King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: June 2025

I love everything I've read by S.A. Cosby, but third time was not a charm after completing his latest work, King of Ashes. My experience with this highly-anticipated book did not live up to my expectations. I pre-ordered the novel, expecting a gritty yet redemptive story, but it didn't deliver what I hoped for. Here's a brief summary before I explain further.  

The protagonist, Roman, is called back home to Virginia after his father suffers critical injuries under suspicious circumstances. Upon his return, he learns that his brother Dante is in debt to a very dangerous drug-running gang. One thing leads to another, and Roman, Dante, and their sister are all involved, intentionally and unintentionally, in a perilous situation. 

Having previously read and enjoyed Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed, I was excited for this new release. Cosby's signature writing style is provocative and captivating, often infused with themes of redemption. While I found King of Ashes to be an intricately crafted story with multiple plot layers and a compelling mystery woven throughout to keep the reader hooked, I found no redeeming qualities in any of the characters. The absence of hope and excessive violence were off-putting. At certain points in the story, I had to physically put the book down and take breaks due to its graphic nature.

Recommendation: While Cosby is a talented storytelling who creates vivid imagery, this particular novel did not resonate with me. I still intend to read his future works, but I will approach them with more caution! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pages: 289 pages
Published: February 2014

Welcome to 2021. I started this book in 2020, but it is my first one completed on the first day of the year, and I hope this does not portend my reading year. The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson had great promise and an interesting premise but was an extremely frustrating read. This mystery's main character is George Foss, who reconnects with his first college love some decades later, when she asks him for a pretty serious favor. Seemingly caught up in the nostalgia of the relationship they once had George agrees and finds himself caught up in a dangerous whirlwind. 

The book is fast-moving, and the author's writing is intriguing. However, the story fell flat for me in the end because the ending really wasn't an ending at all. George was so infuriating, I'm not even sure we can call him a protagonist because he was his own antagonist. His love interest was equally difficult to follow and highly unlikeable. It just didn't seem like George made good choices throughout the book, and the author took the easy way out in the end - leaving this reader quite unfulfilled. 

Recommendation: I read this book with the Fort Worth Library's awesome Stay at Home Book Club. It's an awesome group of people all over the interwebs that reads and discusses together, and the consensus was Mr. Swanson left much too be desired with this read. But, hey, that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pages: 288 pages
Published: June 2020

The Last Flight by Julie Clark was my June selection from Book of the Month. Book of the Month is a wonderful little subscription service if you enjoy reading physical copies of books, what's more is you often get access to books before they're officially released to the public at large. This was the case with The Last Flight. I am really glad I snagged a copy of this psychological thriller about two women looking to escape their dangerous lives and swap plane tickets at the airport. The premise might seem far-fetched, but after reading the book, people could certainly do this and get away with it. So, you have Claire who is married to a super aggressive and abusive aspiring political giant, and Eva, who is in a seemingly inescapable situation of her own. Their chance meeting at an airport restaurant results in their mutual decision to take on each other's identity for the purpose of a flight. This life-altering event is the nexus of a series of events.

I found this book to be entertaining, insightful, fast-paced and ... simply thrilling. I had to stop myself from wanting to read faster and faster to find out what happens in the lives of these women but also not wanting it to end because I enjoyed the character development and got invested in both of them as well as the overall plot. The story, like a lot of thrillers, is told in alternating perspectives and timelines. I suspect most mystery and thriller authors choose this tactic to create more suspense, and it worked well in this instance. I enjoyed this book so much when I shared what I was reading with my mother she asked if she could borrow my copy when I was finished.

Recommendation: This is a quick, short book that can be read over a nice summer weekend. I promise it will keep you guessing till the very end. The official release date was June 23rd so you should be able to find a copy at your local library now, or purchase your own wherever books are sold.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Rating:  4.5 of 5 stars
Length: 448 pages
Published: June 2018

Us Against You is the second book in the series by Fredrik Backman surrounding a small, fictional hockey town in Sweden - Beartown. Beartown is the first book in the series. Us Against You picks up just a few months after the plot of Beartown. The local hockey team is the center of the town, and both the town and hockey team are trying to rebuild after a tragic event that occurred between a hockey player and the team manager's daughter. Us Against You is about this community healing and moving forward from the events of the first book.  

Us Against You is very similar to Beartown in its themes and style. They are both stories about division, hiding from oneself, and learning how to overcome the obstacle of public shame. As usual, Backman does a lovely job with his writing. He creates tension and tells a compelling story that propels the reader deep into his narrative. 

I enjoyed the second book a little more than the first because it rounds out the overall plot, ending on a hopeful note. However, I must admit, I am hoping for a third book set 10 years in the future so I can learn more about how the characters, especially the children, mature as adults. If you couldn't tell, I've become emotionally invested in these characters and their respective stories. 

