Razorblade Tears

Wow, what a ride!
Ike and Buddy Lee are the avenging angels pair you never knew you needed.
Both with flawed, criminal pasts, these ex-con opposites-but-more-alike-than-you-think strangers come together to track down those responsible for the deaths of their married sons, Isaiah and Derek.
Very violent, but with lots and lots of heart and growth.
Buddy Lee, Derek's father, is also a hoot! His zingers had me laughing out loud.
Razorblade Tears is the second S.A. Cosby book I've read. The first was All the Sinners Bleed and I enjoyed that one immensely too.
I waited on Razorblade Tears until I could get the audiobook version as Adam Lazarre-White is the narrator for both. Excellent!

I had such mixed feelings about this book. Two southern ex-cons, one black and one white, have only one thing in common: they both rejected their gay sons who had come together in marriage and fatherhood. It was only after both young men are murdered that they realize their homophobia had prevented them from showing how much they loved their boys - and hate their unidentified killers. Since the police are unable to make headway on the case, they join forces to find whoever is responsible and take them out.

It's a well-written and fast-paced story about two interesting male characters separated by historic racial animus but united in grief and a determination for revenge.

Which is where the mixed feelings come in. While the two men come show more to terms with the harm they did with their toxic masculinity (and seem to have a change of heart that is as profound as it is abrupt), they are also driven by the same idea of manhood to devote themselves to all-out warfare against their enemies. Most of the action is drenched in masculinity and, while there's some self-awareness, I got the feeling readers were supposed to cheer on their manly feats of violent bravado. That felt like an unresolved contradiction to me, and an imbalance between excellent character development and action scenes that border on cartoonish.

So good, but not without a fairly fundamental flaw that kept it from being great for me. show less

“Razorblade Tears” is the story of two families connected by one tragedy, a black hole that is swallowing every ounce of joy they had ever felt.William “Buddy” Lee Jenkins and Isaac “Ike” Randolph shed tears that feel like razorblades slicing their faces. Their sons are both dead, murdered, executed, and no one is searching for the killer. Their agony and grief is choking the life out of them. They blame everyone around them; they have lots of questions but no answers.

The story is told mostly from the perspective of the two fathers. The language, syntax, and cadence of the narrative transports readers to a particular place and culture. The dialect is appropriate to the characters, the situations, and the emotions; readers show more immediately know how every player perceives the situation and the social, racial, and economic differences. Descriptions engage all the senses and include the smallest idiosyncrasies that set each character apart.
“His voice was as cold as a mountain stream flowing over river rocks”

“Blood as slick and whispery as mercury”

“The staccato burst sounded like someone had dropped a thousand nails on a metal desk.”

“Razorblade Tears” is the story of two grieving fathers trying to find out what happened to their sons, but the search is more complex than either of them could imagine. They call what they are seeking “justice,” but this is really unquenchable, relentless vengeance, and vengeance comes with consequences.
I received a review copy of “Razorblade Tears” from S. A. Cosby, Flatiron Books, and Macmilllan Publishing. The book takes readers down a long dark road that ends at the edge of an abyss. It is a sad but enlightening, chilling yet deeply moving trip. Every reader should accompany these two fathers on this journey. show less

An intense and powerful novel that leaves a deep impression on the reader. Cosby's writing style is honest and raw, creating a palpable sense of tension and emotion that permeates every page.

Ike and Buddy Lee, grieving the loss of their sons, are forced to confront their own bigotry and prejudices in a journey of redemption and revenge.
Through a combination of thrilling action scenes and emotionally charged character development, Cosby expertly crafts a story that is both suspenseful and heart-wrenching.
The plot is driven by the two fathers' unquenchable thirst for justice, their fierce love for their sons, and their willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that their sons' killers pay their dues.

The author goes beyond just telling show more a compelling story, he raises difficult questions about the nature of love, forgiveness, and the limits of masculinity.
A powerful and timely book that speaks to the complexities of human relationships and the importance of empathy and understanding. show less

