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Marvel Crime #3
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel
Luke Cage plays detective and super hero when he uncovers a conspiracy turning vulnerable Americans into unwitting pawns of a madman.
New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby (King of Ashes) writes an original crime novel starring Harlem's unbreakable hero for the Marvel Crime thriller series for adult audiences.
With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just words.
Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he'll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff's barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.
As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.
Truth to Power continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell's Breaking the Dark and Alex Segura's Enemy of My Enemy. Bringing fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, Marvel Crime novels build on one another but can be enjoyed as stand-alone works and will thrill even those new to the Marvel Universe.
New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby (King of Ashes) writes an original crime novel starring Harlem's unbreakable hero for the Marvel Crime thriller series for adult audiences.
With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just words.
Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he'll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff's barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.
As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.
Truth to Power continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell's Breaking the Dark and Alex Segura's Enemy of My Enemy. Bringing fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, Marvel Crime novels build on one another but can be enjoyed as stand-alone works and will thrill even those new to the Marvel Universe.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Want to Read
April 16, 2026I just dropped to my knees in the middle of my campus cafeteria. I need this!
Want to Read
February 7, 2026give it to me nowww!
October 16, 2026
Terrific narration of this super-hero-on-a-mission thriller. Family and a commitment to justice drive Luke Cage; the small town racial dynamics and technology gone amuck layer a sinister disturbing backdrop to the tale. I wanted more Jessica Jones, but I know it wasn’t her story this time.
Want to Read
December 30, 2025The defenders ARE ARRIVING
October 6, 2026
Truth to Power feels like watching a favorite indie director get handed the keys to a megaplex-sized blockbuster. Think Christopher Nolan on Batman or Rian Johnson on Star Wars. The ride is fun, but the smaller, more intimate stories are where these creators really shine. Same with S.A. Cosby. His venture into the Marvel universe fits like an adamantium skeleton, but this is Cosby in blockbuster mode.
Luke Cage heads into rural southeastern Virginia to investigate his cousin’s murder and discovers a prosthetics manufacturer secretly building cybernetic weapons for A.I.M. There’s plenty of punching, fighting and Marvel-style superhero action, along with appearances from Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock. This is a fun trip through the 616, even if Danny Rand gets little more than a name-check.
Cosby still brings some of his trademark themes, particularly race and the bone-deep stupidity of racism. But don’t expect the emotional bruising of Razorblade Tears or Blacktop Wasteland. This is Cosby writing inside Marvel’s sandbox, and you can feel the guardrails.
Still, Cosby’s Luke Cage ain't half bad. In fact, Truth to Power is a better Luke Cage story than either of his Netflix seasons. Sweet Christmas indeed. The ride works. Hopefully Cosby returns to his own backyard soon.
Read the full review at Read @ Joe’s for the complete take on Cosby, Cage and Marvel’s Southern detour.
Luke Cage heads into rural southeastern Virginia to investigate his cousin’s murder and discovers a prosthetics manufacturer secretly building cybernetic weapons for A.I.M. There’s plenty of punching, fighting and Marvel-style superhero action, along with appearances from Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock. This is a fun trip through the 616, even if Danny Rand gets little more than a name-check.
Cosby still brings some of his trademark themes, particularly race and the bone-deep stupidity of racism. But don’t expect the emotional bruising of Razorblade Tears or Blacktop Wasteland. This is Cosby writing inside Marvel’s sandbox, and you can feel the guardrails.
Still, Cosby’s Luke Cage ain't half bad. In fact, Truth to Power is a better Luke Cage story than either of his Netflix seasons. Sweet Christmas indeed. The ride works. Hopefully Cosby returns to his own backyard soon.
Read the full review at Read @ Joe’s for the complete take on Cosby, Cage and Marvel’s Southern detour.
August 19, 2026
Well this was quite a departure for one of my favorite authors, S. A. Cosby. If he rewrote the phone book, I’d read it. That said, I’m not a Marvel person so this was a little harder for me to read than his other books. But his voice powered through. The dark grittiness he is so well known for was coming through strong. I like that the ending could set up for another book (maybe more Cosby and Luke Cage?? Yes, please.) So while the content may have been a little out of my league, Cosby always writes a great story.
Thanks to NetGalley for this Arc!
Thanks to NetGalley for this Arc!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m gonna be in conversation with S.A. Cosby about this book and I can’t WAIT AAAAAAAH
October 21, 2026
As Marvel continues to have long-fiction coverage of some of their most intriguing characters, each written by an outstanding author, they finally are receiving the credit that this storied franchise so deserves. That being said, who better than the great S. A. Cosby to write the novelization of a Luke Cage “Power Man” story?
TRUTH TO POWER opens with a quote from James Baldwin: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” This just about sums up Luke Cage, who is as complex a figure as they come. He protects the denizens of Hell’s Kitchen and Upper Manhattan from criminals, drug dealers, pimps and various political power players, which has kept him busy for the past several decades. It also has produced possibly the most intense comic books I have ever read. Now Cosby has his chance to convert that to the big stage and hopefully gain an entirely new audience for this character.
It opens on a beautiful spring day in New York City. Luke witnesses two people jumping or being tossed from the window of a building in Harlem to meet instant death on the unforgiving pavement below. Shortly after, he is having a serious phone conversation with his occasional love and fellow Defenders teammate, Jessica Jones. But this is interrupted by a frantic call from Luke’s aunt down south, screaming that his cousin, Rashon, is dead. Luke drops everything and heads to Virginia.
For the uninitiated, Luke is Captain America without the hype. He also was given a super-serum that allowed him to grow to 6’6” and 425 pounds. His skin is impenetrable, even from bullets, and his strength is off the charts. The only thing that can beat him is his own conscience. That is at play here as he feels guilt over Rashon’s death. He had asked him to sneak into a suspicious mega-company that recently moved to the small Virginia town, employing most of its residents. Luke and his other cousin, Raymond (Rashon’s brother), seek out a guy named Tory, who allegedly was with Rashon on the night he died.
When Tory is nearly killed in an auto accident, Luke realizes that this company has way too much power, and their hands are in nearly everything. They probably caused the crash but also provided the prosthetic limb to make Tory whole again. The head of security for Pacific Vista Laboratories (PVL) has the coolest villain name I have heard in a while: Uriah Odium. No one is quite sure what they do, other than create really effective and expensive mechanical and medical devices. One of the wild rumors is that they are a front for the gray aliens.
Luke has a run-in with the sheriff’s department, which is overtly racist and clearly in PVL’s pocket. Not only does he need to find out who killed his cousin, he also is taking on the names of the other victims or missing citizens of the town, all of whom are connected to PVL. As he digs deeper, he uncovers more nasty business and conspiracies tying several powerful people and entities together to form a wall of evil that may be too much for him to take on alone. But our Hero for Hire never backed down before. So why start now?
S. A. Cosby is clearly having fun with TRUTH TO POWER, and his love for both Luke Cage and Marvel is evident throughout the book. There are conversations with Daredevil/Matt Murdock and references to Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Reed Richards and others. He even talks about how Doctor Doom once owed Luke $200. Cosby makes a really clever move by having Luke go to Virginia, which is Cosby’s home state. The result is a novel as hard-hitting as it is entertaining.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
TRUTH TO POWER opens with a quote from James Baldwin: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” This just about sums up Luke Cage, who is as complex a figure as they come. He protects the denizens of Hell’s Kitchen and Upper Manhattan from criminals, drug dealers, pimps and various political power players, which has kept him busy for the past several decades. It also has produced possibly the most intense comic books I have ever read. Now Cosby has his chance to convert that to the big stage and hopefully gain an entirely new audience for this character.
