Review: Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

TW/CW: Racial Slurs, Homophobic Slurs, homophobia, transphobia, the murder of LGBTQIA characters, torture

Ike Randolph has been out of prison for 15 years living a straight and narrow life, but that does not stop him from panicking when he sees a police officer at his front door. What he does not expect is to hear is the police officer tell him that his only son Isiah, along with his husband Derek, had been brutally murdered.

 Derek's father, Buddy Lee is also shocked to hear that his only son has been murdered. Like Ike, ex-convict Buddy Lee did not approve of his son's life choices and did not approve of his marriage to Isiah. While still having criminal ties, Buddy Lee is eager to set out and prove who killed his son and Isaiah. Can he convince Ike to join him on his quest to avenge their sons?

Finding those who killed Isiah and Derek will force buddy Lee and Ike to confront their homophobia, their racism, and all the ways they failed their sons. The two men set out to right their wrongs and find family in the most unexpected place.

I love the relationship between Ike and buddy, how they go from unwilling fathers trying to find their sons’ murderers to become a family, like their sons always wanted to have. Also adding to the family-like relationship between the two men is Ike’s wife Maya. Losing her only son Isaiah has broken her in ways that she cannot express. However, the need to be present for Derek and Isiah’s toddler daughter Ariana has given a way to focus her grief, along with pushing Ike to do whatever is necessary to find who killed her son and son-in-law. Having Maya and Ariana also adds to the tension of the story as the two pursue those who killed the sons.

S. A. Cosby is still a new writer to me. I haven't had a chance to read his breakthrough novel Blacktop Wasteland from last year, I'll soon be rectifying that. There are not many authors who can skillfully blend intellect, compassion, and violence as well as Mr. Cosby. He is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading more of his southern grit.

This is my first time reviewing an audiobook and I'm very glad that this is the first one I chose to review. The choice of Adam Lazarre-White as the narrator of this story was a brilliant one. He had the perfect southern accent and was able to differentiate between the voice for Ike and then a different drawl for buddy Lee. He added to the authenticity of the story being set in the South.

Razorblade Tears is one of my top books of the year thus far. This story of redemption and forgiveness, along with timely discussions of homophobia, LGBTQIA rights, marriage equality, racism, and transphobia, has moved me in a way very few other books have.

 

5/5 Stars

 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for providing me with the audiobook for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.