Isaac “Ike” Randolph is in mourning following the violent death of his son, Isiah. Ike has much to mourn, given the strained nature of their relationship, caused by Ike’s inability to accept that his son was gay. Now, having been gunned down with his husband, it’s too late to make amends. When Isiah and Derek’s headstone is vandalised, Ike finds himself partnering with his son’s father-in-law, Buddy Lee Jenkins, to try to get to the bottom of their sons’ untimely deaths, since the police seem to be busy elsewhere. As the two men investigate, they get to know their sons better than they did when they were alive and grow to accept the men they were – something that neither man was ever able to do when their sons were around to benefit from the love and acceptance. As they search for Tangerine, a young woman who seems to be at the centre of the mystery, they cross a white supremacist motorcycle gang who might just be working for the shady, powerful figure behind Isiah and Derek’s murders.


S.A. Cosby burst on to the scene in a big way in 2020 with the release of Blacktop Wasteland. One of my favourite books of the year, it reads like a classic crime novel, with Richard Stark’s stylings and Elmore Leonard’s ear for dialogue; it’s one of the best crime novels of the century thus far, and I cannot stress that too much. So, like many others I was very excited to get my hands on Cosby’s follow-up, and I’m pleased to tell you that it’s every bit as good as you’re hoping. A very different style to his previous novel, Razorblade Tears is comic-odd-couple-buddy-movie meets action thriller, which also manages to take a candid look at racism and homophobia in modern-day Deep South America through the eyes of a pair of grieving fathers trying to atone for the shitty job they did while their sons were alive. It’s a lot to pack into a fast-paced, action packed thriller, but S.A. Cosby knows how to tell a story in a way that keeps the reader glued firmly to the page.


Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins may seem like a strange choice as protagonists when you start into Razorblade Tears. They’ve both spent long stretches behind bars which has had an obvious impact on their relationships with their sons. Ike now owns a landscaping business and has spent his life feeling the effects of racism, and has no qualms about letting people know how bad Black people have had it in the Southern states (which leads some interesting pissing contests with members of the LGBTQ+ community). Buddy Lee, on the other hand, is the very definition of “white trash”, spending his days with a bottle in his hand and not much on his schedule. There are some interesting early clashes over race, but both men soon learn the truth in that old adage about throwing stones and living in glass houses.


Despite the obvious differences and the fact that these two men would not, in the ordinary course of events, be friends, the violent deaths of their children gives them some space in which to discover that they have more in common than they might ever have thought. Both men shunned their sons in life because of their sexuality, and now find themselves living to regret how badly they treated the boys while there was still time to do something about it. In many ways, this is the heart of the story, with everything else little more than an excuse to tell it, and it’s interesting to watch both Ike and Buddy Lee grow as people as the story progresses, showing that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.


Besides this touching human element, Razorblade Tears is a crime novel and it’s one of the best you’re likely to read this year. It has a decidedly dark bent and while Ike and Buddy Lee are the heroes of this story, there are enough questionable actions to ensure that the reader is unlikely to ever mistake them for “good guys” . That won’t stop us rooting for them, though, and we’re in their corner the whole way through their investigation, as a friendship blossoms and grows into something akin to brotherhood. The bad guys are almost caricatures and Cosby manages to put them in the same physical location as our heroes often enough to keep things interesting. The fight sequences tread the fine line between ultra-violence and outright comedy, setting Razorblade Tears apart from its contemporaries: no-one is writing crime fiction like this these days. S.A. Cosby has found a niche and filled it nicely. Building on the success of Blacktop Wasteland, Razorblade Tears shows that this is an author with legs, and one to be added to the “do not miss at any cost!” list.


If you haven’t checked out Blacktop Wasteland, you should waste no time adding it to your reading list. Then cue up Razorblade Tears and prepare to be blown away. S.A. Cosby is writing the best crime stories you’ll find on either side of the Atlantic, with a voice that’s reminiscent of the greats of a bygone age. He will go far, and you don’t want to be left behind, so get reading; you’ll have plenty of time to thank me later.

