Razorblade TearsRazorblade Tears
What it's about
Ike Randolph, a Black ex-convict now running a landscaping business, and Buddy Lee Jenkins, a white alcoholic ex-con, have one thing in common: their sons, a married gay couple, have been murdered, and neither father accepted his son while he lived. Now they team up to find the killers, and their search for revenge forces them to face their own prejudices.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a violent, moving thriller about grief, race and fathers.
You'll love it if you liked
All the Sinners Bleed
The Bottoms
Billy SummersGood to know
It's very violent, with homophobic language from the fathers early on.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #183 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #232 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1313 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by S. A. Cosby
If you like this, read next
The Correspondent
The Housemaid
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen RiverExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Razorblade Tears worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,313 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Razorblade Tears about?
Ike Randolph, a Black ex-convict now running a landscaping business, and Buddy Lee Jenkins, a white alcoholic ex-con, have one thing in common: their sons, a married gay couple, have been murdered, and neither father accepted his son while he lived. Now they team up to find the killers, and their search for revenge forces them to face their own prejudices.
How long does it take to read Razorblade Tears?
About 8 hours (336 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Razorblade Tears?
If you liked it, try All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby, The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale or Billy Summers by Stephen King.