King of Ashes was gritty, emotional, and tense from start to finish—and the audio made it hit even harder. S.A. Cosby didn’t hold back on the dark moments, but everything felt intentional and kept me completely locked in. The sibling dynamics really stood out, especially with the mystery around their mom’s disappearance and how that shaped their choices, mainly the sister’s. If you’re into organized crime, messy family ties, and a story that keeps you on edge, definitely give this one a listen.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC this one was a ride.

I am a die-hard fan of SA Cosby. I buy a copy of every novel he has released since Blacktop Wasteland. King of Ashes is yet another example of Cosby's stellar story-telling skills. He makes his characters relatable and has the reader rooting so hard for his flawed leading men. This novel was bleak, but at no point did I want to look away. I was mesmerized and fully invested. I would recommend King of Ashes to anyone who can tolerate a bit more grit in their thrillers than average. Cosby's works are worth dealing with that just because they are more emotionally resonant than the average thriller. With King of Ashes, I am convinced SA Cosby doesn't know how to miss. READ THIS BOOK.

Ive enjoyed other books that SA Cosby has written but unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I just wasn’t into the plot or the characters.

DNF This book just wasn’t for me.

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The author did an excellent job at maintaining the tension throughout the read. There were many dark and gruesome things that happened, but they were plot relevant and written in a way that was compelling.

The characters were also well written. It was easy to become invested in their stories and struggles, which aided in keeping the tension high. I also like the inclusion of the mystery relating to their mom's disappearance and how that informed some of their decisions (especially the sister's), as well as the extra level of intrigue it added. The sibling relationships were dynamic and added much to the story.

If you're interested in a gritty thriller that includes organized crime, then you'll probably love this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

King Of Ashes is now the fourth book by S.A. Cosby that I've now read. From the first time I read him in Blacktop Wasteland to now King Of Ashes, Mr Cosby has continually outdone himself.

In Ashes, the main character of Roman Carruthers is a successful money manager living a good life in Atlanta. Early one morning he receives a phone call from his sister saying their dad has been in an accident and that he needs to come home.

Once back in his old neighborhood in Jefferson Run VA. he sees that not much has changed. His younger sister Neveah is still working at and running the family crematorium while his youngest sibling, his brother Dante is still floating through life. One evening Roman and Dante go out drinking at a local club when Roman starts to see that his brother has gotten into some serious trouble with a local gang called the Black Baron Boys.

When Roman tries to help get his brother out of the mess he completely underestimates the gangs leader Tranquil, and his brother Torrent. Now Roman has tied himself to Dante's debts and the gangs wants their money. After showing the Black Baron Boys how he can make them even more money with his financial talents Roman has bought himself some time but he knows that once Tranquil has bled him dry he will kill him and his brother.

To get out of this mess Roman will need to lie, steal and if needed kill to save himself and his family. This is definitely Mr Cosbys finest work yet. I'm already looking forward to see what he dreams up next.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook,it was absolutely entertaining from start to finish. I found myself frustrated with some of the characters and their choices (in the best way), but honestly, that’s what made the story so compelling.

I did not see the ending coming at all. Those final chapters had me completely shook, hooked, and emotionally invested. I’m still processing everything,it was that powerful.

The pacing was spot on, and the plot moved in a way that kept me engaged the entire time. I have zero complaints. The family dynamics were incredibly realistic. I saw pieces of myself in each of the siblings, which made the story hit even harder.

I’ll definitely be rereading this as soon as it’s officially out. And if you’re thinking about the audiobook? Do it. It’s phenomenal.

TY Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the ALC. Be ready for grit and violence with this story! the narration and the story were endlessly gripping and entertaining but a few too many deaths for me.

This was a slow start, but once it gets going, it is unputdownable. The mystery and action are something S.A. Cosby does well. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded, and the secondary mystery he intertwined was cool. The narrator does a good job with distinct voices for each character.

