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mandrea's review against another edition
3.0
Revenge stories by and large aren't my cup of tea, but this one kept me wanting to know how it ended. I felt like Ike and Buddy Lee were really fleshed out, but I would have liked to get to know Mya more.
madladym's review against another edition
4.0
Punch in the gut. Violent but done so well. The reader is amazing. The characters were relatable. The setting was perfect. All around great book.
p2warner's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. When you read the description of this book, it come across as an interesting mystery thriller. That is an understatement. This novel is a noir tale that explores grief, regret, racism , homophobia, and redemption with such exquisite lyrical writing, I often had to re-listen to sections. Mr. Cosby is an incredibly talented writer, it is hard to believe this is only his second novel. I will be be reading his other book Black Top Wasteland, ASAP. 5/5
*warning- this novel does contain some explicit violence. At times it was hard to hear, as I do not usually encounter it in my reading. I think it was part of the story and made sense in terms of tone and genre, but it may put others off.
*warning- this novel does contain some explicit violence. At times it was hard to hear, as I do not usually encounter it in my reading. I think it was part of the story and made sense in terms of tone and genre, but it may put others off.
jenmiller2024's review against another edition
4.0
Such complicated reactions to this book. The 4 stars is because of the complexity of the topics that the author addresses. And because he's from Virginia so I want to be supportive. However, there was way more violence than I was expecting. TW: violence, LGBTQ and racial slurs.
lizzy_t's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely enjoyed this book. Not my usual type as it seemed very much a "man's book" to me in that it was pretty raw and violent. But the two main characters were strongly developed and made for an unlikely duo thrown together to avenge the murder of their two sons, who were married to each other. The book tackles the dads overcoming their homophobia and recognizing their biases. Very well written and would make a good movie. This is my first 5 star read of 2024.
juliasilva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was emotional and gory, which I really enjoyed. I think the emotional journeys of the two fathers felt very realistic and satisfying and they have genuine, earned character growth. However, there were just a few conversational moments that were a little corny and some ever-so convenient plot devices where I found myself needing to suspend my disbelief, so that just slightly lessened the strength of the plot and the emotional impact of the story. But overall enjoyed!
dugoutdug23's review against another edition
4.0
Billy Lee and Ike are two ex-cons who have each lost a son. Sons that were married to each other, but were hardly acknowledged by their fathers until they were brutally gunned down. Then they band together, awkwardly, try to find out who murdered their sons.
jamuckley's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I loved S.A. Cosby's latest crime thriller, "Razorblade Tears." While this book had everything you would expect of a crime/mystery novel, Cosby takes it a step further with the racial and sexual orientation context hovering throughout the entire book.
Ike Randolph, a black ex-con who owns his own landscaping business, and Buddy Lee, a white ex-con with a drinking problem, meet for the first time at the funeral of their dead sons, Isaiah and Derek. Isaiah and Derek were married in life, causing anger and disgust for both of their fathers. The grisly murder of the couple was the catalyst for the fathers' revenge and also their understanding of their relationship.
Cosby is an excellent writer with a talent for telling a dark and mysterious crime story, but he also possesses a keen understanding of the underlying social issues of our time. The unique method he has for unraveling both at the same time is unsurpassed. I was gripped throughout this book with the plot and also sucked into the thinking of each character and their choices.
This novel is not for the faint of heart, but its story and message are both equally compelling parts that need to be heard.
Ike Randolph, a black ex-con who owns his own landscaping business, and Buddy Lee, a white ex-con with a drinking problem, meet for the first time at the funeral of their dead sons, Isaiah and Derek. Isaiah and Derek were married in life, causing anger and disgust for both of their fathers. The grisly murder of the couple was the catalyst for the fathers' revenge and also their understanding of their relationship.
Cosby is an excellent writer with a talent for telling a dark and mysterious crime story, but he also possesses a keen understanding of the underlying social issues of our time. The unique method he has for unraveling both at the same time is unsurpassed. I was gripped throughout this book with the plot and also sucked into the thinking of each character and their choices.
This novel is not for the faint of heart, but its story and message are both equally compelling parts that need to be heard.