When you speak against me would you bring your family: ALL THE SINNERS BLEED.

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Titus Crowne returns to his hometown of Charon County, VA to help take care of his father. A former FBI agent, he runs for Sheriff to try to help change things in Charon, especially the way the Black community is treated by so many (including the former Sheriff). Becoming Charon's first Black sheriff is an honor. But exactly one year after he's elected, there's a school shooting at the high school. With a teacher shot by a student and that Black student shot by his deputies, Titus knows he owes his community an investigation. But he never expects that investigation to lead to trail of horror and abuse dating back years in Charon.

This is an absolutely amazing book. I listed to it on audio, which was wonderful. I will tell you that it's not for the faint of heart--this is a brutal story in so many ways, with a horrifying story that very much revolves around dead children, abuse, and torture.

SINNERS is a complex story that spans difficult topics like race and religion. But Titus is the heart of the tale, and he's a wonderful and complicated character. I was totally drawn into his life, his world, his thoughts. He's struggling with returning home, leaving the FBI behind, and trying to police a small town where many members still march in support of Confederate statues. The way Cosby discusses and portrays race is truly masterful -- he made genius point after point about the ridiculous desires to protect these insane statues and the struggles Titus faces as a Black sheriff in the south. Not only that, but Titus must solve a terrifying mystery that could overtake his town. It's dark and horrific, but compelling and so well-done. Using the secrets of Charon's small town as the backdrop, as well as Titus' friendships and familial relationships to explore the depths of this mystery and other troubling topics, this is truly a masterpiece.

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I don't mind working without a net: RAZORBLADE TEARS.

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

RAZORBLADE TEARS is the third book in my alphabetical author challenge (C). This story about a black father, a white father, and their murdered sons was riveting and heartbreaking.

Ike has been out of jail for fifteen years when his son Isiah is murdered, along with his husband, Derek. Ike never fully accepted that Isiah was gay and neither did Derek’s father, Buddy Lee. But as two ex-cons, Ike and Buddy Lee feel that they can seek justice for Isiah and Derek better than the cops. As they do, they set off a violent chain of events that may put themselves in danger as well.

This book is so good—well-written and not afraid to tackle hard topics such as racism and homophobia. It made me cry, and Ike and Buddy Lee felt like real people to me. It’s not for the faint of heart—it’s gory—but it’s also about love, family, and acceptance. This story is brutal but also hopeful, and I cannot recommend it enough!

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