hunkerdown's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
5.0
This may be the best of the Hap and Leonard books I've read so far. Joe Lansdale ups the comedy and intensity with each of these books. All must reads.
newsguy45's review against another edition
5.0
The third installment of Joe Lansdale's Hap & Leonard books is one hell of a ride. No punches pulled in this one. Plenty of action, laugh out loud dialogue and great characters. This one might be my favorite so far.
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
I’m having so much fun with this series. It is always entertaining and keeps me laughing. No matter how serious the matter at hand is, Hap and Leonard can throw out a good line to keep you smiling. Even when dealing with horrific racism, rape, or murder the boys like to push others buttons and not take any crap from anyone. When they are dealing with a whole town of racism and the klan, maybe it would be best if they left it alone.
martyfried's review against another edition
5.0
Much of the action in this book takes place in a town with some of the most racist people we'd never meet. Practically the whole town is very racist to the point of beating and killing blacks without any hesitation. Add to this Leonard's outspoken provocations, and you have a sure recipe for disaster.
The most amazing thing about this book is how much humor is mixed in with this serious subject. If not for the humor, though, I think it might have been too painful to read.
Once again, a very well done audiobook. The accents used by the narrators add to the very colorful language used by the characters to make a very entertaining experience. I look forward to reading more.
The most amazing thing about this book is how much humor is mixed in with this serious subject. If not for the humor, though, I think it might have been too painful to read.
Once again, a very well done audiobook. The accents used by the narrators add to the very colorful language used by the characters to make a very entertaining experience. I look forward to reading more.
kmk182's review against another edition
2.0
The weakest of the first three in the series by far. Not a whole lot happening. Lansdale's wit and storytelling are too notch but there this one just goes in circles.
muffmacguff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was really rough and very violent. Once again I was enchanted to the point of tears by the strength of Hap & Leonard’s friendship. Still also more uses of the n-word than maybe any book I’ve ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Rape
Just constant n-word useverkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I've been reading the Hap & Leonard series for over twenty years, which is long enough to be excited about the TV show based on the series. After the first two seasons ended, I went back and re-read the books on which they were based, and I did the same with the third season. While I wasn't reluctant to return to the story, I remembered enough to know it was going to be a dark, depressing journey.
Florida Grange, lawyer to Leonard and one-time-lover of Hap, has gone missing in the town of Grovetown, a town known for being stuck in the Jim Crow days. Hap and Leonard, fresh off of burning down another crack house, get stuck with going to Grovetown to find her. Leonard, being black, makes that a daunting enough task, regardless of how little the residents of the town care to share about Florida. What they face there is grim enough to run them out of town.
The show takes more liberties with the story than it did with the previous seasons. I can't say what those differences are without spoiling the plot, but they're significant enough for me to prefer the book to the show. Suffice to say, if you've only seen the current season of the show, it's worth your time to read the book to get another take on the story. They're not so different as to be unrecognizable, but different characters get different development between the show and the book.
Florida Grange, lawyer to Leonard and one-time-lover of Hap, has gone missing in the town of Grovetown, a town known for being stuck in the Jim Crow days. Hap and Leonard, fresh off of burning down another crack house, get stuck with going to Grovetown to find her. Leonard, being black, makes that a daunting enough task, regardless of how little the residents of the town care to share about Florida. What they face there is grim enough to run them out of town.
The show takes more liberties with the story than it did with the previous seasons. I can't say what those differences are without spoiling the plot, but they're significant enough for me to prefer the book to the show. Suffice to say, if you've only seen the current season of the show, it's worth your time to read the book to get another take on the story. They're not so different as to be unrecognizable, but different characters get different development between the show and the book.