JUNE GEMS

These titles are two of my favorite of the year and each will sit with me long after this year is over. One is crime fiction at its finest, filled with social themes that don't beat you over the head but work with the non-stop plot to sink into your bones. The other is flat out one of the finest memoirs I've ever read.  

Razorblade Tears, by S.A. Cosby

A kickass plot filled with potential pitfalls, extraordinarily well carried out to avoid all of them. That's really all you need to know about Shawn Cosby's latest. I've read Cosby's other work (My Darkest Prayer and Blacktop Wasteland) and enjoyed both. Even more enjoyable is seeing a really good writer hone his craft before your eyes. Each outing is stronger than the last and I can't wait to see what follows Razorblade Tears, because it knocked my socks off. 

Two fathers avenge the deaths of their sons. That's a good enough story. But add to that the fact that the sons were a mixed race couple with a daughter. Both had difficult relationships with their fathers who, surprise!, had some issues with their sexuality. One Black, one white, Ike and Buddy Lee have only checkered pasts, their sons, and a need for justice in common. When the police investigation goes cold, justice turns to personal revenge. 

This story will translate beautifully to film. On the surface a fun, high-octane buddy story with two characters that feed off each other wonderfully. At its heart a well-painted picture of grief, regret, and social failings that lie so directly in the center of our society that they can separate families. If I had to find a quibble with this book, it's just a personal one -- my own weariness of the "family in peril" plotline. Yet Cosby also handles that well enough that I had to put my prejudice away.  

Punch Me Up to the Gods, by Brian Broome

I did not know who Brian Broome was when this gorgeous little face and intriguing title captivated me. I will now never forget him, as this is certainly one of the finest memoirs to ever torture me. It's the story, like so many others, of the perils of being a young, poor, Black boy, queer to boot, and his efforts to find a place in the world. The search for a path made all the more treacherous by his father, who was an angry, violent man who would rather kill his son himself than have him killed by a white person.

While one can hate the methods, Broome does a stellar job of explaining the undercurrents of raising Black boys. This is where the memoir skyrockets from uber-talented writing to genius -- the format through which Broome tells his story along with that of our societal failings. He begins with one bus ride he shares with a toddler named Tuan and his father. One of the first things Broome observes is Tuan falling headfirst onto the concrete while waiting for the bus. Out of fright and/or pain, Tuan begins to wail. At which point his father tells him to stop crying and be a man. Thus begins the chapters titled The Initiation of Tuan. 

Through these chapters, Broome observes ongoing interactions between Tuan and his father. Each chapter then feeds into Broome's own story and the way he learned those same lessons of hyper-masculinity. Through these alternating chapters, Broome tells his story and the story of young Tuan, both of which will empty your guts out like a rusted melon-baller. At turns hilarious and raw, Broome's ability and willingness to convey his innermost emotions are extraordinary. 

BLACKTOP WASTELAND :: S.A. Cosby

This is a quick spotlight preview of a book the crime fiction community and others in the know have been excited about for some time. S.A. Cosby's My Darkest Prayer (which this reviewer gave high praise) helped amplify a voice we should all want and need to hear more from. His latest novel, Blacktop Wasteland, comes out tomorrow, July 14, 2020, and is already garnering high praise:

“The gritty, brutal narrative is complemented by the author’s sublime use of sensory description and regional imagery. In addition, the epic, jaw-dropping chase sequences that figure prominently are reason alone to read this pedal-to-the-metal but profoundly sorrowful novel. Cosby is definitely a writer to watch.
—Publishers Weekly

“We’re in Elmore Leonard land… Bug’s got a conscience not typical of the thriller genre, but other than that, this novel recalls almost perfectly the classic heist thriller in the vein of Richard Stark’s “Parker” novels. It’ll go like hot cakes.” —Library Journal, starred review

Cosby never misses a note in this high-energy read, from Bug’s under-the-hood wizardry to the actual driving to the sensitive character building, which gives depth to the entire cast, including Bug’s hapless yet treacherous associates. A superb work of crime fiction, uncompromisingly noir but deeply human, too, much like Lou Berney’s November Road.—ALA Booklist, starred review

If you need more convincing than these blurbs and that kickass cover, here's a synopsis:

"Beauregard Montage knows how to fix any car—but that would be selling him short. He knows how to make an ordinary American car something that flies, something that, under his hands on the wheel, can take its driver places. He came to that knowledge through heritage, love and the lure of dangerous getaways. But he is in a town that has no call for those skills.

He’s got a repair shop that is floundering, a wife and two sons, a daughter from an earlier time, and the car he inherited from his father, a Plymouth Duster. Late at night, when he races the car ten miles out from the fairgrounds in the back road illegal races, he feels most like himself. He feels reconnected to the part of him that has no part in this other life he knows he needs to live for the people he loves. It’s always there though, just below the surface, that desire for one more getaway drive, one more adrenaline boosting race against the cops.

