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dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
A local biker is murdered and Leonard is the prime suspect. After being bit by a possibly rabid squirrel, Hap gets out of the hospital and starts investigating. Can Hap and Leonard escape a web of blackmail, murder, bikers, and less savory things?
My reread of the Hap and Leonard books I haven't written reviews for continues. In this, the fourth volume, Lansdale introduces a couple new characters to the Hap and Leonard mythos that will be important for years to come: Hap's hot nurse girlfriend Brett and Jim Bob Luke, the cockiest detective in the world. At least one long-running character makes his exit.
The case starts simple enough. A biker who'd been seen with Leonard's boyfriend is found shotgunned to death and all fingers point to Leonard, who goes on the lam. Hap tries to hide Leonard while figuring things out and steps in a hornet's nest of grease nappers and brutal videos of gay men getting raped.
This is the fourth Hap and Leonard book I've re-read and I'm continually shocked at how brutal the early tales were compared to the more recent ones. Even though the Lansdale humor is in full effect, I never get the feeling the guys are working with a safety net, a feeling common in series detective books.
As usual, the bad guys were pretty vile, although I wasn't sure who the true villains were for much of the book. Since I was a beardless young man the first time I read this, it was like reading a new book for the most part. The ending was pretty brutal, as a lot of Lansdale endings were in the early days. Uncle Joe sure doesn't mind putting his characters through the meat grinder.
The Hap and Leonard series continues to roll on, mojo style. Four out of five stars.
My reread of the Hap and Leonard books I haven't written reviews for continues. In this, the fourth volume, Lansdale introduces a couple new characters to the Hap and Leonard mythos that will be important for years to come: Hap's hot nurse girlfriend Brett and Jim Bob Luke, the cockiest detective in the world. At least one long-running character makes his exit.
The case starts simple enough. A biker who'd been seen with Leonard's boyfriend is found shotgunned to death and all fingers point to Leonard, who goes on the lam. Hap tries to hide Leonard while figuring things out and steps in a hornet's nest of grease nappers and brutal videos of gay men getting raped.
This is the fourth Hap and Leonard book I've re-read and I'm continually shocked at how brutal the early tales were compared to the more recent ones. Even though the Lansdale humor is in full effect, I never get the feeling the guys are working with a safety net, a feeling common in series detective books.
As usual, the bad guys were pretty vile, although I wasn't sure who the true villains were for much of the book. Since I was a beardless young man the first time I read this, it was like reading a new book for the most part. The ending was pretty brutal, as a lot of Lansdale endings were in the early days. Uncle Joe sure doesn't mind putting his characters through the meat grinder.
The Hap and Leonard series continues to roll on, mojo style. Four out of five stars.
ponyonmyboat15's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cdeane61's review against another edition
3.0
Always fun to read Lansdale, and the Hap and Leonard series in particular.
This is not your typical down home Texas tale.
This is not your typical down home Texas tale.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
I love Hap & Leonard, and Bad Chili is as enjoyable as their previous adventures. Hap's new lady love, Brett, is a fun addition but sounds more like Hap & Leonard with boobs than a real woman. And I must admit to rolling my eyes a bit at times. Some people label these books politically incorrect, which is mystifying to me because the opposite is true. There's violence and sex and bad language, sure, but also endless conversations about everybody's liberal viewpoints on race, gender and sexual orientation. Leonard loves dick, but is also super macho and black, feminism is okey as long as it's not "too strident", Hap dislikes violence although he just happens to be in the midst of it constantly. But hey, the rabid squirrel attack alone is worth a read.
billmorrow's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
blonberg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
virginia_thea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
katepowellshine's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is my favorite Hap and Leonard book so far!
kkehoe's review against another edition
5.0
Hap and Leonard have never let me down so far, and this time they do their best work yet. Lansdale at his best.
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
You just can’t go wrong with Hap and Leonard and the trouble that they get into. They are the type of friends that everyone wishes they had. Filled with sarcastic humor and deep human emotion that only Joe R Lansdale can deliver.