Bad Chili

Bad Chili, the fourth installment in the continuing saga of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, is nominally a mystery story. People are murdered, for reasons initially unclear, and the heroes -- determined to figure out why -- encounter further deaths, further mysteries, and threats to their own lives along the way. Eventually the mysteries are unravelled, justice is served, and life in the dusty, sun-beaten world of East Texas goes on.

The mystery is briskly handled -- an unusual plot played out in interesting ways -- but it’s safe to say that no reader familiar with Joe Lansdale’s other work is reading Bad Chili primarily for the chance to unravel the central puzzle. They’re reading it for the cheerfully profane, exuberantly sexual, show more sardonically witty working-class characters. They’re reading it for the lunatic set pieces like the squirrel attack that opens the book and the Kafka-esque discussion of health insurance that follows. They’re reading it for the evocations of East Texas in all its scruffy glory. They’re reading it for the main characters’ reflections on their world and their lives. And they’re reading for the mixture of dark, fatalistic, absurdist humor and sudden, brutal violence that Lansdale brings to every genre he works in.

This is not a book (or a series) to recommend, unread and unconsidered, to a friend or relative who “loves murder mysteries.” Lansdale is matter-of-fact about sex, death, class, race, and bodily functions in ways that would make your favorite aunt go pale . . . unless she put herself through college tending bar at an East Texas roadhouse. If, however, you or someone you love is wondering what the literary love-child of Carl Hiaasen and Dennis Lehane might look like, here’s your chance. show less

This is still early Hap and Leonard, when Lansdale didn't mind pouring the sheer nasty brutality on the lovable pair, especially Hap, but Leonard gets his fair share too. This one opens with him getting bitten, in a scene of macabre hilarity, by a rabid squirrel no less, and things don't exactly pick up from there on in, with the notable exception of his love life,, which is one bright spot in the vista of murder and torture and brutality and sheer bad luck that follows as Leonard gets implicated in the murder of a biker and Hap has to try and sort it out, with the affable assistance of one Joe-Bob Briggs. Don't want to spoil the ending, but there's a massive twist. Er.

Bad Chili by Joe R. Lansdale – Hap and Leonard, the two “Good Ole Boys” from East Texas, are back in action in the 4th book of the series. Hap (a heterosexual) and Leonard (a homosexual) are best of friends, and they are both dangerous characters, who follow their own code of conduct in pursuit of justice when someone abuses them or their friends. When Hap returns from working on off-shore oil rigs he finds Leonard to be very depressed due to a breakup with his boyfriend, Raul. Then things go really off the rails when Raul is murdered. The two “Good Samaritan” vigilantes put their lives in danger trying to solve Raul’s murder. Their efforts embroil them and their friends in a much more complicated and extremely deadly show more struggle to survive. It’s another exciting, compelling, action-packed, visit with these two amazing and entertaining characters. show less

Wonderfully brisk, unrelentingly dark humoured and satisfyingly violent. Also the first chapter genuinely made me chuckle out loud. Proper funny writing... with rabies.

This is a great entry in the Hap Collins/Leonard Pine series with Lansdale at the top of his witty game. I laughed out loud throughout this story, which included Hap being assaulted by a rabid squirrel and Leonard being "troubled" by a tick lodged in the most delicate of places. Hap and Leonard, looking to clear Leonard from a possible murder charge, investigate a blackmail scheme gone wrong and meet up with one of the baddest dudes they've tackled yet. Lansdale provides a healthy supporting cast to move the action along and keep the humor quotient high. Highly recommended.

“Life’s like a bowl of chili in a strange cafe.
Sometimes it’s pretty tasty and spicy.
Other times, it tastes like shit.”
- Jim Bob Luke

I love ol’ Jim Bob! He was great in “Cold in July” and he’s great in this! As are Hap and Leonard, of course! And Brett, in her debut! Dang, I wanna gal like her!
The plot? Well, as Hap says, “I come home from a shitty job, get bit by a rabid squirrel, find out my insurance policy sucks the dog dick and my best friend is accused of murder.” Yep, that’s about it!
A great Hap and Leonard tale! Can't wait for #5! And, if I may be so bold, Mr. Lansdale - please start a Jim Bob Luke series! Gracias!

Title: Hap and Leonard get a heapin helping of trouble in their latest adventure.

Summary:

Leonard and Hap have been through a lot together, but every now and again they just have to get away from each other too. Hap has returned from a stint working on oil rig and is looking forward to catching up with his old friend. Turns out that is going to be a bit of a problem as Leonard, not known for his patience when it comes to some matters, is missing and is wanted by the local police for murder.
It seems that Leonard’s lover, Raul, had decided that Leonard was old news and that he fancied the leader of a local bike gang. Leonard went to find his wayward love and after the expected insults, the conversation got personal. Wanting the final show more word Leonard had also brought his favorite argument, his shotgun. After a bit of ruckus and the cruel putting down of the bar’s neon sign Leonard departed at high speed with the biker gang close behind.

What happened after that is anybody’s guess as Leonard hadn’t been seen since that night and the gang leader was found dead out on a back country road. Which brings us to the present. Hap has 24 hours to find Leonard and convince him to turn his self in or the cops are really going to start looking.
Like a bowl of bad chili though the more Hap digs in the more layers he finds until he’s not sure there is any end in sight.

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read the other books in this series but this entry has made me want to seek them out. The story moves at a good pace and there are quite a few laugh out loud moments in the story. I can’t say the story changes in tone too much throughout as both Hap and Leonard’s lives are pretty much a hard road no matter what situation they are in, which in this case helps the story keep an even pace. I don’t want to give to much of the story away as the banter Hap has with the other characters is what makes the story what it is. So if your looking for an adventure / thriller with a sense of humor give this one a try. m.a.c show less