All the Sinners BleedAll the Sinners Bleed
What it's about
Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of a small Virginia county. When a young man shoots a beloved white teacher at the high school and is killed by deputies, Titus discovers that the teacher was hiding something horrifying: evidence of a string of murders of Black children, and an accomplice who is still out there.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Edgar and Goodreads Choice awards. Cosby is one of the best crime writers working, and this is a powerful thriller about race, faith and justice in the South.
You'll love it if you liked
The Bottoms
Mr. Mercedes
The River We RememberGood to know
It's very dark, with child murders and graphic violence, though the abuse is described rather than shown.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #84 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #151 of the 481 new books we rank
- #878 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by S. A. Cosby
If you like this, read next
The Correspondent
The Housemaid
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen RiverExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is All the Sinners Bleed worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Edgar and Goodreads Choice awards. It ranks #878 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is All the Sinners Bleed about?
Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of a small Virginia county. When a young man shoots a beloved white teacher at the high school and is killed by deputies, Titus discovers that the teacher was hiding something horrifying: evidence of a string of murders of Black children, and an accomplice who is still out there.
How long does it take to read All the Sinners Bleed?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after All the Sinners Bleed?
If you liked it, try The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale, Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King or The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger.