Blacktop Wasteland went very quickly from a book I’d never heard of before it came out to a book I had to have once the initial reviews began pouring in. How rare is it for a story like that to live up to the hype? But that’s exactly what Cosby’s book does.

If one were forced to pigeonhole the book, you might say it’s a heist novel, but it goes far deeper than that. Characterization is at the forefront for Cosby, and the book centers around one of the most complex characters you’ll find in the crime genre. Beauregard “Bug” Montage is kind of a badass, but where some authors quell the character development there, Cosby digs quite a bit deeper. Bug leads a dual-life, a man of violence, or maybe more aptly a man of doing what needs to be done to get by. He’s also a family, demonstrating from the first appearance of Kia and his children, his devotion and willingness to take care of them at the cost of everything else.

You take the action, the fight scenes, the pulse-pounding driving scenes, and the tension out of this story and you still have the story of a flawed character doing the best he can with the cards life has dealt. But why on earth would want to take those other things away when they’re so well done? The driving scenes are written with a cinematic flare and genuine thrill. Just try reading them from anywhere but the edge of your seat.

The setting is a massive contributor to the overall feel of the story. So many plot points stem from money issues, which stem from the difficulties of being a black-owned mechanic in a town where the cookie-cutter assembly line type of mechanic shop opens up. Seeking opportunities to better your situation, but society seems to be doing everything in its power to hold you down. I’ve already written at length about Bug’s character development, but this picture of rural black America lends a great deal of credibility and authenticity to Cosby’s portrayal.

Blacktop Wasteland is equal parts compelling, thrilling, and surprising. It’s a rare book that keeps me drawn to every page, unable to let my reading attention jump stories. I swallowed this thing up in two days, and only wish I could experience it again for the first time. With one book, Cosby has cemented himself as a must-buy author and I’ll be picking up his next offering, Razorblade Tears, on day one.