Book Review - Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

Title: Razorblade Tears
Author: S.A. Cosby
Genre: Fiction/ Crime/ Thriller
Published: 2021
 
Description: Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.
 
The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss.
 
Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father was a criminal. Buddy lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy.
 
Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past ans a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.
 
Review: “Razorblade Tears” is a crime thriller written by S.A. Cosby. In this book we meet Ike and Buddy Lee, who both spend time prison. Ike is on the right track, has his own business and tries to keep his hands clean. Buddy Lee still has some connections to the underworld and lives a pretty sober life. One day, Ike and Buddy Lee learn that their sons have been murdered. They were married, neither really accepted their son’s sexuality, but they are both broken about the news. The cops aren’t moving fast enough in their investigation, so the two grieving fathers take matters in their own hands. And they will stop at nothing.  
 
S.A. Cosby is a black author who grew up in Virginia. His experiences of life as a black man in the Southern United States feature prominently in his work. In “Razorblade Tears”, the difference between how black and white people are treated also plays an important role. It often comes up between Ike (a black man) and Buddy Lee (a white man). But Cosby gives the topics of discrimination and prejudice more depth than just black and white. Not only are Isiah and Derek a gay couple consisting of a black and white partner, but both Ike and Buddy Lee have a history of crime and spend years behind bars. Even though Ike has been out for fifteen years, and has kept a clean sleight ever since, there is still a disadvantage that he experiences because of his skin color. The subject is clearly close to Cosby’s heart, and he does not shy away from presenting his readers with a good dose of social criticism.
 
From page one, Cosby takes you to the dark side of society that you know little about. Ike and Buddy Lee both have a criminal past, which you slowly learn about. Their old selves also resurface during their search for their sons’ killer. The men do not shy away from violence. It could be hard to read for people who are not used to read about violence. But for those who can handle it, Cosby delivers a fine crime thriller. Cosby’s direct writing style and fast pace draw you into the book from the start.
 
The relationship between Ike and Buddy Lee is developed very carefully. While there are “stuck” with each other, they are forced to get to know and understand each other better. This adds a lot of depth to both characters and their relationship, which is the driving force behind this book.
 
“Razorblade Tears” is a beautiful book, that made me feel a lot. It was an emotional read, it was raw and honest. S.A. Cosby is such an amazing writer, this was only the second book I read by him. But I’m not done with him, because he could eventually become a favorite author.
 
Rating: 5/ 5