Fiction

Blacktop Wasteland

Blacktop Wasteland

  • Downloads：1339
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-05-05 10:51:29
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：S.A. Cosby
  • ISBN：1472273753
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Summary

Beauregard "Bug" Montage: honest mechanic， loving husband， devoted parent。 He's no longer the criminal he once was - the sharpest wheelman on the east coast， infamous from the hills of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida。

But when his respectable life begins to crumble， a shady associate comes calling with a clean， one-time job: a diamond heist promising a get-rich payout。 Inexorably drawn to the driver's seat - and haunted by the ghost of his outlaw father - Bug is yanked back into a savage world of bullets and betrayal， which soon endangers all he holds dear。。。

Like Breaking Bad in a high-speed collision with Drive， this stunning novel holds up a cracked mirror to the woozy ideals of the American dream - a dazzling， operatic story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty， race and a scarred， self-destructive masculinity。

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Reviews

Teena in Toronto ，

As a younger man， Beauregard had gotten into trouble but did his time。 Now he's a married man， father of three and owns a garage。 Unfortunately another garage recently opened， part of a chain， who is able to charge lower fees and Beauregard is feeling it financially。 He's desperate so looking for a score for some quick cash。 Against his better judgement， he hooks up with Reggie to break into a jewelry store and steal some diamonds。 Reggie has some insider information so it can't fail and Beaureg As a younger man， Beauregard had gotten into trouble but did his time。 Now he's a married man， father of three and owns a garage。 Unfortunately another garage recently opened， part of a chain， who is able to charge lower fees and Beauregard is feeling it financially。 He's desperate so looking for a score for some quick cash。 Against his better judgement， he hooks up with Reggie to break into a jewelry store and steal some diamonds。 Reggie has some insider information so it can't fail and Beauregard will walk away with almost $90，000， which will get him back on his feet again。 But it doesn't go as planned and Beauregard is forced to get involved in another scheme with Reggie to keep his family safe。I thought this book was just okay。 It's written in third person perspective from various points of view （it depends on where the action is）。 I think the writing could have been tighter 。。。 the car chases are very detailed and I didn't need that much。 I liked Beauregard 。。。 he's a good man trying to provide for his family who is getting sucked back into his past。 I wasn't buying his analysis of himself towards the end that he's just like his father and has no choice for his actions and desires 。。。 yet he assumes his kids will have better options （then wouldn't he？）。 As a head's up， there is swearing and violence。Blog review post: http://www。teenaintoronto。com/2021/05。。。 。。。more

Rami Yoakum ，

So I'm a bit conflicted on this Southern noir novel。 I really liked the writing - in places。 The story was pretty interesting - in parts。 The characters were pretty good - except when they weren't。 The storyline was a fairly common one。 In a couple of spots there were issues with the editing for continuity （For instance， in one scene Beauregard was facing his wife， did a 360， and marched out the door。 Actually， if he did a 360 he'd be facing his wife again。 He needed to do a 180。。。） And the use So I'm a bit conflicted on this Southern noir novel。 I really liked the writing - in places。 The story was pretty interesting - in parts。 The characters were pretty good - except when they weren't。 The storyline was a fairly common one。 In a couple of spots there were issues with the editing for continuity （For instance， in one scene Beauregard was facing his wife， did a 360， and marched out the door。 Actually， if he did a 360 he'd be facing his wife again。 He needed to do a 180。。。） And the use of simile exploded from the pages like fire from the surface of the sun。 I mean， almost every other paragraph。 Lots of simile。 Lots。 Small issues， but overall a solid effort。 。。。more

Ali ，

I'm not sure why this keeps showing up on lists of mystery novels -- it's more of a heist novel （and possibly the first one of that genre I've ever read）。 It was enjoyable， though; SA Crosby has an interesting writing voice， and I'm a total sucker for heist movies， so this worked for me。 I'm not sure why this keeps showing up on lists of mystery novels -- it's more of a heist novel （and possibly the first one of that genre I've ever read）。 It was enjoyable， though; SA Crosby has an interesting writing voice， and I'm a total sucker for heist movies， so this worked for me。 。。。more

