Many years ago on a boring rainy day with nothing catching my attention book-wise, or house cleaning-wise; I turned on the tv to a movie called Bubba-Ho-Tep. It was crazy and awesome all at once. Elvis is alive and well but living in a nursing home in Texas. His friend is a black man who is actually JFK. Oh, and there is a real live MUMMY on the loose, killing old folks. It was wild! I tell you all that, dear reader, to say that movie was based on a novella by the author of today’s book awesomeness: Mr. Joe R. Lansdale. I am a huge fan of the Hap and Leonard series and book 13 does NOT disappoint.
In this one we follow Hap and Leonard, along with various other and sundry familiar (and new) characters as they turn down a client only to be dragged into the mysterious, violent, and odd investigation after all. There is gunfire and missing persons, insurance fraud and arson, murder and sneaking around trying to get the bad guys before they get Hap and Leonard. The plot moves right along and the action never stops. There are (as always) some philosophical bits to mull over; the boys are getting older and life is changing in small and large ways.
I love this series and these characters. Following their journey/character growth through the series is so good-I encourage you to read every book. It is definitely on the ‘OTTER’ read list. My favorite part of anything written by Lansdale is the way every page has something so well written, I am compelled to read it aloud to anyone within earshot; usually the cat. But he quite enjoys prose à la Lansdale!
This book releases today 7/16/24. Your favorite bookseller and local library should have or be able to get the series for you. It’s July, it’s hot-you ‘otter’ just sit down in the air conditioning and read!!!
