King of Ashes, by S. A. Cosby has hit several Best mysteries lists.

When Roman Carruthers’ sister calls him and tells him their father is in the hospital Roman drops everything and rushes to the little town in Virginia. But the car accident that put Roman’s father into the hospital is not the simple accident Roman thought. Instead, the situation is far darker and more complicated than he could have guessed.

Their mother had disappeared many years ago. All three of the kids, Roman, his sister, and their little brother Dante, are traumatized. Dante particularly is into drugs and now is in debt to some very bad people. Roman, an affluent money manager, jumps in to solve the problem. Which he does – by using his money skills as a lever.

Recommended – but not for the faint of heart. Gangs, kinky sex, many deaths, lots of profanity . . . this book is darker that what I usually read.