The gist: Razorblade Tears is a fast paced, violent tale of grief, vengeance, and redemption that might not be within reach. It’s gritty, and the characters are flawed – the protagonists racist and homophobic. It’s not pretty, and the redemption in turn, might be limited. But there are efforts to address their past and their attitudes in a way that doesn’t erase it, as history exists regardless, and no number of apologies can change that. There is some change and growth amid the violence and carnage.

And there is a lot of carnage.

What really stands out about this book, and reminds me of Cosby’s excellent Blacktop Wasteland, is the action and dialogue. Cosby has real skill when it comes to the talking, whether that talking’s being done with mouths or fists.

There’s no denying this is an edge of your seat, white knuckle trip. Punches are thrown, guns are fired, explosions are big enough to put most fireworks events to shame. There’s blood and there’s car chases and there’s motorbikes. There’s not much time or room for rests and naps, but this all adds up to a book that whisks you through it in the space of an evening or weekend.

Mainly though, for me, it’s the dialogue where Cosby really shines. His protagonists are witty with dry humour, or curt with rage and grief, and they bounce off each other in the way that all the best characters do. For all of their faults and for all of the reasons you don’t like them, it’s their conversations that let you build a little warmth for them, that let you care what happens to them. There’s an art to writing good dialogue, and Cosby makes it look easy.

Razorblade Tears pitches some hefty topics into a thrilling revenge story, in a gritty crime thriller well worth your time.

Favourite line: He had the self-assurance of most mediocre men.

Read if: You want a gripping thriller dealing with some hefty topics.

Read with: A free evening because there ain’t nothing you’re gonna want to be interrupting this with.

Review will be posted at www.thedustlounge.com shortly

Synopsis/blurb ....

A BLACK FATHER. A WHITE FATHER.
TWO MURDERED SONS. A QUEST FOR VENGEANCE.

Ike Randolph left jail fifteen years ago, with not so much as a speeding ticket since.
But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.

Ike is devastated to learn his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah's white husband, Derek. Though he never fully accepted his son, Ike is broken by his death.

Derek's father Buddy Lee was as ashamed of Derek being gay as Derek was of his father's criminal past. But Buddy Lee - with seedy contacts deep in the underworld - needs to know who killed his only child.

Desperate to do better by them in death than they did in life, two hardened ex-cons must confront their own prejudices about their sons - and each other - as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

A provocative revenge thriller and an achingly tender story of redemption, this novel is a ferocious portrait of grief; for those loved and lost, and for mistakes than can never truly be undone.

*SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH*

'Superb...Cuts right to the heart of the most important questions of our times.' MICHAEL CONNELLY
'The very definition of a white-knuckle ride' IAN RANKIN
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My take ...

My third rodeo with author S. A. Cosby after having previously enjoyed Blacktop Wasteland and My Darkest Prayer. Razorblade Tears was much enjoyed, but probably a fraction less than the other two.

It's a hard-hitting revenge thriller, as two long in the tooth, ex-cons seek answers for the murder of their gay sons.

Bereavement, family, regrets, intolerance, mistakes, racism, homophobia, sexuality, conspiracy, power, a kickass take no prisoners amateur investigation and after a lot of spilled blood some street justice.

I liked the story. It's fast-moving, exciting, violent with more than a few twists and turns along the way. Ike and Buddy Lee butt heads and more with a gang of bikers and it's always a good thing when racist dunderheads get their asses handed to them on a plate. The revelation of the puppet master pulling the strings was a tad predictable, but it did tie in with the rest of the book. And I suppose there's a 'well who else could it be' question that I wouldn't be able to answer.

The two bad hombres made for a formidable pairing and it was enjoyable seeing them easily fall back into some habits of their pasts. I think what I found sad was that enlightenment and the realisation of the depth of their love for their sons only happened after they had died. The quest for revenge made themselves feel better, but their sons were still in their graves. Sort of too little, too late. You should have loved them better when they were alive.