It opens on a beautiful spring day in New York City. Luke witnesses two people jumping or being tossed from the window of a building in Harlem to meet instant death on the unforgiving pavement below. Shortly after, he is having a serious phone conversation with his occasional love and fellow Defenders teammate, Jessica Jones. But this is interrupted by a frantic call from Luke’s aunt down south, screaming that his cousin, Rashon, is dead. Luke drops everything and heads to Virginia.
For the uninitiated, Luke is Captain America without the hype. He also was given a super-serum that allowed him to grow to 6’6” and 425 pounds. His skin is impenetrable, even from bullets, and his strength is off the charts. The only thing that can beat him is his own conscience. That is at play here as he feels guilt over Rashon’s death. He had asked him to sneak into a suspicious mega-company that recently moved to the small Virginia town, employing most of its residents. Luke and his other cousin, Raymond (Rashon’s brother), seek out a guy named Tory, who allegedly was with Rashon on the night he died.
When Tory is nearly killed in an auto accident, Luke realizes that this company has way too much power, and their hands are in nearly everything. They probably caused the crash but also provided the prosthetic limb to make Tory whole again. The head of security for Pacific Vista Laboratories (PVL) has the coolest villain name I have heard in a while: Uriah Odium. No one is quite sure what they do, other than create really effective and expensive mechanical and medical devices. One of the wild rumors is that they are a front for the gray aliens.
Luke has a run-in with the sheriff’s department, which is overtly racist and clearly in PVL’s pocket. Not only does he need to find out who killed his cousin, he also is taking on the names of the other victims or missing citizens of the town, all of whom are connected to PVL. As he digs deeper, he uncovers more nasty business and conspiracies tying several powerful people and entities together to form a wall of evil that may be too much for him to take on alone. But our Hero for Hire never backed down before. So why start now?
S. A. Cosby is clearly having fun with TRUTH TO POWER, and his love for both Luke Cage and Marvel is evident throughout the book. There are conversations with Daredevil/Matt Murdock and references to Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Reed Richards and others. He even talks about how Doctor Doom once owed Luke $200. Cosby makes a really clever move by having Luke go to Virginia, which is Cosby’s home state. The result is a novel as hard-hitting as it is entertaining.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 19, 2026
Read in one day. Very fast. I would love to read a version where SA Cosby could go full speed with this and not have the Marvel guardrails
Want to Read
August 7, 2026i’m seated. the book shop employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s ‘not out yet’ but i’m simply too seated
October 14, 2026
As Marvel continues to have long fiction coverage of some of their most complex characters each written by a handful of our finest authors, they are finally receiving the credit this storied franchise so deserves. That being said, who better than the great S.A Cosby to write the novelization of a Luke Cage “Power Man” story?!
TRUTH TO POWER is the title and it opens up with a classic quote from James Baldwin: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” . This about sums up Luke Cage, who is as complex a figure as they come and living and protecting the denizens of Hell’s Kitchen and Upper Manhattan from criminals, drug dealers, pimps, and various political power players has kept him busy for the past several decades. It also has produced possibly the most hard-hitting comic books I have ever read and now Cosby has his chance to convert that to the big stage and hopefully gain an entirely new audience for this character.
It opens on a beautiful Spring day in NYC as Luke Cage witnesses two people jumping or being tossed from the window of a building in Harlem to meet instant death on the unforgiving pavement below. Shortly after, we see him having a serious phone conversation with his sometime love and fellow Defenders teammate Jessica Jones. That call is interrupted by a frantic call from Luke’s Aunt down south screaming that his cousin Rashon was dead. Luke drops everything and heads for Virginia.
For the uninitiated, Luke is Captain America without the hype. He was also given a super-serum which allowed him to grow to six foot six and 425 pounds. His skin is impenetrable, even from bullets, and his strength is off the charts. The only thing that can beat him is his own conscience and that is at play here as he feels guilt over Rashon’s death as he had asked him to snoop into a suspicious mega-company that recently moved into the small Virginia town, employing most of its’ residents. Luke and his other cousin Raymond, Rashon’s brother, seek out a guy named Tory who allegedly was with Rashon on the night he was killed and dumped underneath a bridge.
When Tory is nearly killed in an auto accident, Luke realizes that this company has way too much power and their hands in nearly everything. They probably caused the accident that almost took Tory’s life but then also provided the prosthetic limb to make him whole again. The name of the company is PVL or Pacific Vista Laboratories, and their head of security has the coolest villain name I have heard in a while --- Uriah Odium. No one is quite sure what they do, other than create really effective and expensive mechanical and medical devices and the rumor is filled with stories about them including their being a front for the gray aliens.
Luke also has a run-in with the local Sheriff’s department who are overtly racist and clearly in the pocket of PVL. He not only needs to find out who killed his cousin but also is taking on the names of the other victims or missing citizens of the town, all connected to PVL. As he digs deeper, he uncovers more nasty business and deep conspiracies tying several powerful people and entities together to form a wall of evil that may be too much for Luke to take on himself. However, our Hero For Hire never backed down before, so why start now?
S.A. Cosby is clearly having fun with TRUTH TO POWER, and his love of both Luke Cage and Marvel comics is evident throughout this novel. There are conversations with Daredevil/Matt Murdock and references to Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Reed Richards, and others. He even talks about how Doctor Doom once owed Luke $200. Cosby makes a really clever move by having Luke transfer himself from NYC to Virginia, Cosby’s home state. The end result is a novel as hard-hitting as it is fun.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
TRUTH TO POWER is the title and it opens up with a classic quote from James Baldwin: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” . This about sums up Luke Cage, who is as complex a figure as they come and living and protecting the denizens of Hell’s Kitchen and Upper Manhattan from criminals, drug dealers, pimps, and various political power players has kept him busy for the past several decades. It also has produced possibly the most hard-hitting comic books I have ever read and now Cosby has his chance to convert that to the big stage and hopefully gain an entirely new audience for this character.
It opens on a beautiful Spring day in NYC as Luke Cage witnesses two people jumping or being tossed from the window of a building in Harlem to meet instant death on the unforgiving pavement below. Shortly after, we see him having a serious phone conversation with his sometime love and fellow Defenders teammate Jessica Jones. That call is interrupted by a frantic call from Luke’s Aunt down south screaming that his cousin Rashon was dead. Luke drops everything and heads for Virginia.
For the uninitiated, Luke is Captain America without the hype. He was also given a super-serum which allowed him to grow to six foot six and 425 pounds. His skin is impenetrable, even from bullets, and his strength is off the charts. The only thing that can beat him is his own conscience and that is at play here as he feels guilt over Rashon’s death as he had asked him to snoop into a suspicious mega-company that recently moved into the small Virginia town, employing most of its’ residents. Luke and his other cousin Raymond, Rashon’s brother, seek out a guy named Tory who allegedly was with Rashon on the night he was killed and dumped underneath a bridge.
When Tory is nearly killed in an auto accident, Luke realizes that this company has way too much power and their hands in nearly everything. They probably caused the accident that almost took Tory’s life but then also provided the prosthetic limb to make him whole again. The name of the company is PVL or Pacific Vista Laboratories, and their head of security has the coolest villain name I have heard in a while --- Uriah Odium. No one is quite sure what they do, other than create really effective and expensive mechanical and medical devices and the rumor is filled with stories about them including their being a front for the gray aliens.
Luke also has a run-in with the local Sheriff’s department who are overtly racist and clearly in the pocket of PVL. He not only needs to find out who killed his cousin but also is taking on the names of the other victims or missing citizens of the town, all connected to PVL. As he digs deeper, he uncovers more nasty business and deep conspiracies tying several powerful people and entities together to form a wall of evil that may be too much for Luke to take on himself. However, our Hero For Hire never backed down before, so why start now?
