Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel

Written by S. A. Cosby

Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

A New York Times Notable Books of 2020

"Narrator Adam Lazarre-White's voice exudes confidence and depth; his performance is an example of how the best audiobooks deliver pure storytelling." -- AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner

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

This program includes a bonus conversation with the author.

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.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

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

"A fast-paced, fresh take on noir that tears through the underbelly of Virginia." — New York Times

"If you’re looking for dark, gritty, nuanced heist thriller that feels like The Fast and the Furious + The Italian Job + the Starz show Power but set in the south with fantastic, immersive narration, pick this up." -- Book Riot

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781250751935

S. A. Cosby

S. A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian, and Library Journal, among others. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player.

Reviews for Blacktop Wasteland

[Latrice K Springs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This. Almost slept on it because the story line seems so simple and straight forward but wooweee this gets messy rather quickly and once this thing is set into motion it holds you hostage till the very. Well done. Nice author interview at the end.??????????

[ahenry525 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very thrilling story with rich characters and magnetic narration. My book club loved it!

[Russ Palmeri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly, for a book in the thriller genre, it’s the depth and complexity of the characters that make this book great.
The narrator does a great job bringing each characters. Individual personality to life.
Be sure to listen to the interview with the author at the end of the book.

[Carol Kubala · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read the book so can't say how this worked in audio. It has not been reviewed yet on my go to place for a heads-up on the narration and book, audiofilemagazine.com. I can see the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, sounds like the right man for the job. I'll listen a bit and be back with an update.
This reader was hooked from page one. Blacktop Wasteland never lost its momentum. Cosby sets the scene in the rural fictional town of Red Hill, VA (reminds me of Hampton Roads). The main protagonist, Beauregard, “Bug” is one of those bad guys you hate to love. Along with partners in crime, a crew of outright criminals, and others just trying to live the life, this cast of characters leapt off the pages while Beauregard presses the pedal to the medal in a deliciously complex heist. Blacktop Wasteland is fast paced, gritty, and written in dialog that fits its settings and improves its plot. Beauregard does get into some questionable scrapes. “Could that really happen?” and then I remember seeing something like that on Myth Busters and it could but “don't try this from home”. I might have had to suspend belief a bit but I was happy doing so. Fans and critics alike are saying “movie”. Blacktop Wasteland is one heck of a summer read, and one of the best thrillers I've read in ages. It's a h_ _l of a ride.

[James · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Masterful writing, heart-stopping suspense. A story that grabbed me from the start and pulled me right through to the end. Classic noir. The audiobook narration is fantastic.

[Lauren M. Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a wild and beautifully detailed ride! I am now a staunch S. A. Cosby fan!

[Diane Allen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It really reflected Virginia as I knew it and as it has change in the past 30 years — back them it was pot and ‘shine, not meth and oxy. He did an amazing job portraying rural coastal Virginia as a backdrop to an exciting Thriller with real characters. The voice artist did a great job on the voices and I appreciated the bonus interview with the author at the end.

[Crystal Green · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is excellent. The author does an amazing job with his descriptions. You actually feel as if you’re watching a movie. The entire book held my attention. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. I highly recommend this book.

[Carl Bahr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have not read or listened to a novel in many years. For whatever reason, I chose this one to escape into. About halfway through chapter one, I was already deeply hooked into the characters. The writer was able to create realistic scenes in my head as the story went on, and the suspense was chest tightening at times. I loved this book!

[Beth Jackson- King · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so good I had to inbox the author on FB! Crime thriller with a twist. I loved it!

[Theresa Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome!! This book was so so good! Read it now!

[Sharon Traylor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing book. Adam is awesome ❤️ This is a must read

[c Kops · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wild ride and thrilling read!! Audio narration was perfect

[bdykes59 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I listen to this book non stop I couldn’t wait to see how it would end. You ,left me hanging at the end I wanted more. Thank you for an excellent listen

[hannah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

absolutely amazing! i could not stop listening to this book. fast and furious meets oceans eleven meets goodfellas. extremely entertaining with so much heart. beautifully written and narrated.

[marthack · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great read. You don’t just hear the story, you feel it. Highly recommended

[Rich Rappa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a great story especially for a father...the actor doing reading on the audiobook was awesome!

[Daniel Cohn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great plot, great performance. So Looking forward to a sequel.

[Ron · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story. Much different than what I usually read. Kept my attention throughout. Well done!

[J.B. Taylor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this on audio. I wish I hadn't because the narrator detracted from the story. I'm probably in the minority there, but his reading was slow with many words overunciated. He made moments that shouldn't have been boring, boring. It's because of this that I wish I had read it myself. Because the story was exceptional, the dialogue (which the narrator excelled at to be fair) absolutely tremendous. This was a short book that due to the narrator took me far too long to finish. The book is high-octane (you'll see what I did there if you read it) from start to finish and I'd have finished it, reading it for myself, in the space of a day it was that cleverly written.

Bug is described as a man trying to find himself, and I suppose that's correct. I did not like him, regardless of how much he loved his family. He was selfish and violent, and not worth a whole heck of a lot in my book. But he was superbly written. Ronnie too. I was madder about the decisions he made than Bug, and Bug is a piece of crap. That's how well-written Ronnie is. Bug's wife and the family dynamics were very realistic, I appreciated both aspects of the story.

S.A. Cosby is a new fav, this book was tremendous. But I'm giving it a four out five because of something that happens in the story I found a little too unrealistic. It took me out of the story and annoyed me greatly. If it weren't for that, I'd have given it a five out five.

[John Schulz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Righteous Justice- enough “car Details that guys who like cars would enjoy how cars are blended into the detail !

[Karen Brisendine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am so impressed with the dialogue and clear description of each scene. As I listened I would laugh and alternately gasp and try to help. Truly a masterpiece of entertainment and education

[Coretta Murphy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The suspense was palpable and the thrill was real. The narrator made the audiobook a visual and visceral experience. I’m hopeful that “Blacktop Wasteland” is the beginning of along series. Well done!!

[Cameron Maddux · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfection. The story is gripping, the characters are deep, the language moves. The narration is without a doubt the best audiobook I have ever experienced. I feel I have found an author whose work I will read for the rest of my life

[Gary Carter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has it all, a tight plot line that will grab you from beginning to end, believable characters. It discuss racism, poverty, income equallty and what it’s like to live as a black man in the rural South. Beauregard the major character struggles to find his own identity caught between a world of crime and being a getaway driver, memories of his father who deserted him for the life of a gangster and being a law abiding family man. This compelling struggle makes the heart and soul of this compelling book. It has action, violence and double crosses. Highly recommended. This book will keep you enthralled from beginning to end.

[celeste · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Worth the read! Amazing audio narration-will read anything this guy narrates. A glimpse into the darker crevices of society that blurs the distinctions between good and bad while also highlighting them in stark detail. Well paced, unpredictable, wondering what the hell will happen next..and car chases and guns -which I’m not fans of-but are really well written in this book.