S.A. Cosby continues the propulsive pacing established in "Blacktop Wasteland" with "Razorblade Tears," which follows a pair of mismatched ex-cons as they seek redemption for their sons.
There is a lot at work here: racism, transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, classism ... Cosby attacks it all head on. Featuring spartan prose, an undeniable story unfolds at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion.
"Razorblade Tears" is not without difficulties, however. Some shifts in perspective are a little jarring, some of the moralizing feels rather overt, and the author tends to rely on noir tropes -- there is much clenching of fists and sucking of teeth and cracking of knuckles.
While to me this lacked the heart of its predecessor, at the end of the day, this is an absorbing and frantic story. Peppered with flawed characters, gallows humor, and antiheroes you can root for, "Razorblade Tears" is a fun read from a needed voice in southern noir.
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