Trigger Warning: This review discusses themes of violence, abuse, and mental health struggles as explored in the book. Some readers may find these topics distressing. Please proceed with caution if you are sensitive to these subjects.
Title: All the Sinners Bleed
Author: S.A. Cosby
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Genre: Crime Thriller, Mystery
Year of Publication: 2023
Date of Publication: June 6, 2023
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1250831911
ISBN-13: 978-1250831910
Audiobook Read by: Adam Lazarre-White
Summary of All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
All the Sinners Bleed centers on Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff in a small Southern town. Titus ran for Sheriff because he wanted to make a difference in the local black community. His journey begins when a former student, Latrell MacDonald, shoots a teacher, Jeff Spearman. After shooting Jeff Spearman, Latrell is also shot and killed by the police but before he was killed he made some comments asking the police to look into Jeff’s phone accusing Jeff of being the devil.
Prior to the shooting, there were already silent racial tensions in the small community but once the shooting happened, the town was openly divided. There were those who saw that a beloved teacher was shot by a young black man and others who saw that a young black man was killed by two white police officers while he was in the process of surrendering, and no matter who was Sheriff, there were questions to be raised.
As Titus begins his investigation, he discovers a video showing Jeff Spearman, Latrell MacDonald, and a man later nicknamed “the last wolf,” committing really terrible crimes on different children including murder. He also learns more about the layers of corruption in his town.
“Think of the worst thing you’ve ever seen. Now imagine seeing it dozens of times. See it and hear the screams that come with it and the cries for mercy, or for God, or for mama. And knowing that there will be no mercy, no rescue, and no divine hand of God coming down to smite the devils.”—Titus Crown’s reflecting on what he saw at Jeff Spearman’s house.
Most of the story is about Titus search for justice for the abused and murdered victims, how he deals with hostile forces within the town, and how he balances his duty with his values.
“Terrible people can do good things sometimes, but they like doing terrible things more.”—Titus Crown reflecting
Main Characters and Plot
- Titus Crown: He is the protagonist, the Sheriff of Charon county, Virginia. Titus used to be a former FBI agent before he became the Sheriff of this county.
- Albert Crown: He is Titus and Marquis father. He has a wonderful relationship with Titus. Albert has a great sense of humor.
- Marquis Crown: Titus younger brother.
- Helen Crown: Titus late mother.
- Darlene: Titus girlfriend.
- Kellie: Titus ex-girlfriend. She runs a true-crime podcast.
- Latrell MacDonald: A young black student who perpetuates a school shooting.
- Calvin and Dorothy MacDonald: Parents of Latrell and Lavon MacDonald. Titus went to school with Calvin.
- Lavon MacDonald: He is the younger brother of Latrell MacDonald
- Jeff Spearman: Prior to his death, he was viewed as a beloved teacher. He was killed during a school shooting. The information discovered after his death revealed he was a terrible person beneath his public persona.
- Jamal Addison: He is a pastor of a local Black church in Charon County. When Titus was running for the Sheriff position, Jamal was one of his biggest supporters but somewhere along the line after Titus made it clear that he would be going by the book and not leaning towards any particular group, their relationship change. Jamal is passionate about social justice and extremely outspoken about issues he deems as prejudiced.
- Scott Cunningham: Chairman of the county board.
- Red DeCrain: A white supremacist cult leader. His story ties to why Titus left the FBI.
- Neo‑Confederate Group (led by figures like Ricky Sours and includes followers like Denver Carlyle): Their planned parade and open racism thrust Titus into a clash over race, heritage, and law enforcement responsibilities.
- Roger Simmons, Tom, and Carla Ortiz: All three of them are deputies that work with Titus at the Sheriff office and were present during the school incident. One of them has a secret.
- Cole Marshall: He was a delivery truck driver and one of the murder victims found dead later in the novel.
- Dayane Carter: She is Cole Marshall’s ex-girlfriend.
- Darnell Posey: An anonymous person pays him to deliver a shoe box to the police station containing some gruesome contents for $500. He was a friend of Latrell MacDonald.
- The Last Wolf: A killer who wore a wolf mask in the videos with Jeff Spearman and Latrell MacDonald. He likes to include phrases that sounded like biblical scripture on his victims.
- Jasper Sanderson: He is a known heroin dealer in Charon County. He claims to have a deputy in his pocket.
- Henry and Elias Hillington: They are two brothers. Elias runs a cult-like church.
- Gabriel (Royce Lazare): Gabriel was adopted by the Elias, after first being given up by Polly Anne Cunningham.
- Polly Anne Cunningham: She was forced to give up her mixed-race son many years ago.
- Dr. Julie Kim: She is the medical examiner.
- Caleb Cunningham: He is the owner of the Cunningham Flag Factory. They own a number of trucks.
- Tank Billups: He owns the stretch of land where the serial killer buried victims. The police found a mass grave near a willow tree on his property.
Writing Style
The story is told in a third person narration style but mostly focused on Titus Crown’s point of view. S.A. Cosby’s writing is absolutely fantastic! The words the author uses to describe events, relationships, and even the setting, truly paints a very detailed picture of things.
“Titus had seen his share of horrific things in his twelve years as an FBI agent. The ability of one human to visit depravity upon another was as boundless as the sea and as varied as they were grains of sands on a beach.”—Titus Crown’s internal reflections
As a reader, you clearly understand the pressures that would have been on Titus during the investigation of this case. But even more importantly, Cosby clearly captures the racial tensions that arise and how Titus and his colleagues work to calm the situation and prevent escalation.
“The South doesn’t change. You can try to hide the past, but it comes back in ways worse than the way it was before. Terrible ways.”
He might sigh and look away and say:
“The South doesn’t change… just the names and the dates and the faces. And sometimes even those don’t change, not really. Sometimes it’s the same day and the same faces waiting for you when you close your eyes. Waiting for you in the dark…”—attributed to Sheriff Titus Crown
In terms of the main character, Titus Crown is very likeable. The way the character reasons, analyzes things, and his motivation are very well portrayed. Titus has a very cool and collected vibe.
Favorite Quotes
- “Fight or flight went from an abstract concept in health class to a necessary component of survival.”—Titus Crown’s internal reflections
- “Titus prayed the shooter did not have…some other machine designed to deal out death like a spreader tossing seeds.”—Titus Crown’s internal reflections
- “You pick up an axe, you’re going to chop down a tree. You pick up a gun, whether you are wearing a star or not, eventually, you’re going to chop down a man.”—Titus Crown’s internal reflections
- “…but that was the thing about violence, it didn’t always wait for an invitation, sometimes, it saw a crack in the dam, and then it flooded the whole valley.”—Titus Crown’s reflecting on Jamal’s intentions
- “If a man decides you are not his friend, then you look like a fool trying to hang on to that title.”—Titus Crown’s internal reflections
- “A lie can be halfway around the world while the truth is still pulling up its britches.”—The words of Helen Crown
- “In vino veritas.”—Titus Crown says this while reflecting on his past. It is Latin for “in wine there is truth”
- “True madness is like an aura around someone. It glows blue like the flame from a gas fire. That madness can spread. Become like a religion for the lost”—Titus Crown remembering his experience with Red DeCrain and his family.
Impact of All the Sinners Bleed
The novel’s lessons sadly continue to be relevant and serves as a reflection on social justice and prejudice in small-town America. It highlights the power of resilience and how difficult it can sometimes be to fight for change.
All the Sinners Bleed is being adapted into a limited series by Netflix, with Joe Robert Cole (screenwriter of Black Panther and American Crime Story) as the writer, executive producer, and director for select episodes.
