Razorblade Tears was definitely an exercise in solidifying my particular preferences in books. Although I am so glad to have read this (deservedly) hyped novel, it just wasn’t my jam.
Crime noir includes the same aspects of mystery and thrillers I have a difficult time with: they inherently rely heavily on plot and suspension of disbelief (there are some major ‘strokes of luck’ in this one), and oftentimes feel as if they drag on to create tension. Crime novels have the added negative aspect of a lot of action scenes that, for my brain, are best experienced in a visual format. I LOVE shows like Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, etc. But if there are pages dedicated to right hooks and zinging bullets in a book, I completely zone out and gloss over them.
I think Razorblade Tears was a standout because of the unique way in which Cosby tackles bigotry around race and LGBTQ+, even though it felt didactic at times.
I hope this is a helpful review for folks who might have similar literary taste, or opposite tastes when it comes to crime/mystery/thriller. If you are the latter, this is a MUST READ, especially if you would like to add more POC authors to your bookshelves!