Another outstanding novel from Lansdale. I've read several of his other works including some of the Hap & Leonard series which I really enjoy as well as some of his stand alone novels. This novel is near the top of the list alongside THE BOTTAMS which I also thought was excellent.
This one takes place in the early 20th century when East Texas was still pretty much part of the wild west. Automobiles are just showing their faces in the landscape along with the oil that will make a lot of Texans rich. Small pox has devastated the small town of Hinge Gate and young Jack Parker has lost both his parents to the plague. He and his sister, Lula, are left in the care of their grandfather who decides to send them to stay with an aunt in Kansas who they have never met. But along the way, the group is attacked by a group of really despicable bad men while crossing the Sabine River in a ferry and at the same time a water twister hits the boat. Grandpa is killed and Lula is abducted by the bad men. Well Jack is at a loss on what to do but runs into a black man, Eustace, who agrees to help him for a price. Eustace, enlists his friend Shorty, a tough man who has been in a circus as well as Buffalo Bill's wild west show and who is also a dwarf. They set off after the group and along the way also enlist the help of a local sheriff, another friend of Shorty's, and a prostitute, Jimmie Sue, who is seeking to reform. So what's the worst that could happen to this bunch?
This was Lansdale writing at his best and includes all of his ribald humor and characteristic violence. I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. A kind of Hap & Leonard meets True Grit.
This one takes place in the early 20th century when East Texas was still pretty much part of the wild west. Automobiles are just showing their faces in the landscape along with the oil that will make a lot of Texans rich. Small pox has devastated the small town of Hinge Gate and young Jack Parker has lost both his parents to the plague. He and his sister, Lula, are left in the care of their grandfather who decides to send them to stay with an aunt in Kansas who they have never met. But along the way, the group is attacked by a group of really despicable bad men while crossing the Sabine River in a ferry and at the same time a water twister hits the boat. Grandpa is killed and Lula is abducted by the bad men. Well Jack is at a loss on what to do but runs into a black man, Eustace, who agrees to help him for a price. Eustace, enlists his friend Shorty, a tough man who has been in a circus as well as Buffalo Bill's wild west show and who is also a dwarf. They set off after the group and along the way also enlist the help of a local sheriff, another friend of Shorty's, and a prostitute, Jimmie Sue, who is seeking to reform. So what's the worst that could happen to this bunch?
This was Lansdale writing at his best and includes all of his ribald humor and characteristic violence. I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. A kind of Hap & Leonard meets True Grit.
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