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Razorblade Tears: A Novel is a crime novel by S. A. Cosby, published in July 2021 by Flatiron Books.[1][2][3][4] This novel debuted at number 10 on the New York Times bestseller list.[5][6] Jerry Bruckheimer's company has "optioned the story for Paramount."[1][5]

Plot

Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee are aging ex-cons living in rural Virginia. When their sons, a black and white couple with a baby daughter are brutally murdered, the two men team up and embark on a quest for revenge. As they try and track down their sons' killers, they also confront their own prejudices toward their sons and each other.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Book Marks, the novel received an overall "rave" consensus from critics based on 20 reviews, 17 of which were "raving" about it and 3 of which were more moderately "positive".[7]

In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews praised Cosby's main characters, calling them "two compelling antiheroes you’ll root for from the start", and concluded by noting "violence and love go hand in hand in this tale of two rough men seeking vengeance for their murdered sons."[8]

Langston Collin Wilkins of BookPage called the novel a "contemplative mystery and a stunning thrill ride" and praised Cosby's balance between "incredibly complicated characters" and "enveloping suspense." Wilkins continues: "Razorblade Tears features poignant, purposeful social commentary as Cosby takes a critical yet sensitive look at homophobia, racism, classicism and toxic masculinity."[9]

José H. Bográn of the Washington Independent Review of Books writes, "Although it touches on sensitive topics, Razorblade Tears is primarily crime fiction with a mystery at its core and a big reveal at the end. The action sequences come fast and close together and pulse with a visceral streak that will leave readers holding their breath until the final gunshot rings out. It's no wonder the novel has already been optioned by Paramount Players."[2]

Carole Bell of NPR says, "Reading Razorblade Tears is a visceral full-body experience, a sharp jolt to the heart, and a treat for the senses." Bell continues: "As uneasy as I was, he made me root for the redemption of two men with homophobia and bloody revenge in their hearts [...] Cosby's high-octane drama cements his ascension as a prince of the literary action thriller."[3]

Adam Sternbergh of The New York Times says, "Cosby writes in a spirit of generous abundance and gleeful abandon and, unlike a lot of noir writers, he doesn't shy from operatic emotion. His antiheroes rant, they cry, they beat their chests in anguish and pound their fists in rage...The ride isn't seamless. When you're as exuberant with language as Cosby is, not every turn of phrase is going to land, though his hit rate is impressively high. And the novel's...finale...snaps together with a tidy efficiency that belies the emotional messiness of the preceding tale."[1]

Awards

Year Award Result Ref
Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated—10th [10]
2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Mystery/Thriller Shortlisted
2022 Anthony Award Novel Shortlisted [11]
Audie Award Thriller/Suspense Shortlisted [12]
Barry Award Novel Won [13]
BCALA Literary Awards Fiction Won [14]
Edgar Awards Novel Shortlisted [15][16]
CWA Gold Dagger — Shortlisted [17]
Hammett Prize — Won [18][19][20]
ITW Award Audiobook Won [16]
Hardcover Novel Won [16]
Lefty Award Mystery Novel Shortlisted [21]
Macavity Award Mystery Novel Won [22]
RUSA CODES Reading List Adrenaline Won [23]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sternbergh, Adam (July 3, 2021). "A Brawling, Go-for-Baroque Pulpfest". New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Bográn, José H. (July 12, 2021). ""Oh, so you think it's easier being Black than being gay?"". Washington Independent Review of Books. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bell, Carole V. (July 6, 2021). "Two Fathers Risk It All To Avenge Their Murdered Sons In This New Thriller". NPR. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Cogdill, Oline H. (July 26, 2021). "S.A. Cosby's new 'Razorblade Tears' may be better than 'Blacktop Wasteland'". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Garner, Dwight (September 5, 2021). "S.A. Cosby, a Writer of Violent Noirs, Claims the Rural South as His Own". New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - July 25, 2021 - the New York Times". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Book Marks reviews of Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby". Book Marks. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Razorblade Tears". Kirkus Reviews. May 4, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Wilkins, Langston Collin (July 1, 2021). "Book review: 'Razorblade Tears'". Book Page. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Mystery & Thriller!". Goodreads. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  11. ^ locusmag (September 12, 2022). "2022 Anthony Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Audie Award | Finalist | Thriller/Suspense | 2022 | Awards and Honors | LibraryThing". LibraryThing.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  13. ^ patti (September 15, 2022). "Barry Awards (Crime Fiction) - 2022 -". Nightstand Book Reviews. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Contreraz, Victoria. "LibGuides: Literary Awards: 2020 - Present". libguides.msubillings.edu. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "MWA Announces the 2022 Edgar Award Nominations – Mystery Writers of America". January 19, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Schaub, Michael (June 7, 2022). "International Thriller Award Winners Are Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "CWA Dagger Shortlists Announced". The Crime Writers’ Association. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "S.A. Cosby Wins the Dashiell Hammett Prize". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  19. ^ patti (June 17, 2022). "2022 Hammett Prize -". Nightstand Book Reviews. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  20. ^ "IACW/NA: Hammett Prize: Past Years". www.crimewritersna.org. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Lefty Award Archives". www.leftcoastcrime.org. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  22. ^ patti (September 10, 2022). "2022 - Macavity Awards -". Nightstand Book Reviews. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "Reader's advisory announce 2022 Reading List: Year's best in genre fiction for adult Readers". RUSA Update. January 23, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2024.

External links

Further reading

  • Wilkins, Langston Collin (July 2021). "S.A. Cosby Writing the blues". Book Page. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  • Book review: "Razorblade Tears." (July 6, 2021). Crime by the Book.
  • Book review: "S.A. Cosby's 'Razorblade Tears' Is A First-Class Buddy (And Bloody) Novel." (August 30, 2021). KMUW (an NPR affiliated station).
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