Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
All The Sinners Bleed by SA Cosby Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White
Published by MacMillan Audio on June 6, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 13 hours, 5 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Titus Crowne is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County. A former FBI agent and security expert, Titus came home to take care of his father and look out for his troubled younger brother. He ran for Sheriff to make a difference, especially in the Black community, which has so often been treated unfairly by the police.
But a year to the day after his election, a school shooting rocks the town. A beloved teacher is killed by a former student, and as Titus attempts to deescalate and get the boy to surrender, his deputies fire a fatal shot.
In the investigation, it becomes clear that the student they shot had been abused by the dead teacher, as well as by unidentified perpetrators. The trail leads to buried bodies—and secrets. While Titus tries to track down a killer hiding in plain sight, while balancing daily duties like protecting Confederate pride marchers, he must face what it means to be a Black man wearing a police uniform in the American South.
All the Sinners Bleed is the second audio I have read by this author. The world-building and characters are so good. The racism and white supremacy folks are horrifying but probably rather accurate.
Titus is a former FBI agent and comes home after a bad incident when his father needs more help. He ended up running for sheriff in this Virginia county where he grew up. He is sort of reconnecting with his father and brother. Their history isn’t great. It’s so strange because I think of Virginia as being north but it is really part of the south.
Titus has to weed out the good officers on his team and the cronies of the good ole boy (white) sheriff who policed for the whites and ignored some crimes against blacks, in fact, facilitating them to a degree. He has some good deputies but there is always a political battle with the board and its entitled head.
Things start with a school shooting. As Titus handles it, and all the fallout, things get scary for the black populace. Titus is dedicated to solving the crimes, but is being threatened by the board who would prefer a white sheriff. Titus has good instincts but needs more forensics. He is about to be bullied into turning more over to the state police when he gets a break. He risks everything to try to save a kidnapped black child and others who can identify the killer.
I loved this engaging, edgy read. I am not knowledgeable about these cultural issues. I grew up in a rural area with almost no ethnic, cultural or religious diversity really. All the Sinners Bleed is amazing and likely one of my best reads this year.
Narration:
I love this narrator. He also narrated the other audio I listened to by this author. The voices are such a great fit for the characters and regions. The performance certainly enhanced my enjoyment. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About SA Cosby
S.A. Cosby is the New York Times national best selling award-winning author from Southeastern Virginia. His books include MY DARKEST PRAYER, Blacktop Wasteland, Amazon’s #1 Mystery and Thriller of the Year and #3 Best Book of 2020 overall, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Winner of the LA Times Book Award for Mystery or Thrillers and a Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist and the winner of the ITW award for hard cover book of the year, the Macavity for best novel of the year, the Anthony, The Barry , a honorable mention from the ALA Black Caucus and was a finalists for the CWA Golden Dagger. He is also author of the best selling RAZORBLADE TEARS which was also nominated for numerous awards as well
His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, and his story “Slant-Six” was selected as a Distinguished Story in Best American Mystery Stories for 2016. His short story “The Grass Beneath My Feet” won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story in 2019. His writing has been called “gritty and heartbreaking” and “dark, thrilling and tragic” and “raw ,emotional and profound “
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I can’t wait to listen to this, too, as the narrator is SO good! Outstanding review, Anne💜
FYI, I’m from Virginia and the reason you don’t think of it as the South is because about 1/2 of the state doesn’t think of itself that way, either. Western VA and parts of old Richmond embrace that past but most consider the state in the mid-Atlantic region. I grew up in the Hampton Roads area and didn’t learn that people considered us to be the South until I moved to New York! No wonder your confused😏
Thank you Jonetta. Well the slavery part in history makes it the South but modern day I think of it as more North and geographically more North or mid-Atlantic.
Excellent review, Anne. I need to try Cosby again. I didn’t really like Razorblade Tears and that disappointed me, since so many people love his books.
I haven’t read Razorblade Tears but I did enjoy Blacktop Wasteland. They seem to be stand alone so far, so you could try a different one. The audio is fantastic.
Yes, that situation he was in as new sheriff would be edgy. Looks like an author I should try at some point.
I’ve read this and Blacktop Wasteland and they easily kept my interest. The way people treat people is horrifying though. The audio of both has a great narrator.
I’ve read one other book by Crosby and found it a very powerful read. This one sounds equally good. I already like Titus. Great review. 😀
Thanks. I highly recommend it.
I grew up in a diverse area and California is pretty accepting of other races. At least probably more than a lot of states. This sounds like it’s probably true-to-life for the area. Very sad and frightening. The white supremist and extreme right people scare me. That plot to kidnap and execute Governor Gretchen Whitmer comes to mind when I think of these kinds of groups. They’re usually against women, too, believing us to be a second class that should be dominated. I hate them at every level. Sorry, kind of got off on a tangent here! Lol! Glad you enjoyed the real sounded crime drama, Anne!
Thank you Rachel. I’m with you, it is sad and scary. I just don’t have much experience with diversity as a child anyway. The book is really excellent and probably realistic in many ways.
This sounds fantastic and I love that it touches on important topics like race while also being a mystery.
It’s excellent. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries / police procedurals.
This sounds great. The school shooting sounds very sad though.
yes when it started with the school shooting I was holding my breath. It’s an excellent read.
Oooooo this sounds pretty good. I feel like it would be intense.
Intense is a good word for it. Certainly I was engaged all the time.
Well now…this sounds right up my alley! Wonderful review Anne.
Thank you Kimberly. It is a well-written, rather intense, probably realistic police procedural. I recommend it.
I just finished listening to this audiobook and completely agree with you. It was riveting!
yes! It was excellent. I’m glad you liked it too.