Interesting, topical, relevant and a satisfying read.

4 from 5

Read - August, 2021
Published - 2021
Page count - 337
Source - Net Galley
Format - Kindle

https://col2910.blogspot.com/2021/08/s-cosby-razorblade-tears-2021.html

A powerful revenge thriller examining themes of race, father son relationships of the acceptance or otherwise of gay sons.

Violent and moving, a very different story to most revenge thrillers, I will look out for the author's other book.

Razorblade Tears is a gripping book that explores the ideas of race, masculinity and the weight of expectation. The book follows the central characters of Ike and Buddy Lee as they are consumed by grief for the death of their sons, compelled into an unlikely camaraderie to avenge their murders as the police right off the crime as simply another hate statistic. Cosby examines the emotions of the fathers' as they grapple with their sons sexuality and the acceptance that in the end all that matters is love in whatever shape it comes. With enough action and violence to hook any fan of crime fiction, Cosby has created a narrative that feels timely, addressing the toxic masculine culture that confines much of the world today. As Ike and Buddy Lee ultimately prove, even the most hardened individuals can evolve, unlikely friendships form and hope flourish from the darkest of origins.

Ike and Buddy rejected their sons for being gay and only after their deaths do they realise that the worst thing in the world is not a gay son, but a dead son. The book doesn’t excuse Ike and Buddy’s terrible treatment of Isaiah and Derek, and it’s unsettling at first how we’re expected to root for these two men. They are overwhelmed by regrets, raw grief, and pure rage. But the superb writing and empathetic characterisation made me warm up to them. Their situation forces Ike and Buddy to face their own prejudice in terms of race and sexuality. I ended up loving their budding friendship. The dialogue is surprisingly funny at times, which is an unexpected pleasure.

The book has excellent action scenes and plenty of twists and turns. There are some truly horrible bad guys too, and I was legit rooting for them to suffer! But this isn’t a revenge story where everything is smooth sailing. Innocent people get hurt, things are destroyed and the damage is permanent. What is the cost of vengeance? And will it be worth it in the end? Be prepared for an emotional wallop when you read this!

This book was an experience. I want to say I liked this book. But it’s a hard book to like. Two men deal with grief whilst trying to avenge their sons. Well worth it. If you can handle, heavy swearing and violence.

When married gay couple Isiah and Derek are brutally murdered, their fathers want revenge. They are determined to reek extreme vengeance on those who are responsible, even if it means going to jail or dying to find justice for their boys.
Both fathers are from very different backgrounds - one black one white - but you could never deny their love for their sons even if they could never come to terms with them being gay.
So with need for redemption and driven by guilt, Ike and Buddy Lee are ready to wage war on the people responsible. However even they couldn’t envisage the outcome.
Every once in a while there is a book that takes your breath away and Razorblade Tears is one of those.
A story of incredible poignancy that is so reflective of today’s society. I couldn’t put it down. With its dark violence, gripping storyline and the pure desperation of two grieving fathers, it will pull at the heartstrings of every reader.
S. A. Cosby has produced a story that can only be described as phenomenal. A truly outstanding book that I highly recommend.

Blacktop Wasteland was an incredible debut and S A Cosby has bettered it and smashed the difficult second book hoodoo with this stunning thriller.

It drew me in from the opening paragraph, grabbed me and never let go. The writing is beautiful, the characters exceptionally well drawn, the plot topical, visceral and exciting and there are deep messages about prejudice and opposites drawn together.

This is one of the best thrillers of the year. Read it!

