The Louisiana bayou country has Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell; east Texas one ups them both with Hap Collins and Leonard Pine. If you're a big fan of James Lee Burke, then I need to properly introduce ya'll to Joe Lansdale, a Texas author with enough meat, 'tators and gravy to satisfy the pickiest reader.
Devil Red is the latest bronc out of the pen for Lansdale and it might be finer than frog hair based on the recommendation of my best bookwormy friend. And though I am fond of slinging a few cliches, Lansdale smoothly transcends my own bad writing habits and smokes his stories with authentic Lone Star flavor sans any corn pone. In one conversation, Leonard remarks about the stillness of the night as "quieter than a politician's brain." Hoo boy, I'm gonna write that one down.
In fact, all of Lansdale's novels are so rich with his vernacularistic swagger, I find myself busier than usual with the electronic highlighter on my Kindle. Luckily, most if not all of his books are available via the Kindle store, if that's your choice of ride.
In Devil Red, Hap and Leonard get neck-deep in a vampire cult, the Dixie Mafia, and the deadliest assassin they've wrassled with to date — Devil Red. I'm betting you're gonna get a kick out of these two unlikely vatos — Hap, a white straight liberal who wonders why people just can't get along and Leonard, a black gay Vietnam veteran who votes Republican. Top shelf characters, twisty knotted plot, blood, guts, and bullets sauced over with a ladle of political incorrectness makes this new offering the whole enchilada.
Just be sure to bring your own beer and limes, then settle in for some fine reading fun.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Is the Dixie Mafia interaction related to what happened in the previous book, Vanilla Ride?
2 - Cowtown Pattie
As you may already know if you are a fan, each book could be a stand-alone, but much better if you read Lansdale's offerings chronologically. Everything in the past is fair game to tie into the new story. Does that answer your question? *smile*. (Read it!)