minutes of the audiobook in two days. I have listened to each of Cosby's novels, with narrator Adam Lazarre-White, who IMHO embodies each of the characters with perfection. I cannot imagine experiencing this novel through any other media than audio.

Roman Carruthers is a fascinating main character, and the lengths to which he must go to save his family are unimaginable. He is educated, a financial whiz, and yet he doesn't hesitate to take on some extremely violent criminals and try to beat them at their own game. I loved how Cosby interweaves the mystery of what happened to Roman's mother with the action-packed, violent crime saga of gangster revenge. There are a few good twists and a lot of brutality, mixed in with a little romance just to keep things interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC of King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby. The opinions in this review are my own.

Wooooowww!!! SA Cosby does not miss… this book is nothing short of a grand slam! Dont even think twice… just READ IT!

This is a crime drama centered around a decently affluent family in a dying city. When the youngest Carruthers child wrongs the dominate local gang, all hell breaks loose. Middle child, Roman, comes home to try and fix everything. But it seems to be pulling him in, too. Can he bail Dante out? While saving them all?

I'm finding this hard to review without spoilers. Basically, they are all pretty terrible people. They have their reasons for being that way. Some people get what they deserve. Some people get what they DON'T deserve. Some people need their comeuppance.

Adam Lazarre-White does a great job narrating.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

S.A. Cosby is the undisputed master of southern noir and this is no more evident than in his latest opus, King of Ashes. If I had to describe this in one word, it would have to be whoa! Cosby combines action, rage, and violence with complex characters and social commentary to create one non-stop, unputdownable thrill ride. This is an absolute must read for anyone who loves raw, visceral noir stories with interesting characters and story-line and an ending that will leave you shaken. But, one word of caution, this is definitely not one for the weak of heart. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Adam Lazarre-White who does an absolutely pitch-perfect job.

I received an early audiobook of this novel from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC of this book!

SA Cosby is an auto-buy/auto-read author for me. King of Ashes is written in the same gritty, raw style that I've come to know and love when visiting the seedy underbelly of Cosby's world.

This book makes you feel all sorts of things about its characters - from love to loathing - which is why they ring so true. Nobody is perfect in Jefferson Run, and I found myself caught up in the emotions of the Carruthers family, wondering alongside them just how we managed to get sucked into this mess and how we're going to get out alive.

Adam Lazarre-White, the narrator, does a great job of capturing the intensity of the evolving storyline. I do think he was a very slow speaker, though, and I had to listen on 1.5 speed just to make it sound like everyday conversation (for me).

If you are looking for a dark story full of morally gray characters that you still manage to care about, and want a peek behind the curtains of criminal life in small-town Virginia, this book is for you. My favorite Cosby novel is still Razorblade Tears, and we get a quick cameo from one of those characters in King of Ashes. Buckle up because you're in for a wild ride when you grab this (or any!) SA Cosby novel.

What it’s about:
When Roman Carruthers comes home after his father’s suspicious accident, he finds his brother drowning in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister barely holding the family—and their crematorium business—together. To save them, Roman has to call on some serious muscle from his past… and he’s willing to do whatever it takes.

King of Ashes is a gritty, Southern godfather-style thriller that’s intense, fast-moving, and impossible to put down. The characters are sharp, the story is gripping, and Roman is a force to be reckoned with. This one practically demands a movie adaptation.

I did this one on audio and it was fantastic—the narration added even more intensity and richness to an already powerful story.
Heads up though: if you’re sensitive to violence, graphic scenes, or heavy language, this might not be your thing. Otherwise, buckle up—you’re in for a wild ride.

Sheesh! Dare I say I loved this more than Razorblade Tears? Cause I did. I am so thankful to have received this ALC from Macmillan Audio because It was seriously like watching a movie.

The Narrator Adam Lazzare-White was phenomenal as always. He just gets the characters and delivers in such a way that you forget your reading a book because it's so genuine and full of emotion.

S.A. Crosby's ability to tell a story is like no other. I believe he was a movie producer in another life because his attention to the smallest of details to make sure we are reading the book as he intended is profound.

I absolutely loved the siblings. Succesful Roman finally returning home due to his father being in a coma, Dante trying to live up to everyone's expectations and prove himself while carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as he makes the most terrible decisions, and Naeveh holding down the family cremation business... their banter with each other and their different relationships they have with their father and each other brought this story together. ❤️

The extent to what they were willing to do for their family had me gasping and eager to hear the next chapter. As much as I thought I knew how this was going to end, I was so wrong, and that made it so much better.

For sure a top read for 2025.

4 stars

This is my fourth book by this author, and it lives up to the powerful nature of its fellow entries in the Cosby collection. That is to say it is remarkably dark, gritty, and sinister and somehow utterly un-put-downable at the same time.

First, I want to strongly recommend the audio version of this book when and where accessible. This narrator really brings the characters and tone to life.

