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Every book S.A. Cosby recommended on podcasts
S.A. Cosby is an acclaimed crime fiction author who appears on literary interview programs such as The Book Review to discuss the mechanics of Southern noir, the thematic gravity of modern storytelling, and the blurred lines between genre fiction and literary art. As a writer deeply immersed in the crime genre, Cosby frequently champions works that elevate suspense through profound emotional resonance and rich regional settings. Among his enduring favorites, he highlights Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres, noting its brilliance as a masterclass in fiction that underscores how all compelling stories ultimately involve crime and human transgression. He also strongly advocates for Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone, defying narrow genre categorizations to praise it as a magnificent piece of literature. In his discussions on contemporary and classic crime writing, Cosby frequently analyzes the works of masters like Walter Mosley, Raymond Chandler, and Ross Macdonald—specifically citing novels such as Devil in a Blue Dress, The Long Goodbye, and The Chill—as timeless explorations of human motivation. Furthermore, he looks to modern peers like Jordan Harper and Jennifer Hillier, whose compelling thrillers continually inspire him to push the boundaries of his own craft.
Books recommended by S.A. Cosby
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A thousand acres
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley is a celebrated contemporary novel that reimagines King Lear on a sprawling farm in rural Iowa, exploring deep family fractures, dark secrets, and rural life.
Discussed“...or you can read A Thousand Acres by James Smiley and you may not relate to a family that owns a huge farm in Nebraska.”
Where to get it
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Winter's Bone
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell is a gritty, atmospheric Ozark noir novel about a young woman named Ree Dolly who searches for her missing, drug-dealing father to save her family from eviction.
Recommended“I defy anyone to read Winter's Bone by Daniel woodrell and tell me that's not a great piece of literature”
Where to get it
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American Pastoral
American Pastoral is a critically acclaimed 1997 novel by Philip Roth that examines the disintegration of a successful American family during the turbulent social upheavals of the late twentieth century.
Discussed“So, you can read American Standing by Philip Roth and you may not understand or relate to an upper northeast professor who's passing for white...”
Where to get it
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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a classic psychological novel that examines the heavy moral burdens, intense guilt, and philosophical dilemmas faced by a desperate student in Saint Petersburg who commits a heinous crime.
Discussed“I mean one of the greatest books ever written is crime and punishment”
Where to get it
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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Illustrated)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Illustrated) is a monumental psychological masterpiece that delves into the tormented mind of a young man who commits a desperate crime and grapples with crushing guilt and moral redemption.
Discussed“I mean one of the greatest books ever written is crime and punishment”
Where to get it
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Darkness, take my hand
Discussed“You read, I don't know, Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lane, right? That book feels epic.”
Where to get it
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Devil in a Blue Dress
Discussed“You read Devil in a Blue Dress. These stories that I find the most captivating, The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler or Lill by Ross McDonald or If You Hollow, let him go by Chester.”
Where to get it
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Everybody Knows
Discussed“Like when I read Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper, I read Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier.”
Where to get it
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If He Hollers Let Him Go
Discussed“The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler or Lill by Ross McDonald or If You Hollow, let him go by Chester. books that really move me, that really touch me...”
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Little Secrets
Discussed“Like when I read Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper, I read Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier.”
Where to get it
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The chill
Discussed“The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler or Lill by Ross McDonald or If You Hollow, let him go by Chester. books that really move me, that really touch me...”
Where to get it
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The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler is a celebrated hardboiled detective novel featuring the private investigator Philip Marlowe.
Discussed“The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler or Lill by Ross McDonald or If You Hollow, let him go by Chester. books that really move me, that really touch me...”
Where to get it
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The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a compelling contemporary novel that examines family, racial identity, and the choices that shape our lives through the lives of twin sisters who choose to live in very different worlds.
Discussed“and like I said and I I love the vanish in half it's such a great book and it's talking about very similar issues from a different perspective”
Where to get it
Books S.A. Cosby wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.A. Cosby on Writing Southern Crime Fiction | The Book Review | 2025-06-06 | 9 |
| S.A. Cosby on 'Razorblade Tears' | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 5 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“One, there's a writer named Craig Johnson who writes the lawmire series and I had a book come out, an independent book come out a few years ago called My Darkest Prayer.”