Wow. This book made my heart pound for so many reasons. S.A. Cosby has become a must-read author for me. He writes with nuance and honesty about big topics: race, bigotry, family, love. This book is graphic and thrilling, while at the same time tender. Wow again.

Fantastic! My first 5 star book of the year.

This was a heartfelt story of two fathers who have made some big mistakes in their lives and in how they raised their sons. One father is black and one is white. Their sons were married and neither were supportive of the relationship. When the boys are killed the fathers begin to work together to find their murderers. Along the way they both have to look at how their homophobia effected their relationships with their sons. They have to take accountability for the choices they've made.

As usual with this author's books there is action packed scenes interspersed with social justice issues such a racism and poverty. This one is a bit more violent than his other books so beware of that if that is an issue for you.

This is a story about prejudice. I missed it when it came out last year but I am really glad it finally made it to the top of the “to be read” pile. It is a very contemporary story that exposes a lot of our warts no matter how hard we try to deny they are there. It is extremely well written but doesn’t come off as self-righteous or accusatory. Highly recommended reading!

I must warn you to be prepared once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. It will grab your attention and never let it go. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the very last. This book does deal with some pretty gruesome topics but the author does them in such an impactful way that it almost adds to the importance of the storyline. The narrator also does an amazing job at bringing each of the characters alive, connecting the reader with each one to the point you will feel their pain and anger right along with them. I highly recommend this book to all readers. It is just a powerful and important story of race, sexuality and family.

In this book, two fathers decide to avenge the deaths of their sons.

This book isn't for the faint of heart but I honestly loved it. It's violent, dark, and gritty but also very compelling. I had heard so many good things about this one, but I let the hype put me off reading it the it was first released (I seriously don't know why I do this). Ike and Buddy Lee are two very imperfect main characters - both men are struggling with the grief of the loss of their sons, as well as the feelings that they failed their sons in life when they were still alive. It's heartbreaking to read at times...especially when they struggle with the fact that they can't change their actions and what they lost out on because of those actions. These men aren't perfect, they don't always make the best choices, but they are trying to be better while also trying to do right by their sons. The ending broke me a bit but I will leave it at that. This book was overall an emotional and heart pounding ride of a story. Just wow. This is an author that deserves all of the hype and more - I cannot wait to read more of his books.

Readers looking for a page turning, compelling read need to pick this one up if you haven't yet. Just be warned that it is dark and not always easy to read. All the stars!

CW - Homophobia, racism

THE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved how he incorporated LGBTQ issues in this book.

Razorblade Tears is a brutal, action-packed vengeance story, and that aspect really delivered for me. I don't like when books use someone's sexuality as a plot device, but whatever. Some of the dialogue was tired and seemed directly ripped off from movies. But aside from that, I did enjoy this book and just hung on for the violent ride.

I really wanted to like this story, but I couldn’t connect with the writing style at all. It wasn’t to my taste. I know I am in the minority here, so maybe give the book a go if it interests you.

A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for justice.

Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not as much as a speeding ticket in all that time. When the cops show up at his door the last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son, but that doesn’t stop him from being devastated by his loss. Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed his father was a criminal. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. 

Last year I couldn’t stop telling the world to read BLACKTOP WASTELAND, which easily blew me away to earn favorite read of 2020 status. I’m always a little nervous to pick up the next book an author puts out when the first one I read blows me away so much. It’s safe to say I’ll never doubt that S.A. Cosby is going to deliver a fantastic read. RAZORBLADE TEARS is a story of revenge and family relationships written in a way that feels cinematic. The entire story is so vivid that when you’re reading the book you can’t help but feel fully immersed in the emotions and chaos surrounding Ike and Buddy Lee. Our main characters come to life before our eyes with genuine and realistic reactions that might leave you shaking your head and saying don’t do that, but you won’t be able to look away. RAZORBLADE TEARS is gritty and violent, but within all of that darkness is an emotional quality that will live in your heart well past turning the last page.

What a wonderful book, and a great follow-up to BLACK TOP WASTELAND. This is a marvelous book which again shows Cosby's profound love for people including especially his characters, and the ways homophobia, race, and other major issues collide in the South. Not many can take two homophobic fathers and make them interesting, compelling, and even lovable, but Cosby is not the normal author. He's so great.

"Folks like to talk about revenge like it’s a righteous thing but it’s just hate in a nicer suit."

Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins have a couple things in common. They're both hardened ex-cons and both of their married (to each other) gay sons were murdered. Both of them also didn't treat their sons right while they were alive but they band together now to avenge their sons' deaths.

This was such a hard hitting book - about fathers, sons, homophobia/LGBTQ issues in Black culture, and in southern culture. This is also a raw book about revenge that is not easy to read. The two protagonists in this story are hard men who stop at nothing in taking revenge for the deaths of their sons so be forewarned.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy Southern noir, novels of revenge or just stellar writing skills.

I received this book from Flatiron Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

The following is a snippet of the synopsis, in whole, provides enough of a setup into the storyline that to divulge more would delve into unnecessary spoiler alert territory:

‘Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.’

My immediate thoughts and feelings after reading this Book:

In a word, WOW!

Little Bit—My Heart!

Yes, Yes, I am crying again.

