Nationally acclaimed local mystery writer S.A. Cosby will be featured during an upcoming author talk in Tappahannock. The Essex Public Library is sponsoring the special event, scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. at the Essex High School Auditorium. It will include a presentation by Cosby about his life and work, followed by a Q&A session and a book signing.
Cosby’s works focus on the rural Southern experience, including themes of race, religion, heritage and masculinity. In a feature on the author, the New York Times’ Dwight Garner wrote that Cosby’s books are “about fathers and sons, and sex and race and class, and the stain of Southern history.” His distinctive voice has been celebrated as part of a new and diverse wave of Southern noir crime fiction.
“All the Sinners Bleed,” Cosby’s latest murder mystery, follows the first Black sheriff of the fictional Charon County, Virginia as he investigates a complicated string of killings. Throughout the story, Cosby uses religious undertones to illustrate the effects of zealotry. “I wanted to talk about the way religion is used as a cudgel and a comfort in the South, how it divides and brings people together,” he told Publisher’s Weekly.
Cosby is also the author of the bestselling novels “Razorblade Tears” and “Blacktop Wasteland.” “Blacktop Wasteland,” an action-packed thriller about an ex-con antihero who gets drawn back into the criminal underground for one more job, became a surprise runaway hit in 2020, earning Cosby a mass of awards. Cosby’s 2021 novel, “Razorblade Tears,” is a story about two flawed fathers seeking vengeance for the murders of their gay sons. Both “Razorblade Tears” and “Blacktop Wasteland” are now being developed for film adaptations.
Cosby has also recently dipped into fiction for young people. He teamed up with musician Questlove to pen “The Rhythm of Time,” a middle grade chapter book for young readers, which came out in early 2023.
A native of Mathews County, Cosby has remained in Eastern Virginia and now resides on the shores of the York River. His experiences as a small-town local and his passion for life in the South shine through his faithful storytelling. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player.
“We are incredibly excited to be hosting S.A. Cosby here in Tappahannock,” said Dana Smook, Director of Essex Public Library. “We are honored to have him and thrilled we’re getting the opportunity to offer this event in our community.”
The event will be free and open to the public. Copies of the books will be available for purchase at the book signing. For more information, contact Essex Public Library at (804) 443-4945 or visit EPLVA.org.
