Author: S.A. Cosby
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Released: July 14, 202
Received: Own (BOTM)
Warnings: Human trafficking, racism, torture, hate crimes, misogyny, addiction

It’s time to read more from S.A. Cosby, Blacktop Wasteland. However, I’m a bit surprised that BOTM picked up a slightly older (read: 2020) book for one of March’s additions. Oh well, I can’t complain since I snatched it up so quickly!

Beauregard “Bug” Montage used to be famous for his getaway driving – though perhaps infamous is a better term. However, Bug is retired now…though we all know that life tends to have a different opinion when it comes to retirement.

Finances force Bug to admit the hard truth – that he’s going to have to head back to the life he thought he walked away from. This one last job should have put things right. Instead, it’s about to make his life a lot more complicated.

“The truth had a strange way of ending an argument.”

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that S.A. Crosby knows how to write a captivating story. Something about this book just sinks readers in and refuses to let go. Personally? I think it’s the human (and emotional) element of it all.

We’ve all seen a tale similar to Blacktop Wasteland: a man has a dark past and is now trying to get clean. Only, for one reason or another (usually financial), he’s getting pulled back into the game. By going back for one more job, he puts his entire life and future at risk.

Despite the core element of Blacktop Wasteland feeling very familiar, it is full of surprises and depth. From now on, this book will stand out to me when I think of this trope (is it common enough to be called a trope? I’m assuming yes).