I Highly Recommend RAZORBLADE TEARS, written by S. A. COSBY. Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron Books, for providing me with an eGalley in the request of an honest review.

Razorblade Tears
S.A. Cosby

Gritty
Gripping
Glorious

As I started reading this book, I kept thinking about the title and how painful can a circumstance be for a parent to cry razorblade tears. This book definitely explained it all. My heart was broken and this book moved from 0 to 150 miles per hour in a span of a few pages. This is my first S. A. Cosby book and I am jumping into Blacktop Wasteland next.

In this story, two fathers, Ike and Buddy, both with a violent past take justice into their own hands, as they ban together to determine why their gay sons were murdered.

The writing was incredibly gripping, readable and fast-paced. I loved this book! As I read, I could not help seeing the scenes in my head as a movie – which I think will be soon.

Cosby’s extraordinary writing touched upon important themes as sexuality, love and loss, family loyalties, race and prejudice, fatherhood, and the guilt and acceptance.

I just cannot stop recommending this book.

Ike and Buddy Lee share little in common. They do have a few things in common though. They’re both ex-cons. They are the fathers of Isiah and Derek, an interracial gay couple who were gunned down. They both want revenge against the people behind their sons’ deaths.

Razorblade Tears is a gritty revenge mystery. Ike and Buddy Lee are both flawed characters with regrets. While they would both like redemption, they will settle for revenge. A well written and compelling novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book. I hardly know what to say or how to even begin reviewing this book. As always, Cosby's characters are perfect imperfections. I could see people I love in my own life on these pages and the whole thing rang true. As Ike seeks to find out what happened to Isaiah and his husband Derek, and is joined by Buddy Lee, readers are ensnared in world that is so close to truth it feels like non-fiction. Sure, this is a crime novel, but it is almost as if Cosby was able to place life itself right on the page. This reader was brought to tears so many times; was surprised by laughter; was filled with the love and aches of the characters.

Better reviewers than I will do a much better job of imparting their thoughts. For me? Even if I tried over and over again, the best thing I know to say is that this book is important and begs to be read widely. Award winning for sure, and, perhaps more importantly, it will be important on a personal level to so many people.

QUICK TAKE: Oh man…what are you even doing with that book in your hands? Just put it down and pick up RAZORBLADE TEARS…I guarantee you that your current read will taste like dust and ash in comparison to this action-packed, blood-soaked revenge thriller with an emotional bomb at the center that will detonate when you least expect it to. Is that a convincing enough review? This book kicks f*cking ass and I would be shocked if it’s not at the top of the list as one of my favorite books of 2021.

Had to request because I loved the authors previous work! Did not disappoint. The storyline was even more intriguing than blacktop wasteland with the same face paced immersion in a life so different from mine. Loved it!

S. A. Cosby’s Blacktop Wasteland was the stand-out crime novel of 2020. A powerful heist novel with a large dose of social commentary and fine writing, it deservedly won praise and awards from around the world.

Now Cosby has followed it up with the equally impressive Razorblade Tears, about two fathers, one white and one black, seeking revenge for the murder of their sons. Both men were estranged from their gay sons, but when the boys are gunned down they decide to join forces and see that some form of justice is done. Together the two ex-cons set out on a mission of vengeance and redemption.

This is a blistering tale of lost opportunity and prejudice that powers along at a brisk pace. Cosby grips the reader’s attention from the telling first sentence – “Ike tried to remember a time when men with badges coming to his door early in the morning brought anything other than heartache and misery, but try as he might, nothing came to mind.” – and holds it all the way to the last sentence. Along the way he takes a sharp-eyed look at racism and homophobia and also paints a believable picture of the dark underbelly of America. His writing is emotional and compelling and the action has a cinematic feel to it. This is a superb piece of crime fiction.

Just as Blacktop Wasteland did in 2020, I expect that Razorblade Tears will dominate the crime fiction landscape in 2021.

Read Razorblade Tears with one of my book clubs. Our discussion is not scheduled until after Labor Day but so far all of the reviews have been ecstatic. Personally, I couldn't help myself. Once I started I was rooted to my chair. This book held my attention from the first page to the last. Definitely worth all of the hype. Looking forward to reading S.A. Cosby's other bestseller Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby Blacktop Wasteland

One of my favorite reads so far this year.

Last year I read Cosby's Blacktop Wasteland and it was one of my favorite reads of 2020 so I was really excited to have a chance to read his next release Razorblade Tears early. Cosby did not disappoint. In Razorblade Tears Ike and Buddy Lee are forced together after their married sons are murdered and there seems to be no leads or progress in the investigation. Both Ike and Buddy Lee are struggling with their individual guilt over not showing their sons that they loved them and neither of them had been able to accept their sons for the entirety of who they were. Ike and Buddy Lee have their own demons to wrestle and keep contained. Ike is trying to tap into the man that he was before he went to prison without letting the rush of violence take over the man he has become, and Buddy Lee is trying to keep his need for alcohol from keeping him from being the kind of man who does right by his son, even if it feels too late. The basic principle that Ike and Buddy Lee have adopted is if you can't get justice then vengeance will do. Cosby did a great job taking the reader on their journey through grief, violence, and eventually an acceptable resolution.