Honky Tonk Samurai (Hap & Leonard) by Joe R. Lansdale

There will probably be a lot of extra readers for this one because of the Sundance TV show based on this series. Well, let me tell you that it's not written for those new readers. It does give the loyal fans all the Dr. Peppers, vanilla cookies, laughs and outrageous characters they can want.
In this ninth novel in the series Hap (our narrator) and Leonard (a gay black tough guy) become official PI's. The first case involves the search for the missing daugther of an old lady. What they stumble upon is a used car dealership that is a cover for an escort service.
Their investigations lead them to do battle with the toughtest, craziest bunch of villains they ever faced. Luckily, they have some of the toughest, craziest bunch of partners to help them out.
This book is very violent, sometimes very funny, often in a crude way and yet still very endearing at times. This is one of my favorite series of all time and this one shows again why.
Beware, the ending of this one will very much surpise and sadden you.

Hap and Leonard (Hap & Leonard) by Joe R. Lansdale

Just in time for their move to TV here's one gem of a collection. It has all the hard to find short stories featuring Hap & Leonard, the most enjoyable mismatched pair of private eyes since Spenser and Hawk.
Hap, blue-collar everyman who happens to be an amazing shooter and his Vietnam veteran, black and gay friend Leonard are presented here in short stories of varying length. They range from novella's to short flashbacks, vignettes and interviews. All are as fun as they are dark, gritty and violent. Think a seventies action movie if made by Seth Rogen.
I was delighted to find the story Veil's Visit here, written by Joe Lansdale together with his friend Andrew Vachss (who I really respect), introducing us to a very cool fictional version of Vachss.
The Hap & Leonard series is always very enjoyable. While these stories might lack some of the substance of the novels they are highly entertaining and sometimes disturbing.
I hope the series and this anthology will draw a lot of people to this great characters.

Devil Red (Hap & Leonard) by Joe Lansdale

In this sequel to Vanilla Ride Hap and Leonard are back. Hap is getting more plagued by his conscience by the day, troubled by his violent ways these days. It doesn't help Leonard takes him along to beat up some gangbangers to get an old lady's money back.
When they are hired by their PI friend Marvin to investigate a cold murder case he will have to come to term with those violent ways, though, as he has to encounter the assassin called Devil Red. And when Vanilla Ride returns there will be hell to pay.
Another great violent but funny and sometimes even moving story you just can't understand why Quentin Tarantino didn't buy the film rights yet. Think about it, Bruce Willis as Hap, Samuel Jackson as Leonard... instant box office hit!
Until that happens though, just buy this one and love every page of it.

Vanilla Ride (Hap & Leonard) by Joe Lansdale

Get ready for an insane, fastpaced ride because the original blue collar amateur PI tagteam Hap & Leonard are back. The two friends help out an old friend whose daughter is caught up with a drugdealer. When they try to get her away from him they tangle with the Dixie mafia however and get caught up in a bloodbath. The only way not to get their asses slammed in jail is help out the FBI. Lucky for them they've got a few badass characters to help them along. And then they meet Vanilla, the blonde hitwoman that gives the novel it's title...
The chapters are short, the plot is thin and the action is as furious as the jokes are funny. Don't read this if you're hoping to read a literary work of art... DO read this if you Spenser's quips aren't dirty enough and Lee Child's action is too tame.