Ayo Onatade is an avid reader of crime and mystery fiction. She has been writing reviews, interviews and articles on the subject for the last 12 years; with an eclectic taste from historical to hardboiled, short stories and noir films
Two dead sons, two grieving fathers and a quest for vengeance is (you would have thought) the only storyline for Razorblade Tears. It is not. It is much more than that. There is sorrow, redemption and a fight for justice.
Ex-con Ike Randolph is a black man whose son Isiah and his white husband Derek have been murdered. It is bad enough for Ike that his son was gay but that did not stop him from loving him. Derek's father Buddy Lee was not only ashamed of the fact that his son was gay but also that his partner was black. Unsurprisingly Derek hated the fact that his father was a criminal. Both have little in common aside from a love of their sons and a desire to find out what happened and who murdered them. It is far too late for them both to make amends in their relationships with their sons. Their bodies have been buried and for the cops this is now a cold case. But this does not stop them from putting aside their prejudices towards one another and seeking justice for their sons. Justice which they will take any which way it comes.
Razorblade Tears is not an easy read. As the story unfolds it is not only graphic and explosive but a visceral, violently visual and intimately perceptive story of bloody retribution. A look into the soul of two men who have to contend with grief and regret alongside their lack of acceptance of their son's sexuality. This is a tremendously heartfelt book and S A Cosby who is himself from the South does not pull any punches when it comes to showing the South intimately. However, this is also tempered by some of the best one-liners as well. Despite the unapologetic violence Razorblade Tears has fantastic characters, a great sense of place and a heartfelt awareness of change and redemption.
It is also not for the fainthearted. This is a raw, non-politically correct novel that is a gut-wrenching and hardcore read. Feelings are not spared and be prepared to be offended by a novel that will upend your views with its brutal truths about racism, bigotry, failed parenting, grief, violence, and that nasty thing called regret. It will stay with you long after you have finished. If you thought that Blacktop Wasteland was an amazing book then Razorblade Tears tops this and certainly knocks this author up another notch.
A phenomenal book that will no doubt become a classic.
