5 🌟 

Wow! Everything burns, indeed. This is only my second book by S.A. Cosby, but now I need to read the rest of his back catalog. 

Roman Carruthers returns to his hometown after his father’s suspicious car accident, only to find his family in crisis. His brother Dante is in deep debt to dangerous criminals, and his sister Neveah is overwhelmed trying to keep their crematorium business afloat. As Roman tries to settle Dante’s obligations, he discovers that his usual financial tactics won’t work with real criminals. He is forced into dangerous work, but he uses his sharp mind and hidden strengths to protect his family. Meanwhile, Neveah digs into the mystery of their mother’s long-ago disappearance. With mounting threats, the siblings are pushed to their limits.

I couldn’t stop listening to this. As Roman and Dante are drawn further into a world of crime, the stakes continue to rise. The plot thickens, and I had to know what would happen next.

Adam Lazarre-White provides the narration, and he does an incredible job. His narration brings the characters to life and makes the danger feel real, making it one of those stories you can’t put down. I could listen to this man read a phone book.

Recommended for fans of dark crime dramas. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s 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 business—together. Mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger. Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his brother: himself, and his own particular set of skills. Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realize. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.
Because everything burns. 

Does it make you a bad person if you do a terrible things but have good intentions? That questions is explored in this page turning thriller filled with decisions made by each of the siblings, all with their own vices. This is my first S.A. Cosby but I get the hype, he writes his characters in this way that feels so authentic. I could not put down this book and the audio narration is so insane! I kept checking to see if this was all voiced by one person because that range. This novel introduced me to a whole subgenre and I immediately placed on hold other books in the same genre from my library.

Let me tell you something………this book turned me every which way but LOOSE!! By the time I finished I had to sit down and make a drink to decompress. From the very first chapter, King of Ashes said, “Buckle up, buttercup,” and I obeyed. 😂
Imagine heading home because your dad’s in a coma after some freak accident, only to get dragged into mafia-style chaos, family secrets, and brotherly self-destruction that feels like it was pulled straight from a Southern noir fever dream. The drama? Thick. The tension? Palpable. The plot twists? Coming at me like flying bricks. 🧱💥
S.A. Cosby layered this story like a three-tier red velvet cake: messy family dynamics, dangerous choices, and so much suspense I didn’t know who to trust—even my own instincts. And the characters? Flawed, complex, and so human. You’re not just reading a thriller—you’re getting deep into the grit of it all.
Now let’s talk narration: that slow Southern drawl? Standing ovation for the narrator @realadamlw. Every line delivered like a warning. Every pause filled with weight. I felt like I was there, sweating under the Virginia sun and dodging bullets (and bad decisions) right alongside them.
This was my first S.A. Cosby read, but babyyyy, it will NOT be my last. I’m officially on a mission to devour his whole catalog like a woman possessed.

“Everything burns”

Roman Carruthers is summoned home to Jefferson Run, Virginia after an accident leaves his father in a coma. His younger brother Dante owes more than he has to a ruthless group of gangsters who have no limits to how far they will go to collect. His sister Neveah is running the family crematorium and fighting to keep what is left of the “family” together. With their father still in the hospital, there mother being missing for over 20 years and a massive debt to collect, Roman tries to do what he can to keep the family together.

“A Southern crime drama to the tune of “The Godfather,” is the perfect description of King of Ashes. Roman is willing to do anything to save his brother. Just like the gangsters have no limits on how far they will go, Roman realizes he doesn’t either. Everyone is expendable when it comes to keeping his family safe. As Roman fights to find a solution, Dante criticizes Roman’s methods every step of the way. For most of the book, Dante got under my skin. His decisions are reckless, and he never has a solution foy any of the problems he’s causing. Neveah has her own set of issues as she takes on the task to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance. As she goes looking into a 20-year-old mystery, the secrets she uncovers may be too much for her to handle. The three siblings come to a fork in the road and its interesting to see where they each end up.

This was a phenomenal read. S.A. Cosby never disappoints. Almost every character is a villain at some point and most of them learn the hard way that everything burns.

WOW! WOW! WOW! S. A. Cosby has done it again.

Dante has made some bad decisions. Thanks to these bad decisions, his dad is in a coma and his older brother, Roman, has had to come home. After Dante confesses to Roman his BIG mistakes, Roman is determined to try and get his brother out of this gigantic mess. But, Roman soon realizes, these real life gangsters are out for blood.

Let me start with saying, S. A. Cosby has some great prose. Even in the most tense moments of this book, he can make the reader smile with a sarcastic wit that just won’t go away.

To say that this author has become a favorite is an understatement. And this tale is one of his best. Now, it is intricate and yes, you have to pay attention. But it takes you on a wild ride through the underbelly of crime in the town of Jefferson Run.

