I don't usually gravitate towards drug related themes but this one snuck up on me. Guess I didn't read the synopsis carefully enough.
That being said, since I have read all of Cosby's other books I knew I had to read this one. Thank you Netgalley!
I felt the book started out rather slow and I kept waiting for "things" to start happening. It was rather like riding on a roller-coaster: slow and creeping at first, then the first big drop, followed by a series of smaller drops and turns. When it's over, the rider/reader is left shaking her head, going, "Whew!"
The Carruthers children, Roman, Dante and Navaeh, have been struggling (not that they were necessarily aware of it) with their particular demons since their mother disappeared when they were teenagers. Did she leave of her own choice or was she murdered and her body put in the family's crematorium? Trying to figure this out had emerged almost as an urban legend for the local population.
With this always in the backgrounds of their thoughts they have to deal with the increasing consequences of Dante's failed collaborations with local drug lords. Roman (highly successful financial planner) returns home after his father is severly injured in an accident (caused by said drug lords) to help Dante extricate himself from these entanglements. Actually, Roman has to do all of the work while trying to keep Dante from doing any more damage. Navaeh, meanwhile, spends all of her time running the crematorium and becoming more convinced that it was her father who killed her mother.
I heard Cosby speak recently and he said all of his books had been optioned for TV or movies. The longer I kept reading this one, the more I could see it it being played out quite well on a screen of some type!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC! This is my first S.A. Cosby read and I am simply amazed! The storyline paired with the amazing narration from Adam Lazarre-White was perfection. I am a person who loves action movies and this audiobook felt like an action movie in my head. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. The action, suspense, and family drama made the perfect recipe for a raw and gritty story. And the ending...I did NOT expect that at all. I highly recommend listening to the audio when this book releases!

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and only a handful actually stick with me — this will definitely be one of them.

I didn’t even need to read the description to know it’d be good. If it’s an S.A. Cosby book, I’m in. Adam Lazarre-White always does an incredible job with the narration, really setting the scene and capturing the emotion.

This one gets dark and brutal, but I don’t want to say too much. Just read it. It grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go.

I haven’t stopped thinking about it since it ended. One of the best listens I’ve had in a while.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early listen.

S.A. Cosby is now one of favorite authors. I finished this audiobook in one day King of ashes will have you hooked. Will definitely have to listen to it Before it comes out on June 10.

S. A. Cosby never disappoints. The ending twist of this book had me gasping in disbelief. What a ride. All the stars.

Once again, S.A. Cosby blows my mind with so many twists and turns that I get dizzy! This is a great gangster or Godfather-style thriller that is gritty and even heartbreaking at times. I listened to this ARC (advanced reader copy) in audiobook format, and the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, did an excellent job bringing this story to life. This was my second of Cosby's books to read, and I already have two more on my Kindle ready to go!

I have to admit I had a bit of a hard time liking the male MC, Roman, for much of the story, but he eventually won me over. My only reason for not giving this book a 5-star rating was that I'd have liked to see the female MC, Neveah (Roman's sister), play a larger role in the story, but it was still a story that will stick with me for quite some time.

I would like to express my gratitude to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

S.A. Cosby does not miss. He offers a story that pulls you in and will not let you turn away, no matter how dark. And this one is DARK. The narrator is excellent and keeps you in this story the entire time. Don’t miss this one.

Incredible. This book, like his others is amazing. Has such depth. It even made me cry. The end, my heart. Please never stop writing

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

WOW. wow. wow. This was amazing!! I am already a huge fan on S.A. Cosby and his books. However, this one blew me away! I have never been so stressed and focused on story. Rome’s character build was so well done. He teeter such a fine line between protector and broken man. All the other characters had such depth even if they only showed up for a few scenes.

The story was so movie like and engaging. The moving pieces, the villains, the dialogue was all necessary. No fluff.

This was gritty, tense, and honestly just plain stressful but it the best way! Probably my favorite so far of his catalog.

I am officially convinced that S.A. Cosby is the king of gritty, realistic, crime thrillers as King of Ashes may be the best I’ve read by him yet! The story following Roman, Dante, and Neveah as they are thrust into a world of gangs and family drama has its foot on the gas right from the start and does not relent. The organized crime elements were gritty and made me feel like I was in the room with Roman, for the good and all the bad. I also liked the family drama elements as they are sprinkled throughout and as Naveah works to discover what happened to her mother. Fans of other S.A. Cosby works will absolutely adore this story, and for those who have not read Cosby yet, what are you waiting for?

WOW! Someone pick this book up to become a film PLEASE!!!
This is exactly how audiobooks are narrated! But also S.A. Cosby knows how to write a GREAT book!
A must read!
Thank you so much NetGalley for approving me for this ARL!

