Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
King of Ashes by SA Cosby Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White
Published by MacMillan Audio on June 10, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 13 hours, 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But 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, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his 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.
King of Ashes is very much in the style I expect from this author. That doesn’t mean it is predictable, just that it tells a gritty story of what things are really like for some people. Bad people trapping others through fear and intimidation into horrible acts and situations.
The Carruthers family includes the father who worked tirelessly to build his business to better the life of his family. His wife who worked as a nurse and in the business, felt neglected and disappeared. Roman, the eldest son, went to college and learned finance and has done extremely well in Atlanta. Neveah ended up taking on some of her mother’s jobs and becoming her father’s right hand at the business. Dante is also supposed to help at the business but mostly he drinks and gets high.
Now Dante tried to go into “business” to make his own way with the wrong people. They vandalized the business vehicles and have caused a car accident which has his father in a coma at the hospital. Roman comes home and finds the situation is dire. He tries to pay back the money Dante owes but the gang puts Roman on the hook for that and more. Their violence teaches Roman some hard lessons.
Roman with his successful business has skills and begins to work the gang to bring about their downfall. Dante knows and pretty much just has to keep his mouth shut and act his usual drunk high self. They keep Neveah out of it since she has enough stress running the family business. Roman helps her almost daily. Neveah, unfortunately, has taken up with a married, crooked cop.
Things are spectacularly dangerous. Dante is the kind of disaster that just keeps happening over and over. Roman really works very hard and at considerable risk to protect his family.
As a backdrop to this current violent struggle, the story of the day the wife and mother disappeared is told. The family tragedy where things started. King of Ashes is the tale of a fully realized tragedy.
Narration:
I love this narrator. He also narrated the other audios 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 newer 1.75x 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:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
Cosby is just a brilliant writer and I’m looking forward to this one. Excellent review, Anne💜
This one will stick with me for a long time.
Excellent review, Anne. I must make time for this.
yes Tammy. You should. It will stick with you for a time. His books are all stand alone,
I appreciate Crosby’s writing–I liked Razorblade Tears–but I don’t love the violence and darkness in his stories, so I’ll probably pass on this one.
yes they are violent and dark. This one will stick with me for some time.
I really need to try this author. This sounds gritty and intense.
yes and they are all stand alone. I’d recommend this one or Blacktop Wasteland as starting points.
I have this one on audiobook (thanks to Macmillan) and I am making it my next listen/read since I am hearing SO MUCH good stuff about it. This will be my first book by this author!
King of Ashes is definitely in his style. There is dark and gritty and violent. It is clear how much the system kills some people’s chances.
Roman sounds like he has ended up in a miss. I do love when a favorite author doesn’t disappoint!
I appreciate this author but his books are heartbreaking.
“the tale of a fully realized tragedy.” sounds intense for sure!!!
oh yeah.
This does sound gritty and dark. Maybe a little too dark for me. I’m sure it was a compelling story, though.
It’s a fascinating slice of life I haven’t had much experience with.
Sounds like a great listen! Great review!
Thank you Lisa.