Book Review: Mucho Mojo

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

[4 stars]

Mucho Mojo Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Joe R. Lansdale
Class/Genre: Mystery Thriller Humorous
Series: Collins/Pine # 2
1994

This is one of a series of books featuring the unlikely duo of Leonard Pine and Hap Collins, two residents of a small East Texas town. Pine is black and gay. Collins is white and straight. The action in the books consists of typical small town fare - church carnivals, picnics with fried chicken and sweet tea, night time trips to the reservoir to watch for shooting stars.

Inevitably, something occurs to disturb the placid flow of life. In this book, Pine's estranged uncle dies, and Leonard discovers he is the beneficiary of the old man's will, and is now the owner of the uncle's rattletrap old house. The two set out to remodel and repair the place, and make the unsettling discovery of the body of a young boy hidden in the floorboards of an unused room. Adding to the ominous feel of the house is the presence of a raucous crack house next door, and the sight of young persons being drawn into a life of drug abuse.

Leonard is distrustful of local law enforcement, in part because of his race, in part because of his sexual orientation. So after calling on the local police to report the discovery of the body, the two pretend to halt their involvement, but surreptitiously continue to investigate the grisly discovery. Their search leads them to suspect a continuing chain of mysterious disappearances of young boys, and to attempt to interpret the meaning of odd objects found in the uncle's old home.

Lansdale has a nice style of conveying the friendship of the two main characters, their conversational repartee and their trust in each other. One of the most prolific writers working today, Lansdale never fails to provide a worthwhile read.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM

Please visit Woodstock's Blog at http://www.journalscape.com/woodstock/

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.