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I felt it most necessary to read after completing Beartown. 

Recommendation: I'd definitely recommend this book to Backman fans, literary fiction readers, and if you've read Beartown you must read Us Against You.

Other Fredrik Backman books I've reviewed on A Page Before Bedtime:
Beartown
A Man Called Ove
My Grandmother Asked me to Tell You She's Sorry
Britt-Marie was Here
And Every Morning the Way Home gets Longer and Longer

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Witch Elm by Tana French

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Length: 464 pages
Published: October 2018

With the completion of The Witch Elm, I have now read all of Tana French's novels. Her first six books comprise a series that features the Dublin Detective Murder Squad. I enjoyed each of those books at varying levels. The Witch Elm is French's latest novel that features a murder mystery. However, the new book is standalone and is told from the perspective of a civilian - Toby - rather than from the perspective of a detective. Because the point of view is different, the writing style and story is vastly different. In perusing some online reviews, the book doesn't appear to have been well received by many of the author's dedicated fans. I think this is because those of us who enjoyed the Murder Squad series were expecting more of the same. If you go into this newest story without expectation, I think your result will be more positive. I rate this novel a 3.5, leaning strong toward a 4. 

The story opens with the protagonist, Toby, experiencing a traumatic event. This leads him to a family home where he spent much of his childhood to help care for his dying uncle. Then, a skull is discovered in a witch elm tree. From there, we learn more about Toby's cousins, who are more like his siblings, and his relationship with them. As the author peels back the layers, we tend to care less about the mystery as she focuses more on Toby figuring out who he was, who he is, and who he has become. We, as the reader, get an intimate look at Toby as the central character. Unfortunately, he's not a very likable one. But that's the thing about this author's novels, we get to meet characters who are real and flawed, making her stories resonate with the audience long after the book has been read.  

While the way The Witch Elm is told is different from French's previous novels, there are some elements that remain the same. As always, this is a well-written story full of well-constructed prose, imagery, foreshadowing, and character development - among many other literary devices. Because I received an advance reader's copy, I cannot quote directly from the novel, but you will not be disappointed in the strong writing. At nearly 500-pages, there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy French's style. She takes her time developing the plot. It takes about 30% of the book (or about chapter 5) before the reader realizes the crux of the plot. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like the mystery genre, but this book was more of a study of the human condition. I would recommend this book for a long-term read. You'll want to take your time with it to fully appreciate what it has to offer. I will note, the content is dark and somewhat depressing, so you might consider where you are emotionally before embarking on this book. 

Recommendation: So, will you enjoy this book? My answer. It depends. It depends on what kind of reader you are and what type of books you enjoy. I do believe it is worth a look. Grab an ecopy or the audio version - the print copy is much too heavy to lug around. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Thanks to Viking Press Publishing - Penguin Random House for an advanced reader's copy of The Witch Elm by Tana French. Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Length: 256 pages
Published: 2017

I learned about A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton from my online book club - Literary Fiction by People of Color. I was able to secure a copy from my local Fort Worth Library via digital loan. I jumped right into the story and finished it about 36 hours later. 

A Kind of Freedom is a saga told through three generations. Each section vacillates between pre-Civil Rights Movement, the late 1980s, and right after Hurricane Katrina. Evelyn is born of a doctor and homemaker. She and her sister Ruby appear to have all of the amenities that not many Black people enjoyed during the 1940s. But as it often happens, some life choices drastically changed the direction of Evelyn's life, resulting in societal tragedies for her daughter, Jackie, and also Evelyn's grandson T.C.

Overall I found this story very intriguing. I literally couldn't put the book down. But I also found it extremely depressing. There are a lot of conflicts in this novel. Some of them include mass incarceration, drug abuse, poverty, and inequality. My hope was there would be some ray of sunshine for this family. I wanted each character to pull him- or herself out of their situation. However, like real life, that can be a lot easier said than done. The way Sexton presents this family is very real, very raw. Her writing is poignant. I think she is an author to keep my eye on. 

I finished the book still thinking about the characters. I do wish the author could have closed up a few loose ends for me, specifically - What happened to Terry? 

Recommendation: This is a good read for someone who would like to take a peek into the life of an African American family. But remember, this is simply one person's perspective, and it cannot be generalized to a whole race of people. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 

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Boy on the Beach by R.D. Maddux

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Publisher: Ezekiel 12 Publications

Date of Publication: March 11, 2017

Pages: 304

Synopsis | My Review | Buy Now | About the Author | Giveaway | More Blogs

Andrew Foster, a real estate developer in San Diego, is a man suddenly haunted by his past. Memories, like specters from his former life of sex, drugs and rock and roll have come crashing into his current world of business in this sunny coastal city. The ominous, repeated appearance of a black SUV at the beach where he meets his sister each week, has triggered fears that it’s payback time for a bad choice he made years ago.