Roman is one smart, creative man and the way he handles this situation is top notch. And don’t think he won’t break the law to protect his family! This is an intense story that will have you gasping for air in places and cringing with the trauma taking place.

Talk about a FANTASTIC narrator…Adam Lazarre-White is in my top 3 of narrators. He takes everything he narrates to a whole new level!

Need a fast moving tale which will keep you on the edge of your seat and may make you drop a tear or two….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

S.A. Cosby has produced another dark, twisty story for readers to feast upon, and yay! It's narrated by Adam Lazarre-White again.

Cosby brings another gritty crime story to the table: Roman Carruthers is called back home unexpectedly after his father is in a serious car accident and rendered comatose. It soon becomes clear that it wasn't exactly an accident, and that Roman's little brother, Dante, has made a serious miscalculation as regards the local organized crime syndicate, two ultra-violent brothers nicknamed Torrent and Tranquil. Meanwhile, their sister, Nevaeh, is having to single-handedly run the family business, a crematorium, while balancing an ill-conceived affair with a married cop. Yep, it's messy. And yep, it goes there in relation to the crematorium.

All of these characters are also grappling with living in a dying town, Jefferson Run (nicknamed "Jefferson Got the Runs" in Dante & Roman's teen years); being looked down on for running a crematorium; and for their dad being suspected in their mom's unsolved disappearance from 20 years previous. Roman, as the oldest, high-tailed it out of there at first opportunity and became a very successful financial advisor for rap musicians and other celebrities in Atlanta, while Nevaeh held down the fort with the business for their dad, and Dante just bumbles through life, mostly drunk or high. When Roman gets to town and sees what's happening, he takes charge, both with Dante's situation and with trying to keep Nevaeh protected and uninformed. He also starts dating Torrent and Tranquil's beautiful sister, Jealousy (not a typo).

This book is well-written, but the relentlessness of the plot kept me at 4 stars. The outcome feels almost inevitable, and it's like circling a particularly nasty drain. Still, Adam Lazarre-White does his typical great job, capturing both tones and accents easily, so he made it easier to get to the end. But it's rough going, even for the often-grim Cosby.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

S.A. Cosby does it again! An incredible mystery focused on the Carruthers family. It’s the usual dark and gripping story we have come to expect, but this time we get family drama and a look at drugs and gang life surrounding it. Roman Carruthers is far from perfect, and his family dynamic is puzzling. His sister Naveah was the most like-able of the bunch, and the brothers definitely could have helped her more. Roman left his hometown and grew his own wealth while advising the rich. His dad is aging and his sister has been left to take over the family cremation business. Dante is trying to deal with his trauma with substances, and lands himself in hot water with a local gang. The family’s love and sacrifice cost them more than anyone would want to lose. If you are looking for a book with characters who are step off the page real, with a small town southern setting, this one is for you. Adam Lazarre-White narrates most if not all of S.A. Cosby’s books and I would not want it any other way! He has quickly become one of my favorite narrators, such an amazing voice, and cadence. Highly recommend the audio!

You can pick this book up today June 10th, 2025!

Thank you to #netgalley and @flatiron_books for the opportunity to read this ALC.

🎧ALC Review🎧

Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for my gifted audiobook! And happy Pub Day to leoking8473 🔥

Well, this was my first S.A. Cosby book, even though I’ve heard such amazing things, and you can rest assured this will not be my last!

This book was incredible. It’s definitely dark and gritty, and hits on some very heavy topics, but it’s so worth the read. I was completely invested in the Carruthers family, their past, and how they were handling their current issues. It was truly hard to put this one down!

Cosby’s writing is incredibly vivid and compelling. I literally made faces while listening to some of the more violent (but super well-described) scenes; it actually felt like I could see it on a screen. I’m not much into gangster movies, but apparently in a gangster crime thriller, I’m ALL IN. 😂

There are several twists throughout, but the ending had me shook. The pacing is spot on and the way the story unravels keeps you entertained and wondering the whole way through. The characters, especially the three siblings, felt so believable, and their interactions with each other felt like actual real-life siblings. Each one was developed so well. This book blends a character-driven story and a plot-driven story seamlessly.

Honestly, I could gush about this one for a long time. I’ve already been recommending it to people in real life, but keep in mind that it is indeed dark, and some things were difficult to hear. But AHHH. Still SO SO good!! This is my first 5-star read in a hot minute and it is worth all the praise! Believe the hype 🙌🏻

🎧How come no one told me about how incredible Adam Lazarre-White is as a narrator?! Consider me a new superfan. His voice was absolutely perfect for Roman and he was able to encapsulate the voices of all the other characters flawlessly as well. I was completely IN the story and could listen to him read the dictionary. 😂

King of Ashes is the fourth book I’ve read by S.A. Cosby and in my opinion, it’s his best yet! I listened to the audiobook, thanks to Macmillan Audio, and I was pleased that Adam Lazarre-White narrated again. His voice is brilliant and he brings the characters and the setting to life, fully immersing the listener into the story.