Once in a great while a book comes along that you would think you would probably just glance at for one reason or another, but you find the description looks interesting and your friend has read it and recommended it. You think "why not?" and start reading several hours later...you find you can't stop. In a nutshell it's about two fathers that risk their very lives to avenge their murdered sons who neither approved of their lifestyles or that they were married to one another. All that was left other than the memories, was a 3-year-old daughter who called both the sons "daddy" and both of her father's avenging fathers, Ike and Buddy Lee, "grandpa". The book is extremely graphic. The characters are specifically what they are and are show more vividly rendered. The author paints a bleak yet thoroughly compelling picture of their task and how it is carried out to the bitter end. Buddy Lee Jenkins and Ike Randolph are virtual strangers, one black and one white who should have become a blended family when their sons, Isiah and Derek, fell in love and married. However, bigotry and bad judgment are hard habits to break, so that happy family never happened. Tragedy accomplishes what love failed to... to bring the two fathers together and have them stand up for their sons. United in grief, guilt and anger, Ike and Buddy Lee set out to accomplish what the police wouldn't... to solve the crime and make the killers pay. The bodies pile up quickly. It's both bloody and graphic...but it fits in so many different ways. S.A. Cosby's writing is precise, emotionally engaging and cinematic, with character and relationships reigning supreme. As hard as sometimes the reading was, I found that I was always rooting for the two men with homophobia becoming less of an issue for them and regret and revenge taking the place of it in their hearts. Throughout, I was always on their side and will admit to shedding a few tears at the end. Thank you, Lynda for thinking of me with this one. show less

This is a story that lingers. Long after the last gunshot echoes and the dust settles, what stays with you is the emotional weight: two broken men trying to do right by their dead sons in a world that rarely gives second chances. It’s also a rare example of a revenge story with emotional and moral complexity. The violence never feels cheap—it’s always tied to grief, regret, and the desperate need for redemption. And that makes the novel not just entertaining, but deeply human.

Content Warnings:
- Graphic violence and intense action sequences, including shootings and physical fights
- Strong language and profanity throughout
- Themes of homophobia and discrimination
- Drug and alcohol abuse (particularly with one of the main show more characters)
- Depictions of grief, trauma, and emotional distress
- References to prison and criminal activity

This book would be for someone who is in the mood for something:
- Gritty and fast-paced, with high-stakes action and tension
- Emotionally charged, exploring themes of grief, fatherhood, and redemption
- Thought-provoking, tackling difficult topics like racism, homophobia, and justice
- Character-driven, with deeply flawed but compelling protagonists
- Southern noir, rich with atmosphere and a strong sense of place

If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t slow down and keeps you turning pages, this one definitely delivers. From the opening chapters, the novel dives quickly into the central tragedy—the murder of the protagonists' sons—and maintains momentum with high-stakes confrontations, violent encounters, and emotionally charged revelations. S.A. Cosby keeps the narrative tightly wound, with short chapters and sharp dialogue that push the story forward without unnecessary detours.

While the revenge plot provides the propulsion—two fathers hunting down their sons’ killers—the real heart of the novel lies in the emotional journeys of Ike and Buddy Lee. Both men are forced to confront:
- Their past crimes and personal demons
- Their failures as fathers, particularly in accepting their sons’ sexuality
- Their racial and class biases, especially toward each other

Both men start the novel as deeply flawed individuals, The novel doesn’t excuse their flaws but uses them to explore how deeply ingrained and difficult it can be to overcome societal and personal biases. It portrays homophobia not just as an abstract concept, but as something that fractures families and devastates lives.
- Ike is a stoic, Black ex-con who has worked hard to build a respectable life, but struggles with emotional repression and regret over how he treated his gay son.
- Buddy Lee is a white, alcoholic screw-up with a tragic past and a mountain of guilt, including homophobia and racism.

I’d give Razorblade Tears a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
What works exceptionally well:
- Powerful character development — Ike and Buddy Lee are flawed, raw, and unforgettable.
- Fast-paced and gripping plot — The action is intense, with no filler.
- Emotional depth — Grief, guilt, love, and redemption hit hard.
- Timely social themes — Racism, homophobia, and masculinity are explored without being preachy.
Why it’s not a perfect 5:
- The violence might feel excessive for some readers.
- A few supporting characters can feel more like tools for the plot than fully fleshed-out individuals.
- It leans a bit into genre tropes (revenge, vigilante justice), though it subverts many of them meaningfully.

By the end, Ike and Buddy Lee are transformed—not perfect, but more open, understanding, and connected to their sons’ memories and each other. Their evolution is messy and painful, which makes it feel authentic and powerful. show less

I feel horrible that I did not enjoy this book more. I almost DNF'd it about 10 times and decided to just keep rolling with it. I did listen to the audiobook and I think that helped. The narrator's voice was AMAZING! Very soothing voice. I wanted to like this story because it's about homophobia and not understanding someone else's world. And how both of the son's fathers ultimately accept their sons even if they can't understand them. Of course, it's not till after they were killed that it happens. I love the premise, the gay theme, and interracial...all of that. Love it! However, the revenge and the gruesomeness was just not really my jam. It was a pretty violent book, which doesn't usually bother me, but I think the way it was done show more just sat weird with me. Once I got about two-thirds through the book, then the ending went pretty fast because I wanted to find out what happened to the little girl and how they were going to get out of the mess with the biker people. But yeah, lots of guns, and shooting, and killing, and blowing up people. Just a little too much for my taste. show less