Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed The Elephant of Surprise (Hap and Leonard) on + 1180 more book reviews
Well, I finally made it to the last Hap and Leonard novel (so far, I hope). This has been quite a ride with two of my favorites from fiction: Hap, a liberal white-trash former hippie, and Leonard, a black gay conservative Vietnam veteran. The two of them are closer than brothers.
This book really was a pretty straight forward action-packed thrill ride with not much of a plot. But hey, it is Hap and Leonard so I'm not complaining. It takes place during an apocalyptic storm in East Texas. Our heroes are driving through the rain when a woman darts in their path...a woman who has half her tongue cut out and is looking for help. And right behind her are some thugs in a black SUV. The woman is also an Asian albino and rather unique for East Texas. Hap and Leonard get her to the hospital but this is not the safest place for her. She is being pursued by some of the Dixie Mafia but why? Of course Hap and Leonard become her protector along with Manny from the police force. (Hanson and Pookie are out of town during all this). So are our boys triumphant in their efforts? Well, it is Hap and Leonard!
Like I said, this one didn't have too much of a plot with no twists to the story. And the humor wasn't as pointed and crass as in some of the previous novels, but hey, it still held my interest and kept me turning the pages. Now my question is: when and if will Lansdale publish the next in the series? Hopefully, he has something in the works.
This book really was a pretty straight forward action-packed thrill ride with not much of a plot. But hey, it is Hap and Leonard so I'm not complaining. It takes place during an apocalyptic storm in East Texas. Our heroes are driving through the rain when a woman darts in their path...a woman who has half her tongue cut out and is looking for help. And right behind her are some thugs in a black SUV. The woman is also an Asian albino and rather unique for East Texas. Hap and Leonard get her to the hospital but this is not the safest place for her. She is being pursued by some of the Dixie Mafia but why? Of course Hap and Leonard become her protector along with Manny from the police force. (Hanson and Pookie are out of town during all this). So are our boys triumphant in their efforts? Well, it is Hap and Leonard!
Like I said, this one didn't have too much of a plot with no twists to the story. And the humor wasn't as pointed and crass as in some of the previous novels, but hey, it still held my interest and kept me turning the pages. Now my question is: when and if will Lansdale publish the next in the series? Hopefully, he has something in the works.