S.A. Cosby is clearly having fun with TRUTH TO POWER, and his love of both Luke Cage and Marvel comics is evident throughout this novel. There are conversations with Daredevil/Matt Murdock and references to Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Reed Richards, and others. He even talks about how Doctor Doom once owed Luke $200. Cosby makes a really clever move by having Luke transfer himself from NYC to Virginia, Cosby’s home state. The end result is a novel as hard-hitting as it is fun.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
October 16, 2026
A hero-for-hire battles weaponized hate
Luke Cage was tipped off that a factory in the rural Virginia of Majestic was up to more than just producing medical devices. Having family in the area, he asked his cousin Rashon to keep a discreet eye out for anything irregular going on at the PVL plant and keep him posted. Not long thereafter Luke gets a call from his Aunt Letty, Rashon's mom...Rashon is dead. Found dead in his car with a broken neck. The local police have written it off as an accident but Aunt Letty isn't so sure, and Luke arrives to dig into the matter. The more he digs, the more he is convinced that Rashon was killed...more than likely because he did as Luke had asked, looked around a bit at PVL and saw something he shouldn't have seen. Luke earlier in life had ended up behind bars when a friend he trusted set him up, and while there was experimented upon in an attempt to replicate what turned ordinary guy Steve Rogers into super-soldier Captain America. It didn't go exactly as planned....an ill-intentioned prison guard tampered with the process, and it turned Luke into a huge Black man whose skin is virtually impenetrable. He's not quite S.H.I.E.L.D. material, but is sort of superhero-adjacent. As such his arrival in Majestic is bad news for those up to no good at PVL as well as for the racist chief of police who is likely on the take, looking the other way at what PVL is doing, Luke is a force of one, up against prejudice and an unknown but powerful group intent on mayhem while juggling family loyalty, guilt and tensions with his partner Jessica Jones back in NYC that he's put on hold while he sorts out the happenings in Majestic. Will hate prove to be more powerful than love, or can Luke break through the conspiracy that has already claimed lives and is looking to go national?
Truth to Power is the third offering in the Marvel Crime series, gritty thrillers featuring characters from the Marvel Comic Universe and written by top mystery authors (the first two were Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell, featuring Jessica Jones, and Enemy of My Enemy. by Alex Segura, featuring Matt Murdock aka Daredevil). Each book can be read as a standalone, but do tie together (Luke is romantically involved with Jessica, and often works for Daredevil...both characters pop up in Truth to Power), so reading one or both of the earlier titles can certainly help ground the reader in the goings on of the MCU, Fans of the MCU, through the comics, movies or otherwise, also have a huge advantage (or, as in my case, having a daughter who is very well versed in the MCU and has clued me in to the whole scene). In this latest outing, while Luke has his superpowers and all that that takes a backseat to the crime novel elements as well as to the cauldron of emotions in which Luke is immersed. As he frequently points out, while (almost) nothing can penetrate his skin that doesn't mean that he can't feel pain, and the reader gets to see the man underneath the protective layer. Author S. A. Cosby, a major talent in the world of Southern crime novels who is adept at blending the cultural challenges of the rural South with gritty noir, was the perfect choice to tell Luke's tale in this series, Is it my favorite Cosby novel? No, but it is a fast paced thriller in which the author's sharp observations bring emotional depth and authenticity to the story. Fans of the MCU as well as readers of Cosby and/or of Ace Atkins, Eli Cranor and Attica Locke, will want to give this novel a spin. My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for allowing me access to the book in exchange for my honest review.
Luke Cage was tipped off that a factory in the rural Virginia of Majestic was up to more than just producing medical devices. Having family in the area, he asked his cousin Rashon to keep a discreet eye out for anything irregular going on at the PVL plant and keep him posted. Not long thereafter Luke gets a call from his Aunt Letty, Rashon's mom...Rashon is dead. Found dead in his car with a broken neck. The local police have written it off as an accident but Aunt Letty isn't so sure, and Luke arrives to dig into the matter. The more he digs, the more he is convinced that Rashon was killed...more than likely because he did as Luke had asked, looked around a bit at PVL and saw something he shouldn't have seen. Luke earlier in life had ended up behind bars when a friend he trusted set him up, and while there was experimented upon in an attempt to replicate what turned ordinary guy Steve Rogers into super-soldier Captain America. It didn't go exactly as planned....an ill-intentioned prison guard tampered with the process, and it turned Luke into a huge Black man whose skin is virtually impenetrable. He's not quite S.H.I.E.L.D. material, but is sort of superhero-adjacent. As such his arrival in Majestic is bad news for those up to no good at PVL as well as for the racist chief of police who is likely on the take, looking the other way at what PVL is doing, Luke is a force of one, up against prejudice and an unknown but powerful group intent on mayhem while juggling family loyalty, guilt and tensions with his partner Jessica Jones back in NYC that he's put on hold while he sorts out the happenings in Majestic. Will hate prove to be more powerful than love, or can Luke break through the conspiracy that has already claimed lives and is looking to go national?
Truth to Power is the third offering in the Marvel Crime series, gritty thrillers featuring characters from the Marvel Comic Universe and written by top mystery authors (the first two were Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell, featuring Jessica Jones, and Enemy of My Enemy. by Alex Segura, featuring Matt Murdock aka Daredevil). Each book can be read as a standalone, but do tie together (Luke is romantically involved with Jessica, and often works for Daredevil...both characters pop up in Truth to Power), so reading one or both of the earlier titles can certainly help ground the reader in the goings on of the MCU, Fans of the MCU, through the comics, movies or otherwise, also have a huge advantage (or, as in my case, having a daughter who is very well versed in the MCU and has clued me in to the whole scene). In this latest outing, while Luke has his superpowers and all that that takes a backseat to the crime novel elements as well as to the cauldron of emotions in which Luke is immersed. As he frequently points out, while (almost) nothing can penetrate his skin that doesn't mean that he can't feel pain, and the reader gets to see the man underneath the protective layer. Author S. A. Cosby, a major talent in the world of Southern crime novels who is adept at blending the cultural challenges of the rural South with gritty noir, was the perfect choice to tell Luke's tale in this series, Is it my favorite Cosby novel? No, but it is a fast paced thriller in which the author's sharp observations bring emotional depth and authenticity to the story. Fans of the MCU as well as readers of Cosby and/or of Ace Atkins, Eli Cranor and Attica Locke, will want to give this novel a spin. My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for allowing me access to the book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Truth to Power grabbed me from the start and kept tightening its hold. S. A. Cosby has written the kind of crime thriller that makes you want to read just one more chapter—and then look up and realize you’ve been turning pages for hours. The mystery is compelling, the danger feels close, and every new discovery makes Majestic seem more unsettling than before.
Luke Cage is a terrific lead for this story. He may be nearly impossible to hurt physically, but Cosby never mistakes toughness for invulnerability. Luke arrives in Virginia carrying grief, guilt, anger, and a promise to his aunt. Watching him try to honor that promise while resisting the pull of vengeance gave the investigation a powerful emotional core. I wasn’t just curious about what happened to his cousin; I cared deeply about what the truth would cost Luke and the people he was trying to protect.
The small-town setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Majestic feels tense and watchful, a place where danger can emerge from an ordinary conversation or a quiet country road. As Luke follows the trail from a medical-device factory to a much wider conspiracy, Cosby keeps the suspense simmering. The threats aren’t solved by strength alone: Luke has to read people, trust his instincts, and keep pushing when the official story doesn’t add up.
The novel also takes on prejudice, exploitation, power, and hatred without losing its pace. Some moments are genuinely uncomfortable, but that discomfort gives the story force. The danger feels frighteningly human, and the questions it raises linger after the action is over. Cosby makes Luke’s strength matter while reminding us that protecting people often requires more than winning a fight.
I loved how naturally the crime-thriller style fits this version of Luke Cage. The book has grit and momentum, but it also gives its hero tenderness, doubt, and a strong sense of responsibility. Even Luke’s personal life adds another layer of pressure, making his choice to leave New York feel like more than the beginning of an adventure.
