MUCHO MOJO

Hap Collins and Leonard Pine—unlikely friends—stumble on the trail of a vicious killer. This isn't your typical mystery. The author crafts deeper themes within the pals' chase for the truth. He deftly weaves race and other issues into the consciousness of his characters. But the book's forte is voice—specifically, Lansdale's dialogue and Phil Gigante's narration. The author nails the idioms and lifestyle of East Texas, and with those Gigante is at his best. He shifts from Hap, a white 40-something smart aleck, to the more serious Leonard, a deep-voiced African-American gay man. As fully as Gigante's protagonists come across, it's his portrayals of the minor characters that really shine. Lansdale accomplishes the challenging task of being humorous within a serious plot, and Gigante's narration is magnificent. M.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]