David ，

Awesome story！ I listened to the audiobook and there was a bonus interview with the author that was eye opening。 I can't wait to read/listen to his next book。 Awesome story！ I listened to the audiobook and there was a bonus interview with the author that was eye opening。 I can't wait to read/listen to his next book。 。。。more

Joe Collins ，

Superbly written and plotted country noir。 Can’t wait to read more from S。A。 Cosby

Elke ，

As a film or tv- series， this would totally have worked。Good story， good characters， good dialogueJust nog my cup of tea as a book。。。 not the kind of genre I like to readBut that's on me。 And so not a correct way to value a book As a film or tv- series， this would totally have worked。Good story， good characters， good dialogueJust nog my cup of tea as a book。。。 not the kind of genre I like to readBut that's on me。 And so not a correct way to value a book 。。。more

Steve ，

Beauregard "Bug" Montage finds his past as the best wheelman on the east coast as hard to get away from as selling his father's 1971 Plymouth Duster。 When money troubles look like they are going to bring down his respectable life as husband， father， and owner of an auto shop。 Car chases， heists， double crosses， and turf wars take place against the backdrop of rural Virginia and the racism and poverty that drive the actions of many of the characters in this novel。 Great characters and relationshi Beauregard "Bug" Montage finds his past as the best wheelman on the east coast as hard to get away from as selling his father's 1971 Plymouth Duster。 When money troubles look like they are going to bring down his respectable life as husband， father， and owner of an auto shop。 Car chases， heists， double crosses， and turf wars take place against the backdrop of rural Virginia and the racism and poverty that drive the actions of many of the characters in this novel。 Great characters and relationships really got me invested in this novel and the brutal action， high stakes， and twists kept my pulse pounding。 I received a free Kindle edition of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways。 。。。more

Runenmädchen ，

In diesem Buch geht es um Beauregard， einem Familienvater und Inhaber einer Werkstatt mit Geldsorgen。 Aufgrund dieser nimmt er， der eigentlich sauber bleiben wollte， einen Job als Fluchtwagenfahrer an- mit weitreichenden Folgen。Die Gestaltung des Buchcovers finde ich okay， die US-amerikanische Ausgabe jedoch um einiges besser und passender。Der Autor S。 A。 Cosby hat einen fesselnden Schreibstil。 Meiner Ansicht nach hat er sehr vieles richtig gemacht， um seinen Roman authentisch wirken zu lassen。 In diesem Buch geht es um Beauregard， einem Familienvater und Inhaber einer Werkstatt mit Geldsorgen。 Aufgrund dieser nimmt er， der eigentlich sauber bleiben wollte， einen Job als Fluchtwagenfahrer an- mit weitreichenden Folgen。Die Gestaltung des Buchcovers finde ich okay， die US-amerikanische Ausgabe jedoch um einiges besser und passender。Der Autor S。 A。 Cosby hat einen fesselnden Schreibstil。 Meiner Ansicht nach hat er sehr vieles richtig gemacht， um seinen Roman authentisch wirken zu lassen。 Mit Beau hat er einen Protagonisten erschaffen， der stereotypische Strukturen aufweist und dennoch liebenswert gegenüber seiner Familie erscheinen soll。 Diese Liebenswürdigkeit wird jedoch von einem falsch verstandenem Stolz und einer falsch verstandenen Fürsorge überschattet。Zudem hat Cosby darauf geachtet， nicht nur eine facettenreiche Figur zu entwickeln， vielmehr ist das Buch auf etlichen Kriminalitätstheorien aufgebaut， die die Charaktere sehr authentisch wirken lassen。 Die Kriminalität zieht sich durch drei Generationen und das， obwohl der jeweilige Vater dem Sohne eine bessere Zukunft wünscht。 Aber wie soll das gehen， wenn etwas Gegenteiliges vorgelebt wird？Ein Teufelskreis。Im letzten Drittel nimmt die Geschichte rasant an Fahrt auf und es kommt zu einem Showdown， der an viele Filme erinnern lässt。Mir gefiel das Buch insgesamt betrachtet ganz gut， auch wenn mir die Figuren nicht sehr sympathisch waren。 Das machte Cosby mit seinem Schreibstil wieder wett。 Allerdings empfand ich den Mittelteil als zu träge und langatmig， daher vergebe ich eine neutrale Wertung von drei Sternen。（Nichtsdestotrotz würde ich nochmal ein Buch von Cosby lesen！） 。。。more

