I’ve been a voracious reader of crime fiction for as long as I can remember. No other genre hooks me quite like the slow unraveling of a mystery, and I always find myself coming back to it after wandering into other types of books. That was the case with Joe R. Lansdale’s latest novel, Hatchet Girls. His publisher kindly sent me a copy of the fourteenth installment featuring his crime-solving duo Hap and Leonard. Though I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series, I decided to dive in. Coming off a nonfiction read, I was eager for something that felt a bit more familiar.
Hap and Leonard have their hands full on the domestic front, happy to let their private investigation work sit on the back burner for a while. Hap and Brett are busy making their new home perfect, settling into cohabitation with all the mess and joy that comes with it. Meanwhile, Leonard is caught up in the whirlwind of wedding planning with his fiancée, Pookie. There’s a guest list to finalize and a venue to secure, but mostly Leonard is just thrilled at the thought of marrying the love of his life. Both men are content, happy even, but if history has taught them anything, it’s that peace never lasts long.
Sure enough, chaos comes calling, literally, in the form of a panicked young woman and a pig strung out on meth. Hap and Leonard rush in, only to discover the hog is the least of their problems. Their caller is tangled up with a crew of hatchet-wielding women, all sworn to a vengeful leader with big plans for blood-soaked retribution. What starts as a bizarre errand spirals into a helter-skelter showdown, forcing Hap and Leonard to set aside their home lives and square off against lunacy in its purest, most violent form.
The term hard-boiled gets tossed around a lot in crime fiction, but it feels tailor-made for Hatchet Girls. Joe R. Lansdale blends pulpy wit with bursts of violence to craft a story that’s both timeless and timely. Hap and Leonard are throwback detectives at heart—unafraid to bend the rules if that’s what it takes to set things right—and following them is pure fun. Even without any background in the series, I slipped easily into Lansdale’s world, rooting for his mismatched heroes while marveling at the sheer lunacy of their enemies. The result is a brisk, wildly entertaining read that scratched my itch for a true hard-boiled crime novel.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 69)
This sounds all kinds of entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt was!
Delete"Joe R. Lansdale blends pulpy wit with bursts of violence to craft a story that’s both timeless and timely."
ReplyDeleteAs usual, you're the master of words 🙇♀️.
I'm more of a cozy mystery fan, I'll admit. Which is fun because on the other hand, I read all these blood-filled books LOL. Anyhow, it's good to know that one can slip into this world even without having read the previous installments.
I was going to say, you read some pretty violent stuff haha
DeleteLOL! Yeah, absolutely, but if you pit hard-boiled vs. classic/cozy mystery, there's no contest for me.
DeleteHap and Leonard have an unrivaled match for getting into and out of trouble.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this first outing with them!
DeleteI typically really enjoy this genre, and this title really does seem to be one to read and enjoy. I am intrigued by it, and will have to add this to my list of books to get!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! What are some of your other favorites in the genre?
DeleteOoh. I do love a good crime mystery thriller! I'll add this to my list.
ReplyDeleteThey're the best. Enjoy!
DeleteThe villains do sound crazy! Nice to know you can jump in and enjoy this as a standalone. You know I love crime procedurals, too! I'll check this one out.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll have fun with this one!
DeleteI do enjoy suspense novels as well. As a mood reader though, recently I have just been going toward lighter stuff. I am currently reading one called Cold Dead Night and it is good. It's been hard to put down. Great review, and I love that it is a series you could pick up without feeling like you have missed something.
ReplyDeleteThat's fair. Life often has enough darkness of its own, so I totally understand gravitating toward something lighter.
DeleteNice to know that you could dive into this one without having read any of the others and still enjoy it. Those two many characters sound great. And what a crazy scenario. I'm putting this one on my list. :D
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
DeleteNow this I know I would enjoy. Great review Ethan!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I bet it would be great on audio!
DeletePulpy wit and violence, that is quite something
ReplyDeleteMakes for a fun combo!
DeleteI am impressed with how many long running series you read. You are a dedicated reader. A pig strung out on meth <-- crazy!
ReplyDeleteThis was my first in the series, but I'd come back for more! As for keeping up with series, I do my best haha. I've gotten much more comfortable stopping in and then skipping some.
DeleteLove hearing that you could jump right into this one without reading the previous installments! That's one of the things that intimidates me about some of these big crime thriller series: I don't know if I can jump in. And I don't know if it is worth investing in 14-something books just to get to the one that has a premise I'm interested in, you know?
ReplyDeleteI struggle with the same thing. These days, if series books don't also work as a standalone story, I probably won't read it.
Delete