Razorblade Tears – S. A. Cosby

100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Two ex-con fathers are on a violent quest to find the individuals responsible for murdering their sons.

Expectation: A modern-day revenge tale that doesn’t solely involve rich, white and heterosexual characters.

Reality: A bit clichéd but surprisingly heartfelt and raw exploration for grief, regret and redemption.

Recommended For: Fans of the mystery thriller genre that like their reads blood-soaked.

Why I Read It: It was blowing up #Bookstagram the second half of 2021.

My Take:

The mystery thriller genre isn’t always known for its originality, but in “Razorblade Tears,” S.A. Cosby embraced the clichés — and overcame many of them — by infusing heart into this above average revenge tale.

While I didn’t connect with any of the characters — possibly due to the horrendous audiobook narration by Adam Lazarre-White — I was invested in the journey, because Cosby, smartly, made sure we understand it wasn’t bloodlust driving Ike and Buddy to kill — it was forgiveness.

Formerly homophobic parents seeking redemption isn’t a theme I enjoy, especially when it’s being written by a straight-identifying man (is hetero-saviorism a thing?), but I’m also not the intended audience for his messages of acceptance and tolerance.

Strip away the violence and genre tropes, and you’ll find that Cosby brings forward a raw exploration of toxic masculinity and the generations of harm it can inflict. Through Ike and Buddy, he bluntly addresses stereotypes about queer and BIPOC people in a way that makes you uncomfortable but feels authentic.

Ike and Buddy let bias and shame prevent them from a relationship with their gay sons, and they didn’t learn how wrong they were until it was too late to make it right. Many queer readers don’t need this morality tale, but some readers still do. The fact that story is in this genre by this author, means they might find it.

All that to say, these elements are what elevated an otherwise just okay read. The dialogue was stilted, there are far too many similes, and the action sequences read like they were written for a screenplay, but that still didn’t detract from the emotional center of “Tears.”

As mentioned, the audiobook is not good. Lazarre-White is stereotypical in his delivery of the characters — based on stated race and sexual orientation — which was super cringe-worthy. In some ways it seemed like he was purposely going over-the-top to appease the masses, but nuance could’ve taken him far.

If you’re a fan of this genre, I’d say it’s a must read. In his second novel, Cosby showed a lot of promise for the writer he’ll soon become.

But if you’re a queer reader that enjoys stories about queer characters be warned that you’ll likely not appreciate all the ways they are treated here. Still, I believe Cosby had the best of intentions.  

Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars

Rating (narration): 2/5 stars

Formats: Audiobook (library loan)

Dates read: January 2 – January 4, 2022

Multi-tasking: Good to go. I mostly exercised and cleared snow while listening. It’s a plot-driven story so it doesn’t require the utmost attention.