Review | Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a mechanic and family man, but he used to be a skilled getaway driver. When he finds himself down on his luck, he takes part in a jewelry store heist in what appears to be a simple smash and grab. But things are not as it seems and now he’s targeted by some real bad people. Can he stay on the straight and narrow path, or will this be the catalyst for him to return to his old life?

Beauregard heard his Daddy’s voice every time he drove the Duster. […] In those moments, it offered him bitter pearls of wisdom. Nonsensical chatter that reminded him not to end up like his Daddy. A ghost without a grave.

Gritty, suspenseful, exhilarating – Blacktop Wasteland is the kind of crime fiction I could read for days! The plot is constructed meticulously so it was satisfying to watch the pieces fall into place. I loved how the characters’ decisions have a ripple effect and one small thing could lead to something unimaginable. And I liked how how the characters live in a grey area. Bug is the ultimate anti-hero, a guy you want to root for but who does morally questionable things. The others have their own complexities and desires that feel authentic.

The book tackles themes of masculinity, father-and-son relationships, and generational trauma in an honest way. I understood why Bug does the things he does, even if his actions don’t guarantee his safety. There’s a pull between the family man Bug and the driver Bug, and this struggle is what drives the story. It’s evident in the way he doesn’t want to sell his father’s car even if the money could help his family. There’s a part of him that idolises his father – a man who abandoned him – and it’s both infuriating and heartbreaking to read.

There’s a sense of danger lingering in the background and it kept me on tenterhooks. The violence is unflinching yet not gratuitous. I find action sequences tend to be difficult to envision but I had no problems here because the writing easily takes me there. The car chase scenes had me breathless! My only issue is the constant shifting point of views which feels disorienting. It almost works like a screenplay which will be great for the upcoming movie adaptation. I can’t wait to watch this on the big screen!

Blacktop Wasteland is an adrenaline rush and a fantastic exploration of what it means to be a man. Recommended!

About the author: S.A. Cosby

Photo by Eliecer Gallegos