This narrator is perfection! The story is a gritty, emotional rollercoaster that pulls you deep into a world of crime, vengeance, and broken loyalty. The characters are raw and real, and you can’t help but get caught up in their messy, high-stakes lives. It’s fast-paced, intense, and hits hard—perfect if you like your thrillers with heart and heat.

I didn't enjoy reading this book. I wasn't fond of the narrator and found myself zoning in and out of the story. I wasn't able to form a connection with the characters so I didn't really care about what they were going through or about where their story ended. Unfortunately it just wasn't interesting for enough for me.

Book Review: King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is my third S.A. Cosby book, and while it wasn’t my favorite, it still had that intense, gritty signature style that keeps me coming back. Honestly, this isn’t my usual genre at all (Southern gangster noir is a whole thing), but Cosby’s storytelling always hooks me, and I was excited to get an advanced listening copy of this one.

Let’s just get this out of the way: King of Ashes is dark. It’s violent. It’s emotionally heavy and full of flawed characters making terrible choices in impossible situations. If you’re at all sensitive to violence, trauma, or morally gray territory, consider this your warning—there are trigger alerts galore. That said, if you can handle it, it’s a wild and emotional ride.

The book centers around Roman Carruthers, a financial whiz summoned back to his run-down hometown in Virginia after his father ends up in a coma following what looks like a suspicious car accident. He comes home to find his brother Dante in debt to some extremely dangerous people, and his sister Neveah barely holding their family and the family business—a crematorium—together. Things go from bad to worse when it becomes clear their father’s accident was no accident, and that Dante’s recklessness has dragged them all into the orbit of real-deal gangsters.

Roman’s forced to use the only leverage he has—his brain and his very specific set of skills—to try to protect his family. Meanwhile, Neveah begins digging into the long-buried mystery of what really happened to their mother, who vanished when they were teens. Everyone’s carrying baggage. Everyone’s on edge. And it becomes very clear very quickly that Roman will do anything to protect what’s left of his family. Anything. Because in this world? Everything burns.

This one was emotionally tough. The characters are raw and human and messy—there are no clear good guys here, just people doing what they can with the broken pieces they’ve got. I didn’t love it as much as Cosby’s other books, but I couldn’t stop listening either. The layered family drama, the constant tension, the background mysteries… it all kept me turning pages (well, pressing play).

Final thoughts:
King of Ashes is brutal and brilliant, a Godfather-style crime saga wrapped in Southern grit and personal tragedy. It’s not easy to read, but it is powerful, and Cosby remains one of the most compelling voices in modern crime fiction. Definitely one for readers with strong stomachs and a love for twisted family loyalty.

King of Ashes is a stunning dramatic tragedy set in Richmond, Virginia. As someone who grew up a little south of Richmond, this story captivated me from the very beginning. I could not stop listening to this audiobook (the narration is incredible) and my jaw dropped at the end.

S. A. Cosby delivers another epic novel and King of Ashes will stick with me for a very long time.

Wow! I had no idea I was such a SA Cosby fan. I received a copy of a previous book as a gift and it had been sitting on my shelf, but went immediately to the head of the line after listening to this audiobook. I highly recommend this book!

A brilliantly plotted southern noir that feels like it found its roots in a mashup of King Lear and a comic book origin story.

In a lot of ways this is the ultimate “you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain” story. I love the idea of the slow rot and a character faced with a situation that causes them to go further and further past what they perceive to be their own moral line.

We all move the proverbial goal posts when we must, and it’s always interesting to see where varying degrees of moral relativism take a character who never wanted to find out how far they would be willing to go in the first place.

Certainly this is a crime noir above all, but it’s also a truly well-crafted family saga, which makes Roman’s position and the decisions he makes even more fascinating and wrenching. I thought the ending was both brilliant and very hard to take, which I think signifies a really good piece of fiction.

