Publishers Weekly
★ 05/27/2024
Edgar winner Lansdale excels in his savagely funny 13th case for East Texas PIs Hap Collins and Leonard Pine (after The Elephant of Surprise). When Minnie Polson consults with Hap and his wife, Brett, about the blackmail she’s been subject to, the duo’s off-color jokes dissuade her from hiring them. Hap brushes off the encounter, but when Minnie dies in a suspicious house fire, he and Brett feel compelled to investigate. With Leonard’s help, they turn up evidence of a complicated insurance money scheme, with suspects including Minnie’s missing daughter, Alice, and Minnie’s estranged husband, Al, who left her for a gold-digging stripper named Earline. As the detectives tease out the motivations of each of Minnie’s relatives, they run afoul of a ruthless crime ring and have little choice but to employ the services of mercenaries Vanilla and Jim Bob. Blood-splattered action and a welcome spoonful of irreverent humor make this a surefire hit. It’s a high-water mark for the series. Agent: Danny Baror, Baror International. (July)
From the Publisher
"Lansdale makes a triumphant return to his Hap and Leonard novels with this scorcher. When Minnie Polson comes to the duo’s PI agency seeking help, things go south after an ill-timed remark causes her to storm out. She later turns up dead and the guilt-stricken pair seeks her killer. Minnie’s family — full of eccentricities and petty grievances — are the unusual suspects."—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times
"Edgar winner Lansdale excels in his savagely funny 13th case for East Texas PIs Hap Collins and Leonard Pine…Blood-splattered action and a welcome spoonful of irreverent humor make this a surefire hit. It’s a high-water mark for the series."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"There’s humor and then there’s gallows humor. The Hap & Leonard books of Joe R. Lansdale embrace the latter with a martini-dry wit (not that anyone in these rough and tumble books is asking for a martini, shaken or not)."—Parade
"May be the best novel in this fine series. The quirky characters are well drawn, the prose is tight, the pace is furious, the surprises keep coming and the violent climax is nothing less than savage."—Bruce DeSilva, Associated Press
AUGUST 2024 - AudioFile
Fans of the private investigation duo Hap and Leonard are sure to be entertained by this 13th installment of their exploits. It involves arson, murder, a missing adult daughter, and evil forces. Christopher Grant does a fabulous job capturing the respect--and sometimes not-so-PC bantering--between Hap and Leonard. Hap's wife, Brett, the not-to-be-messed voice of reason, is also given a pitch-perfect portrayal. With twists, turns, unique characters, and the possibility of vigilante justice, this mystery will keep listeners eager to hear what comes next. Grant's ability to voice such a wide range of players adds to the fast-paced drama. J.P.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine