Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

Happy April! Our discussion this month is ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by the fantastic, S.A. Cosby. Has anyone read it or reading it? Has anyone read the authors previous best-selling, award-winning books? Anyone follow him online? Been to a book signing? Let’s talk!

I am currently reading it. I am on page 147 (chapter 12). This I'd my first Cosby book. I like it so far... and have nothing but good things about it.

I notice there is no schedule yet...

I just finished reading All the Sinners… (really enjoyed it) and have Razorblade Tears waiting in the wings.

Tricia wrote: "I notice there is no schedule yet..."

Hey Sean, yes, I thought my copy would’ve arrived by now so I could see how the chapters are divided or if there are chapters.

Those that have just started ATSB, what’s your thoughts on the first 3 chapters? We’ll start with just those three until we get a schedule together.

Ann-marie wrote: "I just finished reading All the Sinners… (really enjoyed it) and have Razorblade Tears waiting in the wings."

Hey Ann-Marie, Razorblade Tears is the best thriller I read in many years. Let us know if you like it.

The first 3 chapters introduce you to Titus Crown, the first black sheriff in a small town county in Virginia. The ball of the story start rolling pretty quickly. Great start!

Tricia wrote: "The first 3 chapters introduce you to Titus Crown, the first black sheriff in a small town county in Virginia. The ball of the story start rolling pretty quickly. Great start!"

Sean, that’s the same as Razorblade Tears. I mean the action starts on like page 1 in his books. He doesn’t mess around.

What, if anything, is on Spearman & Latrell’s phone? Were they communicating with each other at anytime before the shooting? Will it provide the clue as to what has happened at Jefferson Davis High School?

Cosby is a genius at pulling you into the action right from the start. I’m three chapters in and fully invested.

I was lucky enough to get a copy at the library.

Discussion schedule:

Chap 1-3 through 4/4
Chap 4-7 through 4/7
Chap 8-16 through 4/11
Chap 17-22 through 4/15

Entire book open 4/16

finished reading this book last night. Excellent read. Second book of Cosby that I have read (Razorblade Tears) also excellent. As I was reading, I could see this as a movie. I was picturing David Oyelowo as the Sheriff.
Only thing I didn't like was we never found out the origin behind Latrell, the teacher, and Gabriel. I was left hanging. Did anyone else feel that way?
Cosby can tell a damn story.

Jacqueline Clayton wrote: "finished reading this book last night. Excellent read. Second book of Cosby that I have read (Razorblade Tears) also excellent. As I was reading, I could see this as a movie. I was picturing David ..."

Hello Jacqueline, that’s a bit of a spoiler and we have yet to get to this. Can you please either hide this under a spoiler tag or remove it until the entire book is open? Thanks

I read this a few months ago! Great book. Here’s my review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tricia wrote: "I am currently reading it. I am on page 147 (chapter 12). This I'd my first Cosby book. I like it so far... and have nothing but good things about it."

Book club friend, reading this, makes me wanna read it. As a state librarian, it may be a book to add to our wishlist or future order.

Tricia wrote: "I am currently reading it. I am on page 147 (chapter 12). This I'd my first Cosby book. I like it so far... and have nothing but good things about it."

This was also my first Cosby, I thought over all it was a great book as well.

link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The NYTimes book review blurb got it right: “You may come for the setup, but you’ll stay for the storytelling.” Prose is fresh, metaphors unique. So glad to have found this group, I probably would have missed this title and this writer otherwise. Lots of books out there and not all readable. Titus is a great protagonist. Principled, human. A super well-written and interesting book so far.

About 100 pages into the book. Cosby certainly has a lot of wheels turning very quickly. Some of which I'm not too fond of. Child endangerment being one of them. But there are also some amazing coincidences with my real life. I have lots of family from Va. locals mention and not far from the authors actual home and those mentioned in the book. I grew up in NJ and often disparaged my cousins home state for it's resistance to integration and Jim Crow ways late into the 1970's. On page 47, Cosby says his college room mate, from Trenton NJ, my hometown, asks him why his state is stuck in the 1950's. Yow..how did he get inside my head??

I'm also a bit concerned about how Titus's religious battles are going to be resolved. He seems the committed Atheist at this point but I don't think that the writer will leave it at that. Especially with a Saved soul in his father living just upstairs.

I purchased the book, but haven’t cracked it open just yet. I’m excited to read it though. Where can I find the schedule?

Jay wrote: "I purchased the book, but haven’t cracked it open just yet. I’m excited to read it though. Where can I find the schedule?"


Chap 1-3 through 4/4
Chap 4-7 through 4/7
Chap 8-16 through 4/11
Chap 17-22 through 4/15

Entire book open 4/16

You know how the put advisories on some books and music for sexual content? I feel like there should have been one for excessive religiosity. I didn't ask to be taken to church or read the bible when I opened this book...sheez...

Jacqueline Clayton wrote: "finished reading this book last night. Excellent read. Second book of Cosby that I have read (Razorblade Tears) also excellent. As I was reading, I could see this as a movie. I was picturing David ..."

Um, sorry I am behind with other book clubs. I am reading up to chapter 2 right now but audiobook I am up to chapter 5/6.

Entire book open

Cosby doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects and it takes courage to bring them into his storytelling. Like the way the fiends in this book use religion to justify their actions. Sickos. Anybody else see any parallels here with USA at this time? Titus is a moral man, not necessarily religious. And flawed like all of us of the human race. I think Titus’s girlfriend was a little bit too much like his mother to be the right match for him, and Titus has some mommy issues to complicate matters. I loved the book, will be reading more Cosby!

This is a good book, that would make really good movie. I have 100 pages to go

I'm only 45% on audiobook. only chapter two with ebook

I liked this book, it was fast paced kept you interested, I really appreciated that there wasn't a twist necessarily (ex. his father wasn't the killer). It was a good palette cleanser

Based on y’all reviews, it seems legit. I’m excited to jump in!

Jay wrote: "Based on y’all reviews, it seems legit. I’m excited to jump in!"

Yep, listening to audiobook and definitely should be a Netflix TV series or movie.

Titus also has religious issues after losing his mommy! So child abandonment issues, and neglecting religious connection due to the loss, but knows the word because his father Albert is a pastor, grew up with it but definitely shows he lost his faith and hope in the Word of God, and in him, the Creator as a whole due to loss/grief. He connects it to the cases of murder/loss too.

I did not see/hear how old he was losing his mother and helpless alcoholic brother is all I got so far.

There was a lot of meat on the bones of this book. Cosby took on a number of polarizing subjects. From the hidebound conservatism of the small town rural south, monuments to the confederacy and white supremacy, Black political and policing empowerment, religious fundamentalism and the lack thereof, grief stricken family units and the fractured families left by the death of a loved one, to the murderous and psychotic effects of racial self hate. All set in the idyllic Va. Eastern shore and tidewater areas. I would think that Titus goes on from this book to even bigger cases.

Oh..and how could I forget...child abuse and endangerment.

just finally got my copy from the library a few days ago and ripped right through it.

it's been a longggg time since ive read a murder mystery, and parts of this book were really difficult to get through -- the lungs and spray being one example. i was grateful that the child torture and murder scenes were less completely graphic and explicit and that we got more of titus' and deputies' responses rather than the gory details.

dont think i'll be diving back into the murder mystery genre again for a while after reading this one, but i quite enjoyed the southern, religious themes and imagery as well as cosby's commentaries on race, racism, trauma, and relationships throughout the entire book. really beautifully stylistically written too. grateful for this read.

Well, it appears the child abuse may have been a little too much for some readers. Did others feel the same way or not? Will that be a dealbreaker and deter you from reading other books by this author?

Any final thoughts on the book?

Thanks to all who participated in this months discussion. As always, the thread will remain up.

Columbus, child abuse, sexual abuse like sex trafficking, and any abuse is real--traumatic, and damaging as a whole. I read it. It is surreal, life experiences, and experienced child abuse in some form or fashion; yet, I am thankful a higher power and source helped me overcome. I could read the book and audiobook helped me gather my thoughts as a whole.

I want to read his other work now.

I admit the nature of this book was dark and I did end up reading a fluffy romance after it to cleanse the palate so to speak. However, I have heard so many good things about Razorblade Tears, that I still want to read it.

I'm not an avid fan of this genre, but I find that I am compelled to read SA Cosby. He's a riveting writer. This book was fast paced and (not to overuse the term) riveting. I couldn't stop listening. Yes, he tackled a lot of themes that are similar to many that people of color face every day. He gives voice to too often overlooked facts of life. He's become an immediate read for me in a genre I don't particularly care for. That kind of says it all for me. I read Bluebird, Bluebird last year and I found the character development of the black protagonist very compelling in both books. The main differences to me were that Locke can write female characters very well. S. A. Cosby doesn't have that range. But Cosby keeps the reader's attention throughout the book. His worldbuilding is exceptional. He puts you right there in the mix! Reading him is like a rollercoaster ride. He's so good! The violence and all the negatives that go along with it, to me are part of the genre. I knew when I opened the book to expect unpleasant and uncomfortable things to happen. My personal opinion, he handled the readers with gloves, not flinching from the violence but not placing the reader in the POV of the victims either.

Monica wrote: "I'm not an avid fan of this genre, but I find that I am compelled to read SA Cosby. He's a riveting writer. This book was fast paced and (not to overuse the term) riveting. I couldn't stop listenin..."

Thanks for this, Monica. I agree with you totally. Cosby is a compelling and thoughtful writer.

I still need to read Locke’s Bluebird, Bluebird and other books. I read her first book, Black Water Rising (think that was the first) and didn’t care for it very much. But so many people said I should try her again, so I will.

ColumbusReads wrote: "I still need to read Locke’s Bluebird, Bluebird and other books. I read her first book, Black Water Rising (think that was the first) and didn’t care for it very much. But so many people said I should try her again, so I will...."

Hey Columbus! Take my comment about Locke with a grain of salt. I've only read one book by her. The protagonists in both novels were very similar which is why I thought of her. I also note that she can write compelling female characters very well in a genre that in my experience (which is admittedly very limited) does not. But Cosby turns the plotting and intrigue and mystery up to eleven! I didn't mean to compare the authors, just the characterization of the protagonists and their struggle to work within a system that is extremely biased (and not in a positive direction) towards people of color.

All the Sinners Bleed,” by S.A. Cosby, won the Macavity Award for Best Mystery by the members of Mystery Readers International. Cosby’s novel, about a serial killer in a Southern town, was also one of The Washington Post’s 12 best thrillers of 2023.