BLACKTOP WASTELAND (Flatiron Books) is about a diamond heist schemed up by an uneasy  alliance of poor men and women. Black and white, they live in the Virginia Tidewater region in a town where the desire to be more, have more, leave and live large haunts. With breakneck twists, heartbreaking intents and the missteps of its indelible characters, S. A. Cosby weaves a story about black male identity, about what it means to be from the South and have its history not include your story, and about the pull of family and its confusing messages about love and inheritance.

Cosby was raised in the South, Virginia primarily, and he knows a good muscle car when he sees  it. He first wrote about Beauregard in a short story, “Slant-Six,” which was selected as a distinguished story for Best American Mystery Stories 2016. He was drawn back to the character of the getaway driver who knows he has to give up the life he loves before he finds himself behind bars. Encapsulated in his story was the larger story Cosby wanted to tell.

Sentence by sentence Cosby pulls you viscerally into the world he’s drawn: you can hear the whippoorwills when the engines are cut. His characters are richly drawn, their dialogue sharp, familiar and cadenced with a humor that bites. Beauregard’s life is a place of bills that are overdue, of kids whose lives you hope will be better so you sacrifice. It’s a life where one big reach can burn the whole place down. This is next generation noir, far from Hollywood’s sheen, but as close to the spirit of noir in all its dreams and ruins.

This #ownvoices release has been praised by a wide swath of the best writers working in the field today (see below for all that they say)—Lee Child, Dennis Lehane, Walter Mosley, Jennifer Hillier, Rob Hart, Kellye Garrett, Steve Cavanagh, Alex Segura and more. S.A. Cosby’s BLACKTOP WASTELAND is a ride through America’s forgotten South and a stunning literary achievement.

The formal press release has this to say about Shawn: Shawn A. Cosby is a writer from Southeastern Virginia, now residing in Gloucester, Virginia. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. His short story "The Grass Beneath
My Feet" won the Anthony award for best short story in 2019. He is also the author of My Darkest Prayer and Brotherhood of the Blade. His writing is influenced by his experience as a bouncer, construction worker, retail manager and for six hours a mascot for a major fast food chain inside the world's hottest costume. When he isn't crafting tales of murder and mayhem he assists the dedicated staff at J.K. Redmond Funeral home as a mortician's assistant. He is an avid hiker and is also known as one hell of a chess player.

I have this to say about Shawn: Shawn doesn't talk, Shawn walks. He's bigger-hearted than he is big guy. Though his gym photos might have you believe he's fierce, he's also fiercely warm, funny and, most of all, a speaker of truth and ally to all. If I'm in any kind of fight, I hope Shawn is on my side. Oh, he also writes like he's digging his own way out of a grave and every word matters. His sense of place is unforgettable, his characters incredibly layered. Come for the good dude, stay for the great story.

For more information on BLACKTOP WASTELAND or to book an interview with S.A.Cosby, please contact SallyAnne McCartin at 860/435-6464 or sallyannemccartin@gmail.com

BLACKTOP WASTELAND

By S.A. Cosby

Flatiron Books ● ISBN: 978-1250252685● On Sale: July 14, 2020

Additional Praise for Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby:

“Blacktop Wasteland is an urgent, timely, pitch-perfect jolt of American noir. S. A. Cosby is a welcome, refreshing new voice in crime literature.”

—Dennis Lehane, bestselling author of Since We Fell

“Diamonds and fast cars, trailer park dreams and late night illegal street racing, S. A. Cosby reinvents the American crime novel. Black and white with bills unpaid and no exit in sight, his characters feel the pull of family and swagger with the melancholy ache of wanting to be someone. Blacktop Wasteland thrums and races—it’s an intoxicating thrill of a ride.”

—Walter Mosley, bestselling author of Trouble Is What I Do

“Sensationally good—new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended.”

—Lee Child, bestselling author of Blue Moon

“It’s fitting Blacktop Wasteland opens with a drag race. This is the literary equivalent of a muscle car—sleek, a little dangerous, and when it kicks into gear, you hold on for dear life. Lucky for you, Cosby is an expert wheelman.”

—Rob Hart, bestselling author of The Warehouse

“Every once in a while a writer comes along with an incredible voice. Think Elmore Leonard, or Chester Himes. With Blacktop Wasteland, add S. A. Cosby to that list.”

—Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen

“Powerful, gritty, and lyrical, S. A. Cosby’s Blacktop Wasteland is the unflinching portrayal of a man who’s deeply aware he needs to make a better life for himself and his family, but can’t — or won’t. This story is an emotional gut punch, and you’ll find yourself rooting for Beauregard while he’s ripping your heart out. Cosby is a mesmerizing new voice in crime fiction you won’t soon forget. This is literary noir at its finest.”

—Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets

“With Blacktop Wasteland, Anthony award-winning author S. A. Cosby cements his position as one of the leading crime fiction voices of his generation. The story crackles with a dynamically flawed main character, vivid description, unexpected reveals and dialogue so real you'd swear you were eavesdropping. I couldn't wait to finish yet never wanted the book to end at the same time. There's no doubt that Cosby is an authentic and much needed voice in today's crime fiction.”