Cosby is so good at what he does, and I love that all of his novels feel like they could be in conversation with one another, but also very much like they are each very unique stories that take the reader somewhere completely different than the one before.

“King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby

In true Cosby fashion, this book blazes. This is my third read by the author, with “Blacktop Wasteland” still waiting on my TBR. I previously devoured “Razorblade Tears” and “All the Sinners Bleed”, and “King of Ashes” lives up to the legacy.

Cosby is a master of gritty, emotionally charged noir, and this novel is no exception. Taut, relentless, and layered with tension, it keeps you on edge while still offering just enough space between explosions of action and emotion to catch your breath.

This is a story built on secrets, unsolved crimes, generational trauma, and the kind of violence that leaves scorch marks. Everything in this novel burns, whether it’s the past, the truth, or the people trying to survive it.

I went with the audiobook, and once again, Adam Lazarre-White delivers a powerhouse performance. His voice has become inseparable from Cosby’s world for me … he doesn’t just narrate; he inhabits these characters.

If you’re looking for a summer thriller that hits hard and leaves a mark, “King of Ashes” is it.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The publishing date of “The King of Ashes” is June 10, 2925.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the audio version of King of Ashes. Adam Lazarre-White, the narrator, was superb. I love S.A.Cosby, got to meet him last year at a Book Festival and am a complete fan of his books and him. I've read other professional reviews calling this book a Godfather like story. I think that does set up certain expectations so I'm glad I didn't read that before I listened to the book. I also read that the Obama's have optioned it for a TV series. That I will look forward to.

This book is gritty, it's about the ugliest of the underside of life. I hate to think how Cosby came to know it so well. It is about a family in trouble. Roman, the oldest brother, has returned home after their father was in a car accident. There he begins to help his younger brother out of a debt to some terrible criminals. Their sister is trying to learn about their mother's death while holding on to the family business. Roman is trying to keep al those things together like juggling many balls. He meets the sister of one of the bad guys and falls in love adding yet another ball in the air.

The suspense is great. There will be no fairy tale ending so what will happen.
Read it and find out!

SA Cosby does it again--and Adam Lazarre-White gives another fabulous audiobook performance.

I love how Cosby's novels are not a series. I love how he writes about different characters, different towns, different businesses and lives. I love the touches of small-town Virginia, and the seemingly ridiculous similes that are so original and so descriptive that they work.

Here, oldest brother Roman--a successful money manager to the stars of Atlanta--is called home to small-town Virginia when his father is hospitalized after an accident. His sister Neveah is keeping the family crematorium running, and the household. Younger spoiled ne'er-do-well brother Dante is busy partying as usual. But when Dante's debt to a local dealer is revealed, Roman is determined to sort it all out and hopefully set Dante onto a safe path. The dealer and his bosses underestimate Roman's wealth, his skills, his contacts, and his willingness to do whatever is necessary for his family.

Best Book of the Year!
Author S.A. Cosby has done it again. Just when I think his last book is my favourite, his new book releases and it's even better. He gives us another thrilling, shocking, intense story that I couldn't stop listening to. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, has such a captivating voice and is perfect for this novel.
Eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home when his father is hospitalized and in a coma due to a serious car accident. He finds his younger brother Dante in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister Neveah exhausted from holding the family - and the family Crematorium business - together.
Tensions surge when it becomes clear that their father's car accident was not an accident and that Dante's recklessness has placed them all in real danger.
In this vivid, tense, ferociously gripping thriller Roman does whatever he has to do in order to protect his family.

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

S.A. Cosby's writing combined with Adam Lazarre-White's narration will always be an automatic listen, however something about King of Ashes just didn't have the same spark as Cosby's earlier writing. I think it's because I just couldn't stand Dante. He reminded me too much of a family member I've had to mostly cut ties with so I also had a hard time understanding Roman's motivations for continuing to mop up after his little brother. Despite that, I am able to still wholeheartedly recommend King of Ashes, especially if you've enjoyed Cosby's other novels.