To add to his frustrations, his hopes of a big breakthrough in the San Diego real estate market haven’t come to pass. He’s starting to wonder if his visions of success will ever come true when an investor offers to finance his dream project. Soon things start to fall into place for Andrew in business, life, and even love. He starts dating the beautiful and business-savvy Nicole but even with her at his side he can’t seem to shake the ghosts of his past. As the relationship with Nicole deepens, Andrew opens up to her about the many loves and adventures that have taken him from the crazy days of living in Big Sur and Joshua Tree to business success in San Diego. Her wise insights help him face the character flaws that have caused him to fail in his past relationships. 

Rounding out his social life is his once-a-week task of assisting his sister with her nanny job watching a young boy named Chandler. They build sand castles on the beach and enjoy the beauty of nature together. But the now ominous weekly appearance of a strange car at the beach has awakened Andrew’s fears. Is the boy in danger? Or worse, has an enemy from Andrew’s past come seeking revenge and now Chandler’s caught in the middle? 

A strange twist of events threatens to destroy Andrew’s dreams, but as he searches for answers, a sudden revelation offers hope of a future he never imagined.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Boy on the Beach by R.D. Maddux is a moderately-paced yet suspense-filled drama featuring Andrew Foster as the protagonist. Andrew is a 57-year old real estate developer who is down on his luck in his professional life and filled with regret regarding his personal one. The one spot of joy for him is his weekly visits with Chandler, the young child for whom his sister is the nanny. When Andrew notices a strange vehicle that seems to be following he and Chandler, he wonders if Chandler is in trouble or if it's his past that is catching up with him or both! The reader is taken on an engaging emotional rollercoaster that alternates between present day and 37 years in Andrew's past to a surprising conclusion! 

I found the book's synopsis enticing, and I looked forward to diving into this story. The title of the book is a bit of a misnomer as it leads the reader to believe the book's focus is the little boy - Chandler. The actual story is interesting and pushes the reader forward in a quest to learn what's really going on in Andrew's life. Therefore, I think it would be better served with a more appropriately-descriptive title. 

The story is set in California, and it helps frames the plot. However, the author offers up acronyms and shortcuts without explanation for the non-Californian's benefit. There was an overabundance of the main character's mental or self talk. While each chapter changed perspectives from one character to another, the majority of the chapters focused on Andrew's perspective, and he often appeared a little whiny in his self-reflection. While an interesting character, I didn't find Andrew to be very likable. I honestly feel like some of what he received was just. 

As an African American blogger, I often try to read and review from that perspective. One interesting tidbit in the book for me was the description of Nicole, Andrew's love interest. When they first meet, in his mental talk, Andrew focuses on her age (40-ish) and her physical appearance saying she was "working hard to keep the wrinkles at bay." It made me pause and smile because being a 40-ish woman, wrinkles are not something I have to contend with. 

In many of Andrew's flashbacks he shares his experiences during the period of free love in which people pretty much did whatever they wanted with respect to sexual intimacy and drug use. The author provides some pretty detailed accounts of what it feels like to have an acid trip, making me wonder if some of this was autobiographical. Not to sound like too much of a prude, but I will never understand what people get out of drugs. The whole thing sounded rather unpleasant to me. 

At about the halfway point of the book, it's hard to discern exactly because the book contained no page numbers, the author finally tied the past with the present to get us to the peak of the action and make an understanding of the previously two disparate stories. The second half of the book takes the reader to the rather nice and tidy conclusion.  

Recommendation: This book kept my attention. I liked the story, but I think there could be some improvements to the structure and writing to help make this great premise a tighter, more enjoyable novel. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 

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R.D. Maddux has story telling in his blood. Since he was young he’s always loved a good tale. He’s been writing seriously since he was in high school and college. His novels range from Mystery and Intrigue to Sci-fi/fantasy. With Boy On The Beach he’s set the story in modern America, to be exact, on the West Coast of California. He’s a native of the golden state and has been a resident of San Diego since 1987. Before that he grew up in northern California and lived in the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area with sojourns in some of the beautiful parts of our state.

Living in California for over 60 years he couldn't help but watch the way things have changed in our culture and the impact this coast makes on the rest of America and the world. So even though Boy On The Beach is fiction, like most serious novels, it is not without a context and comment on issues we all face in our changing world. It takes place in real locations that are very familiar to him and its characters, which are fictional, no doubt have their counterparts in the real world. Boy On The Beach is a story of intrigue, suspense, revenge, love and redemption with flashbacks to the era when sex, drugs and rock and roll set our culture on it's inevitable journey to our present day. This idea has been rattling around in his heart and mind for a decade and it's finally coming to the page.

Connect with R.D.: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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