'Blacktop Wasteland' by S.A. Cosby follows the story of Beauregard Bug Montage, a skilled mechanic and former getaway driver who is forced back into a life of crime to save his struggling auto repair business and support his family. As Bug plans a heist and drives the getaway car against his wife's wishes, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous criminal underworld where violence and betrayal lurk at every turn. Set in rural Virginia, the novel explores themes of poverty, desperation, and the complexities of family relationships, all while delivering a fast-paced and gritty thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The book is praised for its realistic portrayal of characters, particularly Bug, who is depicted as a sympathetic protagonist caught in a web of circumstances beyond his control. The writing style is noted for its raw and intense delivery, immersing readers in the adrenaline-fueled world of illegal racing, heists, and the harsh realities of rural life in Virginia.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic violence, crime, and themes of mortality and moral ambiguity.
From The Publisher:
A New York Times Notable Books of 2020
Like Ocean's Eleven meets Drive, with a Southern noir twist, S. A. Cosby's Blacktop Wasteland is a searing, operatic story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime.
"Sensationally good-new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended." -Lee Child
A husband, a father, a son, a business owner…And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad. Bug knows there's no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.
He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with the smell of fear.
Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.
Ratings (15)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (29):
Read It (17) | |
Want To Read (10) | |
Not Interested (2) |
What can you read after
Blacktop Wasteland?
About the Author:
S. A. Cosby is a writer from Southeastern Virginia. He won the 2019 Anthony Award for Best Short Story for "The Grass Beneath My Feet", and his previous books include Brotherhood of the Blade and My Darkest Prayer. He resides in Gloucester, Virginia. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
