It has all the elements of a blockbuster hit and was a wild ride to the very end. Never before have I white-knuckled a book while reading. I was glad I was reading on my Kindle so I could highlight unfamiliar words.īlacktop is the breakout novel in what I am now calling the newest genre of books, “action”, recently only used by movies and television. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the vocabulary. I was definitely cringing while reading some parts, but it was all necessary to the story and never excessively grotesque. The violence is real and raw but it’s done well enough to be palatable for the average reader but may be auto accident bit much for those that are more sensitive. It brought to mind Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me when Beauregard is talking to his oldest son. Economic woes, sins of a father, marriage trials, dealing with an often corrupt and broken justice system, but written in a way that teaches and is simultaneously entertaining. There are so many layers to this story family dynamics, the daily struggles of a black man raising two sons in an openly racist society. ( )Įqual parts thrilling, heartbreaking, and staggering, and wholly entertaining. Fortunately he's written another titled, 'Razor-blade Tears' which I have a hold on at the library and can't wait to read it.

Highly recommended for those that love action, plot twists and most of all, crime and mystery. This is a benchmark of the skilled mystery author, which when added to his use of themes makes the story memorable and evocative. But as momentum builds the plot spins out of control keeping the reader questioning what comes next. The author sets the stage with skill using relatable characters and situations that in the beginning seem predictable. A criminal gone legit, his driving ability is matched with mechanics, though unlike his Dad, he's devoted to family and friends. Driven by themes of trust and redemption, the author immerses the reader in the world of Beauregard, aka Bug, a black father and business owner with 'skills', living in the shadow of his deceased father. Such is the case for this one due to a well crafted story filled with twists and action. A fan of debut novels, they can be hit or miss, though the ones that hit are often memorable.

Amazon blacktop wasteland