I don't read a ton of crime fiction but S.A. Cosby is always worth reading. I think this is his best book yet. The characters truly leap off the page, and you feel so deeply for them as they get caught having to make impossible choices. It's a grim and gritty book, but it's haunting and beautifully told.

I can think of few writer-narrator combinations more perfect than S. A. Cosby and Adam Lazarre-White. This fast-paced thriller examines the lengths we will go through for family, even if the consequences are dire. I could not stop listening to this book due to Cosby’s incredible storytelling and Lazarre-White’s superb narration. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Book review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby 🎧

Wow! Just wow! Cosby has done it again! I didn’t know what to expect bc I didn’t read the synopsis, but I knew he wouldn’t disappoint! This audiobook was like I was watching a movie! The action, the drama, the characters, the range! Me yelling as the characters were going through it! Omg I wish I could listen to this for the first time again!

Thank you Macmillan for giving me this arc!

Pub Date: Jun 10 2025

#goodreads #bookrecommendation #bookreviews

Thank you NetGalley for an audio ARC! I really enjoyed this book. The narrator for his books is one of my favorites to listen to. I love how S.A. Cosby slowly, but amazingly brings you through his stories. The plot was well thought out, the characters grow throughout the story, and you don’t want to put down the book, (or stop listening) because you have to know what’s going to happen next. I loved the action, humor, and felt for the characters during their struggles. If you love action packed slow burning thrillers you will love his new book. 4.25⭐️

Once again Adam Lazard White captures each and every character perfectly. This was storytelling at its finest. I know this is technically a thriller but it gave urban fiction and urban romance vibes at times. The way Cosby builds this story up is fascinating. He drops little crumbs on each page and they build on each other until you reach the climax. The last few chapters had me standing up and pacing.

Neveah, Dante and Roman each had their own battles to fight. Dante did drive me crazy but by the end of the book I had a soft spot for him. Neveah, the one who’s been holding it down and never did anything for herself. Roman, the oldest child who is not at all what he seems. There were layers to each character and I enjoyed peeling them back one by one.

This is my new favorite S.A. Cosby book and it’s definitely a top read of 2025.

The narrator brings this story to life! Its already a great story on its own; a story of family and tragedy, its bleak and thrilling all at once. Fantastic prose, plot, and well developed characters.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby gripped me from the very first chapter. It’s raw, visceral, and deeply emotional—everything I want in a Southern Gothic thriller. This story hit especially close to home because I’m originally from a small town in West Virginia and moved to Atlanta for college, just like Roman, the main character. The themes of returning to a place that never truly felt safe or free resonated with me powerfully.

Roman, a successful finance professional in Georgia, is reluctantly pulled back to his hometown in Virginia after his estranged father ends up in a coma. His return forces him to face the buried secrets of his dysfunctional family—particularly surrounding his mother’s mysterious disappearance and the simmering chaos left behind by his younger brother, Dante. As Roman tries to clean up the mess, past and present collide in a gripping storm of truth, guilt, and vengeance.

What Worked for me?
✅ Relatable Protagonist: Roman is that guy—the one who “made it out” of a toxic environment and now must confront the trauma he escaped. His emotional complexity and moral conflict felt so real.
✅ Authentic Setting: The small-town Southern backdrop is atmospheric and unsettling, with layers of buried sins and whispered rumors. You feel the weight of the past in every chapter.
✅ Character Dynamics: The sibling relationships are painfully raw—especially Neveah’s quiet suffering and Dante’s infuriating self-destruction. The “us against the world” vibe was palpable, even when fractured.
✅ Unflinching Themes: Cosby dives into generational trauma, addiction, violence, and small-town corruption with unrelenting intensity. Every character is broken in some way, but still fighting.
✅ Villains You’ll Hate: Tranquil and Torrent were bone-chilling. Unhinged, unmerciful, and unforgettable.
✅ Excellent Narration: The audiobook narrator brought Roman and the rest of the cast to life so vividly. Every emotion, every tension-filled moment was delivered with power.

What didn't work for me?
Honestly? Nothing. This was a flawless, immersive experience for me. If you’re looking for a light read, this isn’t it—but if you want something gritty, powerful, and unforgettable, look no further.

5/5 Stars. King of Ashes is Southern Gothic excellence. Raw, lyrical, and emotionally gutting in all the right ways. I devoured the audiobook and left no crumbs. Highly, highly recommend—especially if you're into thrillers with depth, family drama with secrets, and layered Black characters trying to survive the weight of generational pain.

If S.A. Cosby writes it, I'm reading it! This man can write! Another thrilling, emotional, and very intense book. I'm always amazed at the way he writes grit in such an emotional and lyrical way. The build-up to the conclusion was amazing. Bravo!