This was an absorbing, emotionally charged read: tense enough to keep me guessing, thoughtful enough to stay with me, and full of a character I was glad to spend time with. You don’t need to be a Marvel expert to enjoy it—just a reader who loves a gripping mystery and a hero whose strength comes from more than his unbreakable skin. I’d happily recommend Truth to Power to both crime-fiction fans and Marvel readers, and I’m already looking forward to more from the Marvel Crime series.
Luke Cage is a terrific lead for this story. He may be nearly impossible to hurt physically, but Cosby never mistakes toughness for invulnerability. Luke arrives in Virginia carrying grief, guilt, anger, and a promise to his aunt. Watching him try to honor that promise while resisting the pull of vengeance gave the investigation a powerful emotional core. I wasn’t just curious about what happened to his cousin; I cared deeply about what the truth would cost Luke and the people he was trying to protect.
The small-town setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Majestic feels tense and watchful, a place where danger can emerge from an ordinary conversation or a quiet country road. As Luke follows the trail from a medical-device factory to a much wider conspiracy, Cosby keeps the suspense simmering. The threats aren’t solved by strength alone: Luke has to read people, trust his instincts, and keep pushing when the official story doesn’t add up.
The novel also takes on prejudice, exploitation, power, and hatred without losing its pace. Some moments are genuinely uncomfortable, but that discomfort gives the story force. The danger feels frighteningly human, and the questions it raises linger after the action is over. Cosby makes Luke’s strength matter while reminding us that protecting people often requires more than winning a fight.
I loved how naturally the crime-thriller style fits this version of Luke Cage. The book has grit and momentum, but it also gives its hero tenderness, doubt, and a strong sense of responsibility. Even Luke’s personal life adds another layer of pressure, making his choice to leave New York feel like more than the beginning of an adventure.
This was an absorbing, emotionally charged read: tense enough to keep me guessing, thoughtful enough to stay with me, and full of a character I was glad to spend time with. You don’t need to be a Marvel expert to enjoy it—just a reader who loves a gripping mystery and a hero whose strength comes from more than his unbreakable skin. I’d happily recommend Truth to Power to both crime-fiction fans and Marvel readers, and I’m already looking forward to more from the Marvel Crime series.
October 9, 2026
Happy publication day. Check out Marvel’s latest foray into adult(ish) literary.
S.A. Cosby tries his (enhanced) hand at a Marvel crime thriller with Truth to Power, a Luke Cage.
Let me give you a TL;DR right at the top. If you’re a fan of either S.A. or the source material, you’ll find the latest in this series pretty good (with mileage varying if you’re okay losing out on the dark stuff found in the author’s more adult work). That last point is crucial here, and why I wasn’t as satisfied with this as I would have hoped.
Luke Cage, a superhuman with super strength, is back in the South after the death of his cousin. Soon after his arrival, Cage, stumbles upon a crime syndicate of sorts using cybernetics, prosthetics, and a form of mind control to wreak havoc on the community. Layers of this intrigue are slowly peeled away before more secrets are revealed. Very standard fare for a Marvel property.
While it’s full on Marvel, I can’t say the “charm” of Cosby’s work is as evident here. We get Cosby’s bread and butter - that southern crime noir - but it is very PG, bordering on laughable (there’s a moment where Cage says something that I know was paired down severely from how he writes his usual characters). It’s not YA (at least I don’t think it is) but the amount of repeating information left me scratching my head. I’m bias — an avid reader (period) especially of thriller and mysteries — so some of the issues I bring up here won’t be a big deal for Marvel fans who may just be getting into Cosby’s work for the first time or picking up a book for the first time because their favorite superhero is on the cover.
And I would hate to detract from that experience because it doesn’t land for me as I would have liked.
Thankful to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC.
S.A. Cosby tries his (enhanced) hand at a Marvel crime thriller with Truth to Power, a Luke Cage.
Let me give you a TL;DR right at the top. If you’re a fan of either S.A. or the source material, you’ll find the latest in this series pretty good (with mileage varying if you’re okay losing out on the dark stuff found in the author’s more adult work). That last point is crucial here, and why I wasn’t as satisfied with this as I would have hoped.
Luke Cage, a superhuman with super strength, is back in the South after the death of his cousin. Soon after his arrival, Cage, stumbles upon a crime syndicate of sorts using cybernetics, prosthetics, and a form of mind control to wreak havoc on the community. Layers of this intrigue are slowly peeled away before more secrets are revealed. Very standard fare for a Marvel property.
While it’s full on Marvel, I can’t say the “charm” of Cosby’s work is as evident here. We get Cosby’s bread and butter - that southern crime noir - but it is very PG, bordering on laughable (there’s a moment where Cage says something that I know was paired down severely from how he writes his usual characters). It’s not YA (at least I don’t think it is) but the amount of repeating information left me scratching my head. I’m bias — an avid reader (period) especially of thriller and mysteries — so some of the issues I bring up here won’t be a big deal for Marvel fans who may just be getting into Cosby’s work for the first time or picking up a book for the first time because their favorite superhero is on the cover.
And I would hate to detract from that experience because it doesn’t land for me as I would have liked.
Thankful to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another one from S.A. Cosby that I ate UP! 😂 S.A. Cosby really does not disappoint when it comes to creating a story that pulls me in, and Truth to Power had me hooked way quicker than I expected.
The action in this book?? Whew. It literally felt like I was watching a show rather than reading a book. There were so many moments where I could vividly picture everything playing out on screen. And speaking of screen…this book had me wanting to rewatch Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Daredevil, AND revisit Elektra. That movie is VERY nostalgic for me, so this book definitely scratched that particular itch.
I also have to give S.A. Cosby credit for continuing to introduce me to vocabulary I have absolutely no business needing to know 😂. I swear, every time I read one of his books, I walk away with at least a few new words. There were moments where some of the vocabulary felt a little out of place with the overall language and tone of the book, but I still appreciated it.
I was able to guess a few things along the way, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. And that ending?! Or should I say…that non-ending?! 👀 I'm definitely intrigued about what comes next, assuming there is a next book.
Honestly, this whole book felt like reading a comic. The pacing, the action, the larger-than-life moments, and especially the way things ended—or didn't end—felt so fitting for the story.
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The action in this book?? Whew. It literally felt like I was watching a show rather than reading a book. There were so many moments where I could vividly picture everything playing out on screen. And speaking of screen…this book had me wanting to rewatch Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Daredevil, AND revisit Elektra. That movie is VERY nostalgic for me, so this book definitely scratched that particular itch.
I also have to give S.A. Cosby credit for continuing to introduce me to vocabulary I have absolutely no business needing to know 😂. I swear, every time I read one of his books, I walk away with at least a few new words. There were moments where some of the vocabulary felt a little out of place with the overall language and tone of the book, but I still appreciated it.
I was able to guess a few things along the way, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. And that ending?! Or should I say…that non-ending?! 👀 I'm definitely intrigued about what comes next, assuming there is a next book.
Honestly, this whole book felt like reading a comic. The pacing, the action, the larger-than-life moments, and especially the way things ended—or didn't end—felt so fitting for the story.
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2026
I am a huge fan of S.A. Cosby and was excited to try something a little different than his usual with his take on a Marvel crime thriller in Truth to Power.
Although I am not normally a big superhero fan, I think S.A. Cosby did such an amazing job telling Luke Cage’s story! I can’t get enough of his style of writing and it kept me engaged and wanting more.
Overall I would give this book 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the digital ARC of Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby in exchange for my honest review.
Although I am not normally a big superhero fan, I think S.A. Cosby did such an amazing job telling Luke Cage’s story! I can’t get enough of his style of writing and it kept me engaged and wanting more.
Overall I would give this book 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the digital ARC of Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2026
A fun time with Luke Cage from the big city to rural streets of Virginia. It was fun going through Luke's process of his past trauma; as well as, reminding himself of the man he needs to be. His relationship with Jessica and the relationship with his cousin (Raymond) felt genuine in his motivation in finding who was responsible for the death of Rashon. My biggest issue would be the villain, the premise of the cybernetics works, but the villain himself was pretty forgettable. 3.5/5
September 7, 2026
I love all things SA Cosby. I’m not a Marvel girl but in the hands of Mr. Cosby even super heroes and villains are interesting.
This book is no Razorblade Tears but I suspect that those readers who enjoy Marvel will be thrilled with the gritty verbiage used to describe the interactions of these Marvel characters.
As always, the writing is gripping. It grasps your attention and holds it for the duration of the book.
I appreciate Netflix Galley offering me the opportunity to read SA Crosby’s latest works and offer my thoughts.
This book is no Razorblade Tears but I suspect that those readers who enjoy Marvel will be thrilled with the gritty verbiage used to describe the interactions of these Marvel characters.
As always, the writing is gripping. It grasps your attention and holds it for the duration of the book.
I appreciate Netflix Galley offering me the opportunity to read SA Crosby’s latest works and offer my thoughts.
October 3, 2026
Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby
I’m a big fan of S.A. Cosby, so I was excited to get an advanced copy of Truth to Power from NetGalley. I love his writing and the way he brings his characters to life.
I’m not a huge comics or Marvel fan, but I did enjoy the Marvel shows on Netflix, so I was familiar with Luke Cage. I could definitely appreciate Cosby taking a character like Luke Cage and putting his own spin on him. That was one of the things I enjoyed most about the book.
That said, this one didn’t quite work for me the way Cosby’s books normally do. I usually find his books to be absolute page-turners, but this one felt slow in places, and I found myself waiting for the story to pick up. I did enjoy the action toward the end, and I think readers who are more familiar with and enthusiastic about Marvel comics may get more out of it than I did.
Still, I’m glad I gave it a try, and I’ll definitely continue reading S.A. Cosby’s books. His writing is always worth picking up, even when a particular book doesn’t completely hit the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a big fan of S.A. Cosby, so I was excited to get an advanced copy of Truth to Power from NetGalley. I love his writing and the way he brings his characters to life.
I’m not a huge comics or Marvel fan, but I did enjoy the Marvel shows on Netflix, so I was familiar with Luke Cage. I could definitely appreciate Cosby taking a character like Luke Cage and putting his own spin on him. That was one of the things I enjoyed most about the book.
That said, this one didn’t quite work for me the way Cosby’s books normally do. I usually find his books to be absolute page-turners, but this one felt slow in places, and I found myself waiting for the story to pick up. I did enjoy the action toward the end, and I think readers who are more familiar with and enthusiastic about Marvel comics may get more out of it than I did.
Still, I’m glad I gave it a try, and I’ll definitely continue reading S.A. Cosby’s books. His writing is always worth picking up, even when a particular book doesn’t completely hit the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2026
My favorite crime writer enters new territory with a novel in the Marvel universe! It has all of the grit and action as your typical S.A. Cosby novel.
Coming from someone who isn’t a big Marvel fan, I really enjoyed reading about Luke Cage! I had recently read Lisa Jewell’s Marvel novel about Jessica Jones and it perfectly segued into this story, as Jessica and Luke are love interests.
Luke is an easy character to root for and I appreciated his motivation and pure will to get answers about his cousin’s death.
Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, I’d recommend adding TRUTH TO POWER to your TBR 🙌
Coming from someone who isn’t a big Marvel fan, I really enjoyed reading about Luke Cage! I had recently read Lisa Jewell’s Marvel novel about Jessica Jones and it perfectly segued into this story, as Jessica and Luke are love interests.
Luke is an easy character to root for and I appreciated his motivation and pure will to get answers about his cousin’s death.
Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, I’d recommend adding TRUTH TO POWER to your TBR 🙌
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a Marvel fan who also loves crime fiction, I was especially excited to be approved to read Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby. The combination of familiar Marvel characters with a darker crime story immediately caught my attention, and the Marvel elements were one of my favorite aspects of the book.
While I enjoyed the concept and the crime storyline, I ultimately had a difficult time fully connecting with the story. The pacing felt somewhat uneven to me, particularly early on, although I did feel that the story picked up as I continued reading. I also think some of my initial difficulty with the pacing may have been influenced by reading several very fast-paced books around the same time.
This was my first S.A. Cosby book, so I didn’t have anything to compare his writing style or voice to. At times, I wondered whether I was missing something that readers already familiar with his work might recognize. I do have other Cosby books on my TBR, and I’m still interested in seeing how I connect with his writing in one of his original novels.
Ultimately, Truth to Power wasn’t quite the reading experience I had hoped for, but I can absolutely see the appeal of combining Marvel characters with a crime story. As a Marvel fan myself, I would still recommend this to readers who enjoy Marvel and crime fiction.
3.75 stars (4 rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
While I enjoyed the concept and the crime storyline, I ultimately had a difficult time fully connecting with the story. The pacing felt somewhat uneven to me, particularly early on, although I did feel that the story picked up as I continued reading. I also think some of my initial difficulty with the pacing may have been influenced by reading several very fast-paced books around the same time.
This was my first S.A. Cosby book, so I didn’t have anything to compare his writing style or voice to. At times, I wondered whether I was missing something that readers already familiar with his work might recognize. I do have other Cosby books on my TBR, and I’m still interested in seeing how I connect with his writing in one of his original novels.
Ultimately, Truth to Power wasn’t quite the reading experience I had hoped for, but I can absolutely see the appeal of combining Marvel characters with a crime story. As a Marvel fan myself, I would still recommend this to readers who enjoy Marvel and crime fiction.
3.75 stars (4 rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
August 26, 2026
Marvel did us well, attaching fan-favorite, heavy-hitting authors to their Marvel Crime series of novels. Following Lisa Jewell and
Alex Segura
tackling
Jessica Jones
and
Daredevil
respectively, New York Times bestselling author S.A. Cosby delivers a dark and gritty crime story centered around Luke Cage with
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel
.
With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just that: words.
Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he’ll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff’s barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.
As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.
These Marvel Crime stories have been fantastic and Truth to Power is no different, Cosby crafts a story that ultimately feels like an S.A. Cosby tale, but also carries the vibe of the series so far. Like Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel, Truth to Power exits the typical New York City locale for these characters and transports him to Virginia, a place Cosby knows all too well. Setting this book in Virginia allows for race and a different culture to play a larger role, taking Cage out of his element a bit.
The characters featured in these Marvel Crime Novels are Defenders, those who hangout and fight crime in New York City. Even as a comic book fan, I find this more street-level characters more approachable, especially for those who're not die-hard Marvel fans, but fans of Cosby's writing. Having Truth to Power be more of a mystery-crime story and less a superhero adventure lets it stand out from the crowd.
Luke is out for vengeance, but also for what's right. He cares a lot about people, even those who haven't been in his life on a daily basis. Cosby gets to the heart of the character in Truth to Power and doesn't just rely on the super-human aspects of his background. Luke has to fight with more than super-strength to solve the mystery and fight for the truth.
Truth to Power is another dark and mysterious crime story which fits perfectly in the series. S.A. Cosby delivers a hard-hitting story which strips away some of the super-human aspects of Luke Cage to dig deeper into the person beneath the unbreakable skin. Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel is a street-live crime story with heart, emotion, and a deeper meaning.
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel hits bookstores everywhere on October 13, 2026 from Hyperion Avenue / Marvel.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just that: words.
Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he’ll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff’s barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.
As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.
These Marvel Crime stories have been fantastic and Truth to Power is no different, Cosby crafts a story that ultimately feels like an S.A. Cosby tale, but also carries the vibe of the series so far. Like Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel, Truth to Power exits the typical New York City locale for these characters and transports him to Virginia, a place Cosby knows all too well. Setting this book in Virginia allows for race and a different culture to play a larger role, taking Cage out of his element a bit.
The characters featured in these Marvel Crime Novels are Defenders, those who hangout and fight crime in New York City. Even as a comic book fan, I find this more street-level characters more approachable, especially for those who're not die-hard Marvel fans, but fans of Cosby's writing. Having Truth to Power be more of a mystery-crime story and less a superhero adventure lets it stand out from the crowd.
Luke is out for vengeance, but also for what's right. He cares a lot about people, even those who haven't been in his life on a daily basis. Cosby gets to the heart of the character in Truth to Power and doesn't just rely on the super-human aspects of his background. Luke has to fight with more than super-strength to solve the mystery and fight for the truth.
Truth to Power is another dark and mysterious crime story which fits perfectly in the series. S.A. Cosby delivers a hard-hitting story which strips away some of the super-human aspects of Luke Cage to dig deeper into the person beneath the unbreakable skin. Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel is a street-live crime story with heart, emotion, and a deeper meaning.
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel hits bookstores everywhere on October 13, 2026 from Hyperion Avenue / Marvel.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
August 28, 2026
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel by S. A. Cosby
Never having read a Marvel comic, I was completely unprepared for my introduction to Luke Cage. But as an enormous admirer of S. A. Cosby, I was more than willing to take the leap—and I’m so glad I did. I was transfixed. Cosby creates Luke Cage’s world with such confidence and immediacy that even a reader with virtually no knowledge of the Marvel universe can become fully immersed. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with some of the supporting characters, and I suspect that longtime Marvel readers will find an additional layer of pleasure in recognizing their histories and relationships. Yet that familiarity is by no means necessary to enjoy the novel.
Luke Cage, a Harlem superhero endowed with unbreakable skin and superhuman strength, is asked to look into a medical-device company in Virginia whose operations seem decidedly suspicious. He enlists his cousin, who works there as a security guard, to keep his eyes and ears open for anything unusual. When his cousin is subsequently found dead, his neck broken, the investigation becomes painfully personal. Luke heads to Virginia not only determined to discover who killed him and why, but also burdened by the guilt that his own request may have placed his cousin in mortal danger.
From there, Cosby unleashes a gritty, high-octane chase involving cybernetics, human implants, corporate malfeasance, and technology being manipulated for decidedly nefarious purposes. I won’t reveal more about the plot because much of the fun lies in watching its increasingly sinister implications unfold. Suffice it to say that the story accelerates into a breathless collision of conspiracy, violence, and moral reckoning.
What surprised me most was how comfortably Cosby’s sensibility inhabits the superhero genre. Beneath Luke Cage’s extraordinary physical powers is a very human protagonist wrestling with loyalty, responsibility, grief, and guilt. Cosby grounds the fantastical elements in the same morally complicated, hard-edged world that makes his crime novels so compelling. The result feels less like a conventional comic-book adventure than a muscular crime thriller whose protagonist just happens to be nearly indestructible.
At times, Truth to Power reminded me of the television series Reacher: a formidable hero confronting increasingly dangerous adversaries, plenty of bone-crunching action, and an escalating conspiracy that keeps the pages turning at a furious pace. The action is nearly nonstop, but Cosby gives it enough emotional weight to prevent it from becoming merely spectacle.
This is an enormously entertaining, propulsive thriller—and one that seems destined for the screen. I began Truth to Power knowing virtually nothing about Luke Cage and finished it thoroughly entertained and more than a little intrigued by the Marvel world I had somehow managed to avoid all these years. S. A. Cosby may have been the perfect author to lure me into it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review
Never having read a Marvel comic, I was completely unprepared for my introduction to Luke Cage. But as an enormous admirer of S. A. Cosby, I was more than willing to take the leap—and I’m so glad I did. I was transfixed. Cosby creates Luke Cage’s world with such confidence and immediacy that even a reader with virtually no knowledge of the Marvel universe can become fully immersed. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with some of the supporting characters, and I suspect that longtime Marvel readers will find an additional layer of pleasure in recognizing their histories and relationships. Yet that familiarity is by no means necessary to enjoy the novel.
Luke Cage, a Harlem superhero endowed with unbreakable skin and superhuman strength, is asked to look into a medical-device company in Virginia whose operations seem decidedly suspicious. He enlists his cousin, who works there as a security guard, to keep his eyes and ears open for anything unusual. When his cousin is subsequently found dead, his neck broken, the investigation becomes painfully personal. Luke heads to Virginia not only determined to discover who killed him and why, but also burdened by the guilt that his own request may have placed his cousin in mortal danger.
From there, Cosby unleashes a gritty, high-octane chase involving cybernetics, human implants, corporate malfeasance, and technology being manipulated for decidedly nefarious purposes. I won’t reveal more about the plot because much of the fun lies in watching its increasingly sinister implications unfold. Suffice it to say that the story accelerates into a breathless collision of conspiracy, violence, and moral reckoning.
What surprised me most was how comfortably Cosby’s sensibility inhabits the superhero genre. Beneath Luke Cage’s extraordinary physical powers is a very human protagonist wrestling with loyalty, responsibility, grief, and guilt. Cosby grounds the fantastical elements in the same morally complicated, hard-edged world that makes his crime novels so compelling. The result feels less like a conventional comic-book adventure than a muscular crime thriller whose protagonist just happens to be nearly indestructible.
At times, Truth to Power reminded me of the television series Reacher: a formidable hero confronting increasingly dangerous adversaries, plenty of bone-crunching action, and an escalating conspiracy that keeps the pages turning at a furious pace. The action is nearly nonstop, but Cosby gives it enough emotional weight to prevent it from becoming merely spectacle.
This is an enormously entertaining, propulsive thriller—and one that seems destined for the screen. I began Truth to Power knowing virtually nothing about Luke Cage and finished it thoroughly entertained and more than a little intrigued by the Marvel world I had somehow managed to avoid all these years. S. A. Cosby may have been the perfect author to lure me into it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Truth to Power was exactly the kind of story I was hoping for. S. A. Cosby takes Luke Cage and places him in a story that feels grounded, gritty, and much more like a crime thriller than a traditional superhero adventure. That approach worked incredibly well for me because Luke’s strength may make him nearly impossible to physically break, but it doesn’t make the problems he encounters any easier to solve.
I especially liked the mystery at the center of the story. Watching Luke investigate what is happening in this small Virginia town kept me interested because there was always a sense that something much bigger was hiding beneath the surface. The personal connection to the case also gave the story more emotional weight. Luke isn’t simply trying to stop the bad guy; he is dealing with grief, anger, guilt, and the responsibility he feels toward the people around him.
One of the strongest parts of the book was how it explored issues of prejudice, power, exploitation, and hatred without losing the suspense and action that I expected from a Luke Cage story. There were moments that were uncomfortable and frustrating, but they made the danger feel more realistic. I also appreciated that Luke couldn't simply punch his way through every problem. His intelligence, instincts, and determination were just as important as his superhuman abilities.
Cosby’s writing was a great fit for this character. The story has the toughness and intensity I associate with Luke Cage while still giving him vulnerability and emotional depth. I found myself invested not only in uncovering the conspiracy but also in Luke himself and the choices he had to make along the way.
I love a good crime thriller, and adding Luke Cage to the mix made this one even better. You don't have to be a huge Marvel fan to enjoy it either. There's plenty of mystery, action, and suspense to keep you turning the pages. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a good mystery, plenty of tension, and characters you can get invested in, I definitely recommend picking this one up. S. A. Cosby did a great job with this story, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to both Marvel fans and readers who just love a good thriller. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from the Marvel Crime series.
Thanks Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue
for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
I especially liked the mystery at the center of the story. Watching Luke investigate what is happening in this small Virginia town kept me interested because there was always a sense that something much bigger was hiding beneath the surface. The personal connection to the case also gave the story more emotional weight. Luke isn’t simply trying to stop the bad guy; he is dealing with grief, anger, guilt, and the responsibility he feels toward the people around him.
One of the strongest parts of the book was how it explored issues of prejudice, power, exploitation, and hatred without losing the suspense and action that I expected from a Luke Cage story. There were moments that were uncomfortable and frustrating, but they made the danger feel more realistic. I also appreciated that Luke couldn't simply punch his way through every problem. His intelligence, instincts, and determination were just as important as his superhuman abilities.
Cosby’s writing was a great fit for this character. The story has the toughness and intensity I associate with Luke Cage while still giving him vulnerability and emotional depth. I found myself invested not only in uncovering the conspiracy but also in Luke himself and the choices he had to make along the way.
I love a good crime thriller, and adding Luke Cage to the mix made this one even better. You don't have to be a huge Marvel fan to enjoy it either. There's plenty of mystery, action, and suspense to keep you turning the pages. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a good mystery, plenty of tension, and characters you can get invested in, I definitely recommend picking this one up. S. A. Cosby did a great job with this story, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to both Marvel fans and readers who just love a good thriller. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from the Marvel Crime series.
Thanks Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue
for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
October 15, 2026
A Slam-Dunk of a Novel!
Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby is exactly what I wanted from a Luke Cage crime novel because it never forgets that Luke is just as compelling as a detective and a man as he is a superhero. Coming in off a mystery solved by Daredevil, who noticed an influx of cybernetics showing up, Luke Cage is on the case when it hits personally close to home. But the official explanation simply doesn't add up, and Luke knows that something else is going on. Luke heads to the small town of Majestic and quickly finds himself pushing against a hostile sheriff, small-minded small-town politics, and a conspiracy that stretches much further than he initially expected. This feels like Luke Cage stripped down to his most essential pieces: anger, justice, family, and the unwavering belief that being unbreakable means absolutely nothing if you aren't willing to stand between danger and the people who can't protect themselves. This is a wildfire of an excellent book and even if you haven't read any of the other Marvel Crime stories, you should still pick it up because it is SA Cosby.
And honestly, S.A. Cosby writing Luke Cage just makes SENSE. Cosby brings that same gritty, propulsive Southern crime energy that makes his other novels so incredibly readable, but dropping Luke into the middle of it adds this fantastic Marvel layer without ever overwhelming the crime story. There the classic Marvel Easter Eggs. The mentions of the classic villains or the unmentionable threats that Luke Cage, Jessica, & DD have faced in the past. These moments truly enhance the story without ever losing sight of what makes Cosby's writing so excellent. Here the threats aren't simply something Luke can punch through. There are conspiracies to unravel, people being exploited, racial tensions bubbling dangerously close to the surface, and a community where Luke isn't entirely sure who can be trusted. I loved how grounded everything feels even when cybernetics and superhero abilities enter the picture. It's angry, timely, incredibly readable, and just plain fun when Luke finally gets moments to remind everyone exactly who they're dealing with. This Marvel Crime series continues to be such an exciting little corner of the Marvel universe, and pairing one of its greatest street-level heroes with a writer like Cosby is an absolute slam dunk.
Truth to Power by S.A. Cosby is exactly what I wanted from a Luke Cage crime novel because it never forgets that Luke is just as compelling as a detective and a man as he is a superhero. Coming in off a mystery solved by Daredevil, who noticed an influx of cybernetics showing up, Luke Cage is on the case when it hits personally close to home. But the official explanation simply doesn't add up, and Luke knows that something else is going on. Luke heads to the small town of Majestic and quickly finds himself pushing against a hostile sheriff, small-minded small-town politics, and a conspiracy that stretches much further than he initially expected. This feels like Luke Cage stripped down to his most essential pieces: anger, justice, family, and the unwavering belief that being unbreakable means absolutely nothing if you aren't willing to stand between danger and the people who can't protect themselves. This is a wildfire of an excellent book and even if you haven't read any of the other Marvel Crime stories, you should still pick it up because it is SA Cosby.
And honestly, S.A. Cosby writing Luke Cage just makes SENSE. Cosby brings that same gritty, propulsive Southern crime energy that makes his other novels so incredibly readable, but dropping Luke into the middle of it adds this fantastic Marvel layer without ever overwhelming the crime story. There the classic Marvel Easter Eggs. The mentions of the classic villains or the unmentionable threats that Luke Cage, Jessica, & DD have faced in the past. These moments truly enhance the story without ever losing sight of what makes Cosby's writing so excellent. Here the threats aren't simply something Luke can punch through. There are conspiracies to unravel, people being exploited, racial tensions bubbling dangerously close to the surface, and a community where Luke isn't entirely sure who can be trusted. I loved how grounded everything feels even when cybernetics and superhero abilities enter the picture. It's angry, timely, incredibly readable, and just plain fun when Luke finally gets moments to remind everyone exactly who they're dealing with. This Marvel Crime series continues to be such an exciting little corner of the Marvel universe, and pairing one of its greatest street-level heroes with a writer like Cosby is an absolute slam dunk.
October 18, 2026
Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel by S. A. Cosby is the author’s latest read. S. A. Cosby switched genres for this read, but brings his usual themes of racism, greed, and racial oppression while adding in superhero powers.
In this case, Luke Cage, who lives in Harlem, is initially having a quiet morning on the streets. He is a superhero with phenomenal strength, an impervious skin to most projectiles, and other abilities. Those abilities make Luke Cage a formidable opponent. He is on the phone with Jessica Jones, whom he is dating and in a serious relationship, when the conversation is interrupted because a dude just came crashing down out of a 12th story window and landed in the street. Polar Bear Man is definitely alive and looking for a battle.
In the aftermath, Luke Cage realizes he missed a call from family in Majestic, Virgina. Luke had asked his cousin, Rashon, to keep his eyes and ears open, as he was working in the area of a medical factory that might have been working on some sort of high-tech cybernetics. Stuff that was winding up in the hands of low-level street criminals. Rashon was not supposed to do anything more than pay attention and call if he spotted something or heard something. Now Rashon is dead, Aunt Letty is devasted, and Luke has to go down there and find out what happened and why.
He can’t bring Rashon back. But, he can find out what happened and who did it as those in charge probably are not doing anything on the case. The massive confederate flag still flies just outside town. The local police are incompetent, corrupt, or both. Luke is going to look into what happened and will tear the place apart figurately, and maybe literally too, until he finds out what happened.
If you have read this author before, it is no surprise that the same themes of his other books are present here. The difference in this fast-moving and action filled tale is that Luke is not a mere mortal. Luke has superhero powers. Those outfitted with the cybernetics are, at worst, his equal if not better.
The result is an entertaining read and one worthy of your time.
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, through NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
S. A. Cosby is the bomb of dark mysteries. I love his writing and story telling, so I thrilled when I was granted access to this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for granting me access to this ARC). While part of the Luke Cage Marvel Crime Series (third in the series), this is a stand alone read. This series’ previous two books were written by Lisa Jewel (Breaking the Dark) and Alex Segura (Enemy of My Enemy).
Briefly Luke Cage “travels to Virginia to investigate a medical device factory after advanced cybernetics turn up in the hands of lowlife criminals.” Before he reaches the factory he learns his cousin who scoped out the factory is dead. Fueled by vengeance, Like ironies his aunt he will find out the truth. His investigation leads him to uncover a conspiracy that he hopes wouldn’t break the community or his skin. Things get heated in Cosby style.
