Book Review by Robert Wiersema All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby With his first three books, Virginia writer S.A. Cosby rapidly leapt to the forefront of contemporary crime writing. Razorblade Tears (the story of two ex-cons – one Black, one white – who band together to seek revenge on the murderers of their married sons) was a New York Times bestseller and was awarded the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover novel. Blacktop Wasteland (the story of a retired getaway driver drawn back for one last job to secure his life on the straight and narrow) was a New York Times Notable Book and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian and numerous other media outlets. The Los Angeles Times referred to him as “one of the genre’s best living practitioners” and his unique take on Southern noir has attracted a huge following among both readers and other writers. All of that, however, is just prologue. With his latest book All the Sinners Bleed, Cosby has left no doubt: beyond being one of the finest crime writers at work today, he is among the very best contemporary writers overall; skilled and daring, willing to push the novel in new and powerful directions. All the Sinners Bleed is the story of Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff in Charon County, Virginia’s history. He’s not exactly a beloved figure in the role and he knows that he’s only going to be sheriff for a short time – he won a special election following an accident that forced the previous sheriff from the job, but the powers that be won’t let him stand for re-election. In the meantime, though, Crown – a former FBI agent who grew up in Charon County – is doing his best in the role, navigating his way amidst racism, small-town ties and members of the Black community who criticize him for not doing enough. Everything comes to a head for Crown on the first anniversary of his election, when a school shooting takes place in Charon. Unusually (and somewhat mercifully) this is not a mass shooting, but a targeted murder: the only victim of the crime is a beloved teacher, killed at his desk in his classroom. While the murderer is killed on the scene, Crown’s investigation begins to uncover secrets which the town has hidden for years and, in some cases, generations. Very soon, he is pursuing a serial killer while the forces of the community begin to constrict around him. All the Sinners Bleed is a taut, suspenseful read, but one which doesn’t skimp on depth and complexity. While Cosby’s previous books have focused on characters on the dark side of the law, he is just as skilled at presenting the conflicts and struggles of Crown – a lawman out of place, fighting a fight that some around him don’t want him to win. It’s a powerful read, and one of the best books of the year. (A piece of unsolicited advice: read all of Cosby’s books; he really is a master of his craft.) CSANews | FALL 2023 | 39
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