Devil Red (Hap Collins and Leonard Pine Novels) [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Joe R. Lansdale (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 15, 2011 | Series: Hap Collins and Leonard Pine Novels

Hap Collins and Leonard Pine return in a red-hot, mayhem-fueled thriller to face a vampire cult, the Dixie Mafia, and the deadliest assassin they’ve ever encountered—Devil Red.

When their friend Marvin asks Hap and Leonard to look into a cold-case double homicide, they’re more than happy to play private investigators: they like trouble, and they especially like getting paid to find it. It turns out that both of the victims were set to inherit serious money, and one of them ran with a vampire cult. The more closely Hap and Leonard look over the crime-scene photos, the more they see, including the image of a red devil’s head painted on a tree. A little research turns up a slew of murders with that same fiendish signature. And if that’s not enough, Leonard has taken to wearing a deerstalker cap . . . Will this be the case that finally sends Hap over the edge?

Full up with Lansdale’s trademark—whip-smart dialogue, relentless pacing, and unorthodox-to-say-the-least characters—Devil Red is one rambunctious thrill ride by one hell of a writer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Lansdale's rollicking eighth Hap and Leonard novel (after Vanilla Ride), the East Texas crime-fighting duo, Hap Collins (white and straight) and his partner, Leonard Pine (black and gay), look into a two-year-old unsolved murder. They step into the usual hornet's nest of troubles when they spot a devil's head scrawled in blood in crime-scene photos. It's the tag of a merciless mass murderer who has tallied numerous hits across the country, and as their investigation broadens, the pair discovers that Devil Red­­—who could be one of the countless criminals they've cheesed off in previous capers—is now hot on their trails. Lansdale delivers his patented blend of hard-boiled mayhem and laconic humor, leavened with reflections on mortality, morality, sex, and brotherhood. There's enough seriousness to make this novel stand far apart from run-of-the-mill thrillers—and enough comedy to have readers laughing through the blood spatters. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are a couple of East Texas troublemakers who occasionally subcontract a little investigatory work because, well, sometimes they get to make trouble while investigating. Perfect! Marvin Hanson, a real private investigator, hands the boys a cold case involving a double murder in which both victims, who had something to do with a vampire cult (the crime scene was decorated with a devil�s-head symbol), were in line to inherit serious money. Hap and Leonard aren�t just tough. They�re pretty fair investigators�Leonard has taken to wearing a deerstalker hat�and soon they have a shadowy group on their tail. An attempt is made on Leonard�s life, and a vengeful Hap sets out to settle the score with an assist from Vanilla Ride, the sexy female assassin the boys encountered in their last case. Lansdale is funny, often profane, sometimes profound, and a master of the prolonged shootout. The Hap and Leonard novels are re-readably entertaining. Each time through reveals something that was missed earlier. --Wes Lukowsky

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; First Edition edition (March 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030727098X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307270986
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.9 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over thirty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in eighteen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Hotep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror." He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hap And Leonard Face Their Deadliest Threat Yet March 19, 2011

By TMStyles VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Joe Lansdale has hit the jackpot with his eighth Hap and Leonard novel, "Devil Red". Longtime fans of the series have cause to rejoice and savor one of the finest in this long running series revolving around two long-time friends and partners who seem destined to cross swords with every dangerous killer and criminal in East Texas. Lansdale's trademark dark humor, sudden yet inevitable violence, and in depth study of the meaning of friendship and brotherhood is evident in every page of "Devil Red".

PI Marvin Hanson hires Hap and Leonard to help solve a two-year old double murder that involves more than what is seen on the surface. Large amounts of money were to be inherited by both victims and a vampire cult--yes, real life blood drinkers--is seemingly involved as may be many others including the Dixie Mafia. At each death scene, a devil's head is found scribbled in blood as the apparent signature of a nasty and deadly assassin known as Devil Red. Camp Rapture reporter Cason Statler makes a return visit as does Hap and Leonard's deadly foe from their last adventure, Vanilla Ride.

Who is Devil Red, what is his/her relationship to Vanilla Ride, and why is the devilish assassin now after Hap and Leonard? Where does Vanilla Ride stand in this conflict? Lansdale effectively and satisfyingly ties all these threads together in a great homage to the deep bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Hap and Leonard along with deep reflections on morality and mortality and what they mean to survivors when Leonard is seriously wounded and near death after being cut down by Devil Red. Hap springs into action to tackle the toughest threat of his life to secure justice and vengeance for his hospitalized "brother".

"Devil Red" is Lansdale at his best and serious fans of the Hap and Leonard series will love the raw emotions and fast paced action in this effort. If you are someone new to Joe Lansdale's work, go ahead and read this one, THEN, go back and read the previous seven. You will be glad you did.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One more modern classic. March 16, 2011

By Joseph P. Sherry Jr.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Joe Lansdale's newest book should satisfy all of his long time readers. In addition to the regular gang of H&L regulars, we also have Cason Statler of Lansdale's Leather Maiden join the mix. I rarely get into series, as they usually follow a formula, making them very short on drama and end up having more in common with a paint by numbers than real literature. Lansdale transcends the cliches. Where Lansdale succeeds, is humanizing his characters to a greater degree: as much as they grow, they can also regress. The mental toll that Hap's life has left is explored beautifully, but not with a heavy hand. If you crave drama, excitement, and humor, this book is for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars jocular hard-boiled bloody noir March 15, 2011

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

In East Texas crime solving partners Hap Collins and Leonard Pine agree to look into a two year old cold case. The white Collins and the Black Leonard look at the file, which contains photos of the murder scene. In the pictures they notice a devil's head scribbled in blood. The killer is a murderer who has quite a number of kills across the country as they recognize the trademark.

Hap and Leonard soon find numerous suspects who could be the infamous Devil Red. As they dig deeper, the odd sleuthing couple suddenly believes Devil Red is coming for them. They debate waiting for the psychopath or continuing their search for him; either way Hap and Leonard expect high noon in East Texas.

The latest Collins and Pine Florida jocular hard-boiled bloody noir (see Vanilla Ride) is a great tale due to a strong investigation that leads the duet and readers to reconsider moral values especially relationships. As always there is plenty of sex and gore, but also as usual in between the bodily fluids is a tense plot. Joe R. Lansdale pulls no punches in this terrific taut thriller

Harriet Klausner