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A review by nzlisam
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Every moment of Razorblade Tears carried weight, and by the final page I was breathless!
Ike Randolph, a black, former gang member gone straight, and Buddy Lee Jenkins, a white redneck who also has a criminal past, are unwittingly connected by their sons (Isiah and Derek) marriage. Both men have rejected their own flesh and blood because of their relationship, and have cut ties with them as a result. But when Isiah and Ike are savagely murdered, Ike and Isiah must set aside their own differences and prejudices to uncover the truth and exact revenge on those responsible.
Whew! Twenty four hours later and I still haven’t calmed down after finishing Razorblade Tears. What a book! What a title! I was on the edge of my seat throughout – it was fast-paced, action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, emotionally-charged, and it delivered a string of explosive confrontations, twists, and climatic scenes. And that’s coming from someone who is not a big fan of a revenge-driven plot. Also, you’re going to need tissues.
Don’t mistake Ike and Buddy Lee for the good guys though – they were violent criminals, cold-blooded killers, abusive fathers, and openly homophobia and racist. They were as bad as the evil people they were pursuing. Having said that, they sure were unforgettable and interesting to read about. The heroes of this novel in my book were Isiah and Derek, even though they were already gone when the story began. The glimpses into their lives via memories revealed them as principled, courageous, and compassionate contributing members of society – the kind of people I instinctively root for. Their deaths were not just tragic and heartbreaking, but unjust, and I longed for justice on their behalf for the cruelty they endured from society and especially their own fathers, and the brutal way their lives were taken. Even though I definitely don’t condone vigilantism and an-eye-for-an-eye punishment, this was fiction, and it was hugely satisfying and deserving. And I couldn’t help enjoying the slow-burn friendship that developed between Ike and Buddy Lee, even though I loathed pretty much everything they stood for.
It will come as no surprise that the novel featured intense violence – not limited to gunfights, knife fights, brutal hand-to-hand combat, a high body count, scenes of torture, blood and gore, graphic kills, and explicit language. The novel didn’t shy away from the harsh realities of its world, but every element served a purpose and was integral to the story’s raw, high-stakes narrative.
Adam Lazarre-White, who I had the pleasure of listening to when he read the audiobook of another of S.A. Cosby’s novels – All the Sinners Bleed, was back to narrate this one. And if anything he was even better this time around, although he was phenomenal for both novels, and I cannot recommend both audiobooks enough. And, Lazarre-White is also the narrator for Cosby’s latest – King of Ashes, which I will be reading before the end of the year, and am now even more excited for.
S.A. Cosby has blown me away yet again with Razorblade Tears. On my 2025 favourites list it goes.
Ike Randolph, a black, former gang member gone straight, and Buddy Lee Jenkins, a white redneck who also has a criminal past, are unwittingly connected by their sons (Isiah and Derek) marriage. Both men have rejected their own flesh and blood because of their relationship, and have cut ties with them as a result. But when Isiah and Ike are savagely murdered, Ike and Isiah must set aside their own differences and prejudices to uncover the truth and exact revenge on those responsible.
Whew! Twenty four hours later and I still haven’t calmed down after finishing Razorblade Tears. What a book! What a title! I was on the edge of my seat throughout – it was fast-paced, action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, emotionally-charged, and it delivered a string of explosive confrontations, twists, and climatic scenes. And that’s coming from someone who is not a big fan of a revenge-driven plot. Also, you’re going to need tissues.
Don’t mistake Ike and Buddy Lee for the good guys though – they were violent criminals, cold-blooded killers, abusive fathers, and openly homophobia and racist. They were as bad as the evil people they were pursuing. Having said that, they sure were unforgettable and interesting to read about. The heroes of this novel in my book were Isiah and Derek, even though they were already gone when the story began. The glimpses into their lives via memories revealed them as principled, courageous, and compassionate contributing members of society – the kind of people I instinctively root for. Their deaths were not just tragic and heartbreaking, but unjust, and I longed for justice on their behalf for the cruelty they endured from society and especially their own fathers, and the brutal way their lives were taken. Even though I definitely don’t condone vigilantism and an-eye-for-an-eye punishment, this was fiction, and it was hugely satisfying and deserving. And I couldn’t help enjoying the slow-burn friendship that developed between Ike and Buddy Lee, even though I loathed pretty much everything they stood for.
It will come as no surprise that the novel featured intense violence – not limited to gunfights, knife fights, brutal hand-to-hand combat, a high body count, scenes of torture, blood and gore, graphic kills, and explicit language. The novel didn’t shy away from the harsh realities of its world, but every element served a purpose and was integral to the story’s raw, high-stakes narrative.
Adam Lazarre-White, who I had the pleasure of listening to when he read the audiobook of another of S.A. Cosby’s novels – All the Sinners Bleed, was back to narrate this one. And if anything he was even better this time around, although he was phenomenal for both novels, and I cannot recommend both audiobooks enough. And, Lazarre-White is also the narrator for Cosby’s latest – King of Ashes, which I will be reading before the end of the year, and am now even more excited for.
S.A. Cosby has blown me away yet again with Razorblade Tears. On my 2025 favourites list it goes.