I’m not a Marvel Comics fan - I’ve seen the movies and maybe read a comic or two when younger - so dealing with a comic character was slow for me, but I found after a slight period of adjustment, the story became more realistic especially when Luke gets to Virginia and Cosby’s Southern charm comes through (“Later Luke was standing on the porch . . . . Crickets serenaded their loved ones as a few frogs bleated, adding their voices to the nightly chorus.”).
I loved the Luke Cosby created (Sheriff Bondurant - not a good guy - thinks “Yeah, he might have leaned on Blacks a little bit harder . . . . They were probably guilty of something. . . . But Cage was his worst nightmare come to life.”). While still in the comic frame of characters and though he doesn’t feel as gritty as Titus Crown in All the Sinners Bleed, Luke Cage has the feel of a Cosby justice fighter- that’s what I liked best.
This book should be perfect for readers who’ve enjoyed the other Luke Cage books or S.A. Cosby’s Southern noir novels.
Briefly Luke Cage “travels to Virginia to investigate a medical device factory after advanced cybernetics turn up in the hands of lowlife criminals.” Before he reaches the factory he learns his cousin who scoped out the factory is dead. Fueled by vengeance, Like ironies his aunt he will find out the truth. His investigation leads him to uncover a conspiracy that he hopes wouldn’t break the community or his skin. Things get heated in Cosby style.
I’m not a Marvel Comics fan - I’ve seen the movies and maybe read a comic or two when younger - so dealing with a comic character was slow for me, but I found after a slight period of adjustment, the story became more realistic especially when Luke gets to Virginia and Cosby’s Southern charm comes through (“Later Luke was standing on the porch . . . . Crickets serenaded their loved ones as a few frogs bleated, adding their voices to the nightly chorus.”).
I loved the Luke Cosby created (Sheriff Bondurant - not a good guy - thinks “Yeah, he might have leaned on Blacks a little bit harder . . . . They were probably guilty of something. . . . But Cage was his worst nightmare come to life.”). While still in the comic frame of characters and though he doesn’t feel as gritty as Titus Crown in All the Sinners Bleed, Luke Cage has the feel of a Cosby justice fighter- that’s what I liked best.
This book should be perfect for readers who’ve enjoyed the other Luke Cage books or S.A. Cosby’s Southern noir novels.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
S.A. Cosby takes Luke out of the familiar environs of Harlem and drops him in the South—the environment most familiar to Cosby. There’s something incredibly satisfying about Luke Cage punching and stomping his way through a sea of redneck deputies. But more than that, Cosby gives us a Luke Cage navigating injustice and hatred, usually with grace and restraint. Luke’s pulling his punches, but Cosby isn’t when he writes:
“He imagined his Aunt Letty having to endure for the second time a conversation most Black mothers never want to experience once. A conversation about a child, usually a son, who had been swallowed up by a leviathan that eats them up, bones and all. Sometimes that monster is called Bigotry, sometimes that monster is called American Justice. It was the same conversation that Trayvon’s mother had, that Medgar Evers’s mother had, that Malcom’s mother had.”
The book’s a lot of fun, but it offers something more: readers join Luke in confronting hatred and injustice and hopefully learn the value of responding—with anger, maybe, and with action, certainly, but not with hatred.
Luke Cage fans will really like the book, but you don’t have to love Cage already to enjoy the book. The writing isn’t flawless and it isn’t always elegant (though at times it is), but it’s consistently fun.
“He imagined his Aunt Letty having to endure for the second time a conversation most Black mothers never want to experience once. A conversation about a child, usually a son, who had been swallowed up by a leviathan that eats them up, bones and all. Sometimes that monster is called Bigotry, sometimes that monster is called American Justice. It was the same conversation that Trayvon’s mother had, that Medgar Evers’s mother had, that Malcom’s mother had.”
The book’s a lot of fun, but it offers something more: readers join Luke in confronting hatred and injustice and hopefully learn the value of responding—with anger, maybe, and with action, certainly, but not with hatred.
Luke Cage fans will really like the book, but you don’t have to love Cage already to enjoy the book. The writing isn’t flawless and it isn’t always elegant (though at times it is), but it’s consistently fun.
October 13, 2026
“Truth to Power,” by S.A. Cosby, Hyperion Avenue, 320 pages, Oct. 13, 2026.
Harlem, New York. Luke Cage is walking while on a cellphone call with his girlfriend, Jessica Jones, when he witnesses a man jumping through a window. Both Luke, known as the “hero from New York,” and Jessica have super powers. He stops to confront that man, Polar Bear Man, who is wrecking cars.
While that is going on, Luke missed a call from Majestic, Virginia, where his aunt, Letty Lucas, and his cousins, Raymond and Rashon, live. Rashon is dead. Rashon was working at a factory that manufactures medical devices. Luke was recently hired to investigate that factory and had asked Rashon to snoop around.
The sheriff’s department says Rashon’s death is an open investigation. Luke doesn’t believe they are investigating.
“Truth to Power” is part of the Marvel Crime series that began with “Breaking the Dark” by Lisa Jewell and “Enemy of My Enemy” by Alex Segura. It can be read as a stand alone novel.
While I liked S.A. Cosby’s earlier crime novels, I couldn’t get into this one. There is a lot of fighting and Marvel-style superhero action. I found his earlier books to be page-turners, but this one seems to be slow moving.
I rate it three out of five stars.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
Harlem, New York. Luke Cage is walking while on a cellphone call with his girlfriend, Jessica Jones, when he witnesses a man jumping through a window. Both Luke, known as the “hero from New York,” and Jessica have super powers. He stops to confront that man, Polar Bear Man, who is wrecking cars.
While that is going on, Luke missed a call from Majestic, Virginia, where his aunt, Letty Lucas, and his cousins, Raymond and Rashon, live. Rashon is dead. Rashon was working at a factory that manufactures medical devices. Luke was recently hired to investigate that factory and had asked Rashon to snoop around.
The sheriff’s department says Rashon’s death is an open investigation. Luke doesn’t believe they are investigating.
“Truth to Power” is part of the Marvel Crime series that began with “Breaking the Dark” by Lisa Jewell and “Enemy of My Enemy” by Alex Segura. It can be read as a stand alone novel.
While I liked S.A. Cosby’s earlier crime novels, I couldn’t get into this one. There is a lot of fighting and Marvel-style superhero action. I found his earlier books to be page-turners, but this one seems to be slow moving.
I rate it three out of five stars.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
August 18, 2026
I received an ARC of Truth to Power and was really excited to read it, especially because I’ve always loved S.A. Cosby’s writing.
You can definitely hear S.A. Cosby’s voice in this book, and for me, that was one of the best parts. He brought his own style to Luke Cage while still making the story feel like it belonged in the Marvel world.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know Marvel all that well, so there were times when I had a harder time staying focused because I felt like I was missing some of the background or references. But that was more about my lack of Marvel knowledge than the writing itself.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and thought the ending was solid. It leaves things open for what could come next without feeling like the story didn't have an ending.
4 stars from me.And if S.A. Cosby writes the next Luke Cage book, I’ll absolutely be reading it.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review . All thoughts are my own .
#TruthtoPowerALukeCageMarvelCrimeNovel #NetGalley
You can definitely hear S.A. Cosby’s voice in this book, and for me, that was one of the best parts. He brought his own style to Luke Cage while still making the story feel like it belonged in the Marvel world.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know Marvel all that well, so there were times when I had a harder time staying focused because I felt like I was missing some of the background or references. But that was more about my lack of Marvel knowledge than the writing itself.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and thought the ending was solid. It leaves things open for what could come next without feeling like the story didn't have an ending.
4 stars from me.And if S.A. Cosby writes the next Luke Cage book, I’ll absolutely be reading it.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review . All thoughts are my own .
#TruthtoPowerALukeCageMarvelCrimeNovel #NetGalley
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