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emco_0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Car accident, Vomit, Racial slurs, Drug use, Murder, Violence, Sexism, Fatphobia, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Trafficking, Ableism, and Death of parent
ooohgoshtara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
"A husband, a father, a son, a business owner…And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad."
My first noir crime thriller. Blacktop Wasteland is a fast paced crime novel. It tells the story of "Bug"a man pushed to his limits by childhood trauma, fatherhood, race, and poverty. He's haunted by his fathers legacy and how he walked out of his and his mother's life. He's trying to be a better man. A better husband, father, provider, friend but circumstances and his past keep getting in the way. As things begin to snowball he takes a risk that can change the trajectory of his life one way or another. The writing is engrossing and puts you right into the environment. It feels exciting you want to know what's going to happen next. There's mystery, action, suspense. This novel is an absolute page turner that keeps you on edge. The characters were well developed. I especially liked his wife Kia. Although I would have liked the ending to be more conclusive I appreciated that it was open ended and hope that Bug is finally able to push through and be that better man than his father was. I enjoyed this genre and will read more by this author.
Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad."
My first noir crime thriller. Blacktop Wasteland is a fast paced crime novel. It tells the story of "Bug"a man pushed to his limits by childhood trauma, fatherhood, race, and poverty. He's haunted by his fathers legacy and how he walked out of his and his mother's life. He's trying to be a better man. A better husband, father, provider, friend but circumstances and his past keep getting in the way. As things begin to snowball he takes a risk that can change the trajectory of his life one way or another. The writing is engrossing and puts you right into the environment. It feels exciting you want to know what's going to happen next. There's mystery, action, suspense. This novel is an absolute page turner that keeps you on edge. The characters were well developed. I especially liked his wife Kia. Although I would have liked the ending to be more conclusive I appreciated that it was open ended and hope that Bug is finally able to push through and be that better man than his father was. I enjoyed this genre and will read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
tysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At this point, S.A. Cosby has failed to disappoint! In this we follow our main character Bug, who is known as being one of the best getaway drivers, but unfortunately he has fallen on some hard times and is in need of money to take care of unexpected expenses. He decides to take on a job to get him and his family over this hurdle, but the job doesn't go according to plan and Bug finds himself having to protect his family, confront some enemies and face the abandonment issues from when his father left him and his mother when he was a child.
I enjoyed the thrilling aspect of this book with the edge of your seat car chases and shoot outs and all the lies and deceptions, but the book also goes deeper. We have our main character Bug, throughout the story having this internal struggle of wanting to provide for his family the right way but also feeling like he can't leave the life of crime alone. He also struggles with the reasons his father left and if he is turning out to be just like him. A majority of the characters are bad and have their own motivations for why they want to take on this job, but it does make you wonder if these characters are not one in the same. This book takes place in the south so our main character does experience racism but there is also gun violence and other graphic violence. If you don't like action packed movies this might not be the book for you, but I really enjoyed this one and once again can't wait to pick up another book by this author.
I enjoyed the thrilling aspect of this book with the edge of your seat car chases and shoot outs and all the lies and deceptions, but the book also goes deeper. We have our main character Bug, throughout the story having this internal struggle of wanting to provide for his family the right way but also feeling like he can't leave the life of crime alone. He also struggles with the reasons his father left and if he is turning out to be just like him. A majority of the characters are bad and have their own motivations for why they want to take on this job, but it does make you wonder if these characters are not one in the same. This book takes place in the south so our main character does experience racism but there is also gun violence and other graphic violence. If you don't like action packed movies this might not be the book for you, but I really enjoyed this one and once again can't wait to pick up another book by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Racism
jaylee_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is the second book that I've read of S.A. Cosby (Razorblade Tears, though published later...was the book that brought this author into my view). I actually loved this book, better.
I love reading Thrillers...and this was outside my usual. This protagonist has done a LOT of shady sh*t, but deep down he's a man that just wants to do right for his family.
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a hard working man that has been dealt a bad hand in life, but he doesn't make excuses. He just keeps doing his best. He also has a talent...he can build/race cars. This is both a blessing and a curse. The curse part, comes in the way of ... being "the driver" for any type of heist.
When we first meet him, he is presented with a stretch of bad luck in his business, but also his mother's being evicted from her Nursing Home...because of hidden income...which presents itself as a bill of a LOT of money...that Beauregard has to come up with...to keep his mother safe.
Then the bottom drops out. One mistake leads to another, and another, and another. Blood leaking through enemies, acquaintences, friends and even family. When will it stop?
Even his long lost/dead father is hanging around as a spector in his mind...taunting him down a specific path in life, while his wife is trying her hardest to keep her husband near...so that he can be BETTER than the representation of what fatherhood was for him...so their children will know better.
Loved this book. I look forward to reading whatever he comes up with next.
I love reading Thrillers...and this was outside my usual. This protagonist has done a LOT of shady sh*t, but deep down he's a man that just wants to do right for his family.
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a hard working man that has been dealt a bad hand in life, but he doesn't make excuses. He just keeps doing his best. He also has a talent...he can build/race cars. This is both a blessing and a curse. The curse part, comes in the way of ... being "the driver" for any type of heist.
When we first meet him, he is presented with a stretch of bad luck in his business, but also his mother's being evicted from her Nursing Home...because of hidden income...which presents itself as a bill of a LOT of money...that Beauregard has to come up with...to keep his mother safe.
Then the bottom drops out. One mistake leads to another, and another, and another. Blood leaking through enemies, acquaintences, friends and even family. When will it stop?
Even his long lost/dead father is hanging around as a spector in his mind...taunting him down a specific path in life, while his wife is trying her hardest to keep her husband near...so that he can be BETTER than the representation of what fatherhood was for him...so their children will know better.
Loved this book. I look forward to reading whatever he comes up with next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Body horror, Car accident, Violence, Racism, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Murder
d0505's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
tlaynejones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
elyssam's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Action-packed book about a man trying to make ends meet who can drive a getaway car like no one else and how that lifestyle can thread into several bad scenarios.
I liked the story even though I was often questioning some of the characters’ motives and their morality. The ending was more ambiguous than I would like, but I understand why. The writing was very impactful, as the word choice went a long way in creating realistic and gruesome imagery.
At first I didn’t know if I’d enjoy this book. How was I supposed to root for people committing crimes? But then I got to know Beauregard, his backstory, and why he made the choices he made. And I also got to the action of the book (which was nearly never-ending). I could not put the book down at that point. An incredible read and a great introduction for me into this genre of fiction.
I liked the story even though I was often questioning some of the characters’ motives and their morality. The ending was more ambiguous than I would like, but I understand why. The writing was very impactful, as the word choice went a long way in creating realistic and gruesome imagery.
At first I didn’t know if I’d enjoy this book. How was I supposed to root for people committing crimes? But then I got to know Beauregard, his backstory, and why he made the choices he made. And I also got to the action of the book (which was nearly never-ending). I could not put the book down at that point. An incredible read and a great introduction for me into this genre of fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Drug use
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.25
Sugar.Honey.Iced.Tea! (SH!T) This vaguely reminded me of Fast & Furious except set primarily in the south and with characters that have you on the edge the entire time. Bug will have you rooting for him from start to finish. Just when you think the job he needs to get done is finished, nope. Not even close. Highly recommend this for an instant thrill.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Blood
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Racism
brenbrown's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gun violence, and Torture