whitneydaniell

by: S.A Cosby
published: June 6, 2023
genre: Mystery, Thriller
341 Pages, E-Book
GoodReads Link

Synopsis

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 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. 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.

I. The Story / Plot

In a small town like Charon, where a stolen bike might make the evening news, the weight of concern becomes even heavier when a sadistic serial killer is on the loose. This story unfolds as a gripping tale of a newly elected sheriff chasing the demons of his past while simultaneously combating the devils walking the earth. Following a reported school shooting, which resulted in only one casualty outside of the shooter himself, this singular crime opens the door to a world of faith and delusion.

Titus has his crosses to bear, and he’s fiercely fighting to prevent them from intersecting with his job once again. Mourning the death of his mother and grappling with the demise of his FBI career, he finds himself back in his hometown, tending to his aging father, and desperately striving to keep the people of his town safe.

As the case gains momentum, Titus is thrust into a mortal battle between good and evil—between the town’s racists and the Christian zealots, and between everything he loves and everything he lost.

II. Characters

The cast of characters is vast—too many to keep track of. Every resident of Charon is mentioned in this story, with names and occupations laid out. Even if I tried, I couldn’t possibly keep track of everyone mentioned. The sheer number leads me to believe it was intentional, aiming to immerse the reader in the feeling of knowing every nook and cranny of this small town—after all, everybody knows everybody in a close-knit community.

Titus exudes strength and determination. He left his hometown for dreams and aspirations that had outgrown the small confines. Planted in Indiana, working for the FBI, he found himself in the company of a woman who ignited a passion within him. Now back in his father’s home, the same home of his childhood, he’s dedicated to keeping the streets he once roamed safe.

Carla, Davy, Steve, Pip, Tom, and Trey (and likely a few more names I may have missed), form the eclectic group assisting Sheriff Crown in maintaining town safety. Naturally, suspicions may arise about one of them—after all, who wouldn’t entertain the idea?

III. The Writing

Way. Too. Many. Words.

Cosby proves himself to be an exceptional storyteller—his narrative style is nothing short of painting a vivid picture. Every page is adorned with descriptive prose that provides a crystal-clear vision of the scenes he crafts. He also has a penchant for metaphors and allegories, often drawing on wisdom and anecdotes from Titus’s mother and his former FBI partner.

IV. My Final Thoughts

This was a slow burn for me; it took a while to pick up and truly immerse me in the story. I found myself struggling through the first 200 pages, but around page 205, I was hooked! I must admit, all my initial suspects were wrong. Usually, I’m adept at identifying the perpetrator, but with this story, there were just way too many people to keep track of.

Although I liked the book, its contents are very heavy—dead black boys and girls, racism, religion, a school shooting, etc. This book should come with a warning label; if you’re unpacking any kind of trauma, it needs a disclaimer! It’s weighty, but I would absolutely purchase it for myself or my friends, and I would read it again.