Razorblade Tears is a compulsive yet visceral and deeply intelligent thriller about regrettable decisions, guilt, vengeance and double murder. Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins are opposites in many ways but their lives are forever cataclysmically connected when their sons are both brutally murdered outside of a wine store in Richmond, Virginia. African American Ike owns a successful landscaping company and has changed his life for the better after his stretch inside, whereas Buddy is still drinking heavily, is a redneck and embraces racist ideology. As homophobes, both fathers disowned their sons, Isiah Randolph and Derek Jenkins, when they married each other, but they still loved them as any father should. When the police investigation comes to a crashing halt and is placed on the back burner, the two fathers unite and use their many connections as hardened ex-cons to try to find the perpetrator(s); presumably, the gay-basher who shot Isiah and Derek in the face on their wedding anniversary. When Isiah and Derek’s grave is vandalised, it is the precipitating factor that sends Ike over the edge. So this, in reality, is not just a mission to gain revenge but to try to find some form of redemption for repudiating their sons due to their sexuality. However, they soon learn that it wasn't simply a hate crime but something much more complex.

It appears to be connected to a girl the couple were searching for named Tangerine. Following in their deceased sons’ footsteps leads them to a Nazi biker gang who are even more ruthless and criminal than Ike and Buddy Lee. Things begin to get extremely perilous as the fathers refuse to back down even when they know powerful men are behind their sons’ slaughter. Will they be able to locate the culprit and dole out some vigilante justice? This is a riveting and complex thriller and the pace right from the beginning propels you through the pages like nobody’s business. The juxtaposition between the brutal and explosive action and the array of emotions felt by the fathers makes this a captivating winner. It's really no wonder that this standalone mystery had been optioned for television long before the book has even been published. For such a violent novel, it has depth and nuance and sensitively explores: LGBTQI themes, persecution, homophobia, racism, white supremacy and bigotry as well as love, grief, regret, failure to acknowledge their sons and the pain of it being much too late to make amends. These are some of the most engaging and richly developed antiheroes I've encountered in a while and you can't help but get behind them. Suspenseful, electrifying and written fearlessly and powerfully, this is a thought-provoking and scintillating read in equal measure. Highly recommended.

Razor Blade Tears is simply outstanding.

A story of Hate, Revenge, families, racism, homophobia and 2 old men trying to right the wrongs of their past.

Buddy Lee and Ike are thrown inexplicably together when their son’s are murdered on the street, their sons neither could forgive just for being gay.

But when they lose their sons , they find something in themselves.

This is America laid bare, and it’s angry and upsetting, it’s thought provoking enticing reading.

Fast paced, action packed storytelling, this character led story Is powerful, funny, bittersweet and more, the superlatives for this book could go on and on.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

After really enjoying Blacktop Wastleand, and loving the sound of this one, I was really looking forward to this book. And I most certainly was not disappointed with Razorblade Tears actually topping it.

The premise grabbed me to begin with as soon as I read it and I knew we were going to be in for one hell of a ride.

A black father and a white father, both ex-cons, both who had all but disowned their sons who had found love with each other and who have been mercilessly murdered. The fathers are brought together in their grief and after hearing from the police that the case of their sons murders is being shelved, they decide to investigate it themselves, in their own, very different way. Knowing they can never repair their relationship with their sons, they go on a revenge mission that will hopefully heal some of their regrets, shame and make amends to their boys the only way they know how.

This is a raw, at times brutal read that mixed a whole load of action with an immense amount of heart and emotion, and Ike and Buddy Lee are two lead characters that you can't help but get behind and will take some time for me to forget.

Very highly recommended!

This was a wonderful book that I absolutely loved. It was very brutal and graphic so not for the faint hearted. I loved the two main characters and their friendship. I will definitely be looking out for more by this author

“Blood will have blood”. Two failed fathers, one black and one white. Two murdered sons, both gay. Grief, revenge, retribution and redemption. The best ‘thriller’ I have read this year. I loved “Blacktop Wasteland” but this is simply incredible. Read it.

Razorblade Tears is an action-packed story of revenge that is guarantee'd to be as successful as author S.A. Cosby's 2020 hit Blacktop Wasteland.

