A Black sheriff. A serial killer. A small town ready to combust.

Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, Charon has had only two murders. After years of working as an FBI agent, Titus knows better than anyone that while his hometown might seem like a land of moonshine, cornbread, and honeysuckle, secrets always fester under the surface.

Then a year to the day after Titus’s election, a school teacher is killed by a former student and the student is fatally shot by Titus’s deputies. Those festering secrets are now out in the open and ready to tear the town apart.

As Titus investigates the shootings, he unearths terrible crimes and a serial killer who has been hiding in plain sight, haunting the dirt lanes and woodland clearings of Charon. With the killer’s possible connections to a local church and the town’s harrowing history weighing on him, Titus projects confidence about closing the case while concealing a painful secret from his own past. At the same time, he also has to contend with a far-right group that wants to hold a parade in celebration of the town’s Confederate history.

I’d heard rave reviews about this book when it was released last year. I immediately purchased it, and as typically is the case, it went on to sit on my shelf for several months. I can’t believe I waited so long to read it! This book is fantastic, but I will warn you: it is not for the faint of heart.

The novel follows Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff of Charon County, Virginia, as he navigates a web of deceit, violence, and corruption in his small town while racing against the clock to find a serial killer.

The story begins with Titus about to start his day when he receives an alert that there is a school shooting in progress. When he arrives at the school, a beloved white teacher has been shot and killed by a young Black man who happens to be the son of Titus’s best friend. When the shooter emerges from the school, he recites bible verses before he is gunned down by two white police officers, but not before telling Titus to check the teacher’s phone. What Titus soon learns is that the teacher was a pedophile, and he and a masked man, along with the school shooter, were murdering black children. With the teacher and the other accomplice dead, that leaves one unknown killer still at large, and Titus will do everything he can to bring him down, no matter the cost.

The plot twists and nonstop action in this novel are so gripping that they kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The pacing is spot-on, and I was so transfixed that I would listen to the audiobook when I wasn’t sitting down reading. And I must say, the narrator of the audiobook is fantastic! I enjoyed his performance so much that I would also listen while reading the physical copy.

The writing style is raw but poetic, perfectly suited to the dark and gritty subject matter. Cosby doesn’t hold back when it comes to violence, painting a stark and brutal picture of the world Titus inhabits. This wasn’t always easy to read, but it felt very real, which made it all the more captivating.

One of the book’s standout (and most timely) aspects is its profound exploration of race relations in a small Southern town. Cosby fearlessly tackles challenging issues like police violence, white supremacy, and systemic racism. Through Titus’ eyes, we see the complexities of life as a Black man in a predominantly white community, and we feel his frustration, anger, and determination to make things right.

The characters in this book are rich and complex, each more intriguing than the last. Titus is a flawed but compelling protagonist, haunted by a dark past and struggling to do what is right despite overwhelming odds. You can’t help but root for him as he battles to uncover the truth behind these brutal murders.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, each one adding depth and nuance to the story. From Titus’ father and brother and the complex relationship they all share to the townspeople who have their own secrets to hide, everyone plays a crucial role in the unfolding drama. Cosby has a knack for creating multidimensional characters who feel like they could step off the page and into the real world.

Overall, I found this to be a masterfully crafted thriller that had me riveted until the end. If you’re a fan of crime fiction, thrillers, or just great storytelling in general, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. It’s a thought-provoking and powerful read that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to check out the rest of Cosby’s work.

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