The Night Diver

The first thing that got me to this book was the absolutely gorgeous cover. Whoever designed it has created the literary equivalent of a lure for a fish, because I was already hooked. But unlike a fish, I was fortunate to be caught, because what was beyond the cover made it more than worth the trouble. ‘All The Sinner Bleed’ is equal parts a detective story and a horror story with fully intriguing characters and small town that feels very much alive in every page. Even though it isn’t a horror story that deals with ghouls and ghosts, it is a rather grisly hunt for a killer that is elevated from grounded to downright chilling through the Cosby’s writing.

One thing to note is that the book does deal with some very heavy themes, so if these are things that may trigger you, maybe give this a skip.

TW: Extreme Descriptions of Crime Scenes, References to Violence against Children

Firstly, I thoroughly enjoyed following the main character, Titus Crown in his hunt for a killer in his small town. The story covered much of the procedures that detectives might take in finding a suspect, but it also kept it included in a pace that never felt like a drag. The insights into Titus’s own mind was fascinating, providing clues to what is going on, but never fully giving away the solution until the very end. I think the story also did a phenomenal job in incorporating a lot of issues regarding racism and police work into this small town, serving as a microcosm of national conversations that we hear today. The commentary is smartly weaved into the narrative, and it provides thoughtful context to the story as it unfolds.

In terms of the horror content, this book is absolutely chilling to the bone without the use of any supernatural elements. Charon is written like a truly living town with a dark underbelly bubbling beneath the surface, dotted with shady yet amusing characters that make their mark in your imagination. The tension is absolutely palpable, and it only ratchets up more as Titus and his department go after a killer becoming as unraveled as the victims he leaves in their midst. S.A Cosby is a master at creating characters and a narrative with rich and complex layers, commentary, all packaged in a perfectly paced plot that will keep you craving for the next mystery he’ll concoct next. Any enjoyer of mystery and horror will find this book a great addition to their collection.

My final rating is 4/5 stars