Upon arriving in his childhood hometown to help his siblings care for their ailing father, Roman Carruthers gets way more than he bargained for when he learns that his brother is indebted to gang of dangerous criminals. Adding to the chaos, Roman’s sister, Neveah, is trying to keep their family crematorium business running while looking into the disappearance of their mother from years earlier.

King of Ashes picks up quickly and never lets off the gas. The story focuses heavily on familial relationships and begs the question: how far will you go to save the ones you love? This book is full of action, it’s gritty, and super dark. I loved everything about it, 5/5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If S.A. Cosby writes a book, I’m reading it—no question. But I can’t recommend the audiobooks highly enough, because Adam Lazarre-White’s narration takes Cosby’s storytelling to a whole new level.

This book delivers everything you’d expect from a Cosby thriller: family secrets, deeply layered characters, and a complex look at a small town’s criminal underworld.

One thing Cosby does so well is write flawed, morally complex protagonists. They are anti-heroes who walk the line between right and wrong, and as the reader, I’m always emotionally invested. In this latest book, though, Roman and his siblings didn’t quite grip me the way some of Cosby’s past characters have. But the well paced plot still kept me invested.

No matter what, if you’ve enjoyed Cosby’s previous novels, this one absolutely belongs on your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced listener’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

What an incredible story. "Everything Burns" Whem the Carruther's patriarch isx seriously injured in an automobile accident, Roman is summonded home by his sister Neveah. Roman returns to find his brother Dante in some serious debt to local criminals and Neveah is worn out from keeping everything running smoothly at the family business, Carruther's Crematorium. There is also the mystery of Roman, Dante and Neveah's mother, who vanished years earlier. Roman is a successful wealth manager. Roman decides to take matters into his own hands when he learns of Dante's debt. But is he prepared to deal with small town criminals? This is one of the best books I have read this year. Extremely fast paced, you can feel the humidity and heat. Very raw, gritty and emotional.

I did an emersive read / listen, Adam Lazarre-White was incredible. A truly gifted narrator. A top notch, quality production.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio / Flatiron Books / Pine and Cedar Books for the ALC / ARC.

KING OF ASHES
S.A. Cosby


Roman, a self-proclaimed money manager, receives a call one day. On the other end of the line, someone is telling him his father is in the hospital, on the verge of death. He needs to come home. There is business to attend to.

The business is their family’s crematory. Nevaeh, his sister, will need help conducting the ins and outs of the crematory while their father recovers. His brother Dante needs help with another matter. He doesn’t want to go home, but he knows he should.

When he arrives, he finds that his family is in more trouble than he thought. It will take everything Roman has within himself and more to help his family out of this crisis.

Oh my. The writing is excellent. KING OF ASHES is 352 pages, and I could’ve read another 500 easily. I am looking for a sequel, a series, a prequel, anything that would continue this book beyond its current pages.

I had such a good time reading, I didn’t want it to end.

Let me tell you one thing. The ending was rushed. I looked at my phone at around the 84 percent mark, and I had no idea how Cosby was going to wrap up the story.

There was a segment of the storyline that was fresh and engaging. It felt like a storyline right out of SNOWFALL.

I was hooked, I was in it, and there was only 16 percent left to go. I felt a bit disappointed that instead of following through with the storyline, it came to an abrupt conclusion.

In all, I gave KING OF ASHES four stars. And I admit, I would read Cosby’s infamous grocery list. I will read anything he publishes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

KING OF ASHES is out today!

KING OF ASHES...⭐⭐⭐⭐

Whatever your favorite S.A. Cosby book is, it's no longer! King of Ashes is my favorite of the author. Cosby has perfected the formula for Southern fiction--race, religion, sex and class. In his latest novel, our protagonist Roman is burdened, self-imposed or not, with protecting his younger siblings and family. The grief and secrets plaguing the Carruthers family makes for a gripping story with many twists and turns. Everything burns in the fire!

This might be Cosby's darkest novel yet, but I am here for it! The Carruthers siblings and the story of revenge, murder, and a family crematorium are truly action-packed and binge-worthy. It is a crime story, thriller, family saga, and more. The audio version is immensely enjoyable, and I think it enhanced my overall appreciation of the story. Being from Virginia, I appreciate Cosby's interweaving of real locations such as Richmond and Roanoke with his fictional locale. It's just so, so good. If you have enjoyed any of his other novels, this one is for sure a must-read.

