Devil Red

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication Date
2011
Language
English

Description

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.

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ISBN
9780307595355

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Although less violent than the 'Hap Collins and Leonard Pines novels,' the 'Holmes on the range mysteries' feature a similar pair of detectives - irreverent, funny, and inseparable as a team. -- Victoria Fredrick
The Hap Collins and Leonard Pine series and Serge Storms novels feature idiosyncratic characters who are smart-mouthed, violent, and always in trouble with their schemes. The stories are fast-paced, gritty, and darkly humorous and show the dark underbelly of Texas and Florida. -- Merle Jacob
Providing a stage for the antics of stupid (but deadly) bad guys in the Mississippi Delta (Nick Reid) and Texas (Hap Collins and Leonard Pine), these fast-paced, gritty, and darkly humorous novels also feature likeable, tough-but-not-psychotic protagonists and pitch-perfect dialogue. -- Shauna Griffin
Quirky amateur detective duos offer dark humor and banter while pursuing equally quirky criminals in these engaging character-driven mysteries. Though Charlie Bradshaw has less violence and action than Hap Collins, both series are equally amusing, fast-paced, and charming. -- Mike Nilsson
The Red River and Hap Collins and Leonard Pine mysteries are set in rural Texas and are filled with good-old-boys who find themselves solving crimes. These fast paced books have richly detailed settings, quirky characters, and lots of wry humor. -- Merle Jacob
Violence and humor blend seamlessly in these action-packed series, in which pairs of best friends seem unable to avoid embroiling themselves in mayhem. Likable protagonists, truly stupid, villainous bad guys, and a moral compass make these fast-paced, profane stories fun. -- Shauna Griffin
These series have the genres "mysteries" and "lgbtqia+ fiction"; the subjects "african american gay men" and "gay men"; and include the identities "lgbtqia+" and "gay."
These series have the genre "lgbtqia+ fiction"; the subject "gay men"; and include the identities "lgbtqia+" and "gay."
These series have the appeal factors action-packed and banter-filled, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "lgbtqia+ fiction"; the subjects "male friendship," "gay men," and "men-men relations"; include the identities "lgbtqia+" and "gay"; and characters that are "likeable characters."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the genre "mysteries"; the subjects "assassins" and "conspiracies"; and characters that are "likeable characters."
These books have the appeal factors violent, gritty, and banter-filled, and they have the genre "lgbtqia+ fiction"; the subject "cults"; include the identities "lgbtqia+" and "lesbian"; and characters that are "likeable characters."
Holmes on the range - Hockensmith, Steve
NoveList recommends "Holmes on the range mysteries" for fans of "Hap Collins and Leonard Pine novels". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "kidnapping" and "violence."
These books have the appeal factors action-packed, suspenseful, and banter-filled, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense."
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense."
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subject "serial murders."
Everything under the moon - Johnson, Jeff
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the subjects "serial murders," "vampires," and "werewolves."
NoveList recommends "Serge Storms novels" for fans of "Hap Collins and Leonard Pine novels". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and fast-paced, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subject "assassins."
These books have the appeal factors violent, suspenseful, and gritty, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "cold cases (criminal investigation)" and "women murder victims."
These books have the appeal factors violent, action-packed, and banter-filled, and they have the subject "assassins."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Both authors write violent, action-packed horror stories that blend the gritty realism of crime fiction with imaginative takes on supernatural monsters. Seasoned horror fans will enjoy their unflinching and lean prose, hard-nosed characters, and manifest love for the lurid excesses of pulp fiction and drive-in movies. -- Derek Keyser
Joe R. Lansdale and Reavis Z. Wortham lovingly evoke their native Texas in their novels, which feature quirky characters and dark crimes in small-town historical settings. -- Jessica Zellers
These authors' works have the appeal factors violent, gritty, and bleak, and they have the genre "hardboiled fiction"; and the subjects "african american gay men," "race relations," and "private investigators."
These authors' works have the appeal factors violent, funny, and gritty.
These authors' works have the appeal factors darkly humorous and violent, and they have the subject "cold cases (criminal investigation)."
These authors' works have the appeal factors darkly humorous, violent, and banter-filled, and they have the genre "hardboiled fiction"; the subjects "serial murders," "private investigators," and "cold cases (criminal investigation)"; and characters that are "sarcastic characters."
These authors' works have the subjects "race relations," "revenge," and "sheriffs."
These authors' works have the appeal factors banter-filled, and they have the genre "hardboiled fiction"; the subjects "private investigators," "cold cases (criminal investigation)," and "missing persons investigation"; and characters that are "sarcastic characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors darkly humorous, violent, and gritty, and they have the subjects "african american gay men," "race relations," and "violence."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

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.--Lukowsky, Wes Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

It's easy to imagine a young Joey Lansdale, aged about 12, huddled under the covers, reading the Hardy Boys by flashlight. Right then, he knows that someday he will write like that, and so he has. This eighth Hap and Leonard mystery (following Vanilla Ride) opens with the duo investigating a series of murders in their patch of east Texas. Each murder site is signed with a drawing of a red devil's head (a nice Hardy Boys touch), and suspects are as thick on the ground as pine needles before the adrenaline-stoked shoot-out of a conclusion. Nobody's better at smacking us with the look, feel, and smell of derring-do. Along the way, there is the usual camaraderie, banter, and sex (this is the Hardy Boys for the 21st century, after all). VERDICT Lansdale has deservedly swept up nearly every award for genre writers there is, and fans will welcome this latest addition to the canon. For those unfamiliar with the series, and mercifully free of delicate sensibilities, with a hankering for smart, and smart-mouthed, adventure yarns, there's a lot here to relish.-Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Booklist Reviews

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. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

It's easy to imagine a young Joey Lansdale, aged about 12, huddled under the covers, reading the Hardy Boys by flashlight. Right then, he knows that someday he will write like that, and so he has. This eighth Hap and Leonard mystery (following Vanilla Ride) opens with the duo investigating a series of murders in their patch of east Texas. Each murder site is signed with a drawing of a red devil's head (a nice Hardy Boys touch), and suspects are as thick on the ground as pine needles before the adrenaline-stoked shoot-out of a conclusion. Nobody's better at smacking us with the look, feel, and smell of derring-do. Along the way, there is the usual camaraderie, banter, and sex (this is the Hardy Boys for the 21st century, after all). VERDICT Lansdale has deservedly swept up nearly every award for genre writers there is, and fans will welcome this latest addition to the canon. For those unfamiliar with the series, and mercifully free of delicate sensibilities, with a hankering for smart, and smart-mouthed, adventure yarns, there's a lot here to relish.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO

[Page 85]. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Content Cafe

Publishers Weekly Reviews

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.)

[Page ]. Copyright 2010 PWxyz LLC

Copyright 2010 PWxyz LLC
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