—Kellye Garrett, Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty award-winning author of The Detective by Day series

“This book shook me in the best way possible. Cosby’s gritty, powerhouse novel evokes some of the modern masters - Mosley, Pelecanos, and Lehane - with a tone and vibe that is wholly unique. Epic but also grounded and painfully relevant, Blacktop Wasteland is a crime novel for today, and Shawn Cosby is a writer we’ll be hearing from for quite some time. I loved this book.”

—Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Miami Midnight

“Complex characters offer an unflinching look at hard choices and their consequences in Blacktop Wasteland. Told in lean, propulsive prose, this unforgettable novel positions S. A. Cosby among crime fiction’s best. Don’t miss it.”

—LynDee Walker, bestselling author of the Nichelle Clarke mysteries

“S.A. Cosby enters the crime fiction arena shoulder first, splintering open the door, and announcing his presence with a resounding crash." —Eryk Pruitt, award-winning screenwriter, author, and filmmaker

"A natural born storyteller, Cosby answers our prayer for a down and dirty mystery…A great read, hopefully the first of many." —Thomas Pluck, author of Bad Boy Boogie

“Rarely have I read a debut so self-assured. On nearly every page was a line I wish I’d written. S.A. Cosby has arrived fully formed." —Eric Beetner, author of Rumrunners and Leadfoot Anthony Award Winner for Best Short Story Listed in Notables: CrimeReads’ “Rising Stars of Crime Fiction in the 2010s”

TWO-CENT TUESDAY

Below are a few (somewhat) brief, $.02 opinions about several books I've read or listened to recently but don't have time to review in full. Their appearance in this recurring piece generally has little to nothing to do with merit. Many of these books I enjoyed as much or more than those that got the full court press. I hope you'll consider one or two for your own TBR stack if they strike your fancy whether they struck mine or not.

                                                 Great Audio:

Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, by Tom O'Neill

A great, knowing pal (thanks, 7!) gave me a copy of this treatise. I'd really wanted to read it, but finally went with the audio so I could get to it sooner. A fun, wild ride for anyone who is into conspiracy theories, the Manson murders, Hollywood of the Sixties, and just plain old-fashioned nutbaggery. Tom O'Neill dedicated so much of his life to this story you'll begin to wonder about his sanity. Then your own. Then everyone's. Much intense fun.





Superb Noiry Darkness:

My Darkest Prayer, by S.A. Cosby

Ashamedly, I've waited way too long to write about this fantastic gritty noir. Shawn Cosby is a hell of a writer. His protagonist, Nathan Waymaker (a man who "knows how to handle the bodies"), is a former Marine and Sheriff's deputy currently working in his cousin's funeral home. When a local minister is found dead, his followers feel the police aren't taking the case seriously. Since Nathan has a rep as someone willing to help out when times are tough, they ask him to take a look at the case. Great humor, snappy dialogue, characters to root for. Read this before the next installment, Blacktop Wasteland, comes out on July 14.

Dry County, by Jake Hinkson

Jake Hinkson writes great small town grit, and Dry County is no exception. A mix of politics, religion and a man willing to do anything to retain his power, it's a stark look at how people just keep digging even when they're in a hole. Richard Weatherford is a preacher in small town Arkansas who has grown his following and perfected the optics of his life with his wife and five kids. Things go south when a blackmail scheme threatens to take down everything Richard has built, and he'll go to great measure to put an end to it. Great stuff.





Interesting, but Disconnect:

The Town, by Shaun Prescott

I really wanted to love this one by Aussie Shaun Prescott, and for the most part I did. In a super cool premise, Prescott's unnamed protagonist shows up in a town in the rural Outback. He's writing a book about Australian towns that are disappearing. Then the town he's in begins to literally disappear as large holes to nowhere show up. People who get near them are sucked in never to be seen again. They keep getting bigger. It's about connectivity and belonging and ostracism and many other interesting concepts. Unfortunately, the conclusion also seemed to disappear. I wasn't entirely sure where Prescott ended up with this one. Maybe that was the point. Maybe I missed the point. There's great writing here, I was often transfixed, but ultimately the conclusion lost me.

Great, but Dry:

Our Wild Calling, by Richard Louv

I love me a good nature book. Subtitled How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives, the premise of this one grabbed me at the start. Within, Louv explores our powerful bonds with nature and animals and how they can "transform our mental, physical, and spiritual lives, serve as an antidote to the growing epidemic of human loneliness, and help us tap into the empathy required to preserve life on Earth." Unfortunately, the writing felt more like a textbook or treatise than a narrative. I realize it's non-fiction, but putting a story to a non-fiction premise makes it more accessible to those who aren't necessarily part of the sciences. A good and interesting work, but perhaps not for everyone.

DNF

Where There's a Will, by Emily Chappell

I have to take a good part of the hit on this one. I was really looking forward to this memoir by Emily Chappell, relaying the epic story of her efforts to win the Transcontinental bike race, a 4,000km trek across Europe, unassisted. During her first attempt, she failed, regaining consciousness lying on her back in a field. I love stories of people fighting against the elements and the limits of the human mind and body. For some reason, the start of this one (with Chappell coming to in the field) was really confusing and I had an immediate disconnect. Again, I think this was me and I picked this up at the wrong time, but the entry was not a smooth one. I'll give it another go one of these days.