Married couple Isiah and Derek are cold-bloodedly executed ,both are the sons of ex-convicts who had struggled with their offspring's sexuality before their deaths to the point of almost disowning them. Both fathers,Ike Randolph,father of Isiah,and Derek's Dad Buddy Lee Jenkins had put a life of violence behind them but had taken very different paths on their release from jail, Ike had put the black street gangs behind him , built up a business and was respected in his community,self-styled Redneck Buddy Lee lived in a Trailer with alcohol to keep him company.
The unlikely pair team up to hunt down their sons' killers.

What follows is a violent and thrilling tale as the 2 old-timers revert to their old ways and re-enter their old worlds to discover the reason for the executions and the perpetrator . Along the way they learn about themselves,about acceptance , prejudice and redemption. What could have been preachy about various issues on attitudes to sexuality is skilfully turned into part of the overall story.

This book will appeal to a whole range of readers, there's the clinical violence of Lee Child,the intricate plotting and characterisation of Don Winslow and the almost lyrical descriptions of place and observations on human nature of James Lee Burke. and already S.A. Cosby is on the same level as those luminaries.
As I read it I could almost see the inevitable movie in my head, Ike and Buddy Lee are Chalk and Cheese who initially barely tolerate each other before that changes to respect, it reads almost like Western for the 21st Century as the mismatched pair aim for their own version of justice leaving a trail of carnage in their wake..........and there are also some extremely funny lines.

A must-read.

This has to be one of my books of the year, SA Cosby's masterful Southern pulsating, brutal, high octane thriller should not be missed. Set in Virginia, this is a story of fatherhood, family, race and homophobia, and an unlikely emotionally tender friendship forged in the fire and all encompassing rage that follows a tragedy accompanied by the prospect of no justice. Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins are two ex-cons whose paths would never have crossed if it wasn't for the fact that their gay sons, Isiah and Derek, were married and have been shot dead. Trapped in a world of pain, the two are overwhelmed by the crippling agony of grief, regrets, guilt, and the never ending sea of tears. In the 15 years since Ike was released from Coldwater State Penitentiary, he bucked the trend of recidivism and not received as much a speeding ticket. He prioritised his family, put his head down, and built up a successful lawn business.

Both fathers had been unable to accept their sons were gay, and neither showed their love for either Isiah or Derek whilst they were alive, and now its all too late. In their search for absolution, they seek to express their love for them now the only way they can, by finding the truth of what happened to them, uncaring if they die in the process. They might be old, they might be on different sides of the race divide, but they are fathers and grandfathers, and burning in their souls is the need for a no holds barred biblical retribution, a primal desire to obliterate to kingdom come all those responsible for killing their sons and nothing is going to stand in their way. It is not easy, not many are willing to talk, as a reporter, Isiah had received death threats, and matters take a deadly turn with a criminal bike gang, political corruption and betrayal, as they race against time to locate a missing young woman who has gone into hiding in fear of her life.

The highlights of Cosby's crime fiction is his stellar characterisation, the development of the flawed Ike and Buddy Lee, there are emotional truths that lend an authenticity to the relationship that builds between them, they learn more about each other and the lives they have lived, becoming like brothers, as they break life long perceptions, coming to confront and understand the depths of homophobia in southern American society. It is a tribute to the quality of the author's writing that you will find that the 'cracked and weathered souls' of Ike and Buddy Lee squeezing their way into your heart. This is an electrifying, raw, and utterly riveting character driven read, brutal and violent, but never less than enthralling, particularly the responses of Ike and Buddy Lee to their sons after their deaths. I think the film rights for this will be picked up incredibly fast. Highly recommended to all crime and thriller fans. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A great revenge thriller!!
ke Randolph left jail fifteen years ago, with not so much as a speeding ticket since.
But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.

Ike is devastated to learn his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah's white husband, Derek. Though he never fully accepted his son, Ike is broken by his death.

Derek's father Buddy Lee was as ashamed of Derek being gay as Derek was of his father's criminal past. But Buddy Lee - with seedy contacts deep in the underworld - needs to know who killed his only child.

Desperate to do better by them in death than they did in life, two hardened ex-cons must confront their own prejudices about their sons - and each other - as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

Fabulous read.