King of Ashes

A Novel

De: S. A. Cosby

Narrado por: Adam Lazarre-White

“Narrator Adam Lazarre-White masterfully voices a wide range of characters. Listeners will be captivated by the layered storytelling, morally complex characters, and the powerful interpretation of a narrative steeped in pain, violence, and family loyalty.”—AudioFile

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby returns with King of Ashes, a Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic and dazzling family drama.

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family—and the family business—together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.

Roman, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his brother: himself, and his own particular set of skills.

Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realize. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.

Because everything burns.

"Lazarre-White brings a nuanced portrayal to a full cast of complex characters. The rich details are given depth with Lazarre-White’s lyrical qualities."—Booklist on All the Sinners Bleed (Starred Review)

"Adam Lazarre-White’s Southern drawl drips slow as molasses..."—Library Journal on All The Sinners Bleed (Starred review)

A Macmillan Audio production from Pine & Cedar Books.

©2025 S. A. Cosby (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Brutal, messy, masterpiece

Wow. That was a dark, delirious ride. I did not love this book as much as I love Cosby’s other books, but I also think this is a masterpiece. It’s gut wrenching and haunting. One thing I love about his books is the heart and the prevalence of love and the tidy taking care of the racists and bad guys. That’s lame and shallow on my part, but it is how it is. This here is not a feel good book. It’s a brilliant feel bad book. It’s also very winding, outrageous and twisted, both plot wise and emotionally. Like some of the occurrences are unbelievable, but that’s something I’m totally prepared to accept when I read horror, and while this is not a horror per se, it definitely detours into horrific territory. The villains are terrifying, and it becomes even scarier when you begin to question who the villains are. If you can handle the darkness, this is a must read thriller by a brilliant author.

And I will never tire of this narrator’s voice. He is fantastic.

Worth the Read

I loved Razor Blade Tears and was looking forward to this book, but…… at some points there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue which made the book drag. There is a great little Easter Egg towards the end that made me smile. As in Razor Blade Tears S.A. Cosby has a wonderful way of creating and describing fully rounded characters to the point I feel I could point them out on the street.

Loved EVERYTHING about this book!

S.A. Cosby and Adam Lazarre-White have done it again! This audiobook literally had me on the edge of my seat. I so admire the way Mr. Cosby develops his characters. He has a gift of showcasing that there is good and evil in us all..... given the right circumstances. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the unconditional love between the siblings and the down and dirty violence (at one point, I had to ask myself what kind of person thinks of so many sedistic ways to kill people).

If you're a fan of S.A. Cosby books, you'll really enjoy the subtle references to characters from previous books and a cameo appearance of one. It was really good finding out how life is going for one of the previous main characters.

On a final note, as usual, have your dictionary nearby. I have a whole college degree and will occasionally pause the audiobook to look up a word. You will be entertained, shook, and educated!

Cosby and Lazarre-White, these two brothas ain't nothin to play wit!

SA Crosby does it again!

did not disappointment. All the twists and turns. This one was definitely not predictably

An Incredibly Fun Read

First time reader of S.A. Cosby. Gonna plow through the back catalog now. A great storyteller ~ b.

Family Secrets Always Resurface

Excellent storyline!!!

I love how each sibling was portrayed. Roman demonstrating the role of the eldest and feeling responsible for his younger siblings. Neveah being the only sister being nurturing and feeling responsible for everyone and everything and Dante dealing with emotional trauma, drowning in addictive substances trying to cope with guilt and feeling like the “black sheep”.

The family dynamics are so realistic and what they go through to seek revenge is captivating.

S. A. Cosby never disappoints! You think you know the plot’s direction…Oh,no…you don’t.

I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next one.

Velvety Narration Enhances the Story Itself

The texture of the narration is perfectly matched to the story itself. The story unfolds in such shockingly unexpected ways and it’s everything holds even as it spirals. I loved the central Virginia references too.

The storyline the delivery very very intriguing book

Nothing about this movie I did not like. Love love, love the storyline title love the author story.

Amazing Story

This was such a great read. Finished it in less than a week. Fantastic storyline and characters that captivated your attention.

Great listen!!!! As usual! My favorite author

Every book SA has authored is a great story that keeps you hooked until the very end!