S.A. Cosby is truly a one of a kind writer and King of Ashes is yet another excellent story from a talented author.

In King of Ashes, Roman is forced to return to his hometown and contend with his family's complicated dynamic. His brother is indebted to some pretty bad people, his sister is trying to keep the family business going, his father is aging and has been in an accident. Forced to work with criminals to dig his family out, King of Ashes is a complicated family drama as well as a hard boiled crime story, told in only the way S.A. Cosby can.

The narration, as always, is phenomenal, and I always, always recommend the audio version to anyone considering picking up a Cosby book.

Absolutely exquisite. Cosby did the dang thing in this one. I love Razorblade Tears but King of Ashes is about to knock it off its throne. The author goes in a direction few thriller authors actually go and for that i say thank you.

extended review:

Ok so...if you want your thrillers watered down or polite or just skirting the edge, this is not the book for you. S.A. Cosby blows right through the edge and keeps going. That’s what I want when I pick up a thriller. I want grit, I want gristle, I want tension that won't let me put the book down. I want to finish a book and feel like I survived it.

Roman Carruthers left behind his small-town family business (crematorium- when i realized this was the family business I was like... oy) for a cushy life as a finance professional in Atlanta. When family disaster drags him home, he is handed a pile of secrets, sibling drama, and gang trouble. Roman digs in, as he does.

Every family member is a mess in their own way. Dante is a drunk an addict, and in deep with dangerous folks. Neveah resents having to help her dad with the business while being addicted to work. And Roman.....has his very unique ways of dealing with stress that comes to mean so much more when we discover the events surrounding his mother's disappearance and dad is in a coma that’s probably not an accident.

There’s no flinching away from violence, heartbreak, or the ugly side of loyalty. This book burns through pages following characters who do terrible things for reasons you unfortunately understand.

I also appreciate that Cosby doesn’t serve up easy answers or cheap redemption. There’s violence, there’s darkness. The pace is ruthless, the writing is slightly repetitive but still lethal. The setting is so vivid I feel like I have been living in a crematorium by the time I finished the book.

Adam Lazarre-White’s narration is award-winning, particularly his voicing of the villain in this novel. His contempt is so palpable. If you’re an audiobook person, snatch this up. It is an experience. He brings every character to life, rough edges and all.

Listen, I was uncomfortable. There are a couple scenes I had to fast-forward through. I had to go on and Instagram DM through it with a couple of friends. THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT, LOL. If you feel happy go lucky after a thriller, that author did not do their job.

SA Cosby does the job every time. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, he flipped the script.

If you like your thrillers with real stakes and real consequences, KING OF ASHES is required reading. And if you 're asking if Cosby can keep topping himself...... obviously. I already cannot wait for the next novel.

Should I even be surprised? S.A. Cosby never misses. Adam's narration never misses. Whatever these two do together, I'm in! This book was gritty, dark, action packed, and kept me engaged from beginning to end. Absolutely loved it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest novel by the wonderful S.A. Cosby, narrated by the equally fabulous Adam Lazarre-White. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Eldest son Roman Carruthers returns home to Jefferson Run, VA, after his father is injured in a suspicious car accident. Roman finds younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from running the family crematorium business. Roman is a financial whiz and tries to buy his brother out of debt, but he realizes quickly that real gangsters don't play around. The mystery of their mother's long-ago disappearance also continues to hang over the family.

Fabulous story and audiobook! Once again, S.A. Crosby has written a dark, gritty thriller from which you won't be able to look away. It's intense and beautifully written, and the narration just brings it all to life. My heart was in my throat having a front row seat to this family drama that asks the question, What would you do for your family? Full of characters that felt so scary real, the action is non-stop and I was shocked at the conclusion. Highly recommended!

S.A. Cosby has one of the best narrator's out there. He could describe paint drying and I'd be locked in. Pair that with S. A. Cosby's fast paced writing style in the southern grit plot line he typically does and you're going to have a good time. I love his characters. Roman is interesting and definitely has mommy issues, but it fits somehow. It's intense, It's thrilling. It's honestly a blast.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby is a masterfully gritty and emotionally charged thriller that pulses with vengeance, loyalty, and moral complexity. Cosby delivers razor-sharp prose and a deeply compelling protagonist whose journey through violence and redemption is both heartbreaking and unforgettable. With its cinematic pace and rich Southern noir atmosphere, this novel cements Cosby’s reputation as a powerhouse in contemporary crime fiction. In other words, The Godfather, but make it Southern.
I'd like to add that it is masterfully narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, who puts real emotion behind these characters.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*