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*INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* “Provocative, violent — beautiful and moving, too.” —Washington Post “Superb...Cuts right to the heart of the most important questions of our times.” —Michael Connelly “A tour de force – poignant, action-packed, and profound.” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance. Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid. 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 is devastated by his loss. Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father's criminal record. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy. 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. Provocative and fast-paced, S. A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears is a story of bloody retribution, heartfelt change - and maybe even redemption. “A visceral full-body experience, a sharp jolt to the heart, and a treat for the senses...Cosby's moody southern thriller marries the skillful action and plotting of Lee Child with the atmosphere and insight of Attica Locke.” —NPR
Reviews with the most likes.
Great book that covers a wide range of topics in such an expertly crafted way: race, prison, lgbtqia+, love, family, and even political nuances. I was deeply invested in both Ike's and Buddy Lee's stories and their ability to learn from each other. I was so hooked that I was up until 3am to finish the last 10 chapters. S. A. Cosby has a new fan in me - I can't wait to read his other novels.
And cue the movie. This one has Hollywood written all over it. Vivid characters, powerful emotions that had me teary a few times. Having gone to college in Richmond, I loved the setting. I found the plot to be complex but easy to comprehend and the characters' ex-con street cred and criminal capabilities were frankly fascinating and like nothing I had read before. They consistently outflanked their enemy with their street smarts and I loved every bit of it. Great read. Highly entertaining. And such a satisfying ending. Now I need to go pick up Blacktop Wasteland. I'm a fan.
This book was so good! I loved the subtle discussion of classism and racism, and how that affects western society. Also, the realness in this book is what makes it so good. It would be naïve to ignore some people's view of the LGBTQ+ community, and so to expand on this and show two men who have to confront their homophobia is a concept that I love. The fact that they aren't immediately perfect only adds to the realness of this book. This book is about ex-criminals with a vengeance, so if you have a problem with violence or profanity, it's not for you. But love love.
Featured Prompt
3,356 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...