Roman comes home after his father is in a car accident, and when he gets there, he is reminded quickly of exactly how complicated his family and home town are. His family owns a crematorium (a creepy tie-in with the title). They have ties to the community that are both positive and reflective of the underbelly. In the case of the latter, Roman's younger brother, Dante, has gotten himself into serious trouble, and Roman throws himself right into the center of that with him.

While much of the book centers on the present drama, there is a constant undercurrent from the past present, too. Their mother disappeared many years ago, and her case has never been solved. This is something that all of the kids (Roman, Dante, and their sister, Neveah) deal with and blame folks for in very different ways). It's fascinating to see the intersections between the horrors of the past and present at every turn.

Readers familiar with Cosby's work know that this won't be a light-hearted jaunt in any way, but if you're the kind of reader who can manage and even enjoy this kind of content, it's time to meet Roman and company.

SA Cosby owns the crime fiction world. Yet another amazing Southern noir that is unputdownable. The family drama, the gangs, the dirty underworld— all make for another hit.
Adam Lazard’s-White could read me the phone book and I’d gladly listen. If I could hear him say ye-ahh over and again I’d die happy. Thank you Flatiron for my gifted print arc and Macmillan Audio for the alc.

If SA Cosby writes it, Melissa is going to read it. This book had me going through all the emotions. The character development was on point and the plot was amazing. Never once was I bored. This book took hold of you right from the beginning and did not let go. I listened to the audio and highly recommend it. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, was perfect. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC.

I listened to the audiobook version and it was fantastic. The narrator is brilliant and creates the perfect ambience to elevate the story.
It is a great crime story revolving around family secrets, written in the gritty and bleak style S.A. Cosby masters so well.
The characters are complex and interesting, their relationships realistic, and the story is so dark and compelling.
I loved it.
Thank you so much Macmillan audio for this ARC!

OMG! I read this story 3xs and with each time reading it, I learned something new. I'm probably going to read it again before the book comes out because I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

This buildup of this story was so good, it kept me on edge through every chapter, I even slowed the story down because I didn't want to miss any clues or pieces to the story.

Roman, Dante, and Pops demonstrated how the secure the bond between and a father and his sons were. Roman and Dante haven't always been the best of boys but they did try to be the best boys they could to both of their parents and their sister Naveah!
The story really showed how keeping secrets can haunt you and ultimately destroy a family when they really thought they were protecting one another, and because secrets
I hate that Dante couldn't follow his brother's instructions, and how Naveah was so strong headed that she took matters into her own hands which caused her to disappear. How this story started off had me speculating and wanting revenge immediately!

Even though pieces to this story had me upset, the ending was a masterpiece with the biggest payback!

S A knows how to tell a story and Adam is the right person to narrate it and bring it to life!

Thank you Netgalley, FlatIron, and Macmillian for the Arc-Audiobook of this Amazing Novel!

Overall, 5 stars, holy cow this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole dang time. There’s a reason why I don’t read mystery/thrillers, it’s too anxiety inducing, but this one was totally worth it. I absolutely loved the pacing of the story, the characters, and the twists and turns throughout this book. I had all of the emotions while reading this book, fear, loss, heartbreak, love, hope, anxiety, disgust, anger, hate, befuddlement, victory, excitement and so much more. Roman's actions really made me question my morality and think about the things I would do to protect my family.

Format: audiobook - Adam Lazarre-White was absolutely phenomenal <3

Thank you so much NetGalley, S.A. Cosby, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!!!!!

SA Cosby has absolutely done it again!

I’m not at all shocked at how much emotion this book evoked when reading. I cried, laughed, and honestly felt so frustrated with Dante! But by the end, I truly had a more understanding perspective.

Roman was the big brother hero, returning home to tend to family business. By the end so much more was unpacked and sibling love was tested. I’d absolutely recommend reading both the physical and audio!

King of Ashes is one of S.A. Cosby’s finest — dark, suspenseful, and packed with morally gray characters you can’t look away from. Twists come hard and fast, but at the heart of it all is a deeper mystery that keeps you guessing until the last page. Cosby’s sharp writing and relentless tension make this a must-read for fans of gritty, unforgettable crime fiction.

Due out June 10th!

S.A. Cosby is an exquisite author, and Adam Lazarre-White makes his characters fully come to life. There were several passages that Lazarre-White's narration felt intensely diabolical, so convincingly sinister. And King of Ashes is by far Cosby's most unsettling book yet.

Roman Carruthers lives in Atlanta where he's in wealth management for famous athletes and musicians. His tricks of the trade aren't all above board, but he thrives on the game. When he learns that his father has been in an accident, he goes home to Virginia, to his siblings and the family business.

Back in his hometown, his sister Neveah has worked alongside their father in the family's crematorium. She's been the only one who joined their father, while their younger brother Dante spends his time partying. With Roman home, Dante is forced to admit that he owes a lot of money to some awful people. Since money is what he knows best, Roman approaches the repayment as a businessman, discovering as he's absorbed into their circle that these aren't your average criminals.

Full of violence, rage, depravity, and casual brutality, Roman's plan to save his brother puts them all in danger. Every moment has potential for violence and death when any act or statement is viewed as a betrayal.

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