King of Ashes: A Novel

S. A. Cosby

Jun 2025 · Macmillan Audio · Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

24 reviews

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13 hr 19 min

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About this audiobook

A 2026 Audie Awards finalist for Audiobook of the Year!

“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.”—Kirkus

"Narrator Adam Lazarre-White's emotionally rich performance captivates, keeping listeners deeply invested in this tragically grim tale." — Library Journal

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.

A 2026 Audie Awards finalist for Audiobook of the Year! “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 ...

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Ratings and reviews

24 reviews

Darcia Helle

October 31, 2025

I’m in the minority here. I didn’t like this book at all. Some of my reasons: ➛Roman was not only unlikable, but I found him reprehensible with no redeeming qualities. The narrative’s intent was for us to believe that he was the family protector. He was nothing more than a wealthy thug. ➛Dante, Roman’s younger brother, was irresponsible and immature. His behavior was dangerous. He created the problems, then he sat back whining, drinking, and getting high, while his brother had to clean up his mess. AND Roman was somehow okay with that. Ridiculous. ➛Money was apparently so easy to make that it was like Roman was printing it in his garage. ➛Roman’s relationships with women made me groan out loud. All the women wanted him, happy to immediately fall into bed with him. And the attempt at showing Roman’s vulnerability through, well, I can’t say because of spoilers, but just, no. These sections were like a man’s fantasy story in Penthouse. And Roman’s sister was nothing more than an afterthought, both to the brothers and to the author. ➛The graphic, over-the-top violence was the only driving force in this story. Oh, and Roman’s sexual exploits. He’s a veritable fighting sex machine. ➛Content was insanely repetitive, with the same constant references to the siblings’ mother (Is she dead? Did she run away and leave us? Where’s Mom?) and the same discussions between Roman and Dante. ➛I’ve seen lots of talk about the “surprise” ending. I wasn’t the least bit surprised. From the start, the entire story directed us to that very conclusion. You get the point. An epic fail for me. *Thank you (and apologies!) to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download.*

Shara Marquis

June 26, 2025

I don't normally listen to audiobooks but I really enjoyed this one. the narration was interesting and kept me engaged and the book itself was quite interesting with A few twists along the way.

LaLisa

July 9, 2025

Excellent storyline for the book. This is my first audiobook and was pleasantly surprised on how the narrator kept me intrigued with the book. The suspense and the plot twist kept me on edge. I would definitely recommend this book and audio version to friends.

About the author

S. A. Cosby is a New York Times bestselling writer from southeastern Virginia. He is the author of All the Sinners Bleed, which was on more than forty Best of the Year lists, including Barack Obama’s, as well as Edgar Award finalist Razorblade Tears and Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Blacktop Wasteland. He has also won the Anthony Award, ITW Thriller Award, Barry Award, Macavity Award, BCALA Award, and Audie Award and has been longlisted for the ALA Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.

S. A. Cosby is a New York Times bestselling writer from southeastern Virginia. He is the author of All the Sinners Bleed, which was on more than forty Best of the Year lists, including Barack Obama’s, as well as Edgar Award finalist Razorblade Tears and Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Blackto...

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