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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cosby does it again. Excellent, intriguing stuff!
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW! This is my first time reading a crime novel where the main characters are black, *chefโs kiss*. I wanted so much more for Bug and his family! This had me on the edge of my seat. Excited to dive into more of Cosbyโs work.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's incredibly refreshing to follow an African American protagonist in the crime-fiction genere. I'm sure I'm not doing my best to actively finding similar authors/stories; however, to have this on GoodRead's 2020 top thrillers is awesome to see.
This was a really fun read and reminded of Pelecanos' "The Cut" in that this was beyond the law gritty crime anti-hero story. Would recommend and interested to see if there is a follow-up to this first book.
This was a really fun read and reminded of Pelecanos' "The Cut" in that this was beyond the law gritty crime anti-hero story. Would recommend and interested to see if there is a follow-up to this first book.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
โข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐๐ ๐ :
-classic cars + street racing
-fast paced, high stakes, action packed stories
-crime thrillers with complex characters
-character driven stories about family & redemption
-moral ambiguity
โข ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐จ :
When I finished reading All the Sinners Bleed, I just wasnโt ready to move on from SA Cosby. I needed more! I went into this one completely blind simply because it was available on Libby, & it turned out to be my favorite read of March.
Cosbyโs writing is sharp & vivid, with atmospheric southern grit & emotionally complex characters. Even though Bug is a criminal, he is firecly loyal to his family, & you canโt help but root for him as he tries to navigate his way out of a mess that keeps pulling him back in. My husband is a huge car guy, & I loved the shop talk.
What really stood out to me was Cosbyโs ability to blend high-octane action with deeply personal stakes. This book is suspenseful in more ways than one. The pulse-pounding car chases are thrilling, but knowing whatโs on the line if things donโt work out is the real motivation. Itโs more than just a crime story-itโs about family, redemption, & the weight of circumstances & choices.
If you like fast-paced, character-driven stories with a bit of heart & a lot of grit, buckle up for a wild ride because Blacktop Wasteland is definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
S.A. Cosby is a master.