Aubrie Entwood ，

Don't read it because it's winning awards， read it because it's good。 It's got action and cars （details I don't understand）， but also amazing characters， ones that jump off the page and make you root for them or want to kill them。 Don't read it because it's winning awards， read it because it's good。 It's got action and cars （details I don't understand）， but also amazing characters， ones that jump off the page and make you root for them or want to kill them。 。。。more

Peter Fenton ，

Blacktop Wasteland is to literature what Billy Jack was to cinema。 Wasteland， like Billy， combines gross exploitation with grandiose， unrealized， ambition。 Familiarity with 70s grindhouse is a key to understanding what the author was up to with this book。

Melissa Markle ，

（I received a free copy of this ebook as part of a giveaway） This book is cinematic， tragic， action-packed， violent， poetic， and thought-provoking。 It poses questions like: Can people change？ Is the heart of someone their actions or their intentions？ Is everyone destined to repeat the mistakes their parents made？ It was a thrillride and it was a splash of cold water down the spine。 I loved it。

Chadd Nolen ，

4。0Like pulling back on a rubber band and letting it fly， this one took a while to wind up， but once it did， it grabbed ahold。 I connected on some level with the flawed and deeply conflicted protagonist rediscovering his true self but then becoming lost between who he was and perhaps still is， who he wants to be， and the uncertainty of it all。

Alex Norton ，

I was almost dreading this book。 The title itself evokes nothing but unnerving misfortune and I am afraid it plays out that way。 But this book is a gem。 Crafted as a “heist/thriller” genre book， it is so much more than that。 The care and meticulousness in crafting the character of Bug， mean that this is a novel that succeeds in exploring the search for one’s “true self”。 Not quite a debut novel but almost。 An extraordinary one at that。

Bob ，

Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a doting father， loving husband， loyal friend， and honest mechanic。 He also has a criminal past and a reputation for being the best driver in the business， as well as a cold killer when necessary。 The book explores whether and how these parts can co-exist within a single person。 With bills piling up and business at his garage declining， Bug agrees to participate in a robbery that goes terribly wrong， putting his entire family in danger， and requiring him to dig deeply Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a doting father， loving husband， loyal friend， and honest mechanic。 He also has a criminal past and a reputation for being the best driver in the business， as well as a cold killer when necessary。 The book explores whether and how these parts can co-exist within a single person。 With bills piling up and business at his garage declining， Bug agrees to participate in a robbery that goes terribly wrong， putting his entire family in danger， and requiring him to dig deeply into both parts。 Crosby's writing crackles。 I loved this book。 。。。more

Dynah ，

I really liked this generally。 That said。。。The action scenes were gripping but occasionally confusing。 The writing occasionally felt like it came from a high school creative writing class （"There was a paucity of cars on the road" is， like， a joke of a "studying SAT vocab， are we？" sentence）。 A sort of compound for drugs and sex work called Wonderland （"Beauregard thought a better name would be 'Lost All Hope Land' or 'Crabs and Syphilis Land。'" Oh come on。） is described as "[a] collection of fo I really liked this generally。 That said。。。The action scenes were gripping but occasionally confusing。 The writing occasionally felt like it came from a high school creative writing class （"There was a paucity of cars on the road" is， like， a joke of a "studying SAT vocab， are we？" sentence）。 A sort of compound for drugs and sex work called Wonderland （"Beauregard thought a better name would be 'Lost All Hope Land' or 'Crabs and Syphilis Land。'" Oh come on。） is described as "[a] collection of four double-wide trailers connected to form a two-legged T。" I'm still puzzling that one over; also wondering why readers needed to know that。 There is a spell-check-catchable typo， which I always find disappointing。 But for all my pedantic griping about it， I enjoyed it and would recommend。 。。。more

Julie ，

Wow。 That was a great read。

Becky ，

Reading is weird for me these days。 I have read fewer books than I had by this same time last year， but at the same time， I actually feel like I'm reading more。 Maybe it's because I've gotten into a routine of not reviewing immediately after finishing the book， and so I feel them stacking up and weighing on me。 I do NOT like leaving my reviews pending like this， because I don't feel "finished" with a book until I review it， but also don't really have the energy or willpower to change that right Reading is weird for me these days。 I have read fewer books than I had by this same time last year， but at the same time， I actually feel like I'm reading more。 Maybe it's because I've gotten into a routine of not reviewing immediately after finishing the book， and so I feel them stacking up and weighing on me。 I do NOT like leaving my reviews pending like this， because I don't feel "finished" with a book until I review it， but also don't really have the energy or willpower to change that right now。 I have been working long days， and when I'm done， the last thing that I want to do is jump back on my computer to type more。 So。。。 here we are， with weekly review catch-ups in my foreseeable future。 Anyway， all of that is to say that it's been 8 days since I finished this book， but it actually somehow both feels much longer， and like it can't possibly have been that long at all。 And to continue the theme of duality that I've just established， let's kick this review off by saying that I loved this book and I hated it at the same time。 Let me clarify: I loved this book。 I had exactly ONE criticism， one complaint， and that was that the situations that stacked up putting Beauregard in a financial bind just kept hitting him， one after another after another， until it edged into absurdity。 I get it - Beauregard has grown up in and has since gotten out of the criminal getaway driver life， and it will take a very dire situation to push him back into it。。。 so it has to BE a dire situation that he's in to force his hand。 I get that。 But my complaint is that the author's choice to have so many things converge in order to make his situation dire was a poor one。 It felt contrived and too convenient-plot-device-like。 I found myself feeling like it wasn't just a realistic run of bad luck， but that it was the very visible hand of the author saying "No。。。 it's not enough yet。。。 Pile a bit more on。。。" and that took me out of the story。But I also hated this book。 Because every single other thing about it， even down to how predictably bad things would go， had me so fucking hooked that I couldn't look away even when I wanted to。 I sat there， listening to the audiobook in sheer dread because I knew that bad decisions were being made， and shit was about to get really real in brutal， horrifying ways。。。 and I hated KNOWING this would happen， but not WHAT would happen， and needed to see。 I hated the massive anxiety that this book gave me for the characters and their outcomes， and that it forced me to listen through some of my serious injury-based anxiety triggers， and that it was so fucking good that I didn't want to stop listening to it， and that I wanted more of it。 I adored Beauregard from the very start。 The opening street race scene was perfect。 I loved his gravity， his confidence， his take-zero-bullshit approach to competitive or dangerous situations。。。 and how these traits shift and adjust when dealing with his family。 The way that they are still there， but buffered by his history and his desire to be the person they see him as， and his desire to WANT to be that person， even while he still wants the fast life， and edging under all of that is the situation of his being a Black man in Virginia， which。。。 complicates things。 I actually expected for this aspect to be a much larger part of the story， but at the same time， I'm glad that it wasn't made more overt， because I think that would have taken too much of the focus away from Beauregard's story。 And it is a story about him。 Him coming to terms with his family， and his identity， and who he is and wants to be。 This is a book about the "Absent Black Father" that certain bow-tied bags of rat corpses would have us believe is an endemic flaw of Black men。。。 but it's also a book about the far too often ignored situations that tend to cause them - the hard choices that have to be made because of lack of opportunity， becoming accustomed to living outside of the system because of those lacks within it， and obviously， systemic racism that is an undercurrent to all of it， policies that lessen opportunity but increase punitive penalties， sending people right back into the cycle of recidivism。。。 on and on and on。 （None of this is outright said， but I have lived not too far from where this book was set， and know enough to look for it under the surface。 It's not hard to see how all of this would influence everything， even without spelling it out， which is another reason I really loved this book， because it didn't need to。） Beauregard is standing with a foot in each world - the Family Man and the Outlaw。 The decisions， the ways in which he handles situations that inevitably hit him where it hurts the most。。。 it was both brutal and beautiful， because it felt inevitable and heartbreaking。 By the end， I felt like I knew him well enough to understand him。。。 but not enough to predict him。 I could appreciate him best in hindsight， but I never， not once， knew what he'd do。 I don't know。 This is a whole lot of words to say that I loved the book， but dreaded reading it， but couldn't NOT read it， because I loved it so much？ Part of that was likely due to the fucking phenomenal skill of Adam Lazarre-White who read it。 His voice was pure perfection for Beauregard。 Magic。 Anyway， I think， in terms of experience of reading， the closest comparison that I could come up with is Bull Mountain。 That book definitely put more "hick" in its Lit， but they are very comparable in a surprising number of ways - both in content and quality of writing。 Bull Mountain had a few more twisty surprises than Blacktop Wasteland （which had its fair share， but honestly felt more inexorable than shocking）， but they are at their hearts both excellent books about the nature of family， criminality， and identity， and they are both absolutely worth reading ASAP。 Brian Panowich instantly became a "must read" author for me with Bull Mountain， and S。A。 Cosby has done the same with this one。 。。。more

Mary Lynn ，

Audio Version Beauregard is facing money problems in many areas and a jewelry store robbery seems the only way out。 Very suspense and a heavy feeling of dread and doom Virginia setting。 Poverty racism

Sarah Lyons ，

I liked this thriller about a financially struggling father and business owner who turns to old friends to make quick money。 This book was better than I expected。

Gunnar ，

Südstaaten-Noir über einen Fluchtwagenfahrer， der es nicht schafft， dem kriminellen Milieu zu entfliehen。 Immer， wenn Bug on the Road ist， spielt der Roman seine Stärken aus。 Leichte Schwächen in der B-Note， weil der Autor zu offensiv das Happy End anstrebt。

Saimon （ZanyAnomaly） ，

DNF。I just don't care。 DNF。I just don't care。 。。。more

L。C。 Rooney ，

I typically devour books， but with this one， I paced myself， reluctantly putting it down each time after just a few chapters。 This required a measure of self-discipline that I ordinarily do not possess -- and， make no mistake， there's nothing about this book that made it easy to do so。 Shawn Cosby has crafted a tale that simultaneously makes your heart race and your soul ache。 Beauregard （"Bug"） Montage's story of love， ambition， regrets， despair， and an anguished hope for redemption will suck y I typically devour books， but with this one， I paced myself， reluctantly putting it down each time after just a few chapters。 This required a measure of self-discipline that I ordinarily do not possess -- and， make no mistake， there's nothing about this book that made it easy to do so。 Shawn Cosby has crafted a tale that simultaneously makes your heart race and your soul ache。 Beauregard （"Bug"） Montage's story of love， ambition， regrets， despair， and an anguished hope for redemption will suck you right in and threaten to never let you go。 If there's to be a sequel， I will be first in line to buy it。 。。。more

Kelly Greenwood ，

Both gory and beautifully written， this story of 3 generations of Montage men explores the impact of fathers on sons。 Would Beau （Bug） be an absent parent like his father Anthony was， or could he escape the life of crime a second time and be present in the lives of his young sons。 Enjoyed discussing the book at book club tonight， even thought I still had a chapter and a half to finish after the meeting。

Umar Lee ，

This book by S。A。 Crosby contained stunning prose at times and spinned a tale of crime and family that quite honestly hit very close to home in many chapters。 The story boils down to Bug living a life in the streets of rural Virginia as a racer and hustler， as his father had， and trying to juxtapose that with his commitment to his family。 Only one can win and a decision has to be made。 I really liked this book although I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator didn't do that well with This book by S。A。 Crosby contained stunning prose at times and spinned a tale of crime and family that quite honestly hit very close to home in many chapters。 The story boils down to Bug living a life in the streets of rural Virginia as a racer and hustler， as his father had， and trying to juxtapose that with his commitment to his family。 Only one can win and a decision has to be made。 I really liked this book although I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator didn't do that well with the south accents。 My only critiques are that the novel is a little too interracial， the life of crime in America tends to be hyper segregated at the level of really making money， and I just can't see Bug having the guilt Crosby gives him as I know plenty of stone killers and criminals who went onto be great family men while always knowing that had it in them to do those other things。 I know the guilt was probably an editorial decision to give the nerds reading the book more empathy for Bug。 I've known many men who've had these struggles of loving their families while only knowing how to make money the wrong ways。 I thought of them， and myself， as I read this。 The stories of the dumb criminals in this book are comical and when reading those paragraphs I'm reminded of an OG named Gene from Kansas City who once told me "intelligence isn't a prerequisite to criminality"。 This is a good read。 Perhaps it can humanize the many street hustlersstruggling to put food on the table to those who only know lives of strictly playing by the rules because they've always had good options。 I'd rate this novel between street-lit， normally written by people who know the most about the streets and crime but perhaps not the best writing skills， and hardboiled fiction- people with better writing skills but whose knowledge of the streets is normally limited。 。。。more

Lisa ，

Buckle up！ Cosby has written a gritty， action-packed crime drama here but more than that， it's a well-drawn character study of Beauregard Montage （amazing name！） aka Bug， a flawed but sympathetic former criminal who has gone straight yet accepts the opportunity for one last job to keep his family and business afloat after some crushing financial problems。 The exceptionally vivid and dynamic writing allows for adrenaline pumping chase scenes and riveting action throughout the story， but it is the Buckle up！ Cosby has written a gritty， action-packed crime drama here but more than that， it's a well-drawn character study of Beauregard Montage （amazing name！） aka Bug， a flawed but sympathetic former criminal who has gone straight yet accepts the opportunity for one last job to keep his family and business afloat after some crushing financial problems。 The exceptionally vivid and dynamic writing allows for adrenaline pumping chase scenes and riveting action throughout the story， but it is the character of Beauregard that truly captured me。 Cosby skillfully balances action and character development and I ended up rooting for Beauregard as his current situation causes him to revisit his past and grapple with his true identity， all the while putting at risk what matters the most to him - his family。 Cosby's skillful writing provided commentary on themes such as the influence of poverty on decisions made （often a choice between bad and terrible）， toxic masculinity and systemic racism， but in a way that was woven seamlessly into the story and characters。 I so look forward to reading more by this author！ 。。。more

Melissa Richards ，

If you like heist stories， this is a gritty， realistic one that would make a great movie。 It is a little slow to start with a lot of background， but it pays off when the action starts， which is this author’s best writing。

Jenna ，

This book was very good， fast paced and very entertaining。

Grey Young ，

I really enjoyed this one。 It was so easy to get interested in the characters and the plot from the beginning but the last third was so thrilling that I couldn’t put it down。 Great character development， even if the “development” isn’t so clear。

Jan Plain ，

Wow！ I flew through this book。 I found it to be fast paced， gritty， thrilling， well written and heartbreaking all at the same time。 It would make a terrific movie。

Carolyn Gwin ，

This is the epitome of a crime story with no regard for racial niceties or tip-toeing around stereotypes。It gave the action a sense of rawness that felt real。 Memorable characters for sure。 It’ll probably be made into a movie for the fun of seeing the chase scenes on a big screen。 Too many books get described as “thrillers”。 This one really is。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Blacktop Wasteland

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Blacktop Wasteland&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Blacktop Wasteland&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0