Blacktop Wasteland

A New York Times Notable Books of 2020

Like Ocean’s Eleven meets Drive, with a Southern noir twist, S. A. Cosby’s Blacktop Wasteland is a searing, operatic story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime.

“Sensationally good—new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended.” —Lee Child

A husband, a father, a son, a business owner…And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi.

Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad. Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.

He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with the smell of fear.

Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.

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Published Jun 1, 2021

320 pages

Average rating: 7.89

159 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

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Bosky

Dec 30, 2025

8/10 stars

I enjoyed this fast paced tale. I listened to the first few chapters, but knew that I really needed to immerse myself in reading the book. So I bought it and read it in one day. It was evident from the beginning of the book that Bug was not someone you wanted to mess with. He would "hunt" down those who wronged him to render his form of justice. Yet, there was a sweet, loyal, protective side to him when he was with his sons, daughter, cousin, mother, and wife. Just when you thought that things were working out, it got tougher. This book played out like a well orchestrated movie, and easy to 'see' each scene due Cosby's beautifully detailed description- some scenes are very hard to 'unsee'. The question is... did Bug cross over the redemption line?

ImABeliever

Feb 16, 2025

9/10 stars

Amazing. S.A Cosby never disappoints. I enjoyed Blacktop Wasteland from start to finish. It was so hard to put down. It was well written with details and descriptions that felt like I was there. There was enough action, thrill, and noir. This book touched on friendship, family, betrayal, identity, and the struggles of being a black man.

jenisfedup

Jan 25, 2025

6/10 stars

3.5 ⭐️

Todd Katz

Dec 11, 2024

10/10 stars

Great read. Excellent character development. Good plot, relationships, and pace. I liked the cars, violence, and language used.

Shawn💜Reads

Oct 03, 2024

6/10 stars

Entertaining but felt unfinished. Would love to have known what happened next.