Blacktop WastelandBlacktop Wasteland
Score Modern
What it's about
S. A. Cosby's crime novel follows a man with a family and a struggling business who is pulled back into the criminal life he left behind, in a ferocious slice of Southern noir.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Anthony Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was a New York Times Notable Book.
You'll love it if you liked
Razorblade Tears
All the Sinners Bleed
No Country for Old MenGood to know
It's violent and fast.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #98 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #451 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #904 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by S. A. Cosby
If you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
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Gone Girl
The Martian
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Quick answers
Is Blacktop Wasteland worth reading?
Yes. It won the Anthony Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was a New York Times Notable Book. It ranks #904 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Blacktop Wasteland about?
S. A. Cosby's crime novel follows a man with a family and a struggling business who is pulled back into the criminal life he left behind, in a ferocious slice of Southern noir.
How long does it take to read Blacktop Wasteland?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Blacktop Wasteland won?
Anthony Award winner (2021).
What should I read after Blacktop Wasteland?
